Matthew David: Marketing With A Mobile App - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Specialist in building rich technologies for websites and author Matthew David describes why mobile apps are so important for all businesses. He shares his ideas on how any business can build their own mobile app for all types of smartphones. Matthew guides us through the app building process and shares his ideas on their value to business. The process will demonstrate the simplicity of creating a mobile app for anyone, regardless of their experience in coding or smartphone understanding. With this process demonstrated on Matthew David points out that any company, of any size, can have a strong mobile presence, complete with their own downloadable business mobile app.
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Matthew David is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

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

Specialist in building rich technologies for websites and author Matthew David describes why mobile apps are so important for all businesses. He shares his ideas on how any business can build their own mobile app for all types of smartphones. You will learn:

* Why the untethered mobile customer is so important for business

* How to reach the mobile customer and build relationships

* How to create mobile applications effectively and with minimal programming

* How to create your own business mobile app



Matthew David (photo left) is a specialist developing rich Web solutions using technologies like Flash and the latest Web design techniques. In addition, he works in online sales, marketing, and search engine optimization, with the aim of driving business to customer sites. Matthew partners with many companies as a business strategist, works closely with the World Wide Web Consortium Group (W3C), and is on Adobe's Advisory team.

Mathew David is author of the very practical book HTML5 Mobile Websites.

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 specialist in building rich technologies for websites and author Matthew David describes why mobile apps are so important for all businesses. He shares his ideas on how any business can build their own mobile app for all types of smartphones. Matthew guides us through the app building process and shares his ideas on their value to business. The process will demonstrate the simplicity of creating a mobile app for anyone, regardless of their experience in coding or smartphone understanding. With this process demonstrated on Matthew David points out that any company, of any size, can have a strong mobile presence, complete with their own downloadable business mobile app on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: TheAppBuilder, Matthew David, mobile customers, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Beautiful Ambition by Tara Brooke - Book review

Beautiful Ambition

My Secrets to Love, Happiness & Success

By: Tara Brooke

Published: January 1, 2012
Format: Paperback, 236 pages
ISBN-10: 1600379788
ISBN-13: 978-1600379789
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing














"Throughout my life, I have also embraced and loved the idea, that I could offer great advice to other people - even if making a difference, just for one person! - Which could help them, in turn, then realize their dreams", writes model and businessperson Tara Brooke, in her inspirational and deeply personal book Beautiful Ambition: My Secrets to Love, Happiness & Success. The author describes how people can take a fresh approach to life regardless of their personal background, trials, or struggles in their history.

Tara Brooke understands living a life of trauma and personal difficulties and difficult challenges. Her own background as a child of divorce, and a very unsettled home life, provided her with an appreciation for the value of life and for dreams and opportunities. As a result, the author has empathy and sensitivity for the problems and pain of other people. Tara Brooke shares her insights and experience in overcoming her own obstacles as she discovered her life purpose, through embracing life, and believing in herself. The author offers a complete road map to personal self discovery to transcend past difficulties, and to move forward toward an even better life than the individual had ever dreamed or imagined to be possible.



Tara Brooke (photo left) recognizes that even though she faced personal hardships while growing up, those same challenges helped make her the successful person she is today. Instead of considering her formative years as traumatic, the author treated them as an important learning experience. Through her life, Tara Brooke learned the power of love, of having dreams, of not giving up, and of working hard to create the life she really wanted to live. She developed her personal credo that she and anyone else can be who and whatever they really want to be in life.

She took on the personal responsibility of creating her own life, through the guiding principles she provides to others. As a result, Tara Brooke offers her experience and advice in the following aspects of life:

* Finding out who you really are
* Decisions made today will create your tomorrow
* Forgiveness is the key to a healthy and happy life
* How to get personal self esteem and to support other women
* Money management based on common sense
* Finding the right life partner
* How to eat healthy foods
* Creating a plan to achieve your dream life

For me, the power of the book is how Tara Brooke combines her personal journey with practical hands on advice for building a dream future. Every chapter in the book is part of the overall blueprint for embracing your dreams and for fulfilling your life purpose. The author doesn't simply present tired nostrums, but takes her readers into the real challenges that they face in their lives. Tara Brooke offers her life story as an example, but as only one example. She guides her readers toward finding their true inner selves, and following their own dreams.

Along the way, the author presents her experience and suggestions to make the transition from today to tomorrows dream life less difficult and even more rewarding. each chapter contains valuable takeaways, and very practical steps toward breaking free of the past, and for moving forward to a brighter future. The author even includes a number of healthy eating recipes as an added bonus feature.

I highly recommend the very transformational and life changing book Beautiful Ambition: My Secrets to Love, Happiness & Success by Tara Brooke, to anyone seeking a hands on guide to finding their true destiny, and for achieving the life of their dreams. This book offers an understanding and loving path to personal fulfillment and happiness for anyone.

Tags: Beautiful Ambition: My Secrets to Love, Happiness & Success, Tara Brooke, personal development, business book reviews

Anita Campbell & David Langton: Visual Marketing - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Well known blogger, CEO and founder of Small Business Trends and BizSugar, Anita Campbell; and visual communication designer and blogger, David Langton, co-authors of the idea packed and very hands on book Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, describe the importance and impact of visual elements in all marketing materials. Anita and David offer insights into the power of a compelling visual component in everything from websites to brochures to product packaging. They provide ideas for visual marketing that include games, cartoons, infographics, and mobile apps. Discover how even the most jaded and distracted customers will find their attention captured by powerful images of all types. Learn how your small business can out-compete much larger competitors through the application of arresting visual marketing images in all of your marketing materials.

Anita Campbell and David Langton are my internet radio show guests on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, May 3, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Well known blogger, CEO and founder of Small Business Trends and BizSugar, Anita Campbell; and visual communication designer and blogger, David Langton, co-authors of the idea packed and very hands on book Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, describe the importance and impact of visual elements in all marketing materials. You will learn:

* What visual marketing is and why it is so important

* How to incorporate visual marketing elements into your marketing

* Why visual marketing works in all media and marketing materials

* How successful small businesses have used visual marketing successfully



Anita Campbell (photo left) is Founder and CEO of Small Business Trends, an online community reaching over 2,000,000 small business owners annually.

After a career as a corporate attorney, Anita became an entrepreneur. Always fascinated with the Web, she now is in the online publishing business providing advice, tips and information for small businesses and entrepreneurs via websites and social media.

What started in 2003 as one website solving a simple problem (how to publish articles online for a monthly newsletter), has since turned into a portfolio of award-winning websites serving the small biz community, including Small Business Trends and BizSugar.

Anita Campbell is the Founder of the Small Business Book Awards and the Small Business Influencer Awards.

She holds a B.A. from Duquesne University and a J.D. from the University of Akron Law School.



David Langton (photo left) is a visual communication designer, and co-author of Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design (Wiley Publishers) was recognized in Graphic Design USA's annual review of designers in America as one of the People to Watch. David is co-founder with Norman Cherubino of Langton Cherubino Group whose work is featured in Designing for the Greater Good (HarperCollins).

David has more than 20 years experience providing conceptual direction for Fortune 500 companies and serves as a consultant to leaders and marketing executives of small and medium businesses.

Langton Cherubino Group is a communications design firm, based in NYC, dedicated to improving the way that businesses and their audiences interact. Our visual, messaging, and interactive solutions provide the visual intelligence needed to inform and captivate and have served some of the best-known names in health care, finance, business and philanthropy. Langton Cherubino Group created the award-winning national wellness program for Pfizer, the largest drug company in the world; online videos for Unilever; segmented marketing kits for the Ernst + Young; and a new logo and branding system for Greater New York Hospital Association.

David analyzes the effectiveness of communication programs and directs the development of strategic positioning with creative and unique solutions. His work has been honored with awards from International Golden Quill for Strategic Communications, Apex Grand Award, International Association of Business Communicators and the Great Design Show International Competition.

David's work as a cartoonist has been featured in Funny Times, Comic Relief Magazine, Success Meetings Magazine and The Best of the Best American Humor (Three Rivers Press/Random House). David is often quoted in business press including, most recently, Crain's New York Business and Entreprenuer.com. He is frequently featured in design publications such as Step Inside Design, Graphic Design USA and How Magazine. He was featured in the Designer's Survival Manual (How Books). David spoke at the NAVA variable annuity communications seminar in Washington and has made frequent presentations about corporate identity design, employee benefits launches and integrated marketing solutions.

David is a former design manager of corporate communications for Home Life Insurance Company and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design. He also pursued writing and liberal arts studies at Brown University.

My book review of Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design by David Langton and Anita Campbell.

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 well known blogger, CEO and founder of Small Business Trends and BizSugar, Anita Campbell; and visual communication designer and blogger, David Langton, co-authors of the idea packed and very hands on book Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, as they describe the importance and impact of visual elements in all marketing materials. Anita and David offer insights into the power of a compelling visual component in everything from websites to brochures to product packaging. They provide ideas for visual marketing that include games, cartoons, infographics, and mobile apps. Discover how even the most jaded and distracted customers will find their attention captured by powerful images of all types. Learn how your small business can out-compete much larger competitors through the application of arresting visual marketing images in all of your marketing materials on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, Anita Campbell, David Langton, marketing techniques, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

Visual Marketing by David Langton & Anita Campbell - Book review

Visual Marketing

99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design

By: David Langton, Anita Campbell

Published: September 27, 2011
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1118035674
ISBN-13: 978-1118035672
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.





"The world is visual. We use our eyes to take in much of the content that influences our behavior, tempers our reactions, and informs our decisions", write visual communication designers and blogger, David Langton; and CEO and founder of Small Business Trends and BizSugar, Anita Campbell, in their idea packed and very hands on book Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design. The authors describe how eye catching visuals can simply grab and hold the attention of the customer, and share ninety-nine eye grabbing and provocative ideas that will transform your marketing completely.



Anita Campbell (photo left) and David Langton understand the power of the visual for customers, and how seeing an arresting visual presentation will gain attention in ways never imagined previously. The authors provide compelling examples of a wide variety of visual images, ranging from the static to the very dynamic, and from the humorous to the highly interactive.

Through harnessing and utilizing the many forms of visual marketing concepts and variations effectively, even the most jaded and casual customers will become engaged and immersed in the overall marketing message. With the addition of powerful and compelling visual components, even the most ubiquitous marketing materials can become thought provoking and emotionally powerful for the potential or existing customer.



David Langton (photo left) and Anita Campbell recognize that people learn and internalize information, including marketing messages different ways. Through the power of the visual marketing concept, many wide ranging visual and interactive images can be utilized effectively across all types of marketing materials. The power of visual attracts and retains the attention, of even the most uninterested people, provided that compelling visual elements are used by the marketer.

The authors present three overall categories to share their ninety-nine concepts of visual marketing in action. Within each chapter are examples, ideas, creative thinking starters, and visual marketing case studies. The three chapters are:

* More than a website
* Images are everywhere in the physical world
* Power to the print item

For me, the power of the book is how Anita Campbell and David Langton combine the principles and reasoning behind the premise of visual marketing with very practical applications of the idea in the real world. The book is well arranged, with each of the three chapters containing a veritable cornucopia of ideas to kick start any visual marketing program. The authors move far beyond the website as well, and include many traditional marketing pieces, with a fresh visual update.

Each page contains ideas you can use, case studies, and a very valuable takeaway tip, to keep the many concepts in mind. The book is also a visual treasure trove of amazing and arresting images, in keeping with the overall theme of the book. The book is a welcome addition to any marketing library, as it covers the seldom considered area of visual marketing very well.

I highly recommend the ground breaking and thought provoking book Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design by Anita Campbell and David Langton, to any marketers who are seeking both a practical and comprehensive introduction to the power and importance of visual marketing. This book will change the way you think about and approach every aspect of your marketing program, as you will always consider the visual impact of each marketing component.

Tags: Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design, Anita Campbell, David Langton, marketing techniques, business book reviews

Mark Mueller-Eberstein: No Fear Business Leadership - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



CEO of Adgetec Corporation, Professor at Rutgers University, and co-author of the thought provoking and transformational book No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, describes the challenges presented to leaders in the new globalized and digital economy. Mark points out that fear of this new business landscape is paralyzing many formerly highly successful leaders. Mark provides evidence that not only is the marketplace evolving rapidly, but a new young generation of highly motivated, community oriented, and increasingly international employees expects innovative and responsive leadership,. Mark offers advice for leaders to make the transition from the previous economic model to the new digital and global age, where failure to adapt means failure as a leader.

Mark Mueller-Eberstein is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, May 1, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

CEO of Adgetec Corporation, Professor at Rutgers University, and co-author of the thought provoking and transformational book No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, describes the challenges presented to leaders in the new globalized and digital economy. You will learn:

* What No Fear leadership means and why it is critical to understand

* How the increasingly digital and globalized economy are transforming leadership

* Why the young under thirty Playstation Generation is leading the change

* How to become a No Fear leader to stay ahead of the competition



Mark Mueller-Eberstein (photo left) is founder and CEO of Adgetec Corporation, whose mission is to help organizations and their leaders realize value globally.

Mueller-Eberstein is a recognized thought leader, speaker, mentor, and coach for topics as:

- Leveraging IT for business success
- Global consumerization of IT
- Connecting people
- Reducing ambiguity
- Organizational culture for next gen
- Organizational leadership values

In addition to blogs, whitepapers and research papers, Mark Mueller-Eberstein is the author of Agility - Competing and Winning in the Tech Savvy Marketplace and No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys. Mueller-Eberstein's books are written based on his over fifteen years of global experience in the IT industry, working with companies and governments to choose, adopt, roll out, and measure the impact of new technologies.

My book review of No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys by Pekka A. Viljakainen and Mark Mueller-Eberstein.

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 CEO of Adgetec Corporation, Professor at Rutgers University, and co-author of the thought provoking and transformational book No Fear: Business Leadership for the Digital Age, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, describes the challenges presented to leaders in the new globalized and digital economy. Mark points out that fear of this new business landscape is paralyzing many formerly highly successful leaders. Mark provides evidence that not only is the marketplace evolving rapidly, but a new young generation of highly motivated, community oriented, and increasingly international employees expects innovative and responsive leadership,. Mark offers advice for leaders to make the transition from the previous economic model to the new digital and global age, where failure to adapt means failure as a leader on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: No Fear: Business Leadership for the Digital Age, Pekka Viljakainen, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, leadership development, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

No Fear by Pekka A. Viljakainen & Mark Mueller-Eberstein - Book review

No Fear

Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys

By: Pekka A. Viljakainen, Mark Mueller-Eberstein

Published: September 15, 2011
Format: Hardcover: 256 pages
ISBN-10: 9814346667
ISBN-13: 978-9814346665
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Corp/Ccb














"Many good organizations come to a point where protecting the status quo for the leading individuals becomes the main motivation and reward", write former president of Tieto International, Pekka Viljakainen; and founder and CEO of Adgetec Corporation, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, in their thought provoking and transformational book No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys. The authors describe how organizations that can take calculated risk, add new territory, and discover and utilize new opportunities will move ahead of their status quo seeking competitors.



Pekka Viljakainen (photo left) and Mark Mueller-Eberstein understand that fear of failure is a limiting force that works against change and enhanced competitiveness. The authors realize that fear is a powerful emotion, and that it is part of everyone's character. To counter this sense of fear, the authors present their concept of No Fear, where the emotion is processed, understood for what it is, and works toward creating solutions to the fear inducing challenges.

For the authors, dealing with and controlling that fear, and developing innovative solutions to problems, is essential for leaders. For the authors, fear equals failure, and the leader who succumbs to that fear does a real disservice to the entire organization, its employees, and its customers.



Mark Mueller-Eberstein (photo left) and Pekka A. Viljakainen describe a world of change, and that leaders must be prepared to adapt to that transition in the global community, or fall by the wayside. Not only has the global landscape changed, but the authors point out that the people have different goals and aspirations as well.

The new young entrants into the workforce and the global economy are young, innovative, and are very comfortable with using technology and social media. The authors refer to their version of the youthful Millennial Generation as the Playstation Generation, who are the Digital Cowboys who are the first adopters of new technology and innovations.

Pekka Viljakainen and Mark Mueller-Eberstein present what they call six planets of change in the global economy. Those six changes that a No Fear leader must recognize and practice to gain the support of the Digital Cowboys are as follows:

* Maintaining productivity when it becomes stalled
* Understanding the globalization impact on competitiveness and leadership
* Capital flows travel in many directions with stiff competition for access
* Consumers are changing in tastes, attitudes, and behaviors
* Online and networked economies are mainstream and accessible everywhere
* Innovation is moving at a faster rate than ever before

For me, the power of the book is how Pekka Viljakainen and Mark Mueller-Eberstein combine their analysis of the limiting and disempowering emotion of fear, with an understanding of the new global economy and the rising influence of the young Digital Cowboys. The authors offer a compelling case that failure to overcome the fear of this new market reality represents a failure of leadership. Instead of succumbing to this fear, the authors along with a distinguished group of guest contributors, provide an alternative path forward for leaders who display the No Fear qualities of leadership.

The book contains a comprehensive discussion and plan of action for achieving the No Fear type of community leadership, that is and will remain critical for success and even survival, in the new digital and globalized economy. Any leader who fails to understand and act upon this manifesto for change will fall behind the competition.

I highly recommend the insightful and must read book No Fear: Business Leadership in the Age of the Digital Cowboys by Pekka Viljakainen and Mark Mueller-Eberstein, to any business leaders, regardless of country or industry, who are serious about understanding the rapidly evolving dynamics of the new digital global economy, and of the employees who will dominate its future. This book will change the way you think about and approach leadership in the new age of the Digital Cowboys.

Tags: No Fear: Business Leadership for the Digital Age, Pekka Viljakainen, Mark Mueller-Eberstein, leadership development, business book reviews

The Twelve Absolutes Of Leadership by Gary Burnison - Book review

The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership

By: Gary Burnison

Published: March 13, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 0071787127
ISBN-13: 978-0071787123
Publisher: McGraw-Hill









"Leadership is the eighth wonder of the world - better seen and felt than defined and said", writes CEO of Korn>Ferry International, Gary Burnison, in his his insightful and real world experience based book The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership. The author describes the complexity of understanding the real meaning of leadership, and shares his thoughts and ideas on how to understand the guiding principles of leadership through an organized framework model.

Gary Burnison understands the challenges posed by the responsibility and commitment to leadership for engaging and inspiring others to greatness. The author points out that simply getting a sense of the true nature of leadership is a daunting task. Leadership may be partly strategy, according to Gary Burnison, but it is mainly about proper judgement. For the author, grace, confidence, and touch form the core values of leadership. A leader must also be able to understand the past, the present, and the future; using today as the starting point to achieve the leader's vision. To reach that desired future, a leader must incorporate a strategy to get to that next level, despite the fact that many followers may not have envisioned that same future.



Gary Burnison (photo left) recognizes that to get from where the organization is today, and where the there will be in the future, requires extraordinary leadership. To bridge this gap, the author provides his Absolutes of Leadership Framework as the guiding blueprint. Each part of the framework link to the others, and indeed blend seamlessly into one another in an overall leadership building process. The connections include a combination of core competencies and activities that every leader must possess.

The author points out that these twelve key principles apply to all leaders, regardless of their leadership style. The absolutes include:

* Lead
* Purpose
* Strategy
* People
* Measure
* Empower
* Reward
* Anticipate
* Navigate
* Communicate
* Listen
* Learn

For me, the power of the book is how Gary Burnison presents the Twelve Absolutes of Leadership model in an engaging and understandable format. The author shares his experience, and that of others, in the conveying of the layers of meaning behind each of the twelve absolutes that every leader must understand and practice. Gary Burnison offers the important wisdom that leadership is all about people. As a result, the author provides guidance in what he considers the art of leadership. Despite the various leadership systems and concepts, in the end, leadership is indeed much more art than it is a science.

Gary Burnison presents another critical observation that the leader must practice self-mastery, and understand themselves first. At the same time, however, the self aware leader also realizes that as leader, they are not the most important purpose despite the demands and focus of the position. Leadership is a calling, and as a result, it is all about guiding others to achieving their best results, and for building a brighter future for the organization as a whole.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking an leadership transforming book The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership by Gary Burnison, to any leaders or aspiring leaders who are seeking a concise and proven model for building their leadership skills and for strengthening their entire organization. This book will give you the tools and insights to become a more effective and engaging leader in any type or size of organization.

Tags: The Twelve Absolutes of Leadership, Gary Burnison, leadership development, business book reviews

Freedom Is Blogging In Your Underwear by Hugh MacLeod - Book review

Freedom Is Blogging in Your Underwear

By: Hugh MacLeod

Published: April 26, 2012
Format: Hardcover: 128 pages
ISBN-10: 1591844851
ISBN-13: 978-1591844853
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin













"Having a blog, a voice, having my own media, utterly changed my life", writes cartoonist and blogger Hugh MacLeod, in his very witty and wisdom filled book Freedom Is Blogging in Your Underwear. Through a collection of his most profound cartoons, the author expresses his love for blogging, and his deep commitment to the very fundamental concept of freedom.

Hugh MacLeod shares his insights and perceptions of the very basic idea of what it means to be free. For the author, that journey toward a deeper understanding of freedom was traveled through the medium of a blog. Posting his multi-layered cartoons on his blog, enabled Hugh MacLeod to bypass what he calls the gatekeepers, who include editors, publishers, and executives. Instead of requiring the approval of the official guardians of the media, the author reached out directly to his audience. At the same time, since blogging is at core a conversation, Hugh MacLeod's audience was able to reach out to him as well. For the author, the very act of blogging is an empowering act that seizes bac personal freedom of expression from the gatekeepers.



Hugh MacLeod (photo left) recognizes that freedom afforded by the blog built a career for him through direct contact with his audience. At the same time, the act of blogging created a strong sense of purpose that fueled bis passion for sharing his comics with others. The author views blogging as a personal journey offers insights into that voyage of self discovery with the reader. Hugh MacLeod describes his blog as being a literally life altering experience. Through connections made with his blog, the author obtained all of his clients and business partners. He even met his girlfriend as a result of his blogging activities.

Along the way through this inner travel, the author provides his thoughts and understanding of the various social media options, how they relate to blogging, and more importantly, how they have an impact on personal freedom. That freedom is the direct result of what Hugh MacLeod calls the permanent force of Cheap. Easy. Global. Media. For the author, that empowering principle arrived in the form of a blog. The book is the author's testimonial to the world changing potential contained in the simple blogging platform.

For me, the power of the book is how Hugh MacLeod combines his philosophical examination of the principle of freedom with a manifesto in support of blogging. The author also provides a unique blend of prose and expressive cartoon art as the carrier for his wisdom and ideas. Hugh MacLeod offers a prophecy of how the internet has changed the world in ways that are only now being vaguely understood. For the authors, bloggers are on the vanguard of this deep change in society, where individuals are empowered and no longer requiring the approval of the official gatekeepers.

With this awakening of the blogging public, the potential for fresh ideas and thinking will become a permanent feature of society. The transformation from an individual requiring gatekeeper permission to be heard, to a world where anyone can be a publisher through blogging, represents a sea change in personal freedom. For Hugh MacLeod, the power of the blogging platform doesn't even require the traditional trappings of power or even respectability. A blogger can change the world clad in only their underwear.

I highly recommend the empowering and transformational book Freedom Is Blogging in Your Underwear by Hugh MacLeod, to anyone seeking a highly original approach to the basic tenets of freedom and what it means to be free in an internet connected world. This book, with its profound cartoons and thought provoking insights will change forever the way you think about the interrelationship between blogging and personal freedom.

Tags: Freedom Is Blogging in Your Underwear, Hugh MacLeod, individual freedom of expression, business book reviews

Jill Flynn: Break Your Own Rules - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Business strategist and founding partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL), and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, describes why there are so few women in C-level positions. Despite great strides made in diversity, women are underrepresented in the executive suite, Jill Flynn points out that women run companies are more profitable meaning that businesses are missing out on great leadership. Jill shares the six faulty assumptions, often mistakenly considered rules, followed by women that stand in their way. Jill provides advice and strategies for changing those assumptions to new ways of acting that will help more women achieve C-level positions. Jill Flynn is firm in her conviction that by changing the old rules to new ones will place women in 30 percent of leadership roles within a decade.

Jill Flynn is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, April 26, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Business strategist and founding partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership, and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, describes why there are so few women in C-level positions. You will learn:

* Why there are so few women in top leadership positions in the corporate world

* The myths and behaviors that hold women back from achieving career success

* How women can change their behavior to reach the top in any company

* What are the new rules of business and behavior for women



Jill Flynn, M. Ed. (photo left) is founding partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL) whose goal is to move women and organizations forward, faster. She specializes in creating and implementing company-specific pipelines for high-potential women. Jill’s primary focus is to ensure that every client benefits from new and practical solutions to their leadership problems – and gets measurable results.

Prior to co-founding FHHL, Jill was Senior Vice President at the nation’s fourth largest bank, First Union (now Wells Fargo), where she established their leadership development, diversity, organizational consulting, and employee satisfaction initiatives. The corporation grew exponentially during her tenure, with more than 100 mergers. Jill and her team prepared a cadre of more than 100 high potential leaders to assume senior positions; within a three-year timeframe, the number of women in these roles increased from 9% to 26%.

Jill received her B.A. from Salem College and M.Ed. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Like her partners, she serves on a number of corporate and non-profit boards. Jill is based in Charlotte, NC.

For more, follow her on Twitter @FlynnHeathHolt.

My book review of Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power by Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, and Mary Davis Holt.

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



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Let's talk with business strategist and founding partner at Flynn Heath Holt Leadership (FHHL), and co-author of straight talking and empowering book Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, as she describes why there are so few women in C-level positions. Despite great strides made in diversity, women are underrepresented in the executive suite, Jill Flynn points out that women run companies are more profitable meaning that businesses are missing out on great leadership. Jill shares the six faulty assumptions, often mistakenly considered rules, followed by women that stand in their way. Jill provides advice and strategies for changing those assumptions to new ways of acting that will help more women achieve C-level positions. Jill Flynn is firm in her conviction that by changing the old rules to new ones will place women in 30 percent of leadership roles within a decade on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Break Your Own Rules: How to Change the Patterns of Thinking that Block Women's Paths to Power, Jill Flynn, Kathryn Heath, Mary Davis Holt, career strategies for women, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

The Hidden Agenda by Kevin Allen - Book review

The Hidden Agenda

A Proven Way to Win Business and Create a Following

By: Kevin Allen

Published: April 17, 2012
Format: Hardcover: 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1937134040
ISBN-13: 978-1937134044
Publisher: Bibliomotion











"Behind every decision to buy - whether the item is a service or a product, an argument or an idea - is an unspoken emotional motivation. This is the hidden agenda", writes business development expert and long time advertising professional, Kevin Allen, in his insightful and idea packed book The Hidden Agenda: A Proven Way to Win Business and Create a Following. The author describes how important it is for companies and brands to make a connection with their followers through discovering and understanding the hidden agenda of their customers.

Kevin Allen understands that people buy from companies, hire others, or promote brands or individuals because those companies and individuals understand their values, wants, and needs. This deep understanding is what the author considers the buyer's hidden agenda. To create a powerful and lasting connection, it's essential to discover the bond that will resonate with that hidden agenda. When those deepest values, wants, and needs are uncovered and engaged, the person will become a true and lasting follower of the company, brand, or leader. Kevin Allen provides the background to discovering the buyer's hidden agenda, creating a trusting connection, and providing a resonating and engaging bond that lasts over the long term.



Kevin Allen (photo left) recognizes that any sort of sales presentation requires connecting with the other person's hidden agenda to be successful. The author points out that the deeper underlying motivation may not even be understood clearly by the buyer. To locate and respond effectively to collaborate with the buyer requires empathy, the ability to ask the right questions, and the listening skills to hear the real message being shared by the customer. The customer will follow the company and brand that listens to their deepest hidden agenda, and works hard to resolve that innermost need and desire. People don't follow products, services, and brands because they are persuaded to purchase them.

The following of the brand is a result of believing in the seller and the products that resonate with the buyer's hidden agenda. To achieve the resonance that creates a following, Kevin Allen provides the concepts in his Allen Key system. The principles of the system include:

* Identifying the conceptual target to hear what they really are thinking
* Tuning into the hidden agenda through listening and empathy
* Taking inventory of your core and connecting with the customer
* Communicating your credo and set of values and belief system

For me, the power of the book is how Kevin Allen develops the connection between probing the depth of the real hidden agenda, with the practical tools to facilitate that discovery process. The author presents a fresh way of thinking and considering the deepest motivations of customers. In place of the previous paradigm of persuasion as the means to gain customers, Kevin Allen proposes a richer understanding of the deeper motivations of the buyer. The result is not only a follower of the product, service, and brand, but also a collaborator in the entire marketing process.

Kevin Allen offers ideas for discovering who is the real intended audience, for listening to uncover what elements can form a connection, for how to ultimately make that long term connection as the basis for a long lasting relationship. The author provides many stories of the hidden agenda principles in action, in real world settings, to further illustrate the concepts in action. Kevin Allen shares wisdom gleaned from years of experience, and transforms the entire sales process to one focused entirely on the buyer and their most intimate needs and desires, and away from the older product push centric model.

I highly recommend the transformational and collaborative approach based book The Hidden Agenda: A Proven Way to Win Business and Create a Following by Kevin Allen, to any marketers, business leaders, sales representatives, and anyone in any walk of life who makes presentations to others, who is seeking a fresh and cooperative way of helping solve the buyer's most important and deepest needs. When you find and satisfy the customer's real hidden agenda, then you have gained a follower and built a relationship that can last a lifetime.

Tags: The Hidden Agenda: A Proven Way to Win Business and Create a Following, Kevin Allen, professional sales, business book reviews