Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Entrepreneurs, sales reps and managers, small business owners, home-based business owners, and those just plain interested in how the world works.

Q: What is the book about?
A: The book reveals the 12 attributes of “800-Pound Gorillas”, or the dominant players in any market who get the largest share of the business.  Whether you’re an individual looking to become a larger presence in your sales career, or a company that needs to find a different route to beat the competition, the stories and examples in the book will help you discover several ways to improve your status and success in the business jungle.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: My 25+ years in broadcast advertising sales, combined with the need to become a more dominant player as I went off to start my own company, gave me the desire to learn more about how others had become the 800-Pound Gorillas in their respective categories.

Through dozens of interviews, hours of research, and refining of the information, the 12 attributes of dominant players came to the surface.  The book has already helped many others to become a more dominant player in a wide variety of business categories.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: The book is different than others because it explores several business categories no one has written about in great detail.  We’ve all heard about Starbucks, Google, and Wal-Mart; who’s the dominant player in the school bus sales industry, and what can an individual learn from their success?  How about nursing homes for underprivileged people?  Promotional specialty products?  Travel Websites for hotel properties?  The sports ticket sales industry?  These are just a few of the categories that are highlighted and revealed in this book – stories you won’t find anywhere else.

Question: Who Is the intended audience?
Answer: This book is ideal for B2B business leaders running companies under $100M in revenues.  It can also guide CEO’s who want to exit their business in 2-10 years, but are seriously undervalued, overwhelmed, or unfocused.  Many entrepreneurs are reading the book to learn from CEOs who have already reached the next level of growth to which they aspire.

Q: What is the book about?
A:  Many strategic planning and marketing experts try to dazzle readers with complex business jargon, sexy marketing hype and cool new ideas.  This book simplifies marketing success by helping business leaders overcome the two biggest business growth roadblocks: limiting beliefs and lack of a written, practical plan.  I bring many practical examples from my decades of working for growth companies and top performing organizations.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A:  I have helped clients secure $83M in new business within just two years. I have advised hundreds of business leaders based on the results of my one-year study of how high performing business owners create sustainable, healthy businesses.  My 26 years of helping organizations secure top line growth without “selling out” has earned me accolades from leaders such as Dr. Stephen Covey, Marshall Goldsmith, and Guy Kawasaki.   You won’t find any academic fluff here—only proven, time-tested, easy to understand tools and strategies.

Q: How is this book different from other books on the topic?
A: One book reviewer said that “many business books read like a theoretical, academic methodology that would take a rocket scientist to follow and implement.  Nirell avoids that problem with simple, down-to-earth steps that, if followed, will definitely place you on the right track for moving your business to the next level.”  Zappos CFO Alfred Lin says “it is a thoughtful book that brings together marketing and strategy to inform the planning process that is focused on delivering value.”  I added many of my own personal stories to give the book a uniquely human perspective and feel.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?

A: EnergizeGrowth® NOW helps you stay connected to your customers, partners,  and yourself. After overcoming the startup hurdles, it’s easy to stray from the vision and values on which you founded your business. This book shows you how to continually grow—without losing sight of the principles that got you here.
From my own personal experience, I know that it takes real commitment to focus on the fundamentals that help you build a sustainable business.  Energize Growth® NOW is the resource you need to help you achieve that.  It shows you how to build deep relationships with clients and customers, stop obsessing over the numbers so you can think about the big picture, and build systems that free you up to focus on more strategic activities. To me, that is energizing!

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Successful corporate executives who, after 10-30 years in the business world, believe they may be ready to do something on their own but aren’t sure if they have “the right stuff” at the right time and want to find out.

Q: What is the book about?
A: As the American economic landscape shifts, seasoned corporate executives are looking at independent business ownership as a way to secure and control their futures, and franchised businesses are growing in their appeal.

But pouring a large amount of money into a franchise does not guarantee success. In this book, you’ll find out:

• How to determine if you can succeed as a franchise owner;
• What dangerous pitfalls to avoid as a buyer;
• The potential rewards of owning your own business;
• Whether or not the numbers make sense;
• Ways to raise money for your venture;
• And much more!

If you are tired of the corporate world and want to escape the rat race, then let Mitchell York, a successful franchisee and professional certified coach, guide you through the many steps involved in deciding whether or not to buy a franchise and how to do it right. As the former president of LendingTree Inc. and other major companies, he now owns a profitable and growing franchised business, and he’s sharing his secrets for success in Franchise: Freedom or Fantasy?

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I am a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), credentialed by the International Coach Federation, so I know how to coach people in a process like this. Moreover, I had a very successful corporate career myself, including being president of LendingTree Inc., so I’m not just a dillatante offering advice. And finally, I own a highly profitable franchised business myself, having re-invented the franchisor’s business model to suit my needs and in the process becoming its highest profit-margin franchisee. I am also a certified job search and career coach through a company called The Five O’Clock Club (www.fiveoclockclub.com), a national coaching and outplacement firm, so I am able to help people determine whether a business, or perhaps just a better job search, is the right path for them. I also am a featured blogger for www.AllBusiness.com, writing about franchising, and I write my own blog at www.e2ecoaching.com

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: Other books tell you how franchises operate but not whether the entire concept is right for you.
This is the only book that targets successful corporate executives as potential franchise owners.
This is the only book written by a former senior executive of a major corporation who traded pinstripes for a Hawaiian shirt and a tiki bar, and who is also a certified business coach.

Q: Anything else we should know about this book?
A: The author offers a no-cost consultation with readers who may be thinking about business ownership after their corporate careers to help them determine whether it is the right path for them, and if so how to proceed on to success.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Organizational leaders at every level within an organization, particularly those with the accountability for culture (HR professionals)., That said,  the perspective and behaviors of a jester can be understood and adopted by anyone regardless of their organization, role or position.  Those who apply what they learn from this book can wield significant influence and bring about remarkable positive change.

Q: What is the book about?
A: In my business book, The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester: A Fresh Perspective on Organizational Leadership, Culture and Behavior, I reveal how to adopt and apply Corporate Jestership within an organization.  Jestership is not about wearing colorful costumes and entertaining others, but is, instead, a unique perspective into organizational dynamics.  Authentic jesters have the rare ability to uncover and successfully address blind spots in thinking and action that directly effect communication, morale and results.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Over the last 12 years I have worked for a consultant for over 500 various organizations including many Fortune 500 businesses.  The lack of Corporate Jestership seems to be common and at the heart of many of the issues I was asked to tackle.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: It is short, fun to read and not only a has “sticky” concept easy to understand and apply, but contains a step by step guide to immediately leverage the concept in your organization.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Using the Corporate Jestership concept as a base, I have delivered hundreds of personalized keynotes, learning sessions and coaching for organizations and individuals – including such industry leaders as eBay, JetBlue Airways, Hewlett Packard, L3 Communications, and the BBC.

The book has received positive praise from a number of people in many different business fields including the Senior VP of Strategic Change Management at Hewlett Packard who said:  “The Secret Life of the Corporate Jester is a fun and intriguing read filled with insights into what it takes to be a successful leader in today’s complex corporate environments.” as well as the VP of Organization Development at Advance Auto Parts who said “This book will quickly change your perspective on managing and leading.  Every person who wants to influence culture change and build leadership in any organization should give this a read.”

“After reading his book and sharing it with my team, we invited Dave to join us for a leadership development event.  His dynamic, interactive learning session brought to life the entertaining stories, effective exercises and thought-provoking questions in his book.” – Greg Inozemcev, Learning and Development, JetBlue Airways

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: This book is intended for both buyers and sellers of tangible non-cash incentive programs.  Sales and marketing executives that have struggled to have their incentive budgets “approved” will love this book.  Incentive companies that have suffered from the AIG effect will love this book.

Q: What is the book about?
A: The book is about creating a measurable Return on Investment for incentive programs.  Using actual client situations, the reader can follow a step by step process of how to do this through each chapter.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: This method of Incentive ROI is something I developed in 1991.  Since that time, it has been proven to be the most effective Incentive ROI method available (independent study by the University of Missouri, September 2007).

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: This book, as far as I am aware, is the only book on this topic.  While there are many books available on ROI, there are no such books out there that outline how this unique method can incrementally improve both profit and cash flow for a company.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: The timing of this book is perfect.  Companies have always “felt” their incentive programs work, people enjoyed getting merchandise or trips.  Now those same companies are cutting or cancelling these very same programs and productivity is impacted.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: Anyone who wants to understand more about risk in their life or business, including business owners, managers, executives, and employees who want to know more about the risks to their jobs if their company is endangering jobs by not balancing risk taken and reasonably projectable rewards obtainable.

Q: What is the book about?
A: In Stick Out Your Balance Sheet and Cough, Gary Patterson details for the first time the proven methods he’s used to successfully treat ailing companies of all sizes across a range of industries–from a startup purchased by IBM to a public technology company sold to eBay to an Inc. 500 consumer goods manufacturer to an international Fortune 500 firm.

Offering tips to stanch the internal financial bleeding and providing a daily regimen for ensuring your company’s financial health, the FiscalDoctor’s prescription is clear:
• Give your company an overall checkup to gauge its condition
• Diagnose problems by reviewing your financials and operations
• Implement a treatment plan using Best Practices from world-class successful companies
• Create a wellness program to prevent future fiscal crises

Using the FiscalDoctor’s Best Practices, the high-growth company you own, manage or
direct can avoid unnecessary increased expenses, revenue shortfalls, employee layoffs, missed bonuses or broken dreams.

So open this book and say “Profit.”

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Gary W. Patterson, The FiscalDoctor®, actually uses these methods developed over more than 30 years of top management experience with companies in manufacturing, technology, wireless, service and distribution in companies from start-ups to Inc 500 to Fortune 500. Several reached 10x compounded annual growth in revenue. He was the European coordinator for a global enterprise-wide leading-edge supply chain re-engineering pilot software application for Robertson CECO, a Fortune 500 company. The project was selected as a premiere site by J D Edwards and he was one of three worldwide pilots for a dimensional MRP software module. Gary also successfully negotiated more than 25 M&A transactions with a market value exceeding $390 million. Gary holds an MBA in Finance and Operations from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, a BA in Accounting from the University of Mississippi, and is a KPMG Big 4 CPA.

Q: How is this book different than other books on this topic?
A: Patterson offers a commonsense approach to risk management that unlocks added value for existing or new ERM programs, both identifying formerly invisible opportunities and revealing key risk areas executives unwittingly take.

In these turbulent economic times when risk is a guaranteed certainty, Gary Patterson unlocks the “hidden risks” that could topple even the best of companies. Even before Bernie Madoff, he saw companies struggle, even die from self inflicted risks they unknowingly took. To this end, Patterson helps companies develop and implement an ERM strategy to ensure a company’s long-term financial growth.

Patterson offers readers seven takeaway tips:
• Management needs to “bite the bullet” and just get started. Often companies want to start at too high a level of sophistication and quit because of the “perceived” challenges. Patterson offers a basic starting point.
• Patterson zeroes in on five operational areas where an ERM strategy will result in immediate improvements.
• Even viable business models need continuous fine tuning to help re-define and manage risk.
• The greening of America will necessitate that every company have an ERM strategy.
• Even cash-strapped companies can find innumerable ways to improve their cashflow. Patterson’s Resource Sections offer additional tips to improve a company’s balance sheet.
• Executive teams must come to terms with their risk tolerance in order to implement an ERM strategy that works for their companies’ cultures.
• Corporate board packages that are delivered less than six days before a board meeting is a sign that there may be systemic operational problems (read risk) lurking inside the company.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: This enterprise risk management (ERM) book includes stories on how a Fiscal Checkup can save your business life. “What You Don’t Know About Your Business Can Cost You Your Business.” That is why sticking out your balance sheet and coughing gets you what you need to know in time for any needed procedures which can mean the difference between life and death. Sticking out your balance sheet is no more comfortable than a visit to your doctor, but it’s every bit as important. Even if it’s bad news (maybe especially) you need to know.

This commonsense approach to risk management unlocks added value for existing or new ERM programs, both identifying formerly invisible opportunities and revealing key risk areas business unwittingly takes.

Too many CEOs, C-suite officers, and boards are taking far greater risks than they may be aware of. Posing the million-dollar-question, “What is the cost of what you don’t know,” this session alerts managers to hidden risks that may be lurking inside their projects and even companies.

For example, in this rapidly accelerating world where layers of management and large numbers of employees have been fired or their work outsourced, decision makers are under siege. After adding factors like silo-thinking departments, inadequate reporting systems, and a challenging global economy, companies are taking far greater risks than CEOs and C-suite officers and their boards are aware of. Examples of risks can range from inventory mismanagement, outdated and/or incomplete financial reports, and false accounting assumptions to external forces like misreading the market, losing competitive advantage, and missing opportunities.

And as another point of WIIFM, you will find you can implement a basic version of this which can make you more money, including saving your bonus in some future year, or maybe this current year.

A video of Gary discussing his book is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXhsY8hP70A

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: The target audiences are primarily those individuals who have an interest in the economy, finance and/or investing and are or may be personally financially impacted by the state of the economy. The secondary market includes those who would like to learn about the finance and investment world and/or are interested in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures within finance and/or real estate.

Q: What is the book about?
A: Standing in the Rain takes the complex subject of the economic crisis which has been experienced in both the United States and throughout the world and helps to explain the situation to the general public in layman’s terms.  It offers a well-rounded perspective from Thomas J. Powell, a seasoned financial authority.  The book takes a detailed, up-to-date (it will be updated again at the end of the Summer or when relevant when it becomes apparent in which direction the economy is moving at that time) snapshot of the current economic state in the country by addressing three specific areas:

1.      How did we get here?

2.      How do we get through this?

3.      What will the other side look like?

In addition, the book addresses each state and provides a snapshot of major economic issues occurring in them. We have already heard back from several business leaders and governors stating they found the information to be both relevant and appropriate.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Thomas J. Powell felt compelled to write this book not only because of the obvious financial crisis being felt by every business sector and individual, but also because it is a perfect marriage of his expertise in Economics, Finance and Real Estate.  He is an instructor in Real Estate Finance at Harvard University, has recently completed his MBA in Real Estate and is considering pursuing his Ph.D at Edinburgh University in Scotland.  More important, Thomas has real-life experience of more than 20 years belly to belly in the topic, not just within the academic world, which can often shelter individuals from the reality of what is occurring in the marketplace.

Because Thomas works everyday in the marketplace through his company, ELP Capital, Inc., and produces a weekly newsletter titled:  The Powell Perspective:  Observations on the Economy, Real Estate, Finance and Investing, he is able to easily update the content of the book as necessary to take it to market through a major publisher and still have it be fresh and relevant to the general public.

How is this book different from other books on this topic:  Examples of key competition and differences are as follows:

¨      Cooper, George, The Origin of Financial Crises (Vintage, 2008)

¨      Shiller, Robert, The Subprime Solution (Princeton Press, 2008)

¨      Soros, George, The New Paradigm for Financial Markets (Public Affairs, 2008)

¨      Zandi, Mark, Financial Shock (FT Press, 2009)

Standing in the Rain is unique from the examples listed above in that it takes the economic crisis and brings it to the individual’s level of understanding, application to one’s life and how to turn one’s personal financial challenges into success.  It is not just about understanding the market, it is about understanding how the market impacts the person and what he or she can do about it to help themselves both get through it and excel in the process.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Thomas Powell has been a speaker on Economics and Finance for several years.  He speaks 10-15 times per year to groups of sizes ranging from 50-250 on the topic.  Tom’s speaking engagement list is included in this package which illustrates his various audiences and speaking locations, including a recent presentation in Buenos Aires in conjunction with one of his Harvard professors.  Tom has a weekly newsletter and podcast, The Powell Perspective, which can be found at www.thepowellperspective.com.  The current distribution is approximately 10,000 since its inception in March 2009; the goal is to have the distribution up to 100,000 by the end of the year.

Both Thomas and his wife, Tonya, have significant business circles that extend throughout the country and world.  In addition to Tom’s multitude of Harvard contacts throughout the world, he serves as a National Trustee for Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), which has many Fortune 100 CEOs on its Board of Directors and Board of Governors.  Tonya is also heavily involved with BGCA and has built a very solid sphere of business owners and directors from her time with AT&T and her numerous wealthy and noted clients within the Powell’s financial investment company, ELP Capital, Inc.

Please see www.standingintherain.com or www.thepowellperspective.com for further information!

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: People in internal and external service roles; owners of small businesses; supervisors of internal service-providing units.

Q: What is the book about?
A: How to reinvent, decorate, and animate customer experiences.  How to choose the right imaginative service strategy for your unit and your customers.  How to insure the sustainability of imaginative service.  How to turn satisfied or retained customers into devoted fans.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I have been a customer loyalty consultant for almost 30 years working with some of the best organizations in the world for service. (Ritz-Carlton Hotels, Cadillac, USAA, etc.) and have authored several best-selling books on customer loyalty.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: It has a gazillion practical ways to focus on creative value-unique experiences rather than on expensive value-added extras.  It has cover endorsements from people like best-selling author Seth Godin, the president of SW Airlines, as well as the retired president of Starbucks.  It will be Wiley’s lead business title for this spring.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: Yes, we have hired the best book publicity firm in the U.S. (Goldberg, McDuffie) who made best-sellers out of First, Break all the Rules, Execution, Jack: Straight from the Gut and Call Me Ted.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: The intended audience for the book is leaders within any size corporations, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and colleges/universities. Because many universities and colleges focus on management from a theoretical and philosophical perspective, rather than the leadership continuum as a process, the audience will now have a framework of understanding to gain from. The book will provide answers for those with the ever looming questions: Are you the leader you could be, should be, or ought to be? Are you knowledgeable of the leadership tools that you must have to reach the next level of success?

Q: What is the book about?
A: Ted Gee’s powerful, new ‘how to’ book is not more of the same. It is about changing the way you think and the outcomes you can expect in your business venture or corporate role.

Hope is something that everyone wants to happen. It does not mean that it will happen or that there are plans in place to ensure the success of a desired goal. The major responsibility of a leader is to transform hope or vision to a reality. Hope Is Not a Strategy will provide leaders with clarity of what they are responsible for in any business at every level, and the tools necessary for them to be successful.

All businesses have the same formula for success and that is strong leadership and effective processes while engaging the workforce. Whether it is a fast food restaurant, a manufacturing company, a service company, hospitals , school system, entrepreneurial effort, entertainment business, or governmental agency the formula is the same. Hope Is Not a Strategy will assist by providing the tools to transform hope to a reality.

Section One, LEADERSHIP is designed to help you to understand the roles of leaders at all levels of the leadership continuum and the responsibilities inherent with each level. In addition to defining what leadership is and what leaders do, we will also explore where they may come from.

In this section we will discuss Time In Grade pitfalls of leadership and other quick fixes for organizations such as the Silver Bullet that many leaders seek when finding root causes to problems and long term solutions are not the objective. At the end of this section we will look at the interdependencies of leadership and process.

Section Two, THE ORGANIZATIONAL JOURNEY is packed with information and tools essential for you as a leader that ensures you have a clearly defined direction for your organization and most importantly a plan of execution. We will explain vision, and mission, and show you how to create a holistic strategy for any organization. You will learn how to objectively examine the Current State of Business and to set up a Business Operating System utilizing such tools as Lean and Six Sigma. The After Action Review process and communication methods are taught in this section for leaders seeking a learning organization.

There is also an APPENDIX loaded with information to assist you with your journey to success as a leader.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: I have a proven background of leadership, starting as a front line supervisor, and progressing to division president of multibillion dollar corporation, and Chief Operating Officer. I am also a process innovation expert utilizing such tools as lean and six sigma. I am currently president of Success Based Interventions a/k/a SBI, which helps organizations become the best that they can be, should be, oughta be, utilizing the principles of the book. Having a background stepped with practical experience of change, transformation and growth during these tough economic times provides credibility.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: This book provides actual prescriptions for complex business problems. It is a how to manual from someone that has practical experience instead of primarily theory and philosophy.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: It is a very easy read, and the transferrable knowledge from this book can be used by people of any industry. Industries may change, products may change, services may change, but the art of leadership, and the expertise of process will fit any industry. Hope Is Not A Strategy, simple solutions for doing business in the 21st century is a solution.

Question: Who is the intended audience?
Answer: This book is for people in the business and corporate world who are unsure about how best to introduce and implement social responsibility in their businesses.

It is also for everyone and anyone who is interested in being socially responsible and making the world a better place.

Q: What is the book about?
A: This is a powerful workbook for being socially responsible in business, and contains powerful questions that will change business people and their businesses forever.

The book has been described as the hard nosed business person’s guide to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), to do good in the world AND make a profit. Since the world today faces huge challenges such as economic meltdown, world recession, climate change, poverty, sustainability and social injustice, more than ever before we need world changing answers and we need them fast. This book asks the right questions to enable the reader to find his or her own answers.

Q: Why are you the best person to write this book?
A: Having worked in a number of different organisations and businesses and having coached many business people, I am seeing a huge desire everywhere to do the right thing for the world and for themselves. I have enabled 100’s of people to find their own “right” thing and have brought my learnings into this book.

I am on a mission to help business people and their companies find some right answers before it is too late. I hope to do this through my book.

Q: How is this book different from other books on this topic?
A: There are lots of “heavy” books out there which explain in depth how and why companies should adopt CSR principles and they are much needed. However there is very little out there that will take individuals on their own emotional journey of self-discovery; to discover their values and what motivates them. Knowing themselves better allows them to work out for themselves just what the right thing to do is.

Q: Is there anything else we should know about this book?
A: It is time for individual responsibility – even President Obama has talked at length about how he hopes to usher in “a return to an ethic of personal responsibility”.

As we increasingly question the way we live our lives, this timely book forces business people to ask themselves powerful questions to convert their good intentions into positive actions. It is all about not just doing things right, but doing the right thing.

As I say to my readers – “Come from a place of being socially responsible – you owe it to our future generations.”

To learn more visit www.PersonalSocialResponsibility.com