Archive for May 2014

The Conversation That Changes Lives

kid on phone 2

I’m sitting at the Holiday Inn hotel bar, in downtown Shanghai China, well into my second beer and having a wonderful conversation with a beautiful Chinese bartender… when my wife walks in!

Well, to be perfectly honest, she wasn’t my wife at the time, but she soon would be.

That night, she (my wife now) was the lead singer in the band “Livewire” that was playing at the hotel and I was a hotel guest, relaxing after a long day (of sightseeing!).

Would you like to know how these two strangers changed their lives forever?

It was a conversation.

Somehow I, a not so extroverted (nor especially handsome) gentleman, summoned the courage to go up and TALK to this lovely singer on one of their breaks. I started the conversation with this group by offering a compliment, which by the way is a great way to begin any conversation. The band invited me to sit with them, which I did.

And I made up my mind that night, I decided, that I should marry the girl who walked into the Shanghai hotel bar and change my life forever.

If not for that first conversation, who knows?

I was reminded of the power of one conversation at my daughter’s 8th grade graduation dance last night. The MC was talking about his first day at St. Mary’s school. It was on that day he said, that he met his best friend. And they’ve been married now for 25 years.

You talk to a girl or guy. You go for a job interview. You are introduced to someone at a meeting or dinner or party.

One conversation can alter the course of your life forever.

I gave a talk to a group of Toastmasters about book writing. Within 30 days 4 books had moved from thought to completion.

I’ve helped many others since that time.

If you’ve been thinking about writing a book it’s time to stop. Stop thinking about it and do it.

Fear of the unknown stops many people from moving forward. It stops them from having a conversation they know they should have. Sometimes we wish someone would start a conversation with us, so we don’t have to be the first to show interest.

I’m starting a conversation with you right now. I’m interested in what YOUR BOOK, YOUR IDEA  is about.

I’m a pretty easy guy to talk to. Let’s talk about writing your book.

That ONE CONVERSATION could change your life forever.

Funny thing I’ve learned about success. You have to reach out and get it. YOU have to decide to move forward. Do the thing you fear and the fear will disappear.

You gotta say YOU WANT IT!

Let’s talk about your success today.

At the bottom of this page you’ll find both my email and phone number to open a conversation that could change your life forever.

The Formula for Writing Useful Books the Easy Way

How Useful Books are Written - Fast and Easy

How Useful Books are Written – The Fast and Easy Way

Formulas help us do things faster, easier, more reliably. Luckily, I’ve discovered a formula for fast, easy book creation.

If you’re a busy professional who needs a book published, or a graduate student, or just someone trying to leapfrog to the head of the pack quickly, you need to read this post.

I’ve always loved fast. Fast cars. Roller coasters. Airplane takeoffs. Fast lawn cutting so I can get to the FUN part of the day. I think we all have a need for speed.

Conversely, we never have enough time. No matter how fast we go, there’s always more to do. Often, things get put on hold. Too often it’s the important, but not critical, things that get put on hold.

We’re constantly pulling weeds instead of planting crops. Putting out fires instead of watering or clearing dead brush.

Book writing is one of those things that often gets put on hold. The most common excuse is, “I haven’t time.” This is closely followed by, “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

Today I’d like to offer you the opportunity to banish those excuses forever. This is important because as long as you cling to your excuses, you cannot make progress.

Writing your book is progress. It’s planting the seeds of an easier, more successful and rewarding future. It’s the little hinge that will open big doors. It’s the lever you stand on to move the world.

Enough metaphors. You get the idea. If you’re reading this, you know you need to finally write your book and you just want to know how. How to get it done quick and easy because the wolf is at the door again. Oops…slipped another metaphor in on you. My apologies.

OK. Here it is. The simple formula I’ve discovered that works for every field I can think of. If you’re an expert at something (and we all are) you can write your first or next book quickly using this formula.

I call it the 10Q EZ Book Writing Formula.

It works like this…

Write down the 10 most commonly asked questions people have about your field. Your FAQ’s (frequently asked questions). For example, if you train dogs, what are the top ten questions people are always asking about training dogs? I love dogs, well behaved dogs, so let me have a shot at this. Admittedly, I’m no expert but I used to have a dog so I’ll bet I can do this:

1. How do you keep your dog from always barking at strangers?
2. How do you stop your dog from peeing in the house?
3. How do you get your dog to not pull on the leash?
4. How do you get your dog to stay?
5. How do you get your dog to sit?
6. How do you get your dog to NOT beg for food at the table?
7. How do you get your dog to stay off the furniture?
8. How do you get your puppy to stop whining at night?
9. How do you keep your dog from tearing up the house when you leave?
10. How do you stop your dog from digging in the yard.

I timed myself. Remember, I’m no dog training expert. It took me exactly 2 minutes and 37 seconds to list all those, off the top of my head, and I’m a slowish typer to boot.

If you’re an expert, or even just good at what you do, you can create a quick list like that to help your prospects or clients.

Guess what? Answer those 10 questions thoroughly and you have the makings of a useful book that gets done fast and will have maximum appeal to the marketplace.

You can write out the answers in a Microsoft Word file. What if each day for the next ten days you answer just ONE question. In just ten days your useful book will be nearly complete. Please tell me you can find, commit to just one hour a night for the next ten days. Could you write on your lunch hour? Most Americans could skip eating lunch for a while and not die.

Oh, think of your book writing as a weight loss program. Lose 5 pounds in a week by writing on your lunch hour instead of eating!

But seriously, you can use this formula to create a great first book. You can plant the seeds of opportunity by just answering the top ten questions your clients have.

It works for Financial Advisors, Real Estate agents, Salespeople of everything under the sun, Accountants, Auto Mechanics, Dog Trainers, Photographers, Magicians, Carpet Cleaners and Lawyers too. Everybody can use it to succeed.

That’s what makes it a formula. It always works.

You can have a quick, 10 chapter, 100+ page, useful book done in no time at all, with little or no prior book writing skill required in just 10 days. And you can self-publish it and sell it at the giant online book seller Amazon.com for free.

What’s your excuse now?

Just do it. You can get more tips and tricks for fast and simple book creation in my book, Book Writing Magic.

Here’s two more bonus tips…

1. Write an even better book, more simply by sending me your list of Top Ten FAQ’s and I’ll interview you over the phone and record your answers. I’ll use the transcript of that interview to create the book FOR YOU! Goodbye time excuse forever! It’s the fun and easy way to get your book done while simultaneously positioning YOU as the expert. Experts get interviewed. Get more details on this by clicking here.

2. Quickly DOUBLE the length of your book, and the value by adding 10 SAQ’s.
What are SAQ’s you ask? Should Ask Questions. Often times, you know people are asking the wrong questions because they just don’t know any better. Because you are the expert, on the inside, you know there are things people should know and should ask but they don’t. These are the inside secrets that are so desirable and so helpful. Create a chapter for each of these SAQ’s and watch your book grow thicker quickly.

What are you waiting for?

Lets get started. Let’s plant some seeds today!

Before you close this window, write your 10Q’s now.

You’ll be amazed how good it feels to know you’ve started.

And guess what…

There’s another famous formula from physics that says, “An object in motion tends to stay in motion…”

You be that object. Get started. Get moving now.