Gratitude,
for more than just the 'good stuff' 
There's no better reminder than Thanksgiving that we should count our blessings and take a full inventory of all we've been given. It's easy to list family,
 friends and material things, but I would propose that you consider struggles,   disappointments and hard knocks just as valuable. 
 
Believe me, I am thankful for my family, friends and good health, but I offer just a
few things I'm thankful for that may not fit the  mold...

I'm thankful for failed projects, disappointing results and unmet expectations, they are great lessons. 
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Henry Ford
I'm thankful for collaboration - sharing ideas and visions with others who are just as enthused and excited about the
outcome.
"I  not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow."
Woodrow  Wilson
I'm thankful for deadlines - they motivate and exasperate, but always demand our
attention.
"The ultimate inspiration is the deadline."
Nolan Bushnell
I am thankful for the opportunity to create, write, plan and dream without censure.
"Trust that little voice in your head that says 'Wouldn't it be interesting if...'; And
then do it."
Duane  Michals
I'm  thankful to have met so many new people this year that inspire and encourage me  - and you - my readers, clients and contacts are on that list.
"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old
dimensions. "
Oliver  Wendell Holmes, Jr.
May  you have a wonderful Thanksgiving
weekend.


 

Did you know that your work is copyrighted as soon as you create it? 

According to the Library of Congress, “Your work is under copyright protection the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either
directly or with the aid of a machine or device.” (i.e. laptop, iPad) The work doesn’t even need to be published, it’s already protected. Prior to 1978, the work had to be  published and registered with the Library of Congress in order to be
protected.

 Copyright protects original works including literary, dramatic,
musical and artistic works, even extending to computer software and
architecture. What is does NOT protect are facts, ideas, systems or methods of
operation. 

I am frequently asked about the need for copyrighting content,  and secondly about trademarks. Again, thanks to the Library of Congress, “A  trademark protects words, phrases, symbols or designs identifying the source of
the goods or services of one party and distinguishing them from those of
others.” Such as your logo, or a proprietary system you’ve developed and
registered as trademarked.

 Do you need to register your copyrighted content in order to be
protected?  No. 
 
However, if you find someone has used your content as their own,
you would need that content registered in order to bring a lawsuit for someone
infringing on your work.Also, registering your work gives you  a certificate of registration, provides protection in case of litigation and  leaves no question you are the creator. If you commission a project, such as a  book, eBook or other content, you still retain copyright -as a ghostwriter, I  give up the rights to be identified as the author. 
 
How long does it last? 
Content created after January 1, 1978, is protected during the author’s
lifespan plus 70 years after the author’s death. 
 
If you’ve got additional questions regarding copyright for your
works, your eBooks, DVD’s, CD’s or more, don’t hesitate to give me a call. While I’m not an attorney, I’ve helped other authors register their works with the
Library of Congress. It’s a great way to add credibility to your byline and give
you peace of mind that you’ll be recognized for what you worked so diligently to create.

In the movie The Devil Wears Prada, there is a scene where the magazine editor (Miranda) connects the dots between couture and everyday fashion – the permutation from the color of the model’s belt to the sweater worn by Andrea.  Andrea, cynical as to the value of high fashion and it’s accessibility to the common consumer, suddenly realizes how jobs and industries flourished from the connection.

How many times do you give your imagination time to connect the dots?

As much as people disdain reality TV, I really must say it’s a great teaching tool. If you can look past the contrived situations and flimsy story lines – you will see that someone has kept an eye out for unique ways to monetize their commodity.

For instance, take Kris Jenner and her management of the Kardashian clan. It’s not just the TV show, Jenner manages each of her children, her spouse and has her eye out for other up and coming talent – to the tune of $65 million in 2010. Kudos to Kris for her vigilant lookout for a new way to connect the dots. Jenner called a company up to suggest herself as a spokesperson for incontinence products. While most of us would keep such an issue under wraps, Jenner will be laughing all the way to the bank.

I’m not advocating that you become a caricature of reality TV, but consider how  it continues to thrive as a very real industry all because creative minds are imagining new ways to connect the dots every day.

What if you took that wild idea and ran with it? Who might be a great potential joint venture or unlikely end user?

Before you dismiss the value of Chia Pets, Silly Bandz or Jersey Shore, I challenge you to use them as a jumping off spot for your own imagination to wander among the potential dots that could yield a new, exciting and profitable venture.

I have a new love…fly fishing!

Learning to fly fish isn’t that much of a stretch for me. As a kid, I remember my grandparents taking trips to northern Michigan and Canada to fish for trout. Evidently, they were very good at it because I have delicious memories of big family fish fries in the summer with all the grandkids, cousins, aunts, uncles, my parents and grandparents seated at a long table made from boards and sawhorses in their breezy garage, feasting on platefuls of pan-fried rainbow trout.

Even if standing thigh-deep in a crystal blue stream on a hot summer evening isn’t your idea of a good time, there are some lessons from fly fishing that apply to your business.

1. Preparation - Gearing up involves waders (even in the heat), one of those cool vests with too many pockets, extra flies, a few little gadgets and the net. The last thing you want is to get out to your spot and realize that you left something critical on the bank. Knowing what you’ll need and having it ready before you start always makes sense – not only in fly fishing but also in diaper changing, gourmet cooking and business. What do you want to catch, and what will you do with it once you do?

2.       Study the hatch – Fly fishing involves careful consideration of the “hatch” meaning whatever insect is currently buzzing just above the water’s surface. Matching your fly to the hatch means you are offering exactly what they are hungry for at the moment. Look at any angler’s tackle box and you will see a dizzying assortment of colors, sizes and styles. Over the course of one fishing session, you may change your fly several times as various insects become more active and the trout’s preferences change. It happens with your customers too. Be ready to tweak your message or offer so your client will think, “that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

 

3.       Use a guide– Hiring a guide increases your chance of reeling in the prize. A guide can bring you to the prime spots, knows where the fish gather, when they are active and what others have used to catch them. Why reinvent the wheel when research or an advisor can provide vital information or demographics on the location or desires of your potential customers? Rather than just throw something out there and see what happens, you’ll know exactly where you need to cast your line.

4.       Presentation –   Presentation is the key, as these clever fish can quickly size up your offering. If the fishing line shows or the fly hits the water in a way that is unnatural, the trout will keep swimming on by.   Don’t just flop your message out there and wait – fine tune your presentation to strike the right chord with your potential client. If it looks or sounds unnatural or insincere, chances are your audience will pass right by.

5.       Repetition – Instead of a lazy afternoon sitting on the banks, fly fishing involves technique, timing and repetition. Those trout wanted a moving target that resembled a tasty, live insect. In fly-fishing you are constantly throwing out your line and reeling it back in, only to try again. Just like reaching your customers, it takes several “touches” to get them to notice, and often even more to get them to bite.

6.       Preparation - Be prepared once they bite! Several times, I hooked a potential catch, but didn’t “set” the hook in time. They bit, but I wasn’t ready!  If you have a nibble, be sure you are ready to bring that customer in with a clear call to action.  It’s too late to wait until you have a bite and then formulate a plan.

7.       Strategy – Once I had one, it took some patience and persistence to reel in this dancing, silvery prize.  Just like bringing in a jumping trout, a consistent, controlled response and strategy for follow up is as important as the preparation. Establish a sales funnel that will lead your customer to your products or services in a strategic manner.  

Maybe one of the reasons I love fly fishing is the lessons it teaches that apply to life and success. If you’ve been putting out the same old tired message and not getting a nibble, perhaps it’s time to take a look at your presentation or get a guide. That’s where I can help.

Have you noticed that the space shuttle isn’t launched from some sandy beach or grassy field? It starts from a concrete launch pad.

Your book needs a launch pad.

Many people say ”I should write a book” – but it never happens.

In our dreams, the book is magically discovered and soon we are on the bestseller list and making the talk show circuit.

The number one reason people get stuck and never complete or sell their book is they fail to plan the launch before they started writing.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s crucial; before you open a word document and start typing away, the most essential step in creating a book or any information product that sells, is determining what it is meant for.

It’s easy to find an editor that will point out grammatical errors and suggest revisions. A valuable editor or ghostwriter is part of your strategizing team, working with you to establish not only the foundation, but also the launch of your book.  

Before investing hours of effort or wads of dollars in making your dream of being an author come true, knowing what you will do with it once it’s completed is the key to success.

Books and other information products establish you as an expert – they serve as marketing tools, super-charged business cards, a salesperson, an add-on to services or other products, all of which can drive more business to you. One book can take on multiple formats, increasing your visibility and return on investment.

Regardless of how you’ll use it, having a clear purpose will help you focus on the message and give you a flight plan to follow.

So, the next time you hear yourself, or someone else say, “I should write a book,” get to work on that launch pad.

Looking for help with that launch pad? Email or call today for a free 30-minute consultation about your idea.

Isn't that what we all want? Someone to just do that task or project that hangs over our head, following us throughout our day until we make ourselves just sit down and do it.

The next best thing to having someone do it for you is having someone lead you along the way. We all want the belief that we can make things happen. A system, whether it’s a way to do your taxes, plant your garden or write your resume is much more popular that sitting down and figuring it out from scratch.

How can you build a system into your business? What can you sell as a product that promotes your expertise that can be your system?

A successful system has a clear outcome, guides users step-by-step and gives them the assurance that they will end up where they want to be.

Focus your system on an evergreen topic - meaning it is always something people want- increasing their earnings, reaching goals, money management or even training their dog.

What do you offer? How can you make it a system, replicate, duplicate it, and get it into your customer's hands?

Start by outlining the steps you use with a client; is there a way to standardize the beginning point? Are there three, five or seven things that you find out about the client before starting on their individual need?

How often do you interact with your customer? Can you do it on-line? Via Skype or conference call and involve several clients at once?

Examine your current process and look for ways to make it a system that will answer your client’s needs. If you need help – contact ASAP Writing Services – we have a team of experts that can answer all the questions you have as you build and sell your product or service as a system.