I fervently hate slick, long winded marketing hype that forces me to scroll down a lengthy litanies of half-truths and doubtful speculations before I can get to the bottom line about the "deal."

They, whoever they may be among unscrupulous marketers, tell you that their technique or product is a "proven winner." Often they pad their super-duper offers with arbitrarily-valued bonus reports and whatnots intended to give you that final impetus to reach for your credit card and get screwed.

Some sound advice:

1)Specialize your knowledge.

2)Read all you can about products or technology for free, but be prepared to invest modest sums to get high-quality information.

3)Attend live seminars, webcasts, teleseminars and workshops on your specialized interest or niche - and be prepared to invest in these, when necessary.

4)Always trust your better judgment to kick in when you wish to invest in tools for your education or skills' upgrade.

5)Move out of your comfort zone and become truly interested in other people and their stories.

6)Choose your models for success carefully.

7)Write out your goals succinctly and with a time deadline for each.

8)Understand and accept on a deep level that there is no such animal as an "overnight success."

9)Hang out and around successful or success-oriented people.

10)Keep a personal journal of your journey.

I do appreciate honest, straightforward business propositions.

I do appreciate the spirit of sharing what's free, low cost and beneficial without sounding like a schemer.

There are many deals and things which you must chose to refuse offhand. But never become so cynical that you reject everything and everyone with one broad stroke. There are thousands of sincere people who can help you grow your online business.

Follow your heart because one size seldom fits all.

There are lessons of life to be learned, however, by keeping your mind open to the unusual and different.

Henry Ford had an "I am the king of automobiles, nobody can dethrone me" sentiment when he said: "You can have any color Ford as long as it is black," when referring to his Model T car of the early Twentieth Century. His company spent 50 years catching up to General Motors because of that haughtiness and lack of insight.

The world will change, but will you? If you are not moving forward in your thinking and your action plan, then you are most certainly moving backwards.

I am dedicated to the proposition that the Internet is the last bastion of hope for Mankind. Information to enable and empower each of us has never been so readily available and accessible. It is my hope and my passion to be a leader in teaching people to think independently and to develop an unstoppable passion for service and achievement.

There are many deals and things which you must chose to refuse offhand. But never become so cynical that you reject everything and everyone with one broad stroke. There are thousands of sincere people who can help you grow your online business.

Follow your heart because one size seldom fits all.

There are lessons of life to be learned, however, by keeping your mind open to the unusual and different.

Henry Ford had an "I am the king of automobiles, nobody can dethrone me" sentiment when he said: "You can have any color Ford as long as it is black," when referring to his Model T car of the early Twentieth Century. His company spent 50 years catching up to General Motors because of that haughtiness and lack of insight.

The world will change, but will you? If you are not moving forward in your thinking and your action plan, then you are most certainly moving backwards.

Why not dedicate yourself to the proposition that the Internet is the last bastion of hope for Mankind? Information to enable and empower each of us has never been so readily available and accessible.

Be a leader in teaching people to think independently and to develop an unstoppable passion for service and achievement.

Want to learn how to work with Japanese? Looking for Japanese niches to exploit? Looking for the largest English directory of Japanese sites on the Internet? Visit the Success in Japan site at http://www.successinjapan.com and subscribe to the in-depth, high-content newsletter, The Japan Business Insider. Take advantage of an American's 28-year business experience in Japan. Ethical business ideas to set you on the path to lasting success.