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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Start small. Start now!

*Welcome to our 142 new subscribers since last week! To invite others to subscribe, email them the newsletter or send them to http://www.valorieburton.com where they can enter their email address on the home page.

In the July 11th E-newsletter, just as we surpassed the 9,000-subscriber mark, I asked you to help me reach 10,000 subscribers. You did! On Friday, August 26th, I welcomed our 10,000th subscriber. Thank you! My goal is to reach 15,000 of you by the end of 2005. Will you help me get there?

If the newsletter is inspiring to you, please pass it along to friends and family who could use some weekly inspiration and invite them to subscribe!

To read previous newsletters, click on the Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-newsletter archives at http://www.valorieburton.com/vnewsletter.html.
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IN THE NEWS:

* NEW FINANCIAL COACHING GROUP TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 13th! -- Ready increase your income, control your spending and eliminate stress? I am launching a small coaching group this fall for those interested in taking control of their financial life. Space is limited so enroll today! The coaching fee is a special rate of $95 per month. Go to http://www.valorieburton.com/coachingpurchase.html#fin.

* Watch an in-depth, CBN.com interview with me about life coaching and What's Really Holding You Back? online at:
http://www.cbn.com/dailylife/career/burton_studio10_082605.asp

* LISTEN TO YOUR LIFE DVD NOW AVAILABLE in the online store!
My new 8-session television seminar based on my books Listen to Your Life and What's Really Holding You Back? is now available on DVD for just $29. It includes a downloadable study guide and a 20-minute Bible-based bonus teaching about how to overcome self-doubt and fear. Go to http://www.valorieburton.com/dvd.html

* NOW SCHEDULING 2006 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS!
If you want to schedule a seminar or keynote, fill out your request at http://www.valorieburton.com/request.html or contact Angie Steele at angie@valorieburton.com .

* Read and post your messages, questions and prayers in the ValorieBurton.com COMMUNITY MESSAGE FORUM at http://pub23.bravenet.com/forum/1950087918 .

For more schedule information, visit http://www.valorieburton.com/vevents.html .
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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Start small. Start now!

"Does anyone dare despise the day of small beginnings?"
- Zechariah 4:10

Dear Friend,

Sitting at my desk at home one sunny morning in May 2001, just a few months after I sold my public relations business and began pursuing my purpose full-time, I had an idea. Why not send a regular e-newsletter to inspire people to live fulfilling lives? I would use it as a countdown to the Random House release of my first book, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards, in October of that year. With the email addresses of 60 friends and colleagues, the Rich Minds, Rich Rewards e-newsletter was launched that day with a column called "Bask in the Beauty of Life." In January of this year, I began sending the newsletter every week and I've learned a lesson in doing so: Consistency breeds success. There are over 5,000 more of you reading the newsletter since January!

This week, I would like to remind you that just about every great opportunity begins small. Whether you are ready to lose weight, build a healthy relationship or achieve financial independence, start small, but start now.

When legendary publishing pioneer John H. Johnson, who started his business with a $500 loan in the 1940s and created a $500 million empire that includes Ebony Magazine, Jet and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, died earlier this month, I was intrigued by a 2001 interview clip that ran on PBS' NewsHour on August 9th.

"If I tried to envision Johnson publishing company then as it is today, I simply wouldn't have tried," Mr. Johnson reflected. I say to young people they should dream small dreams, because if you dream a small dream, it can become a reality."

His quote seems counterintuitive. Dream a small dream? Not exactly the advice I expected to hear from a business tycoon, but he makes a significant point. Start small and you lay the groundwork for something big. I encourage you to dream big, but remember big dreams come to life when we create small goals that we can accomplish right now. Too often, we become overwhelmed by the vision because we never break it down into small, manageable pieces.

Where are you stuck in your life right now? How could you "start small, but start now"? I love the question asked in the Old Testament book of Zechariah, "Does anyone dare despise the day of small beginnings?" Creating the life you really want is a process. It is the journey that builds you into the person you were created to be. Don't despise small beginnings. That is where the fulfillment of your greatest potential begins.

In my books, Listen to Your Life and What's Really Holding You Back?, I talk about the importance of finding fulfillment in the five key areas of your life: Relationships, Money, Work, Health and Spiritual Life. Today, consider how you can start small, but start now to enhance and enrich each of the key areas of your life. Here are a few ideas:

1. RELATIONSHIPS.
Is there a grudge you need to let go of or someone you need to forgive? Could you be gentler or kinder to the people you love? In what "small" way could you improve some aspect of one or more of your relationships this week?

2. MONEY & RESOURCES
The "start small, start now" principle is especially measurable with your money. By what small amount could you increase your savings or retirement? What expenditure could you cut back on? What small change could you make to increase your income?

3. WORK
What would make your work more enjoyable or meaningful? Find something small that you can focus on this week that will make a difference for you and possibly even for those you work with.

4. HEALTH
So you haven't been eating well or working out as consistently as you'd like? Identify a small change you could make today. A ten-minute walk. Fifteen minutes of stretching. Or maybe you want to drink one more glass of water per day. Start small, but find something you can do TODAY that will benefit your health.

5. SPIRITUAL LIFE
Our perceptions of what it means to be "spiritual" can sometimes hinder our ability to develop a more meaningful, fulfilling relationship with God. Identify something small that you can do - pray during your commute, count your blessings when you wake up, listen to uplifting music in the background while you work, or deliberately find someone daily that you can bless through your words or actions.

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU THIS WEEK:
Start small, but start now! Identify one thing you are willing to do differently this week that will support you in moving closer to your vision of your ideal life.

JOURNALING ASSIGNMENT:
What aspect of your vision for your life overwhelms you? How could you apply the "start small, start now" approach to help you break it into small, manageable steps and move forward today?

Until next time ...

Warm wishes,

Valorie

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and invite others to subscribe! Just send them to
http://www.valorieburton.com where they can enter their email address on the home page.

Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards and her latest, What's Really Holding You Back?. She has been interviewed by CNN, InStyle, Self, Real Simple, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, The 700 Club, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other media outlets nationwide.
Subscribe to her FREE, inspirational e-newsletter at www.valorieburton.com.

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Please feel free to forward the Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety. The Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter is written and distributed by Inspire, Inc. Copyright (c) 2005 Valorie Burton. All rights reserved. http://www.ValorieBurton.com .

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Valorie Burton
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