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Archive for March, 2012

When it comes to non fiction, I can’t think of any topic that I prefer to read about than marketing. Marketing and business are two things that drive the world. Although marketing may not seem like a calling, it’s really no different than teaching, ministry, government service, or a whole host of other occupations I could name. The name of the game in any occupation though is in helping people.

Personally, I prefer to educate my customers. I want to share valuable information with them. However, it’s not really enough to educate your customer. You have to inspire them to feel the same passion you do about whatever you are marketing. Reach their emotions, and you have them.

In a rare glimpse at some of the most successful marketing campaigns in history, journalist David Kupelian takes you on a journey to show you how these campaigns succeeded.

I have to say that I’m impressed. The groups who constructed these campaigns were selling everything from “gay rights” to abortion, not topics that we in the mainstream marketing world would consider creating campaigns for. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Even better, Kupelian backs up his credentials with plenty of facts and figures that will really get you thinking. If you’re a marketer reading this book, it will really get you thinking about how better to connect with your customers and reach them at their emotions, something an effective marketer will do. If you’re a customer, this book will really get you thinking about whether or not you have been hypnotized by those who are trying to sell to you.

I won’t lie to you. The information contained in this book is controversial because it will upset those who don’t agree. That’s why I didn’t reveal any of the information about specific campaigns. You will just have to see for yourself. What I will say is that the material is not only well documented but well explained and the writing is very engaging. This book really was hard for me to put down.

It’s funny how sometimes we feel better and superior to others when we’ve read something this educational and controversial and generally reinforces our belief system. I didn’t feel that way. I walked away from this book knowing that I wasn’t crazy. Not only has marketing changed, and so have the ways we have learned to do it, but the whole world has changed.

If you’re looking for a different perspective on marketing, then I highly recommend reading this book. Similar to case studies, you’ll have plenty to study, and you’ll understand marketing in ways that it’s not normally taught. In fact, this book is recommended for anyone who really wants to educate themselves on how powerful marketing really is.

On a scale of one to 10, this book rates an 11. It’s definitely worth reading.

The Marketing of Evil

How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised as Freedom

David Kupelian

Running a business isn’t easy especially with all the rules and regulations concerning employment. And if you make a mistake not only do you have to worry about regulators, but you also have to worry about lawsuits. If these things concern you, or keep you up at night, then there’s a very good book I’d like to recommend. It is a book that I have myself, and it sits in my personal business library at home. The name of the book is:

“The Employee Problem Solver” by Alexander Hamilton Institute, 1993

The authors discuss nearly every topic having to do with employment. They also explain a good bit of the history between each of the laws and regulations behind the employment issues of our time. For instance, they go into great detail on the American Disabilities Act (ADA), in case you have employees that are physically challenged.

The book discusses things like Absenteeism, Alcohol and Drugs, Religion, Employee Dating, and Defamation of Character. And if you have to deal with disciplining an employee, or one that refuses to follow directions then there is a short chapter on insubordination, one that I found very interesting, especially the advice to make full documentation, in case you wish to terminate the employee later.

Have you ever wondered what to put in Help Wanted Ads; if you say the wrong thing you could get sued. And there is a right way and a wrong way to conduct Layoffs. How about enforcing the Dress Code, or dealing with Over Time, or God forbid Sexual-Harassment. Yes, all this and more is in this book. The author also explains the OSHA Standards, and how this regulations came into existence.

You will learn about Unions, Disclaimers, Employee Manuals, Right to Work States, and what to do if there is a Fight at Work, or an employee advises you they have jury duty. If you’ve been in business long enough you have probably encountered some of all of these things. And thus, this is the perfect book for you. Please consider all this.

The Greatest Love- Being an extraordinary mom. with pictures by Brittany Lee Hanson is more than just a beautiful coffee table book. It has all the elements of what a book on motherhood should be: dedication to the art of being a mother, self-help tips for the new parent, support for those of us who are now in a different phase and the photos that capture all of the above.

As parents, sometimes we all forget to enjoy all the amazing things we are living through because we’re too busy doing them. This book is a nice reminder that we need to slow down and take a breath.

The Greatest Love is filled with ways to teach and enjoy our kids-and how grateful we should be that they have been placed in our lives for us to watch grow and change. It also reminds us that they teach us and therefore we grow as people because of them.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a how-to on what to do. No matter how many books claim to know how to create the perfect parental experience and turn out perfect children-this is unattainable. What this book does do is lead you through what Anthony Robbins (who wrote the introduction) says is “a guide to show you the blessing and adventure of motherhood”

Filled with black and white photos of babies on their own, moms with their cherished offspring all showing various views of curiosity, reflection, exploration and even just enjoying the simplest things in their existence, the book leaves you with a feeling of serenity.

Brittany Lee Hanson has spent most of her professional photographic career taking pictures of some of the world’s most prominent families, their kids and their weddings. Her works have been on magazine covers, advertising campaigns and she has won awards from her fellow professional photographers.

Loren Slocum loves being a mom-it’s evident in every essay, chosen picture and quote that she has written or chosen. So committed was she to making sure that the book “said” what she felt, that it was 10 years in the making. She is the co-founder of Project Boomerang. What I love is that she’s so committed to kids that she is donating 10% of all her book sales off her site to Women and Children’s Organizations.

Written by professional bodybuilder, personal trainer and nutritionist, Tom Venuto, you can be assured that “Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle” is chock-full of information and a veritable trove of tips to help you burn fat, lose weight and get that trim and toned physique that you want.

An easy read, this e-book is only 340 pages long and well-divided into 17 bite-sized chapters. Each chapter talks about an important aspect of weight loss, so you can be sure that your interest will be sustained throughout this quick read. Both men and women, who are looking forward to improving their health and physique, can and will benefit from this book.

Point to note though, is that “Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle” focuses primarily on the role of nutrition and diet to weight loss. So you’ll find information on the differences between good and bad nutrition and will also learn how to lose or reduce your body fats without having to imbibe supplements or diet pills.

So are you more likely to succeed your weight loss and fat burning goals with this e-book than with others?

Well, one point in its favor is it that “Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle” is written by a recognized and qualified health and fitness expert, unlike many other weight loss book, e-books or programs that you can find in the market. As a result, this book is content- and information-rich, Tom’s wealth of knowledge down on paper. This could potentially lead to an information overload for some though, which would limit the effectiveness of the book for them.

It is positive though that the e-book educates you on diets and nutrition. Many people do not realize that weight loss and fat loss is, in fact, more dependent on diet and nutrition than other factors. Certainly, an understanding of how to eat healthily and get proper nutrition is a major factor that contributes to successful weight loss.

Of course, no amount of reading and tips will help you if you don’t take action and start implementing the tips into your exercise regime. Don’t be too ambitious either; start one step at a time and build up momentum. Before long, you’ll be in full swing, clocking in workouts and complementing that with a healthy diet.

Ultimately, unless you’re looking for a book that presents a magic, quick-fix, weight loss program, “Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle” is more than able to meet your needs.

Beautiful Mess is a song that was recorded by the country music band Diamond Rio in 2002. It’s also the title of their new book. I’m a fan of their music and I was excited to get a review copy of the book from the publisher, Thomas Nelson. Diamond Rio is a very successful band and I loved getting a look into their personal lives and career obstacles.

The book begins in 2005 with a concert that didn’t go well. Lead singer, Marty Roe wasn’t singing well and some people, including the other five band members thought they were at the end of their careers. Then the book goes back twenty years in time to the band’s early days, tells how they got together and provides biographies of the band members. The men share their struggles in both their professional lives and personal lives and relate how friendship and faith helped keep them together. Readers also learn about their charity work, especially with the Big Brother/Big Sister organization.

The pace of the book started out slow but picked up and held my interest. There’s lots of fascinating history relating to country music. Black and white pictures are included and add a lot to the narrative. I was impressed by the band’s commitment and the hard work that led them to achieve success in the music business. Their story is inspiring. They stuck together through thick and thin, stayed true to their music and resisted using drugs and playing around. They stress that there is always hope, even when you think you’ve hit bottom. Lead singer Marty Roe hopes that their story will encourage readers and show that a mess can become beautiful. I think they’ve succeeded.

This is a NelsonFree Edition, meaning you will get the book in three formats. Purchase the hard copy and you can download a free audio book and a free e-book for one price.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (September 15, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1595552686
Hardcover: 288 pages
Price: $24.99