THE MILLIONAIRE dropout
THE MILLIONAIRE dropout FIREYOURBOSS.DOWHATYOULOVE. RECLAIMYOURLIFE! VinceStanzione
Cover design: Dave Collier - ShardDesign.com
Copyright # 2013 by Vince Stanzione. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. Published simultaneously in Canada.
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData: Stanzione,Vince. Themillionairedropout: fireyourboss.dowhatyoulove.reclaimyourlife!/VinceStanzione. pagescm Includesindex.
ISBN978-1-118-60948-4(pbk.);ISBN978-1-118-65283-1(ebk);ISBN978-1-118-65277-0 (ebk);ISBN978-1-118-65268-8(ebk)
1.Success.2.Successinbusiness.3.Self-actualization(Psychology)
4.Jobsatisfaction.I.Title. BF637.S8S6872013 650.1–dc23 2013001364 PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica 10987654321
Contents Acknowledgments xv PrefaceThisBookIsn’tAboutMe,It’sAboutYou xvii Introduction xxi PartITakingControlofYourLife 1 Chapter1GettingStarted 3 TinyStepsLeadtoMassiveLeaps 3 CanYouGotheExtraMile? 4 BreakingFreefromYourComfortZone 5 WhyIWantYoutoSucceed 6 Chapter2Let’sTalkAboutYou 9 TimeforSomeSurgery 11 Let’sSummarize 15 Listening 15 DressingforSuccess 16 TheRightDressCodeforMen 17 TheRightDressCodeforWomen 17 YourInnerVoice 18 HappyMusicMakesHappyPeople 18 v
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22 HowIsThisListGoingtoHelpMe? 26 SoWhereDoWeGoNow? 27
ThePowerofYourSubconsciousMind 29 WakingUptoaBrightDay 31 StartingtheDaytheRightWay 32 PreparingtheNightBefore 32 HowtoTurnaSeven-DayWeekinto anEight-DayWeek 32 WhyLie-InsAreaBadIdea 33 GoingtoBedSatis fied 34 LearnaNewPieceofInformationEveryDay34 SummarytoSettingGoals,Visualizing,andYour SubconsciousMind 34 HowDoesVisualizingandUsingYourSubconscious MindWork? 35 HowPeopleinSportsTrainTheirMinds 35 SoIJustThinkAboutIt,andItHappens? 37 SettingNewGoalsandKeepingtheMomentumGoing37 Chapter5MakingDecisions,DealingwithProblems, andTakingAction 38 TheBenFranklinMethod 38 TheCoinMethod 39 TheSleep-on-ItMethod 40 TheFlow-ChartMethod 40 OnceYouHaveMadeYourDecision 40 HowNevertoFailAgain 42 DealingwithFailure 43 GettingaSecondChance 44 DealingwithRejection 45 WhyYouDon’tNeedHoroscopes,TarotCards,or Clairvoyants 45 vi CONTENTS
Chapter3WhatDoYouWantOutofLife?
WhatDoYouWant?
YourRoadMaptoSuccess
WhereWillYouBeinFiveYearsTime?
NonmonetaryGoals
Chapter4HowtoReprogramYourMindforSuccess28
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51 DevelopingYourBestFriend 51 GettingRidofYourWorstEnemy 52 Summary 52 LearningtoLoveYourself 53 StopWorryingToday 54 TipstoHelpYouDealwithWorries 55 WhyWorry? 56 SummaryonWorrying 56
59 TragicPhrases 60 WordstoErasefromYourLife 60 MagicPhrases 60 WordstoAddtoYourLife 61 ListeningtoSkeptics 61 CanYouGiveAwayFreeMoney? 62 TakingAdvice 62 HowIGiveAdvice 63 ProfessionalAdvice 63 TakingResponsibilityforYourLife 64 HowtoMakeYourselfHappyatAnyTime 65 AcceptingPraiseandTakingCriticism 65 Summary 66 AskingQuestionsMakesYouMoreSuccessful67 Summary 68
69 Summary 70
71 Contents vii
FocusingonthePositive 46 Congratulations!You
reaLoser 46 It
sHarderTodaytoBeaSuccess 47 TheHotDogSeller 47 BeatingYourselfUpHasNoPositiveEffect 48 YourSuccessFile 49 Chapter6YourWorstEnemyandYourBestFriend
ThePastIsHistory;theFutureIsWheretoLook57 Chapter7MagicWordsorTragicWords?
Chapter8AssociatewithEagles,notTurkeys
DealingwithEnvyandJealousy
LearningtoAdaptandChangingDirection 72 WorkingAroundProblems 73 Chapter9PersonalRelationships 74 HowtoHelpaLaggingPartner 75 WhatifMyPartnerStillLagsBehind? 76 SummaryonPartners 76 FindingtheRightPartner 76 MeetingYourIdealPartner 78 OnlineDatingAgencies 78 UpmarketDinnerParties 79 Summary 79 ActBeforethePain,NotAfter 79 Chapter10GettingItDoneNow 81 ImproveYourMemory 84 Balance 86 MaritalDisputesandAffairs 88 Summary 88 Chapter11FoodandExercise 89 WhyBeingFitMakesYouSuccessful 89 DoYouSufferfromFatigueorLethargy? 90 YouAreWhatYouEat 92 MyPersonalMindDiet 92 OverweightDogsandOwners 93 My90PercentGood,10PercentBadRule 93 ADietIsforLife 94 AFewTips 94 Summary 94 DealingwithPoorHealth 95 Chapter12SmartEducationandInvestinginYourself97 SuccessfulPeopleStudy 97 UseYourLocalLibrary 98 WhyaBookIsanExcellentValue 98 BuyBooksandDVDs,andAttendSeminars98 InvestinOther’sSuccess,NotTheirQuali fications99 LosersDon’tInvestinEducation 100 viii CONTENTS
’veDoneItAll
GotheExtraMileinEverythingYouDo
BelievingIsSeeing 102
103 HowtoMoveaMountain 104 Chapter13SummarytoSectionOne 105 PartIIMakingMoney 107 Chapter14MakingMoney 109 CanYouJuggle? 110 BeingYourOwnBoss 110 WhyOwningYourOwnBusinessIstheOnlyOption Today 110 WhyStartingYourOwnBusinessIstheKey112 HowDidYouChooseYourJob? 113 AreYouintheWrongBusiness? 114 WhatAreYourSkills,andWhatMakesYouHappy?115 Chapter15IncreaseYourIncomeRightNow 116 AskingforaPayRaise 116 PreparingaCaseforaPayRaise 117 TheOutcome 117 Summary 118 AreYouTooComfortable? 119 Chapter16StartingYourOwnBusiness 120 TheBestBusinessModelintheWorld 121 What’sSoGreatAboutMailOrder? 122 WhatMailOrderIsNot 122 ThisBusinessModelIsGlobal 123 KISS KeepItSimple,Stupid 123 WhatYouNeedtoSucceedinMailOrder 123 JustDoIt 124 I’mNotaTextbookBusinessman 125 Contents ix
IKnowItAllandI
100
101 HowtheExtraMileBringsSuccess 101
WeReapWhatWeSow
WhatIsMailOrder? 126 OfferingConsultancyandAgencyServicesbyMail Order 127 GettingStartedinMailOrder 127 CompanyStructure 128 SettingUpaBankAccount 128 Letter-HeadedPaper/OnlineSignature 129 CreatingaLetterhead 129 BusinessCards 130 VirtualPhoneNumbers 130 Fax 131 MailingAddress 131 BusinessCenters 131 AcceptingCreditandDebitCards 132 BorrowingMoney 133 Stand-ByCreditCardsandOverdrafts 133 Chapter17FindingProductstoSell 136 Research 137 TheMarketWillMakeorBreakYou 137 PickingEasyTargets 138 PeopleBuyWhatTheyWant,NotWhatTheyNeed139 WheretoStartYourResearch 139 eBay WhatPeopleAreBuying 140 BestsellerBookLists 141 ShoppingChannels 141 BeAlertandWatchTrends 142 LearntoWatchTrends 142 MagicWordsThatWillHelpYourBusiness143 TheDangersofHavingTooMuchMoney 144 WhatPeopleWant 145 Chapter18TheIdealMail-OrderProduct 148 Lead-GeneratingProducts 149 Tax 149 SellingProductsYouLike 150 AudioInformation 152 DVDs 153 x CONTENTS
GettingDVDsProduced 154 MakingaVideowithPowerPointorKeynote155 Webinars 155 BuyingtheRightstoaVideo 156 Newsletters,Blogs,andMembershipSites 157 NoveltyItems,KitchenGadgets,Health&Fitness, Jewelry,andPersonalizedItems 163 SeasonalItems 164 ProductsThatSolvePeople’sProblems 165 PackagingProductsTogether 165 BacktoPackagingProducts 166 ImportingandExportingProductsandIdeas167 Summary 167 AddingValue 168 ANoteonCopyrightandCopyingOthers 168 Chapter19AdvertisingandMarketing 170 HowtoSellToday 170 HowCompoundingMadeMeRich 175 SellingoneBay 177 AmazonMarketplace 178 SellingonClickbank 178 PromotingYourProductorService 178 MagicWords 182 WhatMakesSomeoneRespondtoanAd? 183 Chapter20BecomeanExpertbyWritingArticlesandPress Releases 190 PressReleases 191 WireServices 192 Summary 192 Chapter21WhyBack-EndSellingLeadstoBigPro fits193 HowtoBack-EndSelltheRightWay 193 FindAnotherGoldenGooseBeforetheFirst OneDies! 195 Don’tBeanOctopus 195 GoodWaystoExpand 195 Contents xi
DoingBusinessOverseas 197 CreditCardsAreaGlobalCurrency 197 Chapter22LearningtoInvest,butKeepingCostsDown198 AttendingShowsandEvents 199 Chapter23SummarytoMakingMoney 202 PartIIISavingMoney 205 Chapter24SavingMoney 207 HowtoAddFiftyCentstoEveryDollar 207 Chapter25BuyingDesignerClothesforLess 218 DressAgencies 218 PerfumeandMakeupforLess 221 Chapter26BuyingfromAuctionsandWholesale 222 GovernmentAuctions 222 GeneralAuctions 222 WhatYouNeedtoKnow 223 BuyingWholesaleatDiscountClubs 223 Chapter27GettingCheaperCalls 224 InternationalCallingCards 224 Skype 224 CableTV,SatelliteTV,andCellPhones 225 Chapter28CreditCards,CashBack,andPoints 226 NeedaCreditCardbutHavePoorCredit? 227 CreditCardOffers 227 Chapter29HowtoGetaDiscountonAnything 228 CouponsandDiscountCodes 228 GiftCards 229 FancySeeingaFreeShow? 229 EatOutforLess 230 xii CONTENTS
Chapter30MakingYourMoneyWorkHardbySavingand Investing 231
Chapter31TimetoSayGoodbye WhereDoWeGo fromHere? 234
FreeNewsletterandUpdates 235 Index 237
UseUpYourTaxAllowances 232 KeepingSomeCashinSavings 233 Summary 233
Contents xiii
Acknowledgments
My thanks to:
Mark Anastasi (http://www.lap topmillionaire.tv) for some great advice and introduction s.
Bill Myers (http://www. bmyers.com), the original free thinker who helped me realize life isn’t all about making more money.
Ted Nicholas (http://www.Ted nicholas.com) for teaching me the powerofwordsandcopywriting.
JohnCaplesandDavidOgilvy,whosebookstaughtmethepowerof
andpricelesssupport.
andbusinesspartnerswhomadeeverythingpossibleoverthelast28 years. xv
advertisinganddirectmail. SusannaQuinnforeditingthisbookandJLSforyourhonestopinions
Lastly,andmostimportantly,abigthankyoutoallthereaders,clients,
Preface
ThisBookIsn’tAboutMe,It’sAboutYou
Ifyou’rereadingthisonline,or flippingpagesinabookshop,thinking WhyshouldIbuythisbook?,thenletmetellyou.Icanhelp you havean amazinglife.Ihaven’twrittenthisbooktoimpressyou,buttoimpress uponyouwhatanonacademic,nearbankrupt,occasionallyhomeless socialdropoutcanachieveinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.
Ihaven’twrittenthisbooktomakemoney.I’malreadyamultimillionaire,andhavebeenformanyyears.
Thisisaschoolofhardknockshow-tomanual,andthereisno examorfancydegreeattheend.Butifyoufollowmyadviceandtake action,youcanlivealifestyleothersonlydreamabout.Youcanjoin thenewrich andIdon’tmeanonlyrichinmoney.Imeanrichintime andfulfillment.
Butlet’sgobackafewyears ...I didn’tcomefromaprivilegedor well-educatedbackground.MyfathercametotheUnitedKingdom fromasmall,poortowninSouthItaly.Hewasescapingthema fia,and hadnothingbutabatteredcaseandafewshillings.Hecouldn’tspeaka wordofEnglish.
Byworkingasahairdresserbydayandawaiterbynight (Iknow...allItaliansarehairdressersorwaiters!),hemadeenough tostarthisownhairdressingsalonandbuiltupasuccessfulchain.
xvii
xviii PREFACE
Hethenretiredanddroppeddeadafewyearslater,attherelatively youngageof55.Ihadnointerestinjoiningthefamilybusiness,butI didsharethefamilyethosofhardwork.
Attheageof12,Iwasdoingpayrollforthehairsalons,washing hair,andcleaning.However,IknewIwantedabusinessofmyown.
Isetupmy fi rstmail-orderbusinessatthatage,sellingcomputer gamesstoredontapes.RemembertheCommodore64andZX Spectrum?
Iwasthefairlyquietkidwhonever fitin.Wemovedaroundalot,so Iwasalwaysthenewkidatschool.Iwasbadlybulliedforyears,and teasedforbeingoverweightandhavingthewrongaccent.
Ihadabouteveryillnessyoucouldthinkof includingserious asthma,eczemasobadthatIstruggledtoholdapen,andsightproblems thatmeantIcouldn’tseetheboardatschool.
TheonlythingIlikedaboutschoolwassellingstufftootherkids (andafewteacherstoo).
At16,Ilandedmy firstjob asajuniorinaForeignExchange DealingRoom.Thispaid£100($150)aweek,andwasanawfuljob.
Iwastreatedlikedirtbythedealers(manyofwhomtookdrugsand smoked60cigarettesaday),butbecauseIdidn’twanttobecomea hairdresserIstuckitout.Ilearnedhowtotrade financialmarketsand readeverythingIcouldatthelocallibrary.
Iatethedealer’sleftoversinthestaffcanteen,andownedonecheap Marks&Spencergraypolyestersuitthatstankofsmoke.
WithinsixmonthsIwaspromoted,andwithintwoyearsIwas dealingmultimillion-dollarpositions.Ithenmovedintoequities,and tradedforothersandmyself.
Lifewasgood.IwaslivingtheThatcherdream orsoIthought. Thenthe1987crashwipedmeout,andIlosteverything.Infact,more thaneverything.Iwasreadytobedeclaredbankruptbymyexemployer,whowantedtoclawbackcommission.Luckily,thejudge feltsorryformeandthrewthecaseoutonthegroundsthatIhadno moneytopay.
Ithenworkedvariouscommission-onlyjobstogetabitofincome.I startedmyownbusinesssellingcarphones,andthenmobilephones.
Workingfromastudioapartment,Ibuiltthatbusinessupfromone newspaperad,mergeditwithanotherdealership,andsoldmysharefor asubstantialsumafewyearslater.
Thetruthis,itwasworthalotmorethanIsolditfor,butconsideringI wasonly21andhadnearlybeendeclaredbankruptnotsolongago,itfelt likeanamazingsumofmoney.
Iboughtmy firstRolexwatch,whichIstillowntoday nottoshow off,butbecauseIknewifIwaseverhardupandneededtostartagain,I couldpawnit.Fortunately,Ineverhadto.
Sowhatcanyoulearnfromamillionairedropout?Idon’tclaimto havealltheanswers.Idon’tclaimthateverybusinessoreveryinvestment I’vemadehasbeensuccessful.However,IdoknowthatifIsharemy secrets, you willbesuccessfulandavoidmanyofmymistakes.
Alongmyjourney,fromsellingcomputergamesontape,towashing hair,todealingcurrencies,tostandinginbankruptcycourt,tosleeping inaFordvan,tobeingforcedtouseacreditcardtopaythestaff,to escapingfromtheRussianmafia(trustme,youcan’tmakethisup!), to floatingabusinessontheLondonStockExchange,tomaking millionsinsales,Ihavepickedupafewtipsandsecrets.IfIcan passonjustafewofthosetoyou,Iamcertainyou’llcoverthecostof thisbookmanytimesover.
Doyouwanttocomeonajourneywithme? Isincerelyhopeso.
VinceStanzione TheMillionaireDropout Preface xix
Introduction
YOUONLYLIVEONCE, AT leastonthisplanet.Soletmeaskyouthis.Are youmakingthebestofyourlife,earningplentyofmoney,andfeeling relaxed,happy,andcontent?Orareyoutrudgingthrougheachday, waitingforlifetogetbetter?
Ifyoucantrulysayyou’rehappywiththequalityofyourlife,the amountofmoneyyouearn,andyourrelationships,thenreadno further.Icongratulateyouandwouldlovetolearnyoursecrets.
If,however,you’reoneofthemillionswhohategettingupinthe morningandearningameagerwageatajobyouloathe,onlyto find yourpaycheckhasrunout25daysbeforepayday,readon.
Thisbookhasbeenwrittenforallthosewhowanttoboosttheir income,reducetheiroutgoings,andincreasetheirstandardofliving. Whetheryou’reyoung,old,previouslysuccessful,orhaveneverhadany success,Iwillshowyouhowtocreateanamazinglifethatyouwilllove living.
Thebookisdividedintothreesections:
PartITakingControlofYourLife
First,wewillfocusonyou yourgoals,fears,past,state-of-mind, andhowtotakecontrolofallthesethingstostartlivingeveryday toitsfullpotential.Iwillteachyouhowtoreprogramyourmindfor
xxi
xxii INTRODUCTION
success,andtransformyourmoodandappearancethroughdietand exercise.Youwill finishthissectioncharged-upandreadytolearn thesecretsofmakingmoney.
PartIIMakingMoney
Iwillrevealmymoney-makingsecrets,andshowhowyoucancopy tried-and-testedformulastomakeasmuchmoneyasyouwantand deserve.I’llalsoexplainhowtogetapayraiseandstartearningyour trueworth.
PartIIISavingMoney
Smartpeoplearegoodatbothmakingmoneyandsavingmoney. Nomatterhowwealthyyouare,italwayspaystobuyeverythingat thelowestpossibleprice,andI’llshowyouhow.Whetheryou’ re buyingacar,toaster,designerdress,orthelatestgadget,Iwillreveal howtogetthebestdeal.
ThereIsaBetterLifeforYou
Idon’tknowwhatyourcurrentpositionis,butIcanguessyouwant morethanyoucurrentlyhave.Perhapsyouhavemoneyworriesordebts andfeelthatyouneedordeserveahigherincome.Ormaybeyouhavea stringoffailedrelationshipsandfeeluncertainaboutthefuture. Somehow,lifeispassingyouby,andalthoughyouknowyoushould bedoingbetter,you’restuckinarutandnotliving,butscarcely existing.
Thegoodnewsisthereisabetterlife.Youcanincreaseyour income,payoffdebts,and mostimportantly increaseyourqualityof lifeandgainself-confi denceandrespect.Yougenuinelycanhave everythingintheworldthatyoureallywant.AndIwillshowyouhow.
AlwaysRemember—ItCouldBeWorse
Icantellyoutruthfullythathoweverbadyoursituationis whether you ’reindebt,havepersonaldifficulties,lowself-esteem,orare addictedtodrugsoralcohol Icanguaranteeyou’renotaloneand thereisawayout.
Iwantyoutorememberthis:
Youmaybecryingandupsetbecauseyouhaven’tanyshoes,but spareathoughtforthepersonnexttoyou.Hehasn’tanyfeet. Andthat’ syour firstlesson.Itmaylookbad,butbelieveme it couldbeworse.
OnlyYouCanChangeYourLifefortheBetter
Youareinchargeofyourlife.Everythingthat’shappenedtoyouinthe past yoursuccesses,failures,andproblems werebroughtaboutby youractions(orlackofthem)inonewayoranother.
Iknowthetruthhurts,butthisbookisaboutgettingresultsandnot justtellingyouwhatyouwanttohear.
It’seasyforustoblameotherpeopleforourfailures,problems,and shortcomings.Howmanytimesdoyouhearpeoplesay: “It’smyboss’ s fault ...my wife’sfault ...if onlyIwasolder/younger ...I blame thegovernment... ”?
Thetruthisthat you areinchargeofyourlife.You’rethedriverof thetrain,andyoucaneitherchoosetodrivearoundtheworldonarich, fulfilling,andrewardingjourney,orleavethetrainstandinginthe station,withthewheelsrustingawayandtheengineseizingup.
Ibelieveweliveinamazingtimes,withanabundanceofopportunities.Youmaynotagree,andIcanunderstandwhy.Everyday,the mediaisfullofdoomandgloomaboutthebadeconomy,andwhat terriblethingsarehappeningintheworld.
Thetruthis,withadvancesintechnologyit’sneverbeeneasierto achieveyour financialandlifestylegoals.Anditgetseasiereveryday. Butbacktothetrain...
Youchoose:95percentofthepopulationareatthestation.Areyou inthat95percent?Areyoustandingstill,watchinglifepassyouby?
Ifyoubelieveinsafetyinnumbers,thenstayexactlywhereyouare. Gowiththe flow,andstickwiththemasses.If,however,youwantto jointhe5percentofpeoplewhoaredrivingtheirtrainstoamazing places,keeponreading.Thisbookwillhelpyougetthetrainstarted, andonceyougetgoing,you’llbeamazedthatyouwereeverstanding still.
Introduction xxiii
xxiv INTRODUCTION
I’mnotsayingyou’llgo flyingoutofthestationat100mph,but evenifyoustarttopullawayat1mph,that’sfasterthanthe95percent whoarestandingstill.Right?
DoYouReallyWantLifetoChange?
Youcandoanythingyousetyourmindto earnlotsofmoney,giveup smoking,drugsoralcohol,getintoshape butonlyif you reallywant yourlifetochange.
Thisbookcanhelpmakeyourlifebetter,butonlyifyouworkwith theadvicegiveninthesepagesandtakeaction.Icanrevealmywealth secretstoyou,butultimatelyonlyyoucanputthosesecretsintoaction andmakethingshappeninyourlife.
Iguaranteethatifyouwantabetterlifebadlyenough,thisbookwill helpyouachieveit.
Someyearsagoabaseballmanager,TommyLasorda,said “There arethosewhowatchthingshappen,thosewhowonderwhathappened, andthosewhomakethingshappen.”
Whichpersonareyou awatcheroraplayer?Youneedtobecome aplayertowininlife.Beingaspectatorandwatchingtheworldgoby justisn’tanyfun.Othersmaybecontenttoexistandgetbybeinga governmentchartstatistic,butIknowthatyou’renotsatisfiedwith beinganumber.Youwanttodobetterthanthat.
I’mVeryUnlucky
Icomefromabackgroundthatbelievesyoumakeyourownluck.Ifyou work14hoursaday,it’samazinghowluckyyouwillbecome.Luckis determinedbyourownefforts theblood,sweat,andtearsweputinto life.
I’msorry,butIdon’tbelieveluckhasanythingtodowithwhether JupiterisinMars,orthisyearistheChineseanimalyearIwasborn under,ormyhoroscopeinthedailydownmarketnewspapersaystoday willbegoodfor finances.
Ihavedoneafairamountofresearchintoluckoverthelastfew yearsandhadthepleasureofmeetingProfessorRichardWiseman, authorof TheLuckFactor.Hepointstofourmainareasthatseparate “luckypeople” and “unlucky” ones:
1.Luckypeoplearegoodatcreatingchanceopportunities.
2.Theyaregoodatthinkinglucky.
3.Theyaregoodatfeelinglucky.
4.Theybelieveindenyingfate.
Idon’tliketheterm opportunityknocks.Ihavefoundin99percent ofcases,itdoesn’t.Ifyou’resittingathome,waitingforopportunitiesto ringthedoorbell,I’msorrytosaythisisveryunlikely.
Youmakeyourownluckinthisworld,andminewascreatedby goingoutandsearchinghighandlowforopportunities.Ifyoustart creatingopportunities,it’samazinghowoftenyouwillbeintheright placeattherighttimeandhowluckyyouwillbecome.
Introduction xxv