Sunday, September 20, 2009

Letter from Indonesia about The Joy of Not Working

This is an e-mail I recently received about The Joy of Not Working:

    From Indonesia about The Joy of Not Working

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Fredy Irjadi
    To:     Ernie Zelinski < ( at ) telus (dot, dot) net
    Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 11:33 PM
    Subject: Introduction

    Dear Mr. Ernie Zelinski,

    First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Fredy, from Jakarta - Indonesia. I had read your book of "The Joy of Not Working" and I can say that is a great book ever I read before.
    For your information, I work in Information Technology for more than 9 years and I'm 31 years old now. Since year 2000, I try to establish my own business with IT Developer team, specialize in web application development. So every time we got the project, we develop together and I can call myself and my IT Developer team as a work alchololic to cathch up the schedule of the projects.

    But when I read your book, I believe and realize that I had spent my free time with useless activities, like : shopping, watching television or movie, have a party with friends, etc which I admitted to myself that those activities indirectly make me as a consumtive person. That's why I try to change myself. Now, I have my own therapy for myself; starting with exploring my hobbies and intention in painting, art and some how (amazingly) I have some ideas to make a new educated game for children.

    Hm, actually, at this time, I want to discuss many things regarding to your books. This is the first thing that I want to discuss with you. I admitted that your book can bring a new concept of healthy life for white-collar workers. I live in Jakarta - Indonesia, the capital city of Indonesia, which most of people here live very consumtive with disadvantage activities, like drunk, smoking, watching tv all day long, sleep all day long, etc. I do want to share this new concept by starting to my friends. But I don't think that this new concept can be accepted by my friends.

    For your information, Indonesia is located in South East Asia, which the people is very protective with new concept or idea by changing their habits. And it's hard for the people to change their habit into the positive one. For example, the book of Steven Covey, "The 7 Habbits", the popular one. This books takes many years (about 4-5 years) to change the attitude of the people here.

    Another thing, the book of Robert Kiyosaki, "Rich Dad Poor Dad", until this time, many people try to manipulate each other by Quadrant. But according to me, the book teach people how to manage their cash flow between cash flow in with the cash flow out.

    And according to me, your book also can be used to manipulate other mind by quitting the job and enjoy life. When I read your book, I know what's the most important point that you would deliver to the people that people should use their free time by doing something that can bring advantage to their self or to others. I don't know whether my point is correct or not. But I believe that my point of your book is fit my life

    Now the question that I would like to discuss with you. How to deliver my point of your book to my friends regarding to the culture of people here that so hard to accept new concept of life or idea that can change their habbit ?

    I guess that' all for this time and I'm looking forward your reply. Thank you very much for your attention.

    Have a nice day.

    Sincerely,

    Fredy Irjadi

    PS : Have you visit Indonesia ? Or Bali maybe ? If you haven't, I can accompany you someday.
    Cheers


Here are some retirement resources to check out:






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Friday, September 18, 2009

New ISBN Numbers for How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by VIP BOOKS was originally distributed by Ten Speed Press, but is now distibuted by National Book Network, which necessitated a change in ISBN numbers. (ISBN 10-Digit: 096941949X and 9780969419495 )

Here are other places where How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by VIP BOOKS is now featured with the new ISBN numbers:



Here is a bit about the book from the Open Library:

With a focus on the non-financial aspects of retirement, How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by Ernie J. Zelinski explores the myriad choices and decisions we are all confronted with in living out our retirement lives.

Easy to read and well laid out, this non-financial retirement book emphasizes preparing for retirement long before you retire. How to Retire Happy is a provocative, entertaining, down-to-earth, and tremendously inspiring book that will help you get more joy and satisfaction out of all your retirement activities.

Author and innovator Ernie J. Zelinski uses inspirational retirement quotes and even a retirement poem to guide you to:

  • Gain courage to take early retirement; in fact, the earlier the better.
  • Put money in proper perspective so that you don’t need a million dollars to retire.
  • Generate purpose in your retirement life with meaningful creative pursuits.
  • Follow your dreams instead of someone else’s.
  • Take charge of your mental, physical, and spiritual health.
  • Better envision your retirement goals — including where you want to retire.
  • Above all, make your retirement years the best time of your life.

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Graffiti for the Soul Series - Free E-books - Batteries Not Included


Some time ago I did a book called Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed: Graffiti for the Soul. Firefly Books paid me a $5,000 advance to publish the book.
Much against my wishes, Firefly changed the title to Off the Wall: Graffiti for the Soul.
I now provide the content from that book as seven free e-books (in PDF format).
These seven free ebooks of graffiti (in PDF format and graffito fonts) have it all:

Wisdom. Ridicule. Sarcasm. Nonsense. Comedy. Mockery. Social commentary. Valuable insight.
They are the ultimate compendium of creative college humor.

You can download the seven volumes of graffiti at the following links:
    Check out:




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    Monday, September 14, 2009

    Recent Stories about Baby Boomer Retirement


    Here are some recent stories about baby boomer retirees and how some are not faring as well as they would like.
      Thousands of retirees returning to old jobs: Federal Times By REBECCA NEAL National Science Foundation officials thought they'd found the perfect candidate in 2007 to head their Beijing office — a retiree with more . . .

      Boomers working longer; retirees returning: Corvallis Gazette TimesRecently I have been reading about the shifting demographics of older workers and something called encore careers. Marc Freedman has written a book titled ...

      Retirees 'face increased money problems: 'Independent Almost a third of people may face financial difficulties when they retire, the Financial Services Authority warned this week. Its research revealed that 31 ...
    Here is a more positive story about a retiree who is coping quite well:


    Here are two different versions of a The Best Retirement Book by Ernie Zelinski that is one of the Best Retirement Gifts to Give Yourself:



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    Tuesday, September 8, 2009

    Who Is the Artist for Cartoons in How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free



    Here are two latest e-mails about two of my books. This first one is about the Portuguese edition of The Lazy Person's Guide to Success. which is somewhat related to my latest book Career Success Without a Real Job.


      ----- Original Message -----
      From: Alex Vieira Silveira
      To: vip - books (at) telus ( dot ) net
      Sent: Tuesday, September 01, 2009 9:55 PM
      Subject: To Ernie Zelinski

      Hi! My name is Alex and Im sending this email from my job. Im reading a book of yours and Im almost changing my entire life.

      As you say in the book I used to live under the culture of "a hard work will make you a sucess man" but I never really liked it and recently I've discovered that I dont even like what I do. Im studying what I like and doing this job at home, and the ideas appeared from nowhere showing me how to pay my debt of R$5000 in 2 months, so Im thankful =)

      Very thanks Ernie

      Alex V. Silveira
      Técnico de suporte
      Girt-Sp /Bnc
      tel: (11) 3913-3747 /3913-3788
      www.ctis.com.br ou www.lojactis.com.br
    This second e-mail is about my Best-Selling Retirement Book , which makes a great promotional Retirement Gift Book.



      From: Ronald Crocker
      Subject: artist in How to Retire Happy Wild and Free
      To: " success 101 coach @ yahoo com"
      Received: Wednesday, September 2, 2009, 3:10 PM

      Dear Sir,

      First -- I enjoy your book and find it helpful. Retirement is offering me an arena in which to play and play I am!

      Second-- who is the cartoonist in HTRHWF? The cartoons remind me of an artist in Providence RI.

      Please advise.

      Ron Crocker
      Uxbridge MA
    This was my response:

      Hi Ron:

      First, thanks for the kind words about How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

      Second, to answer your question, the cartoon drawings in the book have actually been created by my graphic designer Verne Busby. He also created the cartoon figure used on the cover of the book but the 3-wheel bike and horse/donkey were my idea.

      Interestingly, not so long ago I received a threatening e-mail from some guy in the U.S. accusing me of stealing Herman cartoons and how he was going to report me and how I would be charged for copyright violation.

      I responded that although the drawings may have a Herman flavor, they were certainly not copies and the captions were made up by me.

      Incidentally, Jim Unger, who does Herman, is Canadian and living back somewhere in British Columbia after living in the Caribbean somewhere.

      I also told this guy that if he could find Jim Unger's address I would gladly send Jim Unger a copy of How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free without any concern of being sued or charged.

      Many thanks and so long for now,

      Ernie Zelinski
      World Class Author, Innovator, and Corporate Escape Artist
      Author of the Bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free
      (Over 110,000 copies sold and published in 9 languages)
      and The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed & Overworked
      (Over 225,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages)
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    Friday, September 4, 2009

    Do It Badly - But At Least Do It!


    Here is the Dedication that was used for my first book called The Art of Seeing Double or Better in Business:


    "To all the creative people throughout the ages who have been willing to risk, be different, challenge the status quo, ruffle a few feathers - and in the process - truly make a big difference in this world."


    This month makes it 20 years since I published that book, which was my first. I knew nothing about publishing but I went by my motto: Do It Badly - But At Least Do It!

    Here are some of my latest projects, which I am still doing under that motto Do It Badly - But At Least Do It!

    Or as Guy Kawasaki advises: "Be Crappy"







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