Well known California interior designer, and owner of several decorating stores, Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, was kind enough to answer a few questions about her practical and easy to understand book At Home with Laurie Ann. She shares some money saving, and easy to apply tips and secrets for designing the home of your dreams on a very limited budget.

Thanks to Laurie Ann for her time and for her wonderful responses. They are greatly appreciated.




What was the background to writing this book At Home with Laurie Ann?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: I wanted to share my knowledge and inspire those who want to make their homes reflections of their personalities and lifestyles.

Many home decorating books have such complicated designs that they are well beyond the budget of the average person. Your book takes a different approach. How does your book help a person create a designer look on a tiny budget?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: I’m teaching people to look beyond designer showrooms and be creative in the ways they shop and to freshen up pieces they already have.

You recommend starting with the furniture and items that the home owner or renter already owns. What do you mean by that idea?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: A simple start to making a home fresh and new without getting rid of everything a person owns is to begin by looking at the furniture one already has and picking out the pieces they love. The initial home design will begin with those pieces — the beloved pieces will dictate the style and colors that the home will take on.

You suggest finding one's own style. How does a person who believes they have little style or is new to the idea of decorating create a personal style?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: Although someone may think they have no style, there are different design elements that they will find themselves attracted to, i.e., certain colors, particular furniture pieces, definite fabric prints, etc. Start by looking through home magazines, keeping in mind that you may not like the entire room; but if there is an item that stands out, make note of it. A pattern will eventually emerge — identifying your style.



Laurie Ann McMillin Ray (photo left)

One of your interesting ideas is going room by room. How does this not only help affordability but create distinctive designs?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: It helps with distinctive design because all your energy will be focused on that particular room and you won’t feel so scattered.

How can the use of color, pattern, and layers completely transform the look of a room?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: The color changes the mood, the pattern affects the energy and layering adds interest and dimension.

As families change in size, people move to new locations, and interests and careers change as well. How can these different stages of life be included in new and exciting looks without spending a lot of money?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: When first beginning to decorate your home and shopping for major furniture pieces, invest in higher quality items and keep the color pallet of these pieces neutral — then the selections can grow with you. And when the time comes, walls can be painted and accessories and pillows can be easily replaced or updated to reflect your ever-changing lifestyle.

Do you have hard and fast rules for every occasion as some designers tell us to follow?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: I believe rules are meant to be broken and there are no boundaries when it comes to design. All that matters is that you love your home and the way you feel when you are there — decorate toward those goals.

How can a home be freshened up to a new look with little investment in cost and time?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: Change out your pillows, rearrange your furniture in ways you may not haven’t thought of the first time, paint furniture to give it a new look, replace kitchen knobs, add a slipcover to your sofa. Even new placemats and kitchen towels can make a “fresh” difference.

Should we be sure to remember our lawns, backyards, decks, and gardens too?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: You should never ignore your outdoor space because it is a reflection of what is inside. In essence, it’s the final room of your home.

What is the most important piece of advice you can give to a person who is intimidated by the idea of decorating their home?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: There is no need to be intimidated if you start small — the rest will fall into place.

What is next for Laurie Ann McMillin Ray?

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray: I’m going to continue helping people create for their families homes they all love. Whether that means opening more decorating boutiques or writing additional books, I don’t know at this point; but I’m certainly excited about the future because decorating is my passion, my friend, my favorite pastime.

**********

My book review of At Home with Laurie Ann by Laurie Ann McMillin Ray.

Tags: At Home with Laurie Ann, Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, interior design on a budget, author interviews.

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At Home with Laurie Ann

By: Laurie Ann McMillin Ray

Published: February 10, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 0984074805
ISBN-13: 978-0984074808
Publisher: Laurie Ann Publishing Inc.







"Whether you seek an all-out overhaul or a visual shake-up of your home, you'll begin in the same place - with your taste, your needs and your dreams", writes interior designer and owner of several decorating stores, Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, in her practical and easy to understand book At Home with Laurie Ann. The author shares ideas to transform any house into a home that reflects its owner's personal style, while decorating on a limited budget.

Laurie Ann McMillin Ray began her decorating career by designing interiors for her home builder father. Her twenty-five years of experience in home decorating are very much in evidence in the book. Because of her understanding that people have widely diverse tastes, families, and budgets, Laurie Ann provides the design tools necessary to create your own home decorating style that suits your individual needs. Whether you are a first time home buyer, a long term owner, or anywhere in between, the author shares secrets that anyone can use successfully to create their own dream home. Laurie Ann invites the homeowner to utilize existing furniture, fabric, and dashes of color in new and interesting ways to put your own personal stamp on each room.



Laurie Ann McMillin Ray (photo left) invites people to discover their own personal style and to have their home reflect their personal space. The author provides a guide to helping your creative side shine through, even if you have always believed that you have no design skill. Laurie Ann doesn't believe that everyone needs to hire expensive interior decorators. With her lavishly illustrated book as an inspiration, the author believes that anyone can create exciting and eye catching designs, on a very tiny budget. The author sets out the basics of interior design in language that anyone can understand, and suggests that a person look at familiar rooms with new eyes. By simply rearranging the furniture, in patterns never thought of before, the home owner can open their mind to endless new possibilities.

For me, the power of the book is the practical and simple format for home decorating that Laurie Ann McMillin Ray recommends to her readers. Unlike many books on room design, this book is not all about the author. Instead, the author makes a point of having the home owner create their own look, that suits their family's tastes and lifestyle. The book contains a very handy checklist to help determine what your personal goals for the design are, and what matters most to the reader. The abundant full color photos of various interior looks provide a visual guide to thinking in new ways, and letting your creativity flow through every room in the house, and the yard and garden outside. Laurie Ann even provides tips for making the holiday seasons special, and adds a few tasty recipes to satisfy the hungry home designer.

I highly recommend the very easy to use and approachable book At Home with Laurie Ann by Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, to anyone seeking a clear guide to creating a visually stunning look on a limited budget. Instead of being told to throw everything out or buy entirely new furniture, Laurie Ann suggests a more realistic an budget conscious method. She recommends using what already exists in the way of furniture and fabric, and letting your individual style and taste through the end result. By thinking of ways to mix and match, and deepen the textures, a beautiful and eclectic look can be created by anyone.

Read the indispensable guide to low cost home interior design At Home with Laurie Ann by Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, and make your house into a dream home that fits your personal style and taste. With just a few hints from this wonderful book, anyone can create looks that match those of an expensive interior decorator, at a tiny fraction of the cost. Read this book and turn every room of your home into what you truly wish it to be for you and your family.

Tags: At Home with Laurie Ann, Laurie Ann McMillin Ray, interior design on a budget, design book reviews.

READ MORE - At Home With Laurie Ann by Laurie Ann McMillin Ray - Book review

CEO of More or Less Inc., employee training expert Larry Myler, author of the practical, career building book Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself, was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about his book. Larry describes the importance of generating profit for a company as critical in any economy, but especially in these difficult economic times.

Thanks to Larry Myler for his time and for his insightful and informative responses. They are greatly appreciated.



What was the background to writing this book Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself?

Larry Myler: With all the financial carnage in the workplace, I wanted to contribute something substantive that would help individuals and companies get back on solid ground. After extensively researching what had already been written on the topics of getting and keeping a job, increasing one's chances of being promoted, adding real financial value and becoming indispensable, it was clear that nobody had ever gone beyond the political, non-value-added advice that's so prevalent. So, with my sights set on value creation and bottom-line benefits, I jumped into the project.

In the book, you suggest that an employee must add more value than others. How do you go beyond the conventional wisdom and homilies usually offered to employees?

Larry Myler: Dress well, eat lunch at your desk, look busy all the time and volunteer for everything. The list goes on, but none of these strategies will increase workers’ financial contributions to their organizations. Here's a two-step approach that will have fellow employees (or other job candidates) eating your dust: 1) Learn how to reduce expenses and increase revenues (there are many ways to do both in every company); 2) Document your profit proposals so that you get the credit, and so that your personal brand and marketability can skyrocket.

Is helping the company improve its profits the surest way to become an indispensable part of the organization?

Larry Myler: All things being equal, yes. Assuming one is already getting to work on time, dressing appropriately, getting along with co-workers and performing on par, the one thing that changes everything is the ability to increase company profits. Indispensable by Monday was written for those who are already meeting a minimum standard of professionalism. Anyone who comes to work naked needs a different kind of help.

Why do so many employees overlook the obvious idea of generating more profit?

Larry Myler: Two words: JOB DESCRIPTION. We automatically think that if we do everything in our job descriptions we will be fine; and of course, that makes perfect sense to intelligent people. Management often leaves this crucial profit responsibility out of formal job descriptions, so if employees should happen to think about the company's fiscal health they would logically conclude that, "It's not my job. People above my pay grade worry about that."

It is ironic that, while relinquishing the responsibility for profit to the top of the organization, workers at all levels of the org chart become completely oblivious to the many profit opportunities all around them—opportunities that will never be seen from the top.



Larry Myler (photo left)

Can an employee cut costs when others in the organization say that everything has been pared to the bone?

Larry Myler: I know we should try to not use the words never and always, but whenever my company is hired to find needed profits for clients, we are always told that all efficiencies have been found; and yet, this is never the case. It is shocking to see how easy it is to produce cost reductions and revenue enhancements once people know what to look for.

As an example, my consulting firm conducts a session known as the 90-minute Profit Jumpstart, during which we routinely discover and document hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in profit. 90 minutes! During an extended lunch we can actually pull money out of thin air, and we do it by tapping into the resident knowledge of employees at all levels of the organization. This process always works, and it has never failed.

Can an employee boost revenues even in a difficult economy when others say no one is buying and everyone is cutting their purchasing budgets?

Larry Myler: Economies cycle and market forces are always changing. If a company's value proposition to its customers remains the same, even though economic and market conditions change, it usually follows that customers will make different buying decisions. There is a specific chapter in the book that deals with this very issue.

Even today, are there easy dollars to be had that have an immediate impact directly on the bottom line?

Larry Myler: Absolutely! Here's a quick one. Read the chapter on process improvement and you'll find 33 ways to streamline your company's established processes. When you take even one unnecessary step out of a recurring process, you will save the company money and you will make your own job easier.

Is innovative thinking a critical skill for the indispensable employee?

Larry Myler: Better thinking is always good, but when it comes to adding profit, 99 per cent of the workforce find it difficult if not impossible to add indispensable financial value without help. Thus, the need for book. The good news is that after reading and applying the concepts in the book, most employees will continue to propose and implement creative and innovative profit ideas of their own—long into the future. Innovation is a lot easier with the right skills, knowledge and tools.

How can positive results be quantified to show up in a performance review?

Larry Myler: We have created a free online tool, aptly named the Profit Proposal Generator (PPG), which enables even those with no accounting knowledge whatsoever to create a report showing the monetary impact of any profit idea. You don't have to be a financial genius to look like one, if you use the PPG. The process is pretty simple: Read the book, use the PPG, and become indispensable.

Taking several PPG reports into your next performance appraisal is the best way to get a raise, bonus and/or promotion, because you can document the exact amount of profit you created for the company before you ever ask for a small part of it to come back to you. Contrast that with the normal experience of being subject to the oft-times selective memory of a manager who would sooner postpone (or even disregard altogether) the rewards you have justly earned.

Is it possible for an employee to become truly indispensable if they follow the recommendations made in the book?

Larry Myler: It's happening every day. I recently presented a 90-Minute Profit Jumpstart to a division of 300 employees, during which we uncovered over $5 million in hidden profits. Just yesterday I heard from a small business owner who bought a copy of the book for each of his 6 managers. He reported finding tens of thousands of dollars before they got to page 35!

One man, who had been looking for work for two years without getting even one interview, modified his resume as instructed in the book to show his past profit contributions. Three days after sending out the new resume, he had an interview scheduled with a great prospect. So, here's my invitation to all who embark on this profit quest: Let me know when you have your first success. You can reach me at lmyler@bymonday.com

What is next for Larry Myler?

Larry Myler: I'm working on a book that teaches leaders what to do if an employee ever does show up to work naked.

**********

My book review of Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself by Larry Myler.

Tags: Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself, Larry Myler, career development an management, business author interviews.

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Indispensable By Monday

Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself

By: Larry Myler

Published: February 2, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 173 pages
ISBN-10: 0470554770
ISBN-13: 978-0470554777
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons







"Creating profit for your company is always your best approach, in good times or bad", writes CEO of More or Less Inc, and employee training expert Larry Myler, in his practical, career building book Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself. The author describes, in no nonsense language, how generating profit for your company is the most critical aspect of being regarded as a valuable employee.


Larry Myler recognizes the value in being well dressed, visible, and going above and beyond the letter of an employee's job description. What he recommends, however, is creating profit for the organization as being of even more crucial importance. The employee who creates profit for the business, through increased revenue, lower costs, or a combination of both, will be seen as creating value. In a good economy, a profitable employee is valuable to an organization. In difficult economic times, creating more profit than an employee costs is essential to avoid layoffs and corporate downsizing. Larry Myler demonstrates clearly how an employee can build those profit centers and boost the company bottom line in any economy.



Larry Myler (photo left) understands that adding financial value to an organization is vital for employees in today's recessionary economy. Through innovative ideas for enhancing revenue and for reducing costs, an employee adds value to the company. That additional value is sought after by all employers, and someone who can deliver results will be in high demand. Improving efficiency and implementing better processes will also help an employee stand out from the crowd. The author points out that simply achieving profitable results isn't always enough, however. To gain more recognition from superiors, Larry Myler describes the importance of quantifying value to the company in a personal account of the employee's profit creation. This information is critical for job evaluation and for resume purposes, as it demonstrates value creation.

For me, the power of the book is how Larry Myler describes, in no uncertain terms, how the conventional wisdom for staying employed may not work in a tough economy. Instead, the author emphasizes the importance of building company profits, and quantifying the achievements for performance appraisals. Unlike other books on being regarded as an indispensable employee, Larry Myler focuses his attention on generating profits for the company. In place of simply presenting theory, the author provides many actionable techniques for boosting revenues, cutting costs, and improving efficiency. While not discounting the conventional advice given to employees, Larry Myler creates a quantifiable program for becoming an employee who will be retained and rewarded in any economy.

I highly recommend the essential guide to transforming oneself into a financial superstar Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself by Larry Myler, to anyone seeking the real truth about how to be a key employee. Rather than offering platitudes about the value of hard work, the author dispenses powerful profit building concepts that can be utilized effectively in any organization.

Read the value enhancing book Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself by Larry Myler, and boost your company's profits. At the same time, you will learn how to receive the proper credit for your valuable contribution to the business and its bottom line.

Tags: Indispensable By Monday: Learn the Profit-Producing Behaviors that will Help Your Company and Yourself, Larry Myler, career development an management, business book reviews.

READ MORE - Indispensable By Monday by Larry Myler - Book review

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Motivational speaker and author of the inspirational and heart felt book Where Did the Gift Go?, Ricky Roberts III, shares his life story from multiple stabbing victim at age seventeen to adult seeking a higher purpose of service to others. He describes the importance of passion for life and for enjoying what a person does every day. Ricky discusses taking an inner journey to find your higher calling in life and living a life of purpose.

Ricky Roberts III is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, February 25, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Motivational speaker and author of the inspirational and heart felt book Where Did the Gift Go?, Ricky Roberts III, shares his life story from multiple stabbing victim at age seventeen to adult seeking a higher purpose of service to others. You will learn:

* What is the most important gift we share as people

* How to discover a higher calling in life

* How to take a journey inward to discover your true purpose

* How to break out of the box and live your own dreams



Ricky Roberts III (photo left) felt as a child he felt lost, alone, and defeated. He was allowing myself to be a victim of his circumstances and could not see the beauty in life itself. After being stabbed nine-times at the age of seventeen, he found a new appreciation for life and realized a higher calling for it, which he has been seeking ever since. Ricky doesn't claim to have the answers, but hopes to encourage people in finding their own. As he continues to make sense out of life, and what he he is called to do, he is humbled by the opportunity to share with others. Ricky truly appreciate your interest and support in what he does, and he hopes that your life is enriched from it.

Ricky blogs at Ricky Roberts III.

My book review of Where Did the Gift Go? by Ricky Roberts III.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with motivational speaker and author of the inspirational and heart felt book Where Did the Gift Go?, Ricky Roberts III, as he shares his life story from multiple stabbing victim at age seventeen to adult seeking a higher purpose of service to others. He describes the importance of passion for life and for enjoying what a person does every day. Ricky discusses taking an inner journey to find your higher calling in life and living a life of purpose on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Where Did the Gift Go?, Ricky Roberts III, inspiration, life's purpose, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

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Where Did the Gift Go?

By: Ricky Roberts III

Published: July 7, 2009
Format: Paperback, 124 pages
ISBN-10: 1606963872
ISBN-13: 978-1606963876
Publisher: Tate Publishing











"Every day, every moment is a gift to be here. Life is the gift that gives our souls a place to be", writes Ricky Roberts III, in his inspirational and heart felt book Where Did the Gift Go?. The author treasures live, and invites the reader to not take it for granted, as do so many people.

Ricky Roberts III understands the value of life. Having survived a multiple stabbing incident at age seventeen, he knows that life can end in the blink of an eye. As a result of his experiences, the author decided to live every moment to its fullest possibilities. Ricky Roberts believes that too many people have chosen to not value life. Instead, they go through the motions of living, but never truly live. Because of what the author considers a lack of consideration of the real value of life's purpose, people are unhappy. They feel that life has passed them by, that they have missed too many opportunities, and hold down jobs that they don't enjoy. Instead of living, the author believes they have become close to losing the precious gift.



Ricky Roberts III (photo left) invites his readers to step outside of the box that so many people have build around their lives. The author challenges people to really live and truly enjoy the moment. Instead of spending one's life suffering, Ricky Roberts wants people to seize that moment, and do what is important for them and their families. He also suggests taking notice of the beauty of the world around us, instead of being almost unaware of its existence. The author believes the American Dream may be right for some people, but it may not be happiness and the gift for others. Instead of being trapped in the box of chasing a dream that is not what a person wants in life, Ricky recommends following your inner purpose as your guide.

For me, the power of the book is Ricky Roberts III's inspirational message. He writes from his heart, as someone who believes in the Divine spark within all people, and craves awakening that spirit in everyone. He knows that life is a precious gift, and that people have a higher purpose in this life than to be miserable and chasing false dreams. The author reminds us that not being part of the mainstream culture is not a bad thing. Indeed, he considers marching to your own drum beat to be living life to the fullest and being truly free. He reminds us that Jesus was also an outcast, who followed his own inner purpose. The author believes we should let our own soul shine through, in every precious moment of our lives.

I highly recommend the deeply personal book Where Did the Gift Go? by Ricky Roberts III, to anyone seeking to live their lives to the fullest. Instead of being unhappy, the author guides the reader to find a true purpose in life, and to make a real difference in the lives of others around us.

Read the life changing book Where Did the Gift Go? by Ricky Roberts III, and rediscover the parts of your life that may have become lost along the way. This book will help you to recover that purpose and the gift of life, and keep you from losing your way again.

Tags: Where Did the Gift Go?, Ricky Roberts III, inspiration, life's purpose, self help book reviews.

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Coming of the Storm

Book One of Contact: The Battle for America

By: Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear

Published: February 2010
Format: Hardcover, 496 pages
ISBN-10: 1439153884
ISBN-13: 9781439153888
Publisher: Pocket Books




Chickesaw trader Black Shell is fascinated at first by the newly arrived Europeans and their strange ways. His curiosity about these people who call themselves "Kristianos" is greater than the advice of the elders. Even the beautiful Pearl Hand, who has agreed to become his mate, can prevent him from exploring the newcomers more closely. His discovery of their unbelievable cruelty shocks Black Shell, and he fears for the way of life of his people. Tempted to run away with Pearl Hand, Black Shell makes a fateful decision that will change the course of history. Authors Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear recreate a pivotal time in American history, based on research and keen insights into the motivations of the Europeans and the Native Americans, in their sweeping epic novel Coming of the Storm - Book One of Contact: The Battle for America.



Kathleen O'Neal Gear (photo left) and Michael Gear are professional archeologists who bring their extensive research to their extraordinary story. They draw the characters of Black Shell and Pearl Hand from careful study of the Native Americans of Florida. The realistic portrayal of the people who lived in America brings life to the book. It also creates a gripping immediacy, as the lives of the characters come to life. At the same time, the authors demonstrate that the Native Americans were not helpless victims, easily over run by the Spanish invaders, but as a powerful and proud people, ready to fight to defend their homes and families. This reappraisal of Native American history rings true as the authors share their expertise through the characters and story.



W. Michael Gear (photo left) and Kathleen O'Neal Gear bring their research to bear on the mythology that has grown up around Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto. In the capable hands of the authors and their study of history, the myth of de Soto as hero is replaced by the real facts of his arrival in America. Cruel and brutal, and driven by greed, de Soto is shown for the selfish and heartless person that he was in his life. The clash of cultures in the book is not only one of Europeans and First Nations people, but also of far different values of what is important and how to measure true wealth. Black Shell, fearing for the lives of his people, learns first hand of the brutality and lust for riches that de Soto represents. Black Shell must make the choice of thinking only of himself and Pearl Hand, or strive to be part of something larger than himself. His choice sets him apart from de Soto, and shows that courage and selflessness can defeat greed and evil.

I highly recommend the historically accurate and research based novel Coming of the Storm - Book One of Contact: The Battle for America by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, to anyone seeking both a compelling dramatic novel and a study of history as it really unfolded. The authors recreate a long since departed world of Native America, and how the original inhabitants of America fought hard to preserve their home and way of life. The stark realism of the book draws the reader into a world both strange and familiar, and shares characters who remain with the reader long after the book is completed.

Read the gripping and spellbinding book Coming of the Storm - Book One of Contact: The Battle for America by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, and get caught up in the story of a people who were proud and stood tall against cruel and uncaring invaders. The book will leave you with a richer understanding of Native American life in Florida, and with a deeper feeling for the people and their very important place in history.

Tags: Coming of the Storm - Book One of Contact: The Battle for America, Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear, Native American History, Hernando de Soto, fiction book reviews.

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Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Activist, entrepreneur, self-confessed economic hit man, and author of the insightful and visionary book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them, John Perkins, goes beyond the headlines to the real reasons that global markets collapsed in 2007-08. He shares insider stories of corporate CEOs and of manipulated politicians. He also describes ways to prevent market meltdowns in the future and how to build a stronger and more resilient economy. He also discusses actions that individuals can take to build a new economy.

John Perkins is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, February 23, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Activist, entrepreneur, self-confessed economic hit man, and author of the insightful and visionary book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them, John Perkins, goes beyond the headlines to the real reasons that global markets collapsed in 2007-2008. You will learn:

* Why global markets collapsed in 2007-2008.

* How misguided economic thinking created a "mutant capitalism"

* Why capitalism is important and how it can be made work for everyone

* How individuals can work toward building a new, stronger economy



John Perkins (photo left) has lived four lives: as an economic hit man (EHM); as the CEO of a successful alternative energy company, who was rewarded for not disclosing his EHM past; as an expert on indigenous cultures and shamanism, a teacher and writer who used this expertise to promote ecology and sustainability while continuing to honor his vow of silence about his life as an EHM; and as a writer who, in telling the real-life story about his extraordinary dealings as an EHM, has exposed the world of international intrigue and corruption that is turning the American republic into a global empire despised by increasing numbers of people around the planet.

As an EHM, Johns job was to convince Third World countries to accept enormous loans for infrastructure development—loans that were much larger than needed—and to guarantee that the development projects were contracted to U.S. corporations like Halliburton and Bechtel. Once these countries were saddled with huge debts, the U.S. government and the international aid agencies allied with it were able to control these economies and to ensure that oil and other resources were channeled to serve the interests of building a global empire.

In his EHM capacity, John traveled all over the world—to Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East—and was either a direct participant in or witness to some of the most dramatic events in modern history, including the Saudi Arabian Money-laundering Affair, the fall of the Shah of Iran, the assassination of Panama’s President Omar Torrijos, the subsequent invasion of Panama, and events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In 1980 Perkins founded Independent Power Systems, Inc (IPS), an alternative energy company. Under his leadership as CEO, IPS became an extremely successful firm in a high-risk business where most of his competitors failed. Many “coincidences” and favors from people in powerful positions helped make IPS an industry leader. John also served as a highly paid consultant to some of the corporations whose pockets he had previously helped to line—taking on this role partly in response to a series of not-so-veiled threats and lucrative payoffs.

After selling IPS in 1990, John became a champion for indigenous rights and environmental movements, working especially closely with Amazon tribes to help them preserve their rain forests. He wrote five books, published in many languages, about indigenous cultures, shamanism, ecology, and sustainability; taught at universities and learning centers on four continents; and founded and served on the board of directors of several leading nonprofit organizations.

One of the nonprofit organizations he founded and chaired, Dream Change Coalition (later simply Dream Change, or DC), became a model for inspiring people to attain their personal goals and, at the same time, to be more conscious of the impacts their lives have on others and on the planet, and for empowering them to transform their communities into more balanced and sustainable ones. DC has developed a following around the world and has empowered people to create organizations with similar missions in many countries.

During the 1990s and into the new millennium, John honored his vow of silence about his EHM life and continued to receive lucrative corporate consulting fees. He assuaged his guilt by applying much of the money he earned as a consultant to his nonprofit work. Arts & Entertainment television featured him in a special titled “Headhunters of the Amazon,” narrated by Leonard Nimoy. Italian Cosmopolitan ran a major article on his “Shapeshifting” workshops in Europe. TIME magazine selected Dream Change as one of the thirteen organizations in the world whose Web sites best reflected the ideals and goals of Earth Day.

Then came September 11, 2001. The terrible events of that day convinced John to drop the veil of secrecy around his life as an EHM, to ignore the threats and bribes, and to write Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. He believed he had a responsibility to share his insider knowledge about the role the U.S. government, multinational “aid” organizations, and corporations have played in bringing the world to a place where such an event could occur. He wanted to expose the fact that EHM are more ubiquitous today than ever before. He felt he owed this to his country, to his daughter, to all the people around the world who suffer because of the work he and his peers have done, and to himself. In this book, he describes the dangerous path his country is taking as it moves away from the original ideals of the American republic and into a quest for global empire.

Previous books by John Perkins include Shapeshifting, The World Is As You Dream It, Psychonavigation, The Stress-Free Habit, and Spirit of the Shuar.

My book review of Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them by John Perkins.

My book review of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man by John Perkins.

My book review of The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and the Truth about Global Corruption by John Perkins.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



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Let's talk with activist, entrepreneur, self-confessed economic hit man, and author of the insightful and visionary book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them, John Perkins, goes beyond the headlines to the real reasons that global markets collapsed in 2007-08. He shares insider stories of corporate CEOs and of manipulated politicians. He also describes ways to prevent market meltdowns in the future and how to build a stronger and more resilient economy. He also discusses actions that individuals can take to build a new economy on Blog Business Success Radio.

Tags: Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them, John Perkins, international finance, corruption, Blog Business Success, Blog Talk Radio.

READ MORE - John Perkins: Hoodwinked: Why Global Markets Imploded - Blog Business Success Radio

Entrepreneur Stephen H. Greer, author of the inspirational and advice filled book Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story was kind enough to answer a few questions about his book and his career as a business owner. The author describes the triumphs and setbacks of his career as owner of Hartwell Pacific, a scrap metal company he founded in Hong Kong in 1993, and shares some of his business secrets. He sold the company in 2005.

Thanks to Stephen H. Greer for his time and for his interesting and informative answers.





What was the background to writing this book Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story?

Stephen Greer: It wasn't originally planned to be a book. After selling the company I decided to put pen to paper to create a chronological layout of everything that had happened. Looking back at that time, everything was such a blur. In doing so, as the characters all came back to me, the color of the journey came alive and I realized that I had some pretty unique experiences and that there was great value to be gleaned from them and to be shared.

About the same time, my wife Mei was reading "Mr. China" a cautionary tale about investing in China that is a true story about a bold American and even bolder investors who took an early plunge into China and expeditiously went about losing US $500 million. It's a good read but my wife pressed me: "Steve, you have a Mr. China or Mr. Asia story, but it worked. You should write a book that offers the caution but also the way to success."

That is what I then set out to do but decided rather than making it a dry, “how to” book, I chose to share the color of the journey, and also the life lessons I learned coming of age as a young entrepreneur in Hong Kong.

It was a very cathartic experience that has been of immense value for me in preparing for the next move in my career.

Early in your career, you moved to Asia to seek new business opportunities. How have economic conditions changed in Asia since you first arrived in 1993?

Stephen Greer: Let me add to that. I came to Asia because of a recession and a lousy job market on Wall Street. So in some way, I feel that environment is quite similar to what we are facing today only magnified by a factor of 10 or so.

Understanding Asia was a wise choice in 1993 but today it is essential. Young people ignore the demographic and economic shifts towards globalization and towards Asia’s rise at their peril. China in particular has shifted from a good place for America to source cheap, low-end goods to a global source of growth as those factory workers start to be able to afford all the consumer goods and services and household essentials that we have enjoyed over the past decades in the west. Those high economic growth percentages we see each year are compounding off a higher and higher base. So Asia is a much more significant and developed market than it was when I arrived.

What economic conditions remain the same in Asia, as when you arrived?

Stephen Greer: It is still booming. But on the negative side it is still the wild west or wild east. An immature legal system and lack of legal precedence make business challenging. Government policies are not transparent and predictable and corruption is still a major roadblock to development and the alleviation of the wealth gap. But for all those handicaps, unlike in Russia, the average person is far better off under China’s “social capitalism” and that trend is continuing.

Of fundamental importance to me and for my area of expertise is that China still is the leader in global demand for commodities. That is a mega trend that shows no signs of abating. In fact if its demand reverses, that means growth has slowed and then China will be at serious risk of social instability. That is their Achilles heel and more and more the Achilles heel for the West. Don’t forget who buys all our Treasury Bills. We need China to prosper to finance our debts.

How did you discover so many lucrative opportunities in scrap?

Stephen Greer: Cold call. Cold call. Cold call. And when I was done with that, cold call some more. It’s also important to be willing to waste your time chasing wild geese. One of my mottoes is “When hunting for one thing, you often find something else that is more valuable.”

As mentioned above, there was a large and obvious demand for raw materials and scrap was one I believed I could get my hands on.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in seeking new ventures and opportunities?

Stephen Greer: Be persistent. You read about instant billionaires in Silicon Valley. God bless them but for the rest of us it is most likely going to come down to hard work, determination and persistence.

Be brutally honest with yourself and ask others to be brutally honest with you when evaluating your plans.

Remember that most start-ups fail so do your homework and put yourself in a survivable situation if you fail. Think about your plan B. Know your downside.

You experienced many roadblocks, and went head to head against some unscrupulous competitors. How were you successful in meeting these serious challenges and what lessons did you learn from them?

Stephen Greer: Go local. See how others handle these problems. If you can live with their methods join them or come up with another creative solution. If you can’t, ask yourself if you can survive with that disadvantage. You won’t find a chapter in a business school book that tells you what to do if you get a death threat from your competitor or are being shaken down by the local police.

When you face a problem use it as a valuable learning experience. Make it a company case study so that as a team you can hopefully resolve the problem and set up a system or plan to keep it from recurring.

What were a few of the most effective ideas and strategies that you applied to operating your business and why were they so successful?

Stephen Greer: One of the key reasons for our success in Asia was that we were competing with family businesses that had systems based on trust. We developed systems based on teams and checks and balances, not blind faith in individuals. We lost at least a couple million dollars getting that education and developing those systems but ultimately what we learned and the systems we developed enabled us to grow at a faster pace than our competitors. And in our industry, where volume equals power, growth was critical to having a successful relationship with our customers. In other words a strong system of financial controls based on checks and balances among a team of professionals ultimately allowed us to grow and develop without suffering constant setbacks due to fraud or errors.

You mention in the book that a person should do a common thing uncommonly well. What do you mean by that?

Stephen Greer: It means you don’t have to invent the space shuttle to be successful. Innovation can come from doing something that others are doing but executing it better. Most successful people you meet or listen to will tell you that business is simple. It is about fulfilling a basic need through flawless execution. Even if you are an inventor, the success usually goes to the guy who executed the idea or plan, rather than the guy who discovered it.

I strongly believe that if you care deeply about your customer and his or her problems and also for your employees and their needs, you are half way to success. Everyone can do that but not everyone chooses to do it with passion and integrity.

For any entrepreneur seeking overseas business ventures, what advice would you give a person about learning and overcoming different cultural and business practices?

Stephen Greer: Learn to listen. Learn to understand body language. Find out what makes people tick in their culture. Don’t presume that people appreciate your instinctive or trained way of doing things. Have an open mind and be flexible and above all treat your counterparts with the utmost respect. Because you come from the wealthiest country in the world does not entitle you to preach to others.

Last tip. Learn to eat and enjoy their food! That is the ultimate sign of respect.

If you had one piece of advice for an entrepreneur in these difficult economic times, what would that advice be?

Stephen Greer: Make sure you take into account the possibility of violent down turns in your forecasts. MBA’s call it a sensitivity analysis. Make sure you can survive the bad times so that you can thrive in the eventual good times. The good news is that we are bouncing around on the bottom. The most dangerous shock is probably behind us.

What is next for Stephen Greer?
Stephen Greer: I am currently in negotiations to buy a company utilizing private equity backing or OPM, Other People’s Money, as they say on the street. That is one benefit of a successful track record; People are eager to bet on you. The target acquisition is in the resources business and sells 75% of it’s output to Asia. As mentioned I believe strongly in the long-term mega trend of commodities consumption in the developing world. I am making sure that I factor in price volatility but am very comfortable being in the Asian resources space for the long-term.

I am also looking to invest in companies that are exporters of high-end goods to China. A weakening dollar and strengthening RMB will play nicely to that strategy and I feel strongly that is a one-way bet.

**********

My book review of Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story by Stephen H. Greer.

Tags: Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story, Stephen H. Greer, Asian entrepreneurship, author interviews

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Starting from Scrap

An Entrepreneurial Success Story

By: Stephen H. Greer

Published: March 25, 2010
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1580801609
ISBN-13: 978-1580801607
Publisher: Burford Books





"Particularly for recent graduates, a taste of independence as an entrepreneur is life altering and can make it very unappealing to return to the slow grind of working your way up the corporate ladder", writes entrepreneur Stephen H. Greer in his inspirational and advice filled book Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story. The author describes the triumphs and setbacks of his career as owner of Hartwell Pacific, a scrap metal company he founded in Hong Kong in 1993. He sold the company in 2005.

Stephen Greer began his career as an entrepreneur in the same way as many self employed people. He had a number of false starts, and as is so often the case, he landed almost by accident on the scrap metal recycling business. In the author's eyes, however, he gave himself many advantages toward discovering a lucrative business opportunity. In 1993, Stephen Greer began to realize the growing demand for scrap metal in Asia. At age twenty-four, he was drawn to that continent, and its well chronicled high economic growth rates, and established himself in the Hong Kong marketplace. His initial business ventures, ranging from Levis and hairnets, to ornamental gifts and glue, and even to chicken feet, yielded little success. Eventually, Stephen discovered his market niche in the scrap metal recycling business.

Stephen Greer didn't achieve overnight success without hard work, however. When he discovered an opportunity to market scrap metal, he took the plunge. Unfortunately, some of his earliest transactions resulted in a financial loss. He did learn, by the school of hard knocks, to be very careful and thorough in evaluating properly his product. The author was determined to succeed in the export industry, and began the tedious and often discouraging process of cold calling scrap metal dealers all over South East Asia. Eventually, he found some valuable contacts, and began his ascent. Along the way, however, he learned more hard lessons about trust and personal integrity. Stephen Greer began his quest to establish himself and his company as honest brokers of scrap metal in the marketplace.

For me, the power of the book is how Stephen Greer describes both his successes and failures with equal honesty. He admits readily that he made many mistakes along the way, and that several of those errors were costly in both money and reputation. At the same time, however, the author demonstrates the value of hard work in achieving your goals. His mission was to sell scrap metal, but that goal also evolved toward an environmental one, as metal was reused rather than discarded. Stephen Greer presents a powerful case for choosing entrepreneurship as a career goal, but he also warns that there will certainly be setbacks along the way. The book also provides a valuable primer for anyone looking for business opportunities in the Asian market, and how to avoid many of the mistakes made by the author.

I highly recommend the insightful and honest book Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story by Stephen H. Greer, to anyone seeking a first hand account of becoming an entrepreneur as a career choice. The book is also valuable for business people seeking advice on entering the rapidly growing Asian market successfully. Stephen Greer provides valuable and actionable advice for both entrepreneurs in general, and for conducting business in Asia in particular.

Read the intriguing and entertaining book Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story by Stephen H. Greer, and follow his story of the rise of a young entrepreneur to owner of a successful Hong Kong based scrap metal company. His inspiring story will convince many potential entrepreneurs to take the plunge and start their own companies as well.

Tags: Starting from Scrap: An Entrepreneurial Success Story, Stephen H. Greer, Asian entrepreneurship, business book reviews.

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Hoodwinked

An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them

By: John Perkins

Published: November 2009
Format: Hardcover, 256pp
ISBN-13: 9780307589927
ISBN-10: 0307589927
Publisher: Broadway Books





"The collapse we are suffering today is neither a fluke nor short-termed. It is the result of policies and attitudes that began before I became an EHM nearly four decades ago", writes self confessed economic hit man John Perkins in his insightful and visionary book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them. The author takes the reader inside the global economy, and describes unflinchingly how the tactics he employed as an economic hit man (EHM) were turned from the Third World on to the developed world in general, and the United States in particular. He also shares his important ideas on how to create an economy that works for everyone, and not just the economic, political, and corporate elites.

John Perkins points to unsustainable public and private debt as the root cause of poverty and income disparity in developing countries. He also points out that crushing individual debt loads in the Third World has led to exploitation and even to slavery. At the same time, the same systemic problem of debt is undermining democracy and economic stability in developed countries. The author provides the example, of the imploded economy of Iceland, as a warning to people of the dangers of unregulated capitalism and massive unrepayable debt. In the United States, John Perkins writes that the personal and public levels of debt are unsustainable. He envisions a severe crash of the economy, along with major dislocation of people, as a direct result of the policies promoted over the past decades. He believes that democracy itself will be eroded severely, as the gap between rich and poor widens even more.



John Perkins (photo left) does not call for the abolition of capitalism. He recognizes the power of capitalism to build economies, increase individual freedom, and strengthen democracy. He does believe, however, that capitalism's very adaptability has created a mutant form of capitalism that considers only immediate profits as the goal of corporations. John Perkins discusses how this single minded pursuit of short profitability, at the expense of the long term health of the organization and of the economy as a whole, is self destructive. In place of this unsustainable form of capitalism, based on the work of Milton Friedman, John Perkins suggests a new and richer form of capitalism. The author describes the Triple Bottom Line concept, where along with the financial bottom line, social responsibility and the environment also are crucial to the strength of the business and the economy.

For me, the power of the book is how John Perkins forges the link between the devastated economies of the Third World, with the economic problems facing governments and people in developed countries. The author describes how the same policies that raised debt levels in developing countries, that benefit only a few corporations and local elites, have been applied in First World countries as well. The author understands the political and economic power wielded by modern multinational corporations and by Wall Street. To John Perkins, these companies have loyalty to no country, but only to their financial bottom line. As seen by the near collapse of many of these corporations, and by skyrocketing unemployment and debt levels of every day people, the current model of capitalism has failed. In its place, John Perkins shares his vision of a sustainable, multiple goal capitalism that can work for everyone.

I highly recommend the important and hopeful book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them by John Perkins, to anyone seeking to rebuild the capitalist system and strengthen democracy for the benefit of everyone. The author demonstrates that there is a way out of the current financial crisis through creating a new economy based on good stewardship of the environment and the economy, accepting responsibility as consumers for the choices made, implementing new and workable rules for both business and government, and honoring your own individual passions to build and create great things.

Read the societal transforming book Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them by John Perkins, and become part of the solution to the problems facing society. The author describes ways that everyone can cooperate and work together to build a more equitable, democratic and sustainable society.

Tags: Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them, John Perkins, international finance, corruption, business book reviews.

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Public relations and media expert Norman Birnbach, President of Birnbach Communications, Inc., was kind enough to take the time to discuss media trends in 2010. He describes what is happening with radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and online media. He also shares a few surprising trends that will be appearing in 2010 as well. Norman also blogs at the popular and highly regarded public relations blog PR Back Talk.

Thanks to Norman Birnbach for his time, and for his interesting forecasts in the fascinating field of media.

What was the background to your firm forecasting media and social media trends from year to year?

Norman Birnbach: Each year we prepare our annual TrendReport to help our clients look at structural issues impacting the increasingly evolving media and social media landscape as well as the stories we think the media and bloggers will be following -- with the goal of helping our clients take advantage of those trends to help our clients get closer and be more responsive to their customers. TrendReport is part of our strategic process as we develop a roadmap for our clients that is tied to their business objectives.

Your firm had conducted a Media Trends 2009 study. How many of the trend predictions proved accurate and do you have a few examples for us?

Norman Birnbach: We scored major points with our 2009 TrendReport, including:

• (sadly) that a lot of print newspapers and magazines would shift to online-only in 2009.

• We were right that hyperlocal media continues to be important. But dozens of local suburban weekly newspapers also closed last year -- so as a strategy, a hyperlocal approach will not save papers from poor business decisions (i.e. debt load) of their parent companies.

• The New York Times did not sell the Boston Globe, as it had threatened to do, but it did make more cuts in the Globe's budget.

• Local TV did indeed hit a bumpy road, especially local affiliates of NBC -- not that we predicted the Leno experiment.

• We got right some of the new features in Kindle 2.0, and were right that ebooks would start to take off. Amazon sold a larger percentage of electronic books during the 2009 Christmas season than in the prior year.

For a more complete list of what we got right, and what we didn't, please click to our Our Track Record on 2009 Predictions

For those forecasts that didn't turn out as expected, was the trend forecast partly correct or even early?

Norman Birnbach: Our prediction that people would start suffering from SNF (social networking fatigue) did not happen in general last year. However, a few celebrities -- including Miley Cyrus and Ricky Gervais who seem unlikely to share a point of view -- indeed seemed to be suffering from SNF, getting attention for quitting Twitter.

Meanwhile Rupert Murdoch did make more changes to the Wall St. Journal in 2009, including expanding its non-business coverage. But he has not "tarted" it up as he has done with other News Corp. dailies. Yet.

And while we continue to believe we were right in saying we need a new term for newspaper once they stop printing on paper. However, our designated term "newssites" has not been picked up.

What media trends are you following in 2010?

Norman Birnbach: We're calling 2010 the year of the online subscription because publishers of all kinds are finding out that advertising-only-supported sites are not self-sustaining. Charging user fees will allow these sites to survive. The New York Times has already pre-announced a subscription plan for 2011 (though the details may change). Online subscriptions won't limited to online news content. Twitter will unveil a business model that will likely be focused on charging fees to businesses that use Twitter.

And Rupert Murdoch, who is an ardent advocate of charging for online content, and owns a percentage of Hulu.com, will push Hulu.com to offer its video library on a per-viewing and on an unlimited basis. The same goes for some streaming music sites that currently are available for free. Additionally, we expect to see lots of coverage of 3-D TVs, the state of print media, the impact of the iPad (once it's actually available), the "new normal" and the freelancing or "perma-temp" status of the US workforce.

For a complete list of our 2010 predictions, please click to our 2010 Predictions, 1 through 12.

What are you expecting for television media in 2010?

Norman Birnbach: There's a lot of talk about the decline and fall of network TV, especially in the wake of the Leno-Conan fiasco. We don't see that happening in 2010. Yet the networks are definitely on the decline. For NBC, which has been shedding viewers, no change of late night hosts or programs may bring back those lost viewers. It's not as though those viewers were sticking around for drama at 10 p.m. on other networks. Most likely they were turning to cable programs or on-demand offerings, TiVo, Hulu.com or the Internet.

Is radio changing in its current form to a different format, especially in light of the changes in satellite radio and the rise of internet radio?

Norman Birnbach: Radio is a tough medium to kill -- for example, it survived the premature announcements of its death by video. Not in 2010, but perhaps as soon as two years from now, radio will face an unprecedented generational problem, Today's kids do not listen to radio. They listen to iPods. We think fewer people are buying clock radios for their bedsides -- more likely, they're buying clock radios designed for iPods (we need a new name for those devices, by the way). And probably the only radio they have in the house is in their stereo system -- if they have a stereo system. We've pretty much seen the death of the tape recorder, and a primary reason for tape recorders was to make mix tapes of your favorite music.

In the meantime, we've seen some superficial changes to formats, including fewer classical music stations, more sports radio, including sports talk radio, and in some markets an over reliance on music from the 80s & 90s -- people have iPods for that. With the exception for drive-time radio, unless it makes dramatic changes to their format, radio may just fade away.



Norman Birnbach (photo left)

What do you see happening in print media in 2010?

Norman Birnbach: Print newspapers and magazines will continue to struggle in 2010, and more will consider shutting down or transitioning to online-only, despite a (slower than we'd like) recovering economy. Although the number of magazines that shut down peaked in 2008, at 525, last year said goodbye to 360 magazines, including some major magazines like Gourmet, Metropolitan Home, Fortune Small Business. Last year also saw the deaths of major daily newspapers like the Rocky Mountain News and Seattle Post-Intelligencer as well as dozens of smaller papers. Large newspaper companies also announced bankruptcies last year, and we expect more closings in 2010.

There is some good news: advertising pages may be increasing, according to Q1 projections, but only by 3 percent. However, print subscriptions continue to decline, and we expect newsroom layoffs to continue. The lesson: magazines from big publishing companies and significant circulations were not immune. Already, BusinessWeek SmallBiz announced (via postcard) that its Dec. 09/Jan. 10 issue was its last.

As for the continuing growth and evolution of the internet, what trends do you see happening?

Norman Birnbach: Some have called social networks to be the CB radio of our day (those who weren't around in the 70s can check out Wikipedia for background). and that social networks did well because people had too much time on their hands. But we feel that people will continue to use Twitter, Facebook and other social media services but they might not be updating their pages quite as often. Social media sites will consider rolling out new ways for users to post and engage via multimedia (audio and video).

Meanwhile the intersection of social media and traditional journalism will be increasingly busy. For example, while the Super Bowl continues to be the biggest non-holiday event for which Americans gather together, and while people comment on the ads as much as the games, advertisers themselves are looking beyond the ads, often offering websites with extended versions of some ads, driving viewers to their sites. Another example: Olympic sponsors are changing their approach this year -- rather than having social media simply an add-on to advertising and their PR activities- they are embracing it/integrating it.

Will social media continue its rapid growth and are there new social media platforms that are the new rising stars?

Norman Birnbach: One rising star will be live integrated real-time interactive multimedia web events -- events that combine live video, and offering the ability to post and read comments on Twitter and Facebook windows. Last year, Bill Cosby conducted the first-ever interactive townhall to introduce Cosnarati, a socially conscious hip hop group that he produces offering a live videostream, with a real-time Q&A function and the ability to post comments on Twitter and Facebook. The event gave users a number of ways to interact with Cosby, and could offer a solution for network TV -- if they can find a way to make money off it



You are forecasting intriguing trends in in-flight internet availability. What are those trends?

Norman Birnbach: First, we think mobile access to content will become increasingly important in 2010.With the likely popularity of the iPad, continued popularity of inexpensive netbooks, and increasingly powerful app phones, content will need to be platform-agnostic, including audio and video, developed to meet the demands of several key platforms (and not just the iPad and iPhone). It's not just newspaper publishers who need to think cross-platform; it's all businesses, whether they're trying to reach consumers or B2B customers.

We will also see more in-flight Internet access in 2010. By 2011; it won’t even be something airlines tout as another reason to fly with them. Lufthansa rolled out new service: web surfing from 30,000 ft at $3/min. (What does it cost for tech support?) We can expect more conference calls and emails, and flying cross country no longer means being unable to respond to email. But battery life, additional sockets, and headphones will be boom businesses.

The rise of business videoconference calls may increase the noise level, but not to the point of requiring talking and no-talking sections. As with other aspects of high-speed Internet access, though the Internet was established in the U.S., count on international airlines to be ahead of domestic airlines in the type of services offered travelers. (Coffee, Tea or Internet Access?)

Are there any surprising trends in 2010 that were unexpected in 2009?

Norman Birnbach: Yes -- the continued importance of print media. Even as the resources allocated to practicing it diminish -- fewer print newspapers, fewer reporters at those print papers, and less space in those papers -- yet traditional journalism conducted by newspapers will continue to drive content across the web. A 2009 study by the Project for Excellence in Journalism found though there are a lot more places to find news online, "of the stories that did contain new information, nearly all, 95 percent, came from old media -- most of them newspapers." In other words, most of the news articles found online basically picked up content from traditional sources, like newspapers, adding some commentary, but not new facts.

What is next for Norman Birnbach in 2010?

Norman Birnbach: Until now, getting ink was the main goal of PR agencies, but that mindset will disappear the same way "counterclockwise" and "newsstand" will, replaced by advances in technology that have eliminated "dial-up" from our vocabulary. The rapidly evolving media landscape means that it is more important than ever to stay ahead of the trends that impact print, broadcast online and social media, with our goal of helping our clients engage with their customers as well as with the media.

At some point, fairly soon, we won't be making as much of a distinction between the different types of media because the lines between them will overlap and blur. Already some newspapers offer live video of major events while some broadcast outlets update news via their blogs. It's all going to converge, and I'm working to help our clients and our agency be in position to work and communicate cro.

Tags: Norman Birnbach, Birnbach Communications, Inc, 2010 Media Trends Report, interviews

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