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Turning Problems into Solutions

Rarely do I use the word genius...but I make an exception when it comes to Michael McMillan. You've probably heard me say it's not what you say, but how you say it that turns the switch from "off" to "on." Michael's mind works in amazing ways and his ability to tell a story in a way that you'll never forget is...second to none.

Pink Bat...Turning Problems into Solutions is a must-read for everyone who lives in the world of business, or is a part of any organization. In fact, I predict that once you read it, you'll want everyone in your company to do the same. Today, I'd like to share Michael's introduction to one of my favorite books...Pink Bat. Enjoy!

Excerpt from:
Pink Bat...Turning Problems into Solutions,
by Michael McMillan

Everywhere you look today there are problems. Turn on your TV or computer - pick up a magazine or paper - and what do you see? Problems!

Talk to your spouse, co-worker, family members or friends, and within minutes someone will bring up a problem...or two or three.

Problems permeate the workplace, too - new products, old products, customer service, health care, retirement plans, sales, marketing, budgets, IT, personnel - the list of problems we confront each day is vast.

If that's not enough, consider the global problems we are facing - hunger, war, terrorism, economy, jobs, pollution, global climate change, disease, energy, health care, education, government corruption, trade barriers, overpopulation, sanitation, water - the world's problems seem endless.

In short, we are experiencing a "problem pandemic" like never before. What's scarier yet, is many experts predict there is no end in sight. So what can YOU do about this threatening pandemic?

Embrace it! This may seem strange at first, but by the time you finish reading this book, you will realize many "problems" aren't problems at all. In fact, most problems are opportunities and many are actually Pink Bats - unseen solutions just waiting to be found.

Can you imagine waking up each morning faced with a "solution pandemic?"

Start imagining. Maybe you think this idea seems impossible, but you're about to discover: "Pink Bat Thinking" makes the impossible possible.

Today I'm pleased to make an introductory offer of only $12.00 for our newest release...Pink Bat. I predict you'll love it! For more information, or to look inside the book just click here.

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American Idol Winner David Cook Tattoos “The Dash” on Arm

Embraces The Dash Philosophy to Remember Brother

03.16.2010 – Linda Ellis’ poem "The Dash" was published and made into a short internet video by Simple Truths. Since its debut in 2006, the book has sold more than 300,000 copies, and the movie has been viewed over 30 million times. This remarkable poem has touched many lives, and most recently the life of David Cook, season seven’s American Idol champion.

Adam Cook, who is David's brother, battled cancer for over a decade before dying of brain cancer. The Dash, a poem about a eulogy given at a friend's funeral, was read at Adam Cook’s funeral. This event inspired Cook to tattoo the last stanza on his left forearm, reminding him of his brother and the importance of "living your dash", a testament to the depth and reach of the poem. Click here to see the poem.

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Power of Nice

In this book, You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School, the goal is to share many of the simple truths of leadership that the author learned in 30 years as an entrepreneur. And the one he shares here, he says is near the top of his list. The chapter is titled, Attitude Isn't Everything, but It's Pretty Darn Close. Enjoy!

Excerpt from:

You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School,
by Mac Anderson

When hiring someone, start with the premise that attitudes are contagious. Then ask yourself one question...is theirs worth catching?

I've been in business for over 30 years and I've come to realize the difference in success and failure is not how you look, not how you dress, not how much you're educated, but...HOW YOU THINK!

In my business life, I've watched many very intelligent people fail miserably because they have a negative attitude; and I've also observed just as many people with average intelligence soar to success because of positive attitudes.

Southwest Airlines' VP of People is often asked the question: How do you get your people to be so nice? Her answer is always the same...

WE HIRE NICE PEOPLE

It sounds almost too simple to feel important, but "hiring nice people" has been the cornerstone of their amazing success in a highly competitive industry. They understand their competitors may be able to match their price and copy their business model, however, they feel that the spirit and the attitude of their employees will be extremely difficult to replicate. Never forget...

Great customer service is only delivered by nice, passionate, caring employees. There is no other way it can happen.

You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School is loaded with stories that are shared in a brief, but engaging way. Because so many times it's not what you say, but how you say it, that turns the switch from "off" to "on."

To watch the 3 minute movie for You Can't Send a Duck to Eagle School or to see inside the book, just click here.

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Ford County is the best writing that John Grisham has ever done

Ford County: Stories
~ John Grisham
"Ford County is the best writing that John Grisham has ever done. Grisham has always had a rare gift for breaking hearts when he invokes unforgettable images of the broken, hopeless South. Some of the stories are hilarious, and Grisham’s gift of humour has never found a showcase like this. One of these stories should find its way into the anthologies of the best short stories of 2009. It might not happen, but I for one think the stories in Ford County are that damned good."

How to design a book cover (Timelapse)

Curious about what it takes to design a cool eye-catching book cover? Try six hours and some serious Photoshop skills. Lauren Panepinto of Orbit Books condensed all her hard work on a Victorian/Steampunk novel cover into a fascinating two-minute clip.

Math of Publishing Meets the E-Book

In the emerging world of e-books, many consumers assume it is only logical that publishers are saving vast amounts by not having to print or distribute paper books, leaving room to pass along those savings to their customers.

The Economics of Producing a Book

Room for Debate: Does the Brain Like E-Books?
Publishers largely agree, which is why in negotiations with Apple, five of the six largest publishers of trade books have said they would price most digital editions of new fiction and nonfiction books from $12.99 to $14.99 on the forthcoming iPad tablet — significantly lower than the average $26 price for a hardcover book.

But publishers also say consumers exaggerate the savings and have developed unrealistic expectations about how low the prices of e-books can go. Yes, they say, printing costs may vanish, but a raft of expenses that apply to all books, like overhead, marketing and royalties, are still in effect.

All of which raises the question: Just how much does it actually cost to produce a printed book versus a digital one?

Read more ...

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Reading: Harvard Views of Readers, Readership, and Reading History

This

is an online exploration of the intellectual, cultural, and political history of reading as reflected in the historical holdings of the Harvard Libraries. For Internet users worldwide, Reading provides unparalleled digital access to a significant selection of unique source materials:

and you can see the details here ...

Thought for Thursday

What do we, as a nation, care about books? How much do you think we spend altogether on our libraries, public or private, as compared with what we spend on our horses?
— Sesame and Lilies. Lect i, Of Kings' Treasuries
John RUSKIN (1819-1900)

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Best Sci-Tech Books of 2009


 Gregg Sapp names the top 35 sci-tech titles from astronomy to zoology in LJ's annual roundup. » » »

Is your Genius at Work? 4 Key Questions to Ask Before Your Next Career Move

You have some special capacity to make a positive impact on the world in your own unique way. You may have an inkling of that. Or no clue at all.

No matter. Either way, this refreshingly different book from Dick Richards will help you put your finger on your special “energy” and help you direct it in meaningful ways.

Dick Richards (part shaman, part businessman) presents engaging ideas and well-defined processes for identifying your unique personal gift, which he calls your Genius. He also presents helpful ideas and processes for discovering your personal Purpose (your life’s mission) so that you can point the energy of your Genius toward fulfilling your Purpose.

If you like, you read about the connections between many time-honored and far-flung spiritual and philosophical traditions underlying these ideas (across the globe and through millennia). Richards has woven a nice tapestry of these disparate threads.

Seriously, you can ignore all the stuff about spiritual and philosophic traditions, and just work your way through the practical processes. Either way, you’re going to arrive at a deeper understanding of yourself and a clearer vision of your individual potential within the world.

The book pushes us to think outside the box when looking for our core genius.

The content is fantastic. The writing style is approachable and includes stories I can relate to and that illustrate the points very well. The layout if the book is outstanding - there are helpful illustrations and plenty of room for notes - an important consideration for a book like this. Above these tangible dimensions, the feeling I get when reading is book is positive. The author cares about his readers and it shows in every part of this book.

Many personal development books contain miserably pointless exercises, but this book is the exception to the rule. Its exercises are intelligent, well-designed, and insightful. There are no pointless quizzes that force you to rate yourself on some arbitrary scale. I also liked that all the exercises are put into a separate section of the book, so first you can read through all the content, and then you can work through the exercises.

Also noteworthy, Richards generously includes resources to assist other coaches and consultants to teach his methods. And he provides help for groups of people who want to collectively support each other as they make their way thru this highly personal work.

by Dick Richards Amazon