Elegant Solutions

As you can see, I am an expert on homes in the
Northeast. But I need an expert like yourself. I don't mind hard work, I
just want to go in the right direction.

So how do I ask for help?

Thank you very much,

Peter

I read his letter several times. I decided I
wanted to help "Peter" so I gave a lot of thought as to how I should
answer him. I sent him a fax which contains, what I consider, a brilliant
"Elegant Solution". My fax said:

Dear Peter,

There is no way I or anyone else can help you
with your marketing unless you are willing to divorce or murder your wife.

Gary C. Halbert

You know, I can hear a bunch of you laughing at my
advice... and... I must admit it is somewhat humorous. But, you know what else?
It's dead on correct.

There is no way in the world "Peter" is
ever going to achieve any of his dreams as long as the most significant person
in his life is a woman which should be thought of as "Negativity On
Steroids".

Often, my seminar attendees bring their wives with
them. Not always, but usually, I feel sorry for these men. The real
reason these wives are there is to "protect" their husbands from
becoming too excited or too enthusiastic about doing something which will make
him (and her too) a lot of money. These wives feel it's their job to hold their
husband's feet to the ground and make sure he never makes an attempt to fly
toward his dreams.

Of course "Negativity On Steroids" is
not limited to females. Whenever I'm in a brainstorming session and everyone's
hurling out one idea after another, inevitably, some guy pops up and says, "Let me play the Devil's Advocate. What if this (always a bad
thing) happens?"