To make a long story short, I decided to solicit advice of a friend who is a Reading Specialist in our local school district She suggested that I learn speed reading techniques.

Of course I had never heard of speed reading so I was a bit apprehensive.

But then I thought...

What heck! What could I lose?

She recommended Howard Berg's Mega Speed Reading. After filling me in on details of Howard Berg and his Speed Reading Program, she gave me his literature and I ordered program. It came with an unconditional money back guarantee. How could I go wrong? If it didn't work, I would send it back.

And verdict is....

Wow! It only took me 4 hours to learn techniques. Yippy! I could speed read. Quick! Easy! It was actually fun. I was ecstatic. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. It really worked!

Within 2 weeks of implementing Mega Speed Reading techniques I cut my reading time in half. The program also taught me how to increase my comprehension and memory.

I was able to read all of those web pages, ebooks, reports, articles, and magazines in record time.

In a nutshell, I got more work done in half time. There was no more desperation, agitation, frustration, or stress.

I became a happy and successful entrepreneur.

What Did I Learn?

When faced with a challenge, don't give up.

Challenges will come (especially if you're starting a business). You must overcome challenge in order to be successful.

Face challenge head on. Use your challenge as a learning experience.

Don't stop until you find a solution to a challenge. Your success depends upon it.

At end of every challenge there is a lesson to be learned and shared with others.

3. Don't disappear behind your autoresponder. It can be a good and valuable marketing tool, but that's all it is: a tool. People don't normally have any emotional involvement with a hammer or a clock radio - they're just tools.

Your autoresponder cannot replace you and your personal attention to your prospect. Your sales letters may be warm and fuzzy, while still pushing your product or service, and they are probably as personalized as you can make them. Terrific! But they're still "just" sales letters - very important, but no substitute for you.

A thought (I have them sometimes...): When a prospect opts-out of further autoresponder mailings, email her/him and ask if you can be of service or help find what she/he wants. It may just be person recognized and objected to electronic bulk mail and will buy with some personal attention. Don't harass them, of course.

4. Seek feedback. Don't assume that just because you've provided a place to email you that a prospect will do so. Be proactive (sorry, corporate buzzword), not passive. Ask your prospect what he/she wants, thinks or has questions about. Ask person to drop you a note (Doesn't that sound more personal than email me? It does, too!) and be certain to respond within twenty-four hours. At very least, you might learn about something that needs your attention.

5. Publish an address and phone number where you can be reached. Are you crazy, Butler? Not necessarily. I think doing so is a strong personal statement. It says I'm available to help you, I have nothing to hide and I'll be happy to talk with you. It's a potent confidence-builder. You don't have to plaster it across every page in foot-high characters, just make it easy to find. I think it highly unlikely you'll get many calls or snail mails.

You'll think of other ways to humanize your online business. By all means,use latest technology, if you wish. Just keep in mind you're asking people to part with their money and they want to know they're dealing with a real person in case there's a question or problem. And that person is you.