Confessions of Shameless Self Promoters, Debbie Allen (ed.), Success Showcase Publishing, 2002
Are you a small business owner that's not exactly a whiz at marketing? Do you know the sort of person who is so good at marketing that they could sell ice to eskimos? This book is full of tips from entrepreneurs and motivational speakers that can turn anyone into a marketing expert.
One of the first rules is to keep a positive attitude. Everyone has heard of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series. Over 130 different publishers rejected the first book. Most people would have given up long before this point. The editors stuck with it until someone finally said Yes. The series has now reached 37 books, all bestsellers, and has sold 68 million copies.
Seek out opportunities and act on them. Always carry business cards, because a new client will show up in the least likely place. Do at least five marketing actions every day (making phone calls, mailing postcards, etc). Build a strong group of alliances. Use the internet. Apply for and win awards; make up your own awards and publicize them. Keep in front of your target audience on a regular basis, and never let them forget that you exist. If you're an author promoting your book (even if it is self published), do your own book tour. If you're new in town, get to know people by volunteering. Make your piece of direct mail the one that gets opened, while the others get trashed. Last but not least: network, network, network!
This book is not meant just for entrepreneurs or other business people. One of the stories is about a married couple who shamelessly promoted themselves as a childless couple willing to adopt, a campaign that was ultimately successful.
No matter who, or what, is being promoted, this book is a must. It is full of tips that anyone, even beginners, can do to create financial and business success. To those who are nervous about taking that first marketing step, reading this book should be your first step.
Showing posts with label allen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allen. Show all posts
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
The New Cosmology
The New Cosmology, Harold W.G. Allen, Perspective Books, 2002
Based on a lifetime of interest in, and research on, earth and its place in the cosmos, the author asserts some startling theories about the state of the universe.
Allen is not a creationist, but he does not dismiss the influence of a force or principle at work that some people call God. The fundamental nature of the cosmos is such that all life contains spirit (specific and varying segments of perfection, or whatever God consists of) and that it is able to rise to higher levels, eventually terminating in none other than God himself.
Did you know that the universe has an impenetrable boundary? The solar system is rushing toward it, but the period of time before it will become a problem can be measured in millions of years.
The author spends much of the book exposing several large holes in the Big Bang theory of universe creation. He asserts that the observable evidence just doesn't add up. A much better theory is that of Continuous Creation (a series of smaller Bangs). At a certain point, universe expansion turns into universe contraction, eventually leading to another Small Bang. Most of his other objections to the Big Bang were beyond this reviewer.
Allen takes the reader painlessly through cosmology, starting with the earth, the sun and the solar system, and spreading out to nearby stars, quasars, pulsars, black holes and continuing on to nearby galaxies. There is a blessed lack of equations and technical jargon in this book. He does a fine job at "layman level" science, but the point comes at which some previous knowledge of cosmology would help. For professional scientists, and for those who simply want a different view of the universe, this book is well worth reading.
Based on a lifetime of interest in, and research on, earth and its place in the cosmos, the author asserts some startling theories about the state of the universe.
Allen is not a creationist, but he does not dismiss the influence of a force or principle at work that some people call God. The fundamental nature of the cosmos is such that all life contains spirit (specific and varying segments of perfection, or whatever God consists of) and that it is able to rise to higher levels, eventually terminating in none other than God himself.
Did you know that the universe has an impenetrable boundary? The solar system is rushing toward it, but the period of time before it will become a problem can be measured in millions of years.
The author spends much of the book exposing several large holes in the Big Bang theory of universe creation. He asserts that the observable evidence just doesn't add up. A much better theory is that of Continuous Creation (a series of smaller Bangs). At a certain point, universe expansion turns into universe contraction, eventually leading to another Small Bang. Most of his other objections to the Big Bang were beyond this reviewer.
Allen takes the reader painlessly through cosmology, starting with the earth, the sun and the solar system, and spreading out to nearby stars, quasars, pulsars, black holes and continuing on to nearby galaxies. There is a blessed lack of equations and technical jargon in this book. He does a fine job at "layman level" science, but the point comes at which some previous knowledge of cosmology would help. For professional scientists, and for those who simply want a different view of the universe, this book is well worth reading.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Change of Heart
Change of Heart, Jack Allen, Burping Frog Publishing, 2001
Joshua McGowan works for US Naval Intelligence. He is pulled out of an assignment and sent to eastern Russia to escort Valeria Konstantinova, a former KGB spy, to America. She is busted out of a Russian prison by the CIA; it's part of the price demanded by Colonel Mironov, a former KGB officer and head of a secret faction of the Communist Party. Mironov is ready to give the location of Dr. Otto Jones, an American scientist who defected several years previously with the formula for an undetectable plastic explosive. Of course, Mironov has his own plans for Valeria.
Valeria also has her own plans. In northern Japan, she eludes Josh and calls her lover, the brother of one of the most powerful Russian mafia families, leaving Josh in the hands of the Japanese police.
Josh takes a side trip to western Iraq, to help the Mossad destroy a shipment of the plastic explosives sold to an Iraqi terrorist group. Back in Moscow, Valeria's lover gives the location of Dr. Jones. Josh plans on returning the doctor to America for trial, but Valeria kills him to keep him from hindering her own plans.
Mironov is ready to force the return of the Communist Party by taking Valeria, who Mironov has used as a high-class prostitute, to the floor of the Russian Parliament. Showing Russian democracy as weak, he will then demand a vote on restoring the Communists to power. Josh is the only one in the way.
This is a real gem of a story. It's very well done, it keeps the reader involved from the beginning, it's very plausible and the characters are real people. I am looking forward to any sequels that might come in the future.
Joshua McGowan works for US Naval Intelligence. He is pulled out of an assignment and sent to eastern Russia to escort Valeria Konstantinova, a former KGB spy, to America. She is busted out of a Russian prison by the CIA; it's part of the price demanded by Colonel Mironov, a former KGB officer and head of a secret faction of the Communist Party. Mironov is ready to give the location of Dr. Otto Jones, an American scientist who defected several years previously with the formula for an undetectable plastic explosive. Of course, Mironov has his own plans for Valeria.
Valeria also has her own plans. In northern Japan, she eludes Josh and calls her lover, the brother of one of the most powerful Russian mafia families, leaving Josh in the hands of the Japanese police.
Josh takes a side trip to western Iraq, to help the Mossad destroy a shipment of the plastic explosives sold to an Iraqi terrorist group. Back in Moscow, Valeria's lover gives the location of Dr. Jones. Josh plans on returning the doctor to America for trial, but Valeria kills him to keep him from hindering her own plans.
Mironov is ready to force the return of the Communist Party by taking Valeria, who Mironov has used as a high-class prostitute, to the floor of the Russian Parliament. Showing Russian democracy as weak, he will then demand a vote on restoring the Communists to power. Josh is the only one in the way.
This is a real gem of a story. It's very well done, it keeps the reader involved from the beginning, it's very plausible and the characters are real people. I am looking forward to any sequels that might come in the future.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Lunar Encounter
Lunar Encounter, Harold W.G. Allen, Perspective Books, 2000
Set in the late 21st century, two geologists on a routine exploration trip on the moon suddenly disappear. An intensive search yields nothing, until, by chance, a secret passage is found under the surface. It leads to a base used by a group of humanoid aliens called Matusians, where the two geologists are safe and sound. The Matusians have been watching Earth for many years, but their existence must remain a secret until their starship arrives in about 30 years. Until then, their moon base is defenseless against any earth dictator with missiles who feel that the Matusians must be destroyed, because they threaten the status quo.
The secret doesn't stay secret for long, and the Matusians are forced to reveal themselves to the people of Earth. The keepers of the status quo, including the American president, don't take this lying down. A plan is hatched whereby two nuclear bombs are secretly transported to the moon. One is placed outside the entrance to the Matusian base, and the other is hidden inside Earth's lunar base. The idea is to make it look like the Matusians attacked and destroyed the Earth base, they were destroyed when Earth attacked them in retaliation.
The author has some unique theories on various subjects, which he explores via a science fiction novel. Among other things, he talks about a one-world government, religion, evolution and cosmology (he asserts that the Big Bang Theory of universe creation is wrong). Read this book for the theories, not for the quality of the fiction.
Set in the late 21st century, two geologists on a routine exploration trip on the moon suddenly disappear. An intensive search yields nothing, until, by chance, a secret passage is found under the surface. It leads to a base used by a group of humanoid aliens called Matusians, where the two geologists are safe and sound. The Matusians have been watching Earth for many years, but their existence must remain a secret until their starship arrives in about 30 years. Until then, their moon base is defenseless against any earth dictator with missiles who feel that the Matusians must be destroyed, because they threaten the status quo.
The secret doesn't stay secret for long, and the Matusians are forced to reveal themselves to the people of Earth. The keepers of the status quo, including the American president, don't take this lying down. A plan is hatched whereby two nuclear bombs are secretly transported to the moon. One is placed outside the entrance to the Matusian base, and the other is hidden inside Earth's lunar base. The idea is to make it look like the Matusians attacked and destroyed the Earth base, they were destroyed when Earth attacked them in retaliation.
The author has some unique theories on various subjects, which he explores via a science fiction novel. Among other things, he talks about a one-world government, religion, evolution and cosmology (he asserts that the Big Bang Theory of universe creation is wrong). Read this book for the theories, not for the quality of the fiction.
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