man helping a disabled man get out of the car

Are You Going the Extra Mile and Adding Value…

I recently read an e-newsletter from a friend of mine, Jim Mathis that was so good I asked permission to share a summary with you. Here it is… Jim was attending a conference in Portland and flew across the continent to get there. In flight, he started feeling sick – we’re talking spending much of[…]

man holding megaphone

Three Keys to Being Heard…

Last week I attended a media and broadcast convention. The exhibitors and attendees of the event were all involved in some aspect of media – radio programmers, television programmers, publishers, podcasters, cable, and online streaming networks – everyone looking to capture a wide listening, viewing, reading audience. Authors and leaders of various organizations were lining[…]

measuring progress

You Can’t Manage What You Can’t Measure…

Earlier in my career, I spent many years working for a major media company founded by a gifted entrepreneur named Stephen Strang. I learned many things in my time working with Steve, but one phrase that he often said that I picked up was this; “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” I don’t know[…]

Five noteworthy “mistakes” that became brilliant ideas…

You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrase, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Sometimes our best ideas are born from the substance of our biggest blunders. Well, here are some noteworthy ideas that started as something, let’s just say, less impressive. 1. Cornflakes: The Kellog Brothers, John, and Will were just trying to boil a pot of[…]

stressed out writer

Why You Should Avoid Self-publishing

As an author, once you are ready to see your manuscript developed in book form, you will face a dilemma. Should you seek the help of a publishing house or take the self-publishing route? The latter means handling the printing, editing, proofreading, formatting, book cover design, ebook conversion, filing copyrights, distribution, and marketing by yourself. […]

group meeting to discuss brand

Is Your Brand Contagious? Keys to Standing Out in a Crowded Market

Authors may struggle to understand the need to invest in creating a brand. However, an author’s brand is just as important as that of an athlete or a trainee management consultant. The goal is to create an affinity to help sell books, skills, or merchandise. In a crowded market, where content bombards people in multiple[…]

man speaking in megaphone

Your Words Matter

I believe there is something mystically powerful about spoken words. Words have the power to pierce flesh and blood, to both wound and inspire the human soul. Mental health counselors and psychologists make a lot of money and spend hours undoing damage created by spoken words. How many precious sons and daughters, people marvelously made in the image[…]