A Powerful Study Technique
How to reduce Anxiety
The Two Requirements of Success
Operating With The Truth
A Powerful Study Technique
L. Ron Hubbard discovered several reasons why education fails. Instead of placing the blame on teachers, society or the lack of education funds, his solutions revolve around study habits. Study habits determine the student’s success. The most important habit is to use a dictionary.

The Misunderstood Word

This study technique involves the most important study habit you can form. This one habit will allow you to successfully learn any subject, no matter how advanced.

To use this tool, you will need a dictionary. If you do not own one, you must buy one.

The best dictionary uses simple, easy-to-understand words in the definitions. It’s also helpful if the dictionary shows you the roots (derivations) of words.

Get out your dictionary and look at a few definitions. Are they easy for you to understand? Do they use simple words in the definitions?

If not, consider buying a simpler dictionary, such as a student or intermediate-level dictionary. If your dictionary is too simple, and does not give you derivations, get a more advanced dictionary.

Here is an explanation of this powerful study technique:

"The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is because he or she has gone past a word that was not understood.

"The confusion or inability to grasp or learn comes AFTER a word that the person did not have defined and understood.

"Have you ever had the experience of coming to the end of a page and realizing you didn't know what you had read? Well, somewhere earlier on that page you went past a word you had no definition for or an incorrect definition for.

"Here's an example. ‘It was found that when the crepuscule arrived the children were quieter and when it was not present, they were much livelier.’ You see what happens. You think you don't understand the whole idea, but the inability to understand came entirely from the one word you could not define, crepuscule, which means twilight or darkness. (Note: Read the crepuscule sentence again now that you understand the word.)

"It may not only be the new and unusual words that you will have to look up. Some commonly used words can often be misdefined and so cause confusion.

"This datum about not going past an undefined word is the most important fact in the whole subject of study. Every subject you have taken up and abandoned had its words which you failed to get defined.

"Therefore, in studying be very, very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand. If the material becomes confusing or you can’t seem to grasp it, there will be a word just earlier that you have not understood. Don’t go any further, but go back to BEFORE you got into trouble, find the misunderstood word and get it defined." —L. Ron Hubbard

Which areas in life do people avoid? Government, taxes, investments, law, medicine, electronics, high tech and so on.

Which areas have the most difficult words? Government, taxes, investments, law, medicine, electronics, high tech and so on.

When people cannot understand the words, they hate the subject. When people understand all the words in a subject, they can master the subject.

For example, if you wanted to learn about forming corporations, you could master the subject on your own. First, you would go to the library and check out several books on forming corporations. You would then go home with a good dictionary and slowly read the first page of the first book. You would use your dictionary to clear up every word that you weren’t sure about. You would probably start with the word "corporation." (Do you know what "corporation" really means? Look it up!)

Knowing where words come from (the derivations) also increases your understanding (“corporation” and “corpse” both come from the Latin word “corpus” meaning “body.”)

While reading your first corporation book you would never go past a sentence that didn’t make sense. Never! You would look up the definition of every confusing word. If it still didn’t make sense, you would look up every single word in the sentence. You would not skip the sentence until it was perfectly clear to you. As long as you were using the proper definitions for the words, the sentence would then make sense.

Learning about corporations might take a few days, but by the time you finished the first book, you would have a good understanding of corporations. By the time you finished the fifth book, you would know more about forming corporations than 99% of the population.

You could then form a complex corporation. Instead of paying an attorney $2500 to form it, you would pay an attorney $200 to check over your work.

Imagine what you could do if you understood all the words in a subject. You could read a book or manual and do anything!

You could build a web site, repair a car engine, prepare your own tax return, operate a bulldozer, understand diseases, do legal work and handle investments more easily.

Understanding the correct definition of every word in a sentence guarantees you correctly understand the sentence. Understanding every sentence you hear or read opens the door to mastering any topic.

So get out your dictionary and use it!

Your success depends on it.

How To Reduce Anxiety
There has never been a better time for worry. We have problems everywhere with the Iraqi war, potential terrorism and an unstable economy.

According to the news, we are seeing more businesses closing down, more home foreclosures and more people going broke. They say we have less confidence and greater anxiety.

Add in work problems or marriage problems and you get ANXIETY.

Symptoms

You worry about everything, big things, little things, imaginary things

You are afraid of making mistakes

You find it hard to make decisions

You feel nervous for no reason

You feel dizzy or weak or tired

You imagine the worst

Your body is tense

You sleep poorly

Three False Solutions

1. You visit your doctor and get a prescription for some anti-anxiety medication. After a few weeks, you feel calmer.

However, you dislike adding chemicals to your body. You don’t want the side effects. You hate needing a drug for your happiness.

2. You visit your local bar or liquor cabinet. After a drink or two you also feel calm.

Alcohol has the same disadvantages. You worry about your liver or alcoholism. You hate hangovers. You wish your happiness did not come from a bottle.

3. You go to a hypnotist or buy “subliminal” tapes that give you commands while you sleep.

If you can go under, you feel calmer after the sessions.

But again, you hate not being in control of your feelings, good or bad. Your anxiety comes back in new forms. You wonder what other commands the hypnotist gave to you.

One Simple, Powerful Solution

By making one easy change in your lifestyle, you can cut out a significant amount of stress and anxiety. All you do is stop listening to the Merchants (sellers, distributors) of Chaos (disorder, confusion).

It is to their [the Chaos Merchants'] interest to make the environment seem as threatening as possible for only then can they profit.”

Look over a newspaper. Is there anything good on the front page? Rather there is murder and sudden death, disagreement and catastrophe. And even that, bad as it is, is sensationalized to make is seem worse.” -— L. Ron Hubbard

Anyone who profits from the suffering of others becomes a Chaos Merchant if they seek to increase their income or popularity by making the world seem worse than it is.

For example, a politician makes crime seem like a bigger problem than anyone ever thought it was. He promises to fight crime better than his opponent. He wins if he scares enough people.

An arms dealer tells one country, “This country has secretly purchased some bombs and has pointed them at you. You need to buy some bombs and point them at their capital.”

Certain lawyers are Chaos Merchants. For example, they say, “A friend of mine in the District Attorney’s office told me they are going to investigate you and want to put you in jail. I can probably keep you out of jail, but my retainer is $75,000.”

Of course, newspapers, news magazines and television news make the most money by spreading as much bad news as possible. The more terrifying the news, the more people will watch their television news or buy their papers and magazines. They make us think we have to listen to them to protect ourselves.

Recommendations

1. Stop reading newspapers and news magazines. Just completely cut out the news in your life.

Instead, read an interesting book.

2. Stop watching the news on television. How does it help you or anyone to know about deaths, danger and catastrophes?

Instead, watch an upbeat show or take a walk.

3. Avoid people who like to pass on disturbing “news.”

Instead, spend time with people who like to pass on cheerful news.

4. After 7-10 days, notice how you have been feeling.

5. If you are not sure if the chaos merchants really have any effect on you, do the above steps for 7-10 days. And then go back and read the newspapers, watch the news and listen to disturbing people for a few days. Notice how you feel now.

Benefits

Nearly everyone who breaks off all association with Chaos Merchants notices benefits like these.

* You find other parts of your life are more interesting.

* You notice your life feels less dangerous.

* You eat better and sleep better.

* You laugh more easily.

* You are less afraid.

* You feel healthier.

* You feel calmer.

The Two Requirements of Success
Ross and Sue work at an auto dealership selling cars. Neither are doing very well. Each has a different approach to selling.

Ross talks loudly, grabs your hand and pats your back. He likes to bully people into taking test drives and making offers.

Ross says, “This REALLY is the best car for you! You look GREAT in it! I’ll get you an INCREDIBLE DEAL! Sit down. Let’s make an offer. Wait a minute! You can’t leave yet!”

Sue takes a different approach. She says, “You know if you consider the engineering and statistical advances of this model, and compare it to the consumer surveys of the past three years, you can make a wise decision. It’s good to analyze your cost-per-year maintenance figures against the gas mileage, depreciation of the vehicle and initial cost.”

Ross tries to close the deal by saying, “Come ON! You’ll never get a BETTER DEAL! You need to buy it NOW! What the heck are you waiting for?”

Sue tries to close the deal by saying, “Your decision should be based on your income, your commuting needs and your values. I suggest you weigh the pros and cons while discussing the issue with your family.”

Neither approach is very successful.

Unsuccessful Leadership

You find unsuccessful management everywhere. Certain leaders are too forceful. “Get the project done by tomorrow or you are fired.” “I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE SICK. GET THE SALES UP RIGHT NOW!”

They might have short-term success, but never long-term success.

Other unsuccessful leaders are intelligent “nice guys.” They say, “According to our market research and strategic planning you can increase sales by 13% by emphasizing our more profitable line of products and targeting our top 20% wholesale buyers.”

Neither approach is very successful.

The Winning Combination

ll battles are won by a combination of two elements, and these are force and intelligence.”

You take something like an atomic bomb that can obliterate an entire country, that is tremendous, tremendous force. And it succeeds in short-term wins.“

The wise men of Tibet were, just a few years ago, driven out of their mountain fortresses by the dumbest infantrymen the world has known for some time.”

The long-term win is achieved by a balance between force and intelligence.” — L. Ron Hubbard

To succeed, you need your own balance of force and intelligence.

A good executive not only gives accurate instructions and good planning (intelligence), he or she must also have enough persistence and intensity (force) to push the plans through.

For example, the boss concludes the prices are too low. He writes an order raising the prices. The sales staff object. The boss maintains a position and insists on the price increase despite all opposition. To succeed, and have enough money to pay the staff, the boss must not waiver.

Successful salespeople give the customer plenty of information about the product and then use, as needed, some passion to motivate the customer to buy. He or she may also have to disagree with the customer’s demands for a lower price.

Successful parents not only work out rules that are fair and beneficial to the family, they enforce those rules. No rules or no enforcement are both unsuccessful.

You can spend all day planning your success, but you also need to work as many hours as necessary to make it happen.

If you are not succeeding like you should be succeeding, what do you need to increase? Your intelligence or your force?

Check out the list of qualities below for areas you can improve in yourself.

Types of Intelligence You Need to Succeed

Education, reading, writing, researching, planning, goal setting, explanations, logic, computer work, policy setting, learning from mistakes, examining consequences, powers of observation, problem solving, ability to reason, learning from others, training others, reaching conclusions, creativity, sense of humor, judgement, accurate analysis of facts, ability to understand people and more.

Types of Force You Need to Succeed

Persistence, passion, an ability to disagree, physical activity, taking action, courage, starting things, continuing despite opposition, finishing things, ability to motivate people or make them laugh, persuasion, endurance, personal power, forceful speech, domination, intention, drive, ability to handle stress, hard work, demand, confrontation, toughness, control, the ability to hold a position, ability to work long hours, intensity and so on.
Operating with the Truth
When you state the truth, you succeed.

For example, if you exaggerate a customer’s problem to increase your income, you run into problems. The customer can sense the lie, no matter how sincere you act. If you are caught, the penalties are painful.

If you understate the customer’s problem or your fees, you are selling out what you know to be true. You prevent your customer from making the proper decisions. You feel like a wimp.

You must look the customer in the eye, without hesitation, and deal with the truth. The customer can then act accordingly. You did your job even if the person doesn’t like the truth.

When you have the courage to call the truth the truth you become a more powerful force. It is easy to hold a position on an honest fact.

For example, your software adds numbers incorrectly. You call the software technician who looks it over. He says, "the problem is the user; the software is fine." You pull out a calculator and prove the computer’s answer is wrong.

Because you know the truth, you refuse to agree with the technician. No matter how smart the expert is, or how inexperienced the user is, you KNOW the figures do not add up. You have personal integrity.

The same idea applies to your family, spouse and friends. You agree or disagree based on what you know to be true, not on what they want you to believe.

Integrity

Integrity means you stick to your personal code of conduct. You stick to what you decide is right and wrong.

When you live with integrity, you succeed. You are open and honest. Your life is uncomplicated and less stressful.

When you have good integrity you have no reason to lie. You can look at yourself in the mirror. You have nothing to hide.

The Best Code of Conduct for You

So what is right and ethical for you? How do you work out your own code of conduct?

"WHAT IS TRUE FOR YOU is what you have observed yourself

"And when you lose that you have lost everything.

"What is personal integrity?

"Personal integrity is knowing what you know

"What you know is what you know

"And to have the courage to know and say what you have observed.

"And that is integrity

"And there is no other integrity." — L. Ron Hubbard

No one needs to tell you what is right or wrong. You can see and decide for yourself.

For example, Dave may decide it is perfectly fine to drink wine with dinner. Steve may observe the same issue and decide it is wrong to drink wine. Both individuals made their own decisions. Both are operating with integrity.

Maggie may decide spending money on vacations is a crime while Lisa may decide skipping a vacation is a crime. Both make their own decisions about what is right and wrong.

Like most people, you have probably decided it is wrong to not support your family, abandon a friend, steal from your company, cheat on your marriage, shoplift, abuse drugs and so on.

You probably believe it is good to work hard, be kind to your parents, have fun, pay your bills, tell the truth, return things you borrow and so on.

You know the truth when you see it. You know you are using integrity when you look in a mirror.

When you deceive your partner, you both lose a little. If you lie to your spouse, you lose a little. Whenever you abandon what you know to be true, you lose.

Nothing makes you more miserable than “selling out” and failing to stick to your integrity.

10 Benefits of Living with Integrity

1. When you stick to what you know is right or wrong, you don’t regret anything you have done.

2. People follow your example and act more honestly.

3. Your powers of observation are more accurate. You can see the truth about others more easily.

4. No need to keep your stories straight as your stories are facts. Less mental work is required.

5. You handle rejection and criticism more easily. For example, you are not bothered if someone says, "You charge too much!” As you have no doubt that your fees are fair, you know the other person has the problem.

6. You have fewer personality conflicts with others even when you are aggressive.

7. You fight crimes against you with more ferocity when you have nothing to hide.

8. When you make a mistake, it is easy to accept responsibility and move forward.

9. You earn the reputation as a person with integrity. For example, employees brag about honest bosses. "He might be more honest about your work than you might want to hear, but he’s fair and doesn’t lie."

10. Your odds of being sued, fined or convicted of a crime go way down.
Copyright © 2003 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard. Programmed in the United States.