Creatively Ever After: A Path To Innovation by Alicia Arnold - Book review

Creatively Ever After

A Path to Innovation

By: Alicia Arnold

Published: August 14, 2011
Format: Paperback, 182 pages
ISBN-10: 0983440514
ISBN-13: 978-0983440512
Publisher: Alder Hill Press





"Given the complexity of creativity, I struggled with the dryness of fact. That's when I recalled the energy and childlike wonder that existed when using nursery rhymes to teach creativity", writes speaker and certified facilitator of the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving process, Alicia Arnold, in her highly imaginative and creative thought inducing book Creatively Ever After: A Path to Innovation. The author presents the Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving process (CPS) through a re-imagining the very inspired fable of Jack and Jill.

Alicia Arnold recognizes the importance of creativity to executive success. Creative thinking is integral to the innovation process, but the essential skills for creativity are lacking in many executives. The author offers a unique and compelling solution for jump starting creativity within any organization through the engaging and user friendly use of nursery rhymes. Story and fable hold a deep resonance in people, and reawaken the same sense of wonder they experienced and enjoyed as children. Alicia Arnold uses the well known nursery rhyme of Jack and Jill as an effective tool for bringing out the latent creativity in executives. Through this familiar and refreshing concept, the more complex principles within CPS are integrated into the organization and its employees.



Alicia Arnold (photo left) understands the difficulty that many organizations experience with creative thinking. Even though finding the solutions to complex problems and developing innovative problems and services are critical to business success, many organizations and their executives struggle with the creative process. Alicia Arnold share a non-threatening and enjoyable means of teaching and developing creativity, as part of the organizational culture, through fable and nursery rhymes.

The CPS principles presented in the book, through story, are suitable for both individual, group, or company wide problem solving and innovation. The CPS process features the following steps:

* Identify the goal, wish, or challenge
* Gather data
* Clarify the problem
* Generate ideas
* Develop the solution
* Plan for action

For me,the power of the book is how Alicia Arnold presents the principles and process of Osborn-Parnes Creative Problem Solving (CPS) in an enjoyable story based format that engages the reader. The author doesn't simply offer a business fable, but utilizes the various aspects of the narrative to illustrate the CPS principles in action. The author's imaginative blending of a well known nursery rhyme, with the steps of the CPS process, provides a memorable and repeatable system that can be incorporated into any organization. With creativity and innovation being even more essential to business survival and growth, this book offers a proven set of tools that will unlock the creativity that exists in everyone and in all companies.

I highly recommend the enjoyable and idea filled book Creatively Ever After: A Path to Innovation by Alicia Arnold, to anyone seeking a refreshing and entertaining approach to creativity that is both effective and repeatable as a process. The CPS method provided in the book will help executives overcome even the most difficult problems and challenges facing their organization.

Read the leadership and innovation building book Creatively Ever After: A Path to Innovation by Alicia Arnold, and transform your company into a creative and innovative powerhouse through the application of the CPS process. This book, with its very imaginative use of story and nursery rhyme, will guide even the most reluctant executive toward unleashing their creative potential for the benefit of the entire organization.

Tags: Creatively Ever After: A Path to Innovation, Alicia Arnold, creativity and innovation, business book reviews.

100th One Million by One Million free roundtable

What began in 2008 as an interactive forum to encourage entrepreneurship in the wake of the financial crisis continues to gain momentum. The One Million by One Million (1M/1M) initiative will be celebrating the 100th free online roundtable for entrepreneurs on Thursday, October 6, 2011.

Of the more than 7,000 entrepreneurs who have registered for these free roundtables, well over 400 have pitched their businesses and received coaching from Sramana Mitra. She reflects on the journey.

During the 100th roundtable, several entrepreneurs who work with 1M/1M from all over the world will be sharing their entrepreneur journeys - their experiences and goals - as inspiration for other startup entrepreneurs. These 1M/1M entrepreneurs, who usually meet during the members-only private roundtables, are at various stages of building their businesses. Each will provide an insider's view of the 1M/1M program.

This interactive roundtable will be moderated by Sramana Mitra, founder of the One Million by One Million (1M/1M) initiative, an educational, business development and incubation program that aims to help one million entrepreneurs globally to reach $1 million in revenue and beyond.



Sramana Mitra (photo left)

"We are very proud of the progress our 1M/1M entrepreneurs are making. At this stage, we have validated our model of a distributed, democratic and 100% virtual entrepreneurship education and incubation program," said Sramana Mitra. "We are able to positively impact the journeys of entrepreneurs around the world. It gives me confidence that we can achieve our goal of restructuring capitalism, and establish capitalism 2.0 through the 1M/1M global initiative."

On a typical Thursday, all attendees are invited to pitch their businesses at these free online roundtables. Entrepreneurs receive straight-shooting feedback from Sramana Mitra, advice on what their next steps should be and the experience of pitching their businesses in a public forum.

Sramana is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and strategy consultant who writes the blog Sramana Mitra On Strategy, and she is the author of the Entrepreneur Journeys book series.

1M/1M entrepreneurs who will be sharing their experiences on camera include:

·Dan Stewart, President at Happy Grasshopper (Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S.)

·Gioacchino La Vecchia, CEO at CrowdEngineering (Milan, Italy)

·Vikrant Mathur, Co-Founder at iFood.tv (Shttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifan Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S.)

·Girish Mathrubootham, Founder & CEO at FreshDesk (Chennai, India)

·Taariq Lewis, Founder & CEO at Stanzr (San Francisco Bay Area, California, U.S.)

·Michael Goldman, Founder of Wealth Gathering (Portland, Maine, U.S.)

·Suresh Sambandam, Founder & CEO at OrangeScape (Chennai, India)

·Michaeline Daboul, President & Co-Founder, MMIS, Inc. (Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S.)

·Scott Clark, Senior Vice President and Partner, Value of Insight Consulting (Miami, Florida, U.S.)

·Ashok Jagathrakshakan, Founder and President at Azuyo (Bangalore, India)

·Ajit Narayanan, Engineer and Founder at Invention Labs (Chennai, India)

You can find more information and register to attend.

Tags: One Million by One Million (1M/1M), Sramana Mitra, entrepreneurship, business roundtables.

Phil Simon: Why New Systems Fail - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Leading independent technology consultant, and author of the landmark and very hands on book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects, Phil Simon, describes why so many technology initiatives fail for so many companies. Phi Simon points out that an alarming three out of five new IT projects fail. Some miss deadlines, others exceed their initial budgets, some fail to produce expected results, while others experience major problems almost immediately. Phil Simon understands that things don't have to be that way for new IT projects. He shares ideas for creating the necessary framework to ensure success, including the right tools and insights that are proven in the real world. Learn the root causes of IT systems failures, and discover how to prevent problems from derailing your new IT system project.

Phil Simon is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, September 29, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Leading independent technology consultant, and author of the landmark and very hands on book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects, Phil Simon, describes why so many technology initiatives fail for so many companies. You will learn:

* Why so many IT system implementations fail

* How to plan a new IT system project for success

* Why getting everyone in the organization on board is critical

* How to keep the new IT system operating smoothly

Phil Simon (photo left) s the author of the The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies (Motion, 2010),Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects (Cengage, 2010) and The Next Wave of Technologies (John Wiley & Sons, 2010).

A recognized technology expert, he consults companies on how to optimize their use of technology. His contributions have been featured on ZDNet, the American Express Open Forum, ComputerWorld, The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, ReadWriteWeb, abcnews.com, forbes.com, and many other sites.

While not consulting, Phil speaks about emerging trends and technologies. He also writes for a number of technology-oriented media outlets. He received a BS in policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University and a masters in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.

My book review of Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects by Phil Simon.

My book review of The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies by Phil Simon.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with leading independent technology consultant, and author of the landmark and very hands on book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects, Phil Simon, as he describes why so many technology initiatives fail for so many companies. Phi Simon points out that an alarming three out of five new IT projects fail. Some miss deadlines, others exceed their initial budgets, some fail to produce expected results, while others experience major problems almost immediately. Phil Simon understands that things don't have to be that way for new IT projects. He shares ideas for creating the necessary framework to ensure success, including the right tools and insights that are proven in the real world. Learn the root causes of IT systems failures, and discover how to prevent problems from derailing your new IT system project on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects, Phil Simon, IT system implementation, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Why New Systems Fail by Phil Simon - Book review

Why New Systems Fail

An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects

By: Phil Simon

Published: February 23, 2010
Format: Paperback, 351 pages
ISBN-10: 1435456440
ISBN-13: 978-1435456440
Publisher: Course Technology PTR












"Although the specifics vary quite a bit based on the industry, the type and scope of the new system, many system failures have similar root causes, issues, costs, and ultimately, consequences", writes technology consultant, speaker, and thought leader Phil Simon, in his landmark and very hands on book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects. The author describes the major causes of new information technology (IT) system failures, and provides strategies for preventing problems at any point during or after system implementation.

Phil Simon understands that many companies lack the knowledge or information necessary for planning, purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining a new or replacement IT system. While the author points out that many of the more specific causes of disappointment and breakdown may vary from industry to industry, the same basic issues are common to most unsatisfactory implementations. Phil Simon delves into the real root causes of problems that create and stem from even the most seemingly well planned and timed system activations. The author shares his considerable experience in all aspects of IT system implementation from the initial planning stages, through selection and installation, training and responsibility of staff, long term maintenance, and eventual replacement.



Phil Simon (photo left) offers a viable and pragmatic approach to implementing a new IT system, either as an initial venture or as a replacement for an existing legacy system. The author understands the critical importance of planning a strategy for purchasing, establishing, operating, and maintaining a system prior to taking action. Without appropriate planning in place, even top quality and well suited systems can result in breakdown and eventual failure.

Phil Simon offers insights into the four most common sources of failure and how to mitigate their inherent problems:

* The unmitigated disaster
* The big failure
* The mild failure
* The forthcoming failure

For me, the power of the book is how Phil Simon combines a theoretical analysis of the causes and consequences of IT system failure, with some very practical and real world based strategies and solutions to achieve a successful system implementation. The author guides business leaders, decision makers, and system users through the entire process from the planning stage to the eventual long term replacement with another new system.

Phil Simon not only addresses the technical aspects of an IT installation project from a project management perspective, but also examines and shares ideas for working effectively with the people involved in the process. All too often, people are left out of the process, and Phil Simon includes leaders, IT personnel, and other managers in the entire event from the very beginning. The author also shares some helpful case studies, that illustrate the principles offered in the book, to demonstrate the strategies at work in the real world.

I highly recommend the definitive and must read book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects by Phil Simon, to anyone in any industry who is considering the installation of a first IT system, or the replacement of an existing legacy IT system. This book will help business leaders, decision makers, and staff people navigate the entire implementation process, and to avoid the all too frequent sources of failure that have derailed even the most well planned implementations.

Read the essential and proven strategy packed book Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects by Phil Simon, and discover how to plan and put a successful and reliable IT system into action in your organization. This book will not only demonstrate the right way to instal and implement a great IT system, but will help you to avoid the mistakes that cause current and future disasters as well.

Tags: Why New Systems Fail: An Insider's Guide to Successful IT Projects, Phil Simon, IT system implementation, business book reviews.

Blog Business Success Fifth Anniversary Show - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Along with members of the BlogTalkRadio community,former guests, and friends, we celebrate my my five fun filled years hosting Blog Business Success on BlogTalkRadio. Feel free to call in and voice your opinions about the show, my topics and guests, and the tremendous service provided on BlogTalkRadio. It's a real honor and a privilege to be a host and a member of the BlogTalkRadio family. Thanks to BlogTalkRadio CEO Alan Levy for creating this wonderful internet radio platform.

To call in with your questions and comments, the number is: (347) 996-5832

All of you are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, September 27, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in with your questions and comments, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with with members of the BlogTalkRadio community,former guests, and friends, we celebrate my my five fun filled years hosting Blog Business Success on BlogTalkRadio. Feel free to call in and voice your opinions about the show, my topics and guests, and the tremendous service provided on BlogTalkRadio. It's a real honor and a privilege to be a host and a member of the BlogTalkRadio family on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Blog Business Success Fifth Anniversary Show, Alan Levy, BlogTalkRadio community, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Help! for Writers by Roy Peter Clark - Book review

Help! For Writers

210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces

By: Roy Peter Clark

Published: September 21, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0316126713
ISBN-13: 978-0316126717
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company









"Writing is not magic. It's a craft, a process, a set of steps. As with any process, things sometimes break down. Even in a good story, the writer runs into problems. So the act of writing always includes problem solving", writes accomplished author, and Vice President and Senior Scholar of the world-renowned Poynter Institute, Roy Peter Clark,in his very comprehensive and hands on book Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces. The author provides a highly practical and step by step process, for solving even the most seemingly intractable writing problems, that restarts the creative process for even the most frustrated writer.

Roy Peter Clark understands that all authors face challenges and blockades at some point in the overall writing journey. Somewhere between the finding the idea and the conclusion of the work, the writer may find times where the story or narrative gets lost on the voyage. Instead of either telling the writer to simply work harder or find a new muse, Roy Peter Clark deconstructs the writing process into its component parts. As with any process, breakdowns can occur, and this book provides a repair and operating guide that offers real solutions to the most common writing challenges. Roy Peter Clark categorizes the most vexing issues, that are common to all writers and writing efforts, into user friendly segments that help the author create and complete the book with fewer headaches.



Roy Peter Clark (photo left) recognizes that writing and the act of creation are not some romantic vision from the great unknown, but a real process like any other building type. In this case, what is being developed and built is a story, that will result in a book that finds a reading audience. For Roy Peter Clark, the concept of process means that each step is likely to be repeated over and over, by every author that begins the book creation journey. The author examines and breaks down the writing process in the same way that a mechanic or carpenter would consider the various aspects of their own processes.

Roy Peter Clark examines the writing process through seven basic steps, that address similar problems and locations within the process, common to all authors:

* Getting started
* Getting your act together
* Finding focus
* Looking for language
* Building a draft
* Assessing your progress
* Making a draft

For me, the power of the book is how Roy Peter Clark reassesses the overall concept of writing, and the various obstacles that can prevent it taking place, and applies a systems analysis type solution. The author reinvents the entire premise of writing a book, as being one of a repeatable and manageable problem solving process. Through this critical insight, Roy Peter Clark transforms the entire dynamic of writing from one based on some romantic ideal of alleged flashes of creation, to one of finding solutions to frequently encountered writing challenges.

By breaking the process down into a series of steps and milestones, the Roy Peter Clark removes that sense of being overwhelmed by an incomprehensible project. Instead, the writing of a book becomes a series of everyday problems with proven solutions, with discernible milestones met and passed along the way to completion. The author also shares his list of favorite books on writing to help authors find additional information and ideas for their current and future book projects.

I highly recommend the essential and idea packed writers' guide book Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces by Roy Peter Clark, to any current or aspiring authors seeking real and readily applicable solutions to the most frequently encountered writing problems. This book provides a valuable source of techniques and strategies for overcoming those barriers to completion of the work.

Read the engaging and very hands on book Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces by Roy Peter Clark, and discover that writing a book shares much in common with other crafts, trades, and creative endeavors. Instead of being dependent on some distant and difficult to conjure muse, writing is a craft that can be involves a system of problems and solutions. This book will change the way you think about and approach the writing process. It will also help you and guide you toward the goal of a completed and ready to publish book.

Tags: Help! For Writers: 210 Solutions to the Problems Every Writer Faces, Roy Peter Clark, book writing process, business book reviews.

The Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile & Steven Kramer - Book review

The Progress Principle

Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work

By: Teresa M. Amabile, Steven J. Kramer

Published: July 19, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 142219857X
ISBN-13: 978-1422198575
Publisher: Harvard Business Press











"Management, when done well, can propel an organization toward success while enhancing the lives of people working within it. And when managers accomplish these two goals, their own inner work lives will be uplifted", write Edsel Bryant Ford Professor of Business Administration and a Director of Research at Harvard Business School, Teresa Amabile, and leading development psychologist, Steven Kramer, in their pioneering and thought provoking book The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. The authors describe the importance of a happy and fulfilled inner life for employees, and how these engaged and empowered employees create a high performance and profitable company.

Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer recognize that conventional management thinking and practice is not effective in creating joy and engagement at work. Through their extensive research, involving hundreds of managers, the authors confirmed that managers have a fundamental lack of understanding of employee motivation. This failure grasp the true meaning of motivation was shared by managers at all organizational levels, and at locations all around the world. The authors discovered, through their research, that facilitating progress, even in small winning steps, resulted in an ever more engaged and motivated employees. Despite these findings in support of progress, the managers interviewed for the survey, ranked supporting progress the least important motivational factor.



Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer (both in photo left) present the case for nurturing and developing progress as crucial to a motivated workforce. The authors share their research findings as a guide to facilitating progress, regardless of its size or magnitude, as a key to employee motivation. Through developing an employee's inner life, managers will discover an enhanced external productivity boost. The study found that inner work life is so critical to a company's overall success, that neglecting the workforce's inner work life will lower the performance of even the best business strategy.

Because inner work life is so deeply influenced by events, both large and small at work, it's of paramount importance for leaders to recognize and improve the inner work life of everyone in the organization. The authors identified three key events that supported the inner work life of employees:

* Progress in meaningful work
* Catalysts as events that help project work
* Nourishers as events that uplift the spirits of people at work

For me, the power of the book is how Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer combine top level research results with practical and actionable concepts for building an employee's inner work life. The authors share their ground breaking research in an understandable and format that guides business leaders toward creating an organization that both engages and empowers employees. The recognition that engaged employees, are one of the key ingredients to developing an top performing company, turns traditional management theory upside down.

The authors demonstrate clearly that the old ideas of management are not only counterproductive, but also result in lower productivity and a reduced bottom line. The case studies, of both successful and less profitable companies, underlines and illustrates the value of the research data for any company.

I highly recommend the landmark book The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, to any business leaders, at any level and in any industry, who are seeking a statistically valid study into enhancing employee motivation. This book will transform the way business leaders and managers think about employee engagement and empowerment, and seek to instil them into all levels of their organizations.

Read the important and productivity increasing book The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, and discover how engaged and empowered employees will increase your company's performance and improve your business bottom line. You will never return to the older and outmoded theories of employee motivation again.

Tags: The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work, Teresa Amabile, Steven Kramer, employee engagement and empowerment, business book reviews.

Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism & Public Relations by Tony Silvia & Terry Anzur - Book review

Power Performance

Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations

By: Tony Silvia, Terry Anzur

Published: June 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 296 pages
ISBN-10: 1405198699
ISBN-13: 978-1405198691
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell











"The best public relations practitioners think like journalists when pitching stories or crafting a client's image and journalists must acquire the public relations skills needed to manage their own brands", write Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of South Florida, Tony Silvia, and international media consultant and multimedia talent coach, Terry Anzur, in their pioneering and landmark book Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations. The authors describe why and how both journalists and public relations professional must learn and utilize multimedia storytelling across various media platforms, including social media.



Tony Silvia (photo left) and Terry Anzur recognize that traditional journalism often downplays or even ignores public relations entirely. The authors present public relations as complementary to journalism, and emphasize the critical importance of multimedia storytelling for both professions. The authors understand the importance of stories to the human experience and to the deeper understanding of the events and actions of people and of the world around them.

The authors provide the tools and techniques necessary for crafting a story through the various social and multimedia platforms. Multimedia is now an integral part of the journalistic and public relations landscape, and understanding the language and tools of of multimedia are essential in telling the important stories to audiences of anywhere from one person to the entire global community.



Terry Anzur (photo left) and Tony Silvia describe the role of the traditional journalist and the citizen journalist, as storytellers and their role in a multimedia world. For public relations practitioners, the ability to communicate story across broadcast, print, and internet based media is now crucial to their ability to serve their clients, and to interact with journalists of all types. To achieve multimedia storytelling proficiency, the authors share the tools for successful idea communication.

Along with the ability to tell story, and to relate the truth in journalism, the authors also share an important discussion of the ethics that are critical to true professionalism. The authors also distinguish between what constitutes excellence in multimedia storytelling from weak, unethical, and ineffective techniques, ensuring that professionals understand the impact of the tools and platforms.

For me, the power of the book is how Tony Silvia and Terry Anzur describe the theoretical aspects of multimedia storytelling, and combine those concepts with the practical tools, techniques, and platforms that form the multimedia landscape. The authors demonstrate why multimedia storytelling is important for both journalists and public relations professionals. They augment the reasons for understanding and utilizing multimedia storytelling with the skills needed to tell story effectively across all media. The authors bolster their informative book with profiles of leading journalists and public relations practitioners who are using multimedia storytelling effectively on all media platforms.

I highly recommend the information packed and valuable book Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations by Tony Silvia and Terry Anzur, to any journalists, bloggers, public relations practitioners, and business people who are seeking a hands on guide to telling story in a multimedia world. This book will transform your message from a weak and ineffective one, to an authentic and compelling story that is understood readily by the audience.

Read the seminal book Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations by Tony Silvia and Terry Anzur, and discover the importance of a multimedia story telling approach to journalism and public relations. This book will give you the tools necessary to tell your story on any media platform effectively, and to any size or type of audience.

Tags: Power Performance: Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism and Public Relations, Tony Silvia, Terry Anzur, journalism and public relations, business book reviews.

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The 11 Laws of Likability by Michelle Tillis Lederman - Book review

The 11 Laws of Likability

Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like

By: Michelle Tillis Lederman

Published: September 15, 2011
Format: Paperback, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0814416373
ISBN-13: 978-0814416372
Publisher: AMACOM











"We do not need to focus with laserlike precision on what our takeaway from a conversation will be, because building relationships is not about transactions - it's about connections. It is about creating opportunities for honest and authentic interactions, and making them advantageous for all parties involved. It's about liking and being liked", writes founder and CEO of Executive Essentials, adjunct professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, and author of the inspirational and very hands on book The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like. The author describes how networking, while very valuable for making connections, is often too focused on immediate goals instead of the deeper, richer, and more personally gratifying consideration of making lasting and authentic connections.

Michelle Tillis Lederman turns the entire concept of networking upside down and points out that networking isn't about the person doing the networking. It's all about the relationship with other people. Instead of focusing on personal gain or oneself, the emphasis should be on building relationships with others that create mutual benefit. Instead of the all too obviously self serving techniques often taught to would be networkers, the author proposes a radically different approach. Instead of thinking in terms of personal gain, Michelle Tillis Lederman recommends building deep and meaningful relationships. The author understands that people do business with those people who they know, like, and trust.



Michelle Tillis Lederman (photo left) presents an entirely fresh approach to the concept of networking. The author shows people how to share their own personal elements of likability, and develop relationships that are open, honest, and authentic. Instead of approaching meetings and networking events with an objective or intention, the author suggests building relationships through conversation, empathy, and genuine interaction instead. Michelle Tillis Lederman offers a complete personal philosophical change in perspective. The author provides eleven laws that underline and emphasize the basic change in outlook. The three basic perspective changes are as follows:

* From thinking of Me to thinking of We
* From focusing on Work to discussing Any Topic
* Changing the time focus from Now to Long term

As a result, the author demonstrates the critical importance of not only being liked by other people, but also of genuinely liking them as well. The personal change will be one toward the relationships created with other paper, and away from oneself.

For me, the power of the book is how Michelle Tillis Lederman combines a strong philosophical approach to the topic of likability, which some practical techniques for making friends. The author shares realistic scenarios of the principles in action as well, to illustrate how the premise of relationship building works. The author turns the very idea of networking on its head, and instead of utilizing a self centered goal for the contact, Michelle Tillis Lederman offers the mutual benefits of creating deeper relationships instead. The eleven laws make up the core of the book, and each one of these valuable and insightful laws provides a different means of building even more relationships.

I highly recommend the network focus altering book The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like by Michelle Tillis Lederman, to anyone seeking a relationship oriented approach to business in general, and to networking in particular. Instead of being a detriment to creating business, creating relationships rather then setting goals and outcomes for each interpersonal interaction, is really the key to mutually beneficial and long lasting success.

Read the essential and timeless wisdom filled book The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like by Michelle Tillis Lederman, and discover the supposedly old fashioned idea that people prefer to work with those who they know, like, and trust, is still the road to success. Liking others, and having them also like you, transforms business into pleasurable personal relationships that benefit everyone.

Tags: The 11 Laws of Likability: Relationship Networking . . . Because People Do Business with People They Like, Michelle Tillis Lederman, interpersonal dynamics, business book reviews.

Alina Wheeler: Brand Atlas Branding Intelligence Made Visible - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Branding consultant, thought leader and co-author of big picture overview and visionary book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible, Alina Wheeler, describes how not only companies, but also countries, communities, and individuals, are leveraging their brands to gain a huge advantage in the marketplace. Alina describes the most important and leading edge brand concepts that are transforming branding everywhere. With the twenty-first century consumer enjoying unprecedented power, brand builders need to stick to the basics of their brands, while remaining calm in a rapidly changing world. Learn how to seize those unique and profitable brand opportunities when they arise.

Alina Wheeler is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, September 22, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Branding consultant, thought leader and co-author of big picture overview and visionary book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible, Alina Wheeler, describes how not only companies, but also countries, communities, and individuals, are leveraging their brands to gain a huge advantage in the marketplace. You will learn:

* Why brands are so critical to business success in a global economy

* How a great brand transcends borders, global customers, and the competition

* How to establish a transcendent global brand

* How to achieve brand success in a dynamic and rapidly changing marketplace



Alina Wheeler (photo left) engages enterprises in a dynamic process to build their brands and embrace best practices. Wheeler inspires the whole branding team to seize every opportunity to design compelling customer experiences at every touchpoint. Designing Brand Identity, now in its third edition, is the first book to deconstruct the branding process into a universal, five-phase methodology.

Her signature mantra is "Who are you? Who needs to know? Why should they care? How will they find out?" Her new book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible is a collaboration with Joel Katz, world renown information designer. Brand Atlas reinvents the paradigm of a business book, and illuminates fifty-five brand topics.

My book review of Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible by Alina Wheeler and Joel Katz.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with branding consultant, thought leader and co-author of big picture overview and visionary book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible, Alina Wheeler, as she describes how not only companies, but also countries, communities, and individuals, are leveraging their brands to gain a huge advantage in the marketplace. Alina describes the most important and leading edge brand concepts that are transforming branding everywhere. With the twenty-first century consumer enjoying unprecedented power, brand builders need to stick to the basics of their brands, while remaining calm in a rapidly changing world. Learn how to seize those unique and profitable brand opportunities when they arise on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible, Alina Wheeler, Joel Katz, global brand dynamics, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible by Alina Wheeler & Joel Katz - Book review

Brand Atlas

Branding Intelligence Made Visible

By: Alina Wheeler, Joel Katz

Published: March 29, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 144 pages
ISBN-10: 0470433426
ISBN-13: 978-0470433423
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.












"Brands have become the global currency of success. Emerging markets, corporations, communities and individuals are leveraging their brands to gain a transcendent advantage in the marketplace", write branding dynamics professional Alina Wheeler, and information design expert Joel Katz, in their big picture overview and visionary book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible. The authors provide a multi-faceted and multiple layered approach to navigating the overall brand landscape, through a radical remapping of the entire branding world.



Alina Wheeler (photo left) and Joel Katz present a graphic laden approach to the world of brands, with an eye to exploring the touch points of brands in relationship the market. In the fast paced and rapidly evolving global economy, brand managers are faced with ever more and difficult challenges. Because a brand is such a critical and valuable asset to any company, brands must be managed to achieve measurable and sustainable results.

The authors describe the the best processes, the right tools, and ways of thinking to maximize brand effectiveness in a very dynamic international marketplace. For the authors, brands are a global symbol of success, and it's essential for brand managers to position brands as irreplaceable, even in a market filled with alternative product choices.



Joel Katz (photo left) and Alina Wheeler recognize that global companies are leveraging their brands to create a competitive advantage in worldwide markets. The authors point out that a brand must be positioned to be irreplaceable for customers, whether the brand represents a product or service, as the myriad of alternatives are seeking that same brand transcendence.

The authors provide three overall objectives for the book and how they describe the global brand landscape:

* Brevity: Illustrating the brand essence as understandable for everyone
* Synthesis: Combining ideas from leading thinkers with observed market dynamics
* Clarity: Demystifying the concept of branding through simple but incisive ideas

The author divide their brand atlas into four major continents. Those divisions are as follows:

* Dynamics: Brand landscape
* Intelligence: Brand basics
* Drive: Brand management
* Details: Brand practices

For me, the power of the book is how Alina Wheeler and Joel Katz provide a very easy to follow and understand format for navigating the world of brands. The generous use of graphics offers strong visual illustration of the branding concepts presented by the authors. The book is divided into logical sections that share different aspects of the overall branding landscape. The authors bolster their insights into brands, and their global importance, with interviews and ideas from branding thought leaders around the world. The vary format of the book emphasizes the dynamism of branding and their critical importance for companies.

I highly recommend the concise and well presented book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible by Alina Wheeler and Joel Katz, to anyone seeking an idea filled and profusely illustrated guide to the ever changing and evolving world of international brands. This book will guide the reader through the often complex and intricate brand concepts and processes in an easily digestible and readily understood format.

Read the well organized book and valuable guide book Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible by Alina Wheeler and Joel Katz, and discover the fascinating and often challenging world of international brands. This book will make understanding the global brand dynamics more approachable and lead to fresh conversations about brands and their overall global impact and importance.

Tags: Brand Atlas: Branding Intelligence Made Visible, Alina Wheeler, Joel Katz, global brand dynamics, business book reviews.

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Don Spini: Sixty-Seconds To Yes! - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Successful sales professional, sales manager, and author of of the very hands on and positive results oriented book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence, Don Spini, describes how simply knowing what people want to buy will make you successful, but knowing why they buy will make you wealthy. The wealthy are the top sales pros and most influential people in their industry, and Don Spini shares how to master that sales and influence. He provides the simple yet powerful methodology for achieving wealth through mastering influence.

This simple yet powerful methodology shows sales professionals how to create extreme interest in their product, service or ideas before they talk about their product, service or ideas. What his clients discovered is the methodology and skills were relevant in all aspects of their lives, not just in front of buyers. His participants came away with confidence in handling objections and conflict, directly resulting in better relationships, higher closing ratios and more revenue.

Don Spini is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, September 20, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Successful sales professional, sales manager, and author of of the very hands on and positive results oriented book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence, Don Spini, describes how simply knowing what people want to buy will make you successful, but knowing why they buy will make you wealthy. You will learn:

* Why success and wealth are two very different concepts

* Why strong communication skills will help you master influence

* What are the three basic communication forms

* How influencing others leads to both success and wealth



Don Spini (photo left) personally conducts over 150 sales training sessions per year, making him the top sales coach in the nation. Don has been a successful sales professional and sales manager for the past 25 years, focusing primarily on the financial services and corporate insurance industry. Fed up with the poor quality and content of available sales training for his teams he designed in 1995 what is known today as The PRO Force Sales Mastery and Influence "Sixty-Seconds to Yes" workshop.

This simple yet powerful methodology shows participants how to create extreme interest in their product, service or ideas before they talk about their product, service or ideas. What his clients discovered is the methodology and skills were relevant in all aspects of their lives, not just in front of buyers. His participants came away with confidence in handling objections and conflict, directly resulting in better relationships, higher closing ratios and mhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifore revenue.

The program became so popular that Don retired from corporate America at age 46 and started his own sales training company, Team PRO Force headquartered in Orange County CA. In less than a year his program became the number one sales training program in the market. Today Don has a team of sales professionals, consultants and trainers in seven locations marketing the program to companies and individuals across the U.S.

My book review of Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence by Don Spini.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with successful sales professional, sales manager, and author of of the very hands on and positive results oriented book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence, Don Spini, as he describes how simply knowing what people want to buy will make you successful, but knowing why they buy will make you wealthy. The wealthy are the top sales pros and most influential people in their industry, and Don Spini shares how to master that sales and influence. He provides the simple yet powerful methodology for achieving wealth through mastering influence.

This simple yet powerful methodology shows sales professionals how to create extreme interest in their product, service or ideas before they talk about their product, service or ideas. What his clients discovered is the methodology and skills were relevant in all aspects of their lives, not just in front of buyers. His participants came away with confidence in handling objections and conflict, directly resulting in better relationships, higher closing ratios and more revenue on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence, Don Spini, developing communications skills, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Sixty-Seconds to Yes! by Don Spini - Book review

Sixty-Seconds to Yes

A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence

By: Don Spini

Published: May 24, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 158 pages
ISBN-10: 1935723057
ISBN-13: 978-1935723059
Motivational Press, Inc.











"Your success should be a byproduct of the good you do for others, not the reason for the good you do for others", writes successful sales professional and sales manager Don Spini, in his very hands on and positive results oriented book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence. The author describes the most important characteristic, shared by successful and wealthy people, is they are top sales professional who are the most influential people in their chosen industries.

Don Spini makes an important distinction between being successful and being wealthy. It is possible to be highly successful, but lack real wealth and influence. A professional athlete may be highly successful in their sport, but it's the team owner who has real wealth and influence. The author points out that everyone, even those who aren't celebrities, possesses the innate ability to become personally wealthy and develop their personal leadership skills. For Don Spini, the key to wealth and happiness is developing strong personal communication skills. Don Spini provides evidence that becoming a master at sales and influence are the only real path to achieving wealth and security.



Don Spini (photo left) understands that superior communication skills are critical for conversations and for influencing other people. The author points out that there are three basic communication encounters and their importance for achieving influence:

* Casual conversation which is low level for influence
* Exchange of information and direction for a higher level of influence
* Buy-Sell encounter with the highest influence potential

Don Spini guides the reader through the critical decision process, as the focus and emphasis is placed on the buyer. The author describes how to influence a win/win decision on the part of the buyer to help both parties achieve success and build their wealth. The key is within the communication abilities of the influencer.

For me, the power of the book is how Don Spini presents his concepts in an easy to follow and understand format. Through the vehicle of a sales professional moving through the sales process, the author provides illustration of the principles of mastering influence in action. Don Spini shares a step by step process for learning and mastering influence. The book is a very user oriented style that is structured like a workbook, helping the reader learn, study, and practice the stages of influence development. The chapters are structured to enable review, and the important points of each chapter are highlighted to assist in the study and review process.

I highly recommend the very engaging and highly practical book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence by Don Spini, to anyone seeking a clear and concise guide to developing their communication skills and for mastering influence. The author demonstrates clearly the importance of communication skills, as the key to developing influence, for increasing sales and building wealth.

Read the easy to understand and idea filled book Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence by Don Spini, and discover advanced techniques for developing, practicing, and enhancing your communications abilities. This book will transform you into a superior sales person, and a master influencer.

Tags: Sixty-Seconds to Yes: A Powerful Method for Sales and Influence, Don Spini, developing communications skills, business book reviews.

Creating Welath: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies by Gwendolyn Hallsmith & Bernard Lietaer - Book review

Creating Wealth

Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies

By: Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Bernard Lietaer

Published: May 1, 2011
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0865716676
ISBN-13: 978-0865716674
Publisher: New Society Publishers












"Wealth is more than the accumulation of money and resources, and it can be generated in ways other than through conventional financial means", write sustainable development expert Gwendolyn Hallsmith, and leading authority on complementary currencies Bernard Lietaer, in their visionary and very revolutionary book Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies. The authors describe how troubled communities face a mismatch between their many needs and their already existing but underutilized resources, and propose alternate systems of exchange for those communities.



Gwendolyn Hallsmith (photo left) and Bernard Lietaer understand that the conventional monetary and financial system is not working well for all communities. The authors recognize that many individual and community needs are unmet, despite an abundance of resources within that same community. The authors propose a transformation in both the thinking about wealth, and the implementation of alternative community based systems of exchange to meet local needs. To truly embrace the wealth of our communities and of society as a whole, the authors suggest a reconsideration of an older concept of wealth as one of well-being. They also provide ideas for alternative financial systems to meet that new definition of personal, community, and societal well-being as real wealth.



Bernard Lietaer (photo left) and Gwendolyn Hallsmith offer a fresh way of considering wealth beyond the current conventional ideas. With an examination of real community and societal wealth, as seen through a new vision of wealth, creative exchange systems can be developed to improve the quality of life for people. The authors make clear that wealth creation cannot be separated from human development.

For the authors, human capital represents the ongoing development of people's educational levels and health standards. With an enriched emphasis on societal needs, a culture of deeper personal relationships can develop, increasing what the authors call social capital. Through improved conflict resolution within communities, where people feel a sense of equity and empowerment, a just and peaceful society will result. The new empowerment will also improve the institutional capital of the community, building a new legal framework.

For me, the power of the book is how Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer combine their visionary theory of community and societal wealth with practical systems of exchange for implementing the proposed concepts. Like a healthy forest, the many financial systems proposed by the authors provide balance and stability, as well as alternative forms of transaction completion.

The current financial system, while highly effective in many areas, exists as a one size fits all concept that doesn't work for everyone. The authors provide case study evidence of their concepts, including alternate local currencies, barter, and time banks, in action and functioning well by meeting the real needs of communities. The very way of thinking of wealth as one of well-being for people, communities, society, and the environment changes the financial equation to one that empowers people to solve their own problems and develop their own lives.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and provocative Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies by Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer, to anyone seeking an alternative, yet community based system for meeting real needs, and creating overall well-being. This book will change the way a person thinks about the existing financial system, and of conventional ideas of money and wealth, and what those terms really mean for people.

Read the eye opening and fresh thinking filled book Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies by Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer, and discover the many personal and societal empowering alternative systems for available community resources to be harnessed to meet real needs. This transformational book will lead to real wealth, personal well-being, and community development, even if only a few of the suggested are implemented in a community.

Tags: Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Bernard Lietaer, community economic development, economics book reviews.

Gamification by Design by Gabe Zichermann & Christopher Cunningham - Book review

Gamification by Design

Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps

By: Gabe Zichermann, Christopher Cunningham

Published: August 19, 2011
Format: Paperback, 208 pages
ISBN-10: 1449397670
ISBN-13: 978-1449397678
Publisher: O'Reilly Media











"For our purposes we will define the term gamification as follows: The process of game-thinking and game mechanics to engage users and solve problems", write gamification experts Gabe Zichermann and Christopher Cunningham, in their revolutionary and highly practical book Gamification by Design: Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps. The authors describe how leading brands use games to enhance engagement with customers, and share strategies for incorporating games into any consumer oriented website or mobile apps.



Gabe Zichermann (photo left) and Christopher Cunningham understand the importance of engaging customers and building loyalty to the company website or mobile apps. The authors provide the concept of games as a proven success tool for achieving customer loyalty, stickiness at websites, and returning over and over to game applications on mobile devices. The book contains the overall framework and techniques for incorporating game tools into the company's consumer based technology. Along with demonstrating how to integrate game technology seamlessly, the authors share ideas for transforming the game into a core customer engagement and loyalty tool. The author remove the mystery surrounding games, and offer proven strategies for gaining maximum value from a game format.



Christopher Cunningham (photo left) and Gabe Zichermann recognize that a game must be compelling, and offer real value for anyone to begin or continue with the game play. They point out that the primary factor for the game must be creating a fun and enjoyable experience for the game player. They also point out that games are not a cure all for a weak business plan, bad customer service, or inferior products or services. The purpose of a game is to change the customer experience to one of enhanced engagement to enrich customer loyalty.

The game must be compelling and provide real play value, and a poorly designed game can even result in a loss of engagement. As a result, the authors guide the company through the entire design process, including identifying the type of player desired for the game, how to develop the game format and levels of difficulty, along with the creation of rewards for player success. The authors also share strategies for developing multi-player and social games, as well as ensuring levels of difficulty and achievement are reachable in both individual and team game formats.

For me, the power of the book is how Gabe Zichermann and Christopher Cunningham combine the concepts of customer engagement and loyalty with the hands on mechanics, including some pre-written code, for designing and developing customer games. The authors not only describe how to build a fun and challenging game with strong game play features, but also how to decide which type and style of game is right for the target customer as game player. The authors keep their eye fixed firmly on the goals of the customer, and why that person or groups of people would not only play the game, but return to it over and over again. The authors understand completely that the game is a means to an end, which is customer engagement and loyalty, and not the end in and of itself.

The authors also remind the business person that a game can't repair serious flaws within the business model either. That is beyond the scope of any single toll, including gamification. To strengthen their case for gaming, the authors include some intriguing case studies and examples of companies who have utilizing gaming successfully as part of their overall customer loyalty strategy. The case for gamification, along with the mechanics for putting a game into operation, are =well presented in the book, making it a must read for anyone interested in games and how they can enhance user engagement and overall brand loyalty.

I highly recommend the very hands on and idea packed book Gamification by Design: Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps by Gabe Zichermann and Christopher Cunningham, to anyone considering adding the customer loyalty boosting power of games to their company website or inventory of mobile apps. This book will change the way that you think about customer based games, game development, and website and mobile interaction.

Read the customer engagement building book Gamification by Design: Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps by Gabe Zichermann and Christopher Cunningham, and discover how the principles of gamification can work wonders for your customer loyalty. This game will change the way you play the business, website, and mobile device game.

Tags: Gamification by Design: Implementing Game Mechanics in Web and Mobile Apps, Gabe Zichermann, Christopher Cunningham, customer loyalty and engagement, business book reviews.