The economy is still tanking, people are out of work everywhere, and foreclosure signs continue popping up at a fearful rate. How can this be a good climate to start any business? What you”re forgetting is that public speaking engagements are all about solving problems for people, and you can bet a large percentage of…
DetailsThe cruise industry calls it enrichment speaking, and it’s one of the sweetest deals you’re ever going to stumble across as a public speaker. In return for a few hours of your time, you’ll be paid to drink yourself tipsy and eat yourself wobbly across whatever body of water the ship happens to be traversing.…
DetailsWe recently discussed using Smashwords website and publishing service to get your manuscript into the digital ebook marketplace but, as you might expect, this particular company isn’t the final word on the subject. While publishers might wish that sending books out into the world in digital format was all they would ever have to do,…
DetailsPresent and future writers and publishers should be paying attention to Smashwords right now. The traditional publishing industry is imploding before our eyes and business models like Smashwords stand poised to take advantage of the exploding demand for digital ebooks. We’re proud to be able to announce that the barbarians are at the gate and…
DetailsDoes the iPad retain its coolness quotient in the months following the initial purchase, or is it simply another electronic toy we’ll tire of quickly and toss into the dustbin of history? If we were placing bets, Steve Jobs and Apple’s track record stands up pretty good but it doesn’t matter what we think. Let’s…
DetailsYou’re not stuck with the public speaking voice you might think you were born with. While such voices as Sean Connery, James Earl Jones, George Clooney, Cher and Ashley Judd likely have a certain genetic predisposition to sound pleasing to our ears, more likely is the fact that they learned early on how to use…
DetailsBefore hanging your shingle out and declaring yourself a professional consultant, there is one small matter to attend to. Are an expert on something? That’s sort of a requirement to a successful consulting career. But even more than being an expert, you should also verify that your knowledge set is in demand. While your brain…
DetailsIn the face of a crumbling business model, the publishing industry has developed a different approach for finding writing talent. While the digital and independent publishing entrepreneurs lead the way into a bold new future, big time publishers huddle in fear at the demise of their way of life, hands clenched tightly to pocketbooks, afraid…
DetailsTo be clear, the Elmer Fudd Syndrome (EFS) does not include rushing onto stage with a double-barreled shotgun looking for smart aleck rabbits. No, EFS is when you step in front of a microphone sounding like you woke up two minutes ago and your tongue is two sizes too large for your mouth. Singers warm…
DetailsThere are two critical aspects to keep in mind as a professional writer: the writing platform and target audience. Often times, these really go hand-in-hand, but it’s important to know who your reader is and how they are consuming the content.
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