Yesterday was Taxi Day. Had to run my oldest daughter and a guest around to a couple of places then take the newly weds out to the hotel where the reception is (and their Nuptial suite for a couple of nights ;-) Then headed to the airport to pick up Brian's parents and take them for something to eat. We get home at almost 2 am. Can you see why I want to get back to normal? Leaves no time for anything else.
On the Book side, I have been doing some promotion and it continues to gain momentum. This book is going to be a hit! The title tells all: There IS No Power In Chaos!
And that's the truth! Look for a promotion on October 8th! It is a pre-launch and the preparation for the big Amazon launch to make this book a No. 1 BEST SELLER!!!
Thanks again to my readers! See you tomorrow!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Day Eighty One - I Am Back
What a journey! I cannot begin to tell you about the last two weeks. I have traveled more than I wanted to, finally passed some kidney stones just before I left on my journey, have been in London, Phoenix, Arizona, gave a seminar and had a family picture in Idaho, been to Las Vegas and married a daughter off in Salt Lake City, Utah, about got arrested at the airport for trying to sneak a bullet through security, survived a 40 hour return journey home and about ready to finish with a reception here in Spain. I have not been near a computer very much and had someone use my web address to send SPAM e-mails so got over 3000 undelivered messages that I had to sort through to find good e-mails in the middle of them.
Believe it or not I have survived it and if I could tell the details for every event you would believe it even less. Put it this way...I lived two months of living in two weeks and now I need a vacation from my "vacation". I am excited though to be back in my captain's chair in front of my trusty computer. I feel like I was lost without it. After Friday, the reception here in Spain, I will dedicate my efforts to my book launch and get everything back on track. For those that have been faithful readers...Thanks for your interest and support and I am glad to be back and able to pound a few keys again. See you tomorrow!
Believe it or not I have survived it and if I could tell the details for every event you would believe it even less. Put it this way...I lived two months of living in two weeks and now I need a vacation from my "vacation". I am excited though to be back in my captain's chair in front of my trusty computer. I feel like I was lost without it. After Friday, the reception here in Spain, I will dedicate my efforts to my book launch and get everything back on track. For those that have been faithful readers...Thanks for your interest and support and I am glad to be back and able to pound a few keys again. See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Day Sixty Six - The Ride Begins
Just starting my journey to the US. The next 2 weeks I will not be near a computer so bear with me.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Day Sixty Five - The Calm Before the Storm
I do not look forward to the days ahead this week. I do not post much today as I am not able to sit an think for long as I am passing a kidney stone. All for now.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Day Sixty / Sixty One / Sixty Two - The Posting Blur
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Another few days pass ... and I don't dare jump out of the car as fast as it is traveling. Days that run together and seem as one are days that are not very easy to live. Guaranteed! One evening I went to bed at midnight and got up at 2 AM for a conference call and then did a quick print job at 3:15 am, and get ready to take my wife and daughter to the airport at 4AM.
Please notice that I am running on 2 hours of sleep and even though I can run off of 4 or 5 hours of sleep, that is hardly enough to be called a good night's nap. One day has ran into the other. So with that in mind we head to the airport. We get there on time, 2 hours before take off, but what is about to occur should not happen to sleepless people. After standing in line we get to the counter and the check in girl informs us that Rosa CANNOT travel with the passport that she has. It is the old version and the US will not allow her in. Have you ever tried to argue with a person that will not let you get on their plane without the correct documents? Forget it! They are not letting you on! Decision: Send the daughter by herself and head to the local police station to get a new passport. Despite of that, we are in luck. The police station that can and will issue a new passport is on the airport premises. So go there, gotta go get one of those quick one minute photos... and after the third take we have a usable photo. (Another story for another day :-) Back to the police station and I leave Rosa there and I head back to see if we can change the ticket for a new one, she had already missed her flight. Now, there is no British Air ticket desk. It is done through Iberia Airlines, and their objective: sell a new ticket.
There is no way they will just make the change to the next fight by paying the 100Euro change fee. So we end up spending another 600 Euros for a new ticket, get Rosa on the plane and I now can go home. Late for work. At home i go to the travel agency and demand a refund. They are not going to give it either!! It was my fault for not knowing the passport wouldn't work. So on the phone to British Air. After a bout 30 minutes of explaining and finally getting the authorization, back to the travel agency and get them on line with British. Result: Refund! Now Rosa can be calm. Once I tell her. No I can go back to work. Remember I am still operating off 2 hours of sleep. Finally, I am able to take a nap in the afternoon and pretty much lose one day in fixing problems and rearranging the whole day, just for a simple passport. Moral to the story: No matter what you think, it is the gatekeeper that counts. If you can't get past him (or her) you are not going in!
I can think of 100 applications for this moral, but that is for another day...for now I have already ran several days together as it is.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Another few days pass ... and I don't dare jump out of the car as fast as it is traveling. Days that run together and seem as one are days that are not very easy to live. Guaranteed! One evening I went to bed at midnight and got up at 2 AM for a conference call and then did a quick print job at 3:15 am, and get ready to take my wife and daughter to the airport at 4AM.
Please notice that I am running on 2 hours of sleep and even though I can run off of 4 or 5 hours of sleep, that is hardly enough to be called a good night's nap. One day has ran into the other. So with that in mind we head to the airport. We get there on time, 2 hours before take off, but what is about to occur should not happen to sleepless people. After standing in line we get to the counter and the check in girl informs us that Rosa CANNOT travel with the passport that she has. It is the old version and the US will not allow her in. Have you ever tried to argue with a person that will not let you get on their plane without the correct documents? Forget it! They are not letting you on! Decision: Send the daughter by herself and head to the local police station to get a new passport. Despite of that, we are in luck. The police station that can and will issue a new passport is on the airport premises. So go there, gotta go get one of those quick one minute photos... and after the third take we have a usable photo. (Another story for another day :-) Back to the police station and I leave Rosa there and I head back to see if we can change the ticket for a new one, she had already missed her flight. Now, there is no British Air ticket desk. It is done through Iberia Airlines, and their objective: sell a new ticket.
There is no way they will just make the change to the next fight by paying the 100Euro change fee. So we end up spending another 600 Euros for a new ticket, get Rosa on the plane and I now can go home. Late for work. At home i go to the travel agency and demand a refund. They are not going to give it either!! It was my fault for not knowing the passport wouldn't work. So on the phone to British Air. After a bout 30 minutes of explaining and finally getting the authorization, back to the travel agency and get them on line with British. Result: Refund! Now Rosa can be calm. Once I tell her. No I can go back to work. Remember I am still operating off 2 hours of sleep. Finally, I am able to take a nap in the afternoon and pretty much lose one day in fixing problems and rearranging the whole day, just for a simple passport. Moral to the story: No matter what you think, it is the gatekeeper that counts. If you can't get past him (or her) you are not going in!
I can think of 100 applications for this moral, but that is for another day...for now I have already ran several days together as it is.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Day Fifty Nine - New Post?
These posts are like fence posts traveling down the road at 100 mph. They are going by so fast that they are becoming a blur. One thing I do know I am going to do when this 90 day period is over that I have committed myself to...not post daily. It is hard for me to write something everyday. I make it short and sweet and to the point...and, nobody even reads it. Maybe one or two posts get read, but not everyone. Just as a test. This post is short, if you read this...please add a comment. Just say hey I read them. And we will see, so until then, this is just another post along the roadside.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Day Fifty Eight - Imminent Changes
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Things happen whether we like change or not. And always at the last minute. So it seems. I had the cover done. I was ready to not make any more changes. It was finished. At least in my mind, and so I show it to another graphic designer and immediately I get what needs to be changed. I defend the book cover and the whys it was done the way it was, but...too late. The seeds of doubt had been planted. Good thing was that I have a marketing open call with my mentor to ask the final question, is she right?
On the call, there are a few things mentioned that should be changed, like the color used for the final quote. Red is out and the font needs to be changed. And my printer is on vacation and I am leaving for the States next week and I have other things to do and...
You know...I think I really will be glad when I have a book in hand. This is not as easy as you can imagine. And I haven't even hardly started the marketing.
Now why did I give you all this information? Partly it is to let you in on the process that is happening to develop a best seller. There are many changes that must be made. And even at that it is not a sure thing.
There are ideas that exist in today's world that are "New Age" like the Law of Attraction. It was made popular in the movie 'The Secret'. It says that what you think about you get and goes to show that this idea has existed throughout the ages, known to a few people. Here is the problem...if we really did get what we thought about with nothing more than just thinking about it, TOTAL CHAOS would exist. Things could happen to you that some one else thought about and so on. Now what is my point in bringing this up?
I have thought about a best seller for many years and it has never come into existence just by me thinking about it. I have well over 1200 hours invested into this edition of the book now. I think I have one piece done and little flaws show up that must be changed. And not without any effort either. Hours of effort go into each component. And that is just the beginning. The fact still exists that the book has to be marketed. And that is a whole new world. Change is imminent in everything we do. It all takes effort. But that is good as long as we learn from it. Hey I am learning, and at that,I leave you til tomorrow.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Things happen whether we like change or not. And always at the last minute. So it seems. I had the cover done. I was ready to not make any more changes. It was finished. At least in my mind, and so I show it to another graphic designer and immediately I get what needs to be changed. I defend the book cover and the whys it was done the way it was, but...too late. The seeds of doubt had been planted. Good thing was that I have a marketing open call with my mentor to ask the final question, is she right?
On the call, there are a few things mentioned that should be changed, like the color used for the final quote. Red is out and the font needs to be changed. And my printer is on vacation and I am leaving for the States next week and I have other things to do and...
You know...I think I really will be glad when I have a book in hand. This is not as easy as you can imagine. And I haven't even hardly started the marketing.
Now why did I give you all this information? Partly it is to let you in on the process that is happening to develop a best seller. There are many changes that must be made. And even at that it is not a sure thing.
There are ideas that exist in today's world that are "New Age" like the Law of Attraction. It was made popular in the movie 'The Secret'. It says that what you think about you get and goes to show that this idea has existed throughout the ages, known to a few people. Here is the problem...if we really did get what we thought about with nothing more than just thinking about it, TOTAL CHAOS would exist. Things could happen to you that some one else thought about and so on. Now what is my point in bringing this up?
I have thought about a best seller for many years and it has never come into existence just by me thinking about it. I have well over 1200 hours invested into this edition of the book now. I think I have one piece done and little flaws show up that must be changed. And not without any effort either. Hours of effort go into each component. And that is just the beginning. The fact still exists that the book has to be marketed. And that is a whole new world. Change is imminent in everything we do. It all takes effort. But that is good as long as we learn from it. Hey I am learning, and at that,I leave you til tomorrow.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Day Fifty Seven- Down to the Finish
Have you ever heard the expression "Get the ball out of your court?" If I get this immense ball of writing, editing and laying out my book out of my court, I think I will fall down on my back like the tennis player from Spain, Rafael Nadal does when he wins a game. And that is just from relief. I felt very good when I finally finished the cover just before the printer closed for 2 weeks. I have been pushing to get the edits back to me so that I could get the corrections done and make sure the pages laid out the same. Well I got Chapter 20 back this late tonight! Another huge step. All I lack is the Appendix. And, of course, me to finish putting the corrections into the final copy. The ball is back in my court! Auggh!
Time is flying! I have so little time, between now and October 8th and a wedding in between. There is always something that complicates even the simplest of things. I will be happy when I have the book in the hands of the printer...well actually when it is back in my hands all finished. That means I have overcome all the obstacles! Except for the book launch. That is another might big ball to get out of my court. Who said that writing a book was easy?
And even when that is done, there is a lot of work to be done after that. Where is the exit? Ha, just kidding. Believe it or not I get excited about getting all this done. So in reality, down to the finish, it is only one part that gets done and I get to go on to the next part. See you tomorrow.
Time is flying! I have so little time, between now and October 8th and a wedding in between. There is always something that complicates even the simplest of things. I will be happy when I have the book in the hands of the printer...well actually when it is back in my hands all finished. That means I have overcome all the obstacles! Except for the book launch. That is another might big ball to get out of my court. Who said that writing a book was easy?
And even when that is done, there is a lot of work to be done after that. Where is the exit? Ha, just kidding. Believe it or not I get excited about getting all this done. So in reality, down to the finish, it is only one part that gets done and I get to go on to the next part. See you tomorrow.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Day Fifty Six - A Time for Reflection
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
A prophet once said, "When you recognize your humility, that is when you have lost it." I had an interview with my branch president (bishop) today. It served as a reality check and an opportunity for me to evaluate myself. My wife was the one who originally was to be interviewed but he asked me to come and sit in as well. I do not like criticism and try to avoid it and I will not go off here criticizing one of my leaders. What I want to do is paint a picture so that you can understand the feelings that I can feel at a time like this. I have to fight them and let them serve as a challenge for me to do better. President T. is a man that is not as polished as perhaps he could be. He speaks, as my wife puts it at 0.1 km per hour. I just call it a com-lag. There is a communication lag between thought and spoken word. It is that waiting period that frustrates many people. I just say be patient the message will come.
He ask many questions in the interview. Rosa had been going through a time in life that has been hard for her. Perhaps her spirituality is not at its highest. In fact it probably reached some very low points in the last while. I can accept responsibility for part of that, no problem. No on the other hand, I have been very deep into finishing my book. I read a lot of scripture and other literature as well for the research. I must have inspiration and revelation to understand what must be written. Personally I would consider my spirituality on a higher level. I am adamant about church attendance, I teach a youth class, and sometimes an adult class. I am on the stake high council and I do my best to maintain a good level of spirituality. Or so I thought.
During the interview, President T. said that Rosa's and my spirituality level was on the same level. What the... are you talking about? I put my hand under my chin to keep it from hitting the floor. I thought how could he even compare the two levels and say they are the same? And my thoughts continued for a moment in this line of thinking. If I was a person easy to offend this would have been a good time. But then I realize something very important. It is not that Rosa and I are at the same level spiritually, but both of us are in a low ebb of our personal levels of spirituality. I have been higher. She has definitely been better off. We are both a point that our personal levels are on the low end for what we could be. And though I may be better off than she is at the moment, it only gives me a challenge to head upward and help her in the process.
There are sure a lot of things to do and control in life! I guess I had better check my own Q-charts and see where I am and were I am headed. That is why COnCEPT Q makes for a great Atlas, it gives road maps to achievement, including spiritual levels of accomplishment. Please comment if you see something that I don't. So with this I close until tomorrow.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
A prophet once said, "When you recognize your humility, that is when you have lost it." I had an interview with my branch president (bishop) today. It served as a reality check and an opportunity for me to evaluate myself. My wife was the one who originally was to be interviewed but he asked me to come and sit in as well. I do not like criticism and try to avoid it and I will not go off here criticizing one of my leaders. What I want to do is paint a picture so that you can understand the feelings that I can feel at a time like this. I have to fight them and let them serve as a challenge for me to do better. President T. is a man that is not as polished as perhaps he could be. He speaks, as my wife puts it at 0.1 km per hour. I just call it a com-lag. There is a communication lag between thought and spoken word. It is that waiting period that frustrates many people. I just say be patient the message will come.
He ask many questions in the interview. Rosa had been going through a time in life that has been hard for her. Perhaps her spirituality is not at its highest. In fact it probably reached some very low points in the last while. I can accept responsibility for part of that, no problem. No on the other hand, I have been very deep into finishing my book. I read a lot of scripture and other literature as well for the research. I must have inspiration and revelation to understand what must be written. Personally I would consider my spirituality on a higher level. I am adamant about church attendance, I teach a youth class, and sometimes an adult class. I am on the stake high council and I do my best to maintain a good level of spirituality. Or so I thought.
During the interview, President T. said that Rosa's and my spirituality level was on the same level. What the... are you talking about? I put my hand under my chin to keep it from hitting the floor. I thought how could he even compare the two levels and say they are the same? And my thoughts continued for a moment in this line of thinking. If I was a person easy to offend this would have been a good time. But then I realize something very important. It is not that Rosa and I are at the same level spiritually, but both of us are in a low ebb of our personal levels of spirituality. I have been higher. She has definitely been better off. We are both a point that our personal levels are on the low end for what we could be. And though I may be better off than she is at the moment, it only gives me a challenge to head upward and help her in the process.
There are sure a lot of things to do and control in life! I guess I had better check my own Q-charts and see where I am and were I am headed. That is why COnCEPT Q makes for a great Atlas, it gives road maps to achievement, including spiritual levels of accomplishment. Please comment if you see something that I don't. So with this I close until tomorrow.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Day Fifty Five - Adios Summertime
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Today was the last day at the beach. The sun was shining but you could feel the hint of fall pressing on with a cooler temperature in the air. Rosa didn't work today. So we stayed longer than usual on the beach. Even though I am not much of a "tan freak" and stay in the shade of my big umbrella, I still get a little sunburn. Not so much though that my skin gets untouchably red, but you can still see that I have a little color.
With summer gone and September just at hand that means it is time for a battle. This month is going to be the ultimate in stress. The book off to the printer, a whirlwind trip to the US, meetings, family pictures at mom's house in Idaho and back to Utah for the wedding of my daughter and final preparations for a book launch, the question is how will I survive, and what will I successfully be able to do?
With travel at hand, I fear I will miss days of posting. With the books to be printed, and confirmations to be made, and then shipped to the US and available for Amazon.com, I see 30 days as impossible. I fear that another delay is what will happen. Now, don't come back at me with some "law of attraction" crazy comment and say that my thoughts of fear will cause the delay! My fear is based on reality. I am still receiving edits...I just got Chapter 17 back today, will have 18 tomorrow and most likely 19 also. Chapter 20 could be done Monday or Tuesday. A quick review of the Appendix and finally I can send it to press! That is the 5th of September. By express courier the printer gets it on the 10th. He quickly puts a book together for approval and shoots it back to me, I get it on the 17th (which I am in the States then so will see it on the 25th) approve it and give go ahead. It goes to press and 3 weeks later it is ready to send. That is the the 16th of October. The boat then gets the merchandise to the US 3 weeks later and we have a book ready to fulfill orders around the 1st or 2nd week of November.
Now please tell me "Don't worry, it'll happen!" And I agree! but not on October 8th. unless I delay it until October 8th, 2008. Guess what? I still am not too stressed because even though I pushed the date out until October 8th, I already knew that this scenario would be likely. So I have pushed for the date but not carved it in stone. Delays are normal. The time frame I have given above is assuming everybody does their job just perfect. There is bound to be a mess up along the line. That only delays thing a week or two more. But by now can you see that not only has summertime escaped me but I am to the end of fall? What a job! But I can guarantee it will all be worth it. And in the meantime there is plenty for me to do to make the launch successful.
So with fifty-five days of blogging done and possibly 75 days ahead of me before I have a completed book IN HAND, my 90 days will turn into 130 days, so if you are a reader of this blog, can you help me? I need this launch to be successful for many reasons. As soon as I send the book off and get it out of my hands, I will dedicate myself to the marketing aspects of this campaign. I will then start building a list of people that can help make it successful just by making a commitment to buy a copy on launch day. That is where I can use help creating a buzz. Think of people you know and who could use help with an excellent book on getting rid of chaos in their lives.
Always open for comments and suggestions...See you tomorrow.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
Today was the last day at the beach. The sun was shining but you could feel the hint of fall pressing on with a cooler temperature in the air. Rosa didn't work today. So we stayed longer than usual on the beach. Even though I am not much of a "tan freak" and stay in the shade of my big umbrella, I still get a little sunburn. Not so much though that my skin gets untouchably red, but you can still see that I have a little color.
With summer gone and September just at hand that means it is time for a battle. This month is going to be the ultimate in stress. The book off to the printer, a whirlwind trip to the US, meetings, family pictures at mom's house in Idaho and back to Utah for the wedding of my daughter and final preparations for a book launch, the question is how will I survive, and what will I successfully be able to do?
With travel at hand, I fear I will miss days of posting. With the books to be printed, and confirmations to be made, and then shipped to the US and available for Amazon.com, I see 30 days as impossible. I fear that another delay is what will happen. Now, don't come back at me with some "law of attraction" crazy comment and say that my thoughts of fear will cause the delay! My fear is based on reality. I am still receiving edits...I just got Chapter 17 back today, will have 18 tomorrow and most likely 19 also. Chapter 20 could be done Monday or Tuesday. A quick review of the Appendix and finally I can send it to press! That is the 5th of September. By express courier the printer gets it on the 10th. He quickly puts a book together for approval and shoots it back to me, I get it on the 17th (which I am in the States then so will see it on the 25th) approve it and give go ahead. It goes to press and 3 weeks later it is ready to send. That is the the 16th of October. The boat then gets the merchandise to the US 3 weeks later and we have a book ready to fulfill orders around the 1st or 2nd week of November.
Now please tell me "Don't worry, it'll happen!" And I agree! but not on October 8th. unless I delay it until October 8th, 2008. Guess what? I still am not too stressed because even though I pushed the date out until October 8th, I already knew that this scenario would be likely. So I have pushed for the date but not carved it in stone. Delays are normal. The time frame I have given above is assuming everybody does their job just perfect. There is bound to be a mess up along the line. That only delays thing a week or two more. But by now can you see that not only has summertime escaped me but I am to the end of fall? What a job! But I can guarantee it will all be worth it. And in the meantime there is plenty for me to do to make the launch successful.
So with fifty-five days of blogging done and possibly 75 days ahead of me before I have a completed book IN HAND, my 90 days will turn into 130 days, so if you are a reader of this blog, can you help me? I need this launch to be successful for many reasons. As soon as I send the book off and get it out of my hands, I will dedicate myself to the marketing aspects of this campaign. I will then start building a list of people that can help make it successful just by making a commitment to buy a copy on launch day. That is where I can use help creating a buzz. Think of people you know and who could use help with an excellent book on getting rid of chaos in their lives.
Always open for comments and suggestions...See you tomorrow.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Day Fifty Four - Time keeps Tickin'
Well, here goes one more month into the past and time continues on, waiting for no one. Each day we face a myriad of decisions that must be made, yet if left undone or put off until tomorrow, time will push right by leaving you in its wake still deciding what to do. If we get caught up in fear of making the wrong decision and let that fear paralyze us from moving forward, time still does not respect your immovability and will whoosh on by. Time, waits for no one!
Today, the cover of the book is finished. Color choices and changes, Title size and positioning, cover copy, testimonials, and all the small details that make it an attractive package, that is a job by itself, but its done, and on the day that the printer closes shop for two weeks to go on vacation. Now the edits are being finished, the layout coming to a close and all months after I wanted it done. That is proof that time waits for no one. Many, many hours have gone into the production and creation of There Is No Power In Chaos, and yet is is just a small piece of what the whole project consists of.
As I continue this blog I see that I have very few readers. There is too much to read in one sitting and many good bits of information are lost somewhere in the middle. I will maintain my daily posting until the launch, but will slow the entries down to the pace that people have time to read them. These are things that a person learns over time. Too bad we didn't know all this stuff from the beginning, but I guess that is why it is called experience, and it takes time to gain experience. My advise for today?... Don't just sit there. Do something! Don't let time pass you by without at least giving you some good experience! See you tomorrow.
Today, the cover of the book is finished. Color choices and changes, Title size and positioning, cover copy, testimonials, and all the small details that make it an attractive package, that is a job by itself, but its done, and on the day that the printer closes shop for two weeks to go on vacation. Now the edits are being finished, the layout coming to a close and all months after I wanted it done. That is proof that time waits for no one. Many, many hours have gone into the production and creation of There Is No Power In Chaos, and yet is is just a small piece of what the whole project consists of.
As I continue this blog I see that I have very few readers. There is too much to read in one sitting and many good bits of information are lost somewhere in the middle. I will maintain my daily posting until the launch, but will slow the entries down to the pace that people have time to read them. These are things that a person learns over time. Too bad we didn't know all this stuff from the beginning, but I guess that is why it is called experience, and it takes time to gain experience. My advise for today?... Don't just sit there. Do something! Don't let time pass you by without at least giving you some good experience! See you tomorrow.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Day Fifty Two / Three - Another Heavy Hitter Gives Thumbs Up
Denise Lones is not just another anybody, she is an expert in Marketing. I have been trying to catch up with her for some time and finally did and this is what she had to say:
"As an expert in Marketing and Business Transformation Programs I have had the opportunity to critique many concepts and ideas, most of them just do not work. Don's concepts are strong, they make sense and they change lives. This is a must read if you are ready to take your life to the next level. This book will become your personal life changing toolbox. Great job Don!!!!"
Denise Lones, CSP, MIRM
Besides that she agreed to an interview with me sometime this fall. This will go live on a teleseminar and will be part of an audio series called "Faith Beyond Religion." Now is this exciting or what? See you later.
"As an expert in Marketing and Business Transformation Programs I have had the opportunity to critique many concepts and ideas, most of them just do not work. Don's concepts are strong, they make sense and they change lives. This is a must read if you are ready to take your life to the next level. This book will become your personal life changing toolbox. Great job Don!!!!"
Denise Lones, CSP, MIRM
Besides that she agreed to an interview with me sometime this fall. This will go live on a teleseminar and will be part of an audio series called "Faith Beyond Religion." Now is this exciting or what? See you later.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Day Fifty One - Not so Crazy Sexy Cancer
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
A friend of mine sent me a link to a documentary that will be shown tomorrow on TV. (Wednesday, 8/29) night on TLC at 9:00pm EST called "Crazy Sexy Cancer". http://www.crazysexycancer.com/ I watched the trailer. It touched me, and I wanted to cry at times (just in seven minutes of the trailer) but made me realize something else that perhaps is just as serious. I will explain in a minute...
Cancer is something that we take very serious. It can mean life or death. And when you are dead...well that is the end of cancer, but it is the end of the time you spent here on this little planet we call earth. This IS serious stuff. It touches the very fiber of our being when some one diagnosed with cancer, with tears in her eyes, says, "I just want to live." In the short documentary trailer, they also speculate at why we get cancer. It really does look like it will be a good documentary to watch.
Cancer is something that is no laughing matter. I know that. My dad passed away from cancer almost 15 years ago. I took care of him for the last 11 days of his life. I know how hard it is. Ten years later my mom remarried and now Buddy is fighting to beat cancer and mom is scared. She doesn't want to continue through life alone, and this time ruined financially because there is no insurance to pay for the treatments, and the bills are piling up faster than one can imagine. After this faceoff with cancer, mom ends up in the poorhouse.
I had one of my business associates also lose his life to cancer, his family was taken care of, that is the good part. I lost the man that was trained to run the shop in my business. The business didn't fair so well after that.
I want to talk about something that is just as serious, even though it may not be perceived as such. This is a secret form of cancer because no one wants to talk about it. No one wants to admit they have it. There are no Doctors that diagnose it. There are no treatments, and when you are dead you might as well be, because there is not much of a life after it either.
Now I do not pretend to make fun of cancer. I do not want to make a comparison that looks like I give no importance to the physical cancer that will take your life. I only want to bring to awareness something that is common, yet it is ignored and it is just as serious...I want this 'something' to be looked at in a little different light. It is financial cancer. It is something that will kill you...financially, and then you have to continue through life financially dead.
There is not a bank that will talk to you and if you need money for any thing other than what you can earn, well, you might as well forget it. Now don't get me wrong, there is an operation for financial cancer that removes the disease, it is called bankruptcy. But that only removes the tumor, it does not cure the disease.
So what makes me any sort of expert to talk about this? Well, I have cancer, financial cancer. This cancer is embarrassing. No one wants to talk about it because you are perceived as incompetent and incapable. You are treated as a leper, "Go away, get away from me!" For those unscrupulous people that will take your money, they see you as an easy target to take from you what money you might have left as if you didn't deserve it because you were so stupid in the first place.
Ok, what is the point of this post? Let me tell you a little story. Yesterday, I talked to 2 financiers. They help people who cannot get money from a bank. In our interview, the subject came up that I am writing a book and it is about to be published. They ask what the title is which I responded "There Is No Power In Chaos." They laughed. It was only appropriate for someone that is smack dab in the middle of chaos to say something like that. And they are right! Who am I to be able to tell anyone how to get out of chaos? But that is my point all along. Who better can write a book about how to survive cancer that a cancer survivor? Does it matter the type of cancer? I think not. I think financial cancer is the worst. It can not only leave you without money and everything that you have worked hard for in life, but then you still have to keep living! I see a movie/documentary coming from all of this. Any comments? Please stay tuned there are some interesting things yet to come... See you tomorrow.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
A friend of mine sent me a link to a documentary that will be shown tomorrow on TV. (Wednesday, 8/29) night on TLC at 9:00pm EST called "Crazy Sexy Cancer". http://www.crazysexycancer.com/ I watched the trailer. It touched me, and I wanted to cry at times (just in seven minutes of the trailer) but made me realize something else that perhaps is just as serious. I will explain in a minute...
Cancer is something that we take very serious. It can mean life or death. And when you are dead...well that is the end of cancer, but it is the end of the time you spent here on this little planet we call earth. This IS serious stuff. It touches the very fiber of our being when some one diagnosed with cancer, with tears in her eyes, says, "I just want to live." In the short documentary trailer, they also speculate at why we get cancer. It really does look like it will be a good documentary to watch.
Cancer is something that is no laughing matter. I know that. My dad passed away from cancer almost 15 years ago. I took care of him for the last 11 days of his life. I know how hard it is. Ten years later my mom remarried and now Buddy is fighting to beat cancer and mom is scared. She doesn't want to continue through life alone, and this time ruined financially because there is no insurance to pay for the treatments, and the bills are piling up faster than one can imagine. After this faceoff with cancer, mom ends up in the poorhouse.
I had one of my business associates also lose his life to cancer, his family was taken care of, that is the good part. I lost the man that was trained to run the shop in my business. The business didn't fair so well after that.
I want to talk about something that is just as serious, even though it may not be perceived as such. This is a secret form of cancer because no one wants to talk about it. No one wants to admit they have it. There are no Doctors that diagnose it. There are no treatments, and when you are dead you might as well be, because there is not much of a life after it either.
Now I do not pretend to make fun of cancer. I do not want to make a comparison that looks like I give no importance to the physical cancer that will take your life. I only want to bring to awareness something that is common, yet it is ignored and it is just as serious...I want this 'something' to be looked at in a little different light. It is financial cancer. It is something that will kill you...financially, and then you have to continue through life financially dead.
There is not a bank that will talk to you and if you need money for any thing other than what you can earn, well, you might as well forget it. Now don't get me wrong, there is an operation for financial cancer that removes the disease, it is called bankruptcy. But that only removes the tumor, it does not cure the disease.
So what makes me any sort of expert to talk about this? Well, I have cancer, financial cancer. This cancer is embarrassing. No one wants to talk about it because you are perceived as incompetent and incapable. You are treated as a leper, "Go away, get away from me!" For those unscrupulous people that will take your money, they see you as an easy target to take from you what money you might have left as if you didn't deserve it because you were so stupid in the first place.
Ok, what is the point of this post? Let me tell you a little story. Yesterday, I talked to 2 financiers. They help people who cannot get money from a bank. In our interview, the subject came up that I am writing a book and it is about to be published. They ask what the title is which I responded "There Is No Power In Chaos." They laughed. It was only appropriate for someone that is smack dab in the middle of chaos to say something like that. And they are right! Who am I to be able to tell anyone how to get out of chaos? But that is my point all along. Who better can write a book about how to survive cancer that a cancer survivor? Does it matter the type of cancer? I think not. I think financial cancer is the worst. It can not only leave you without money and everything that you have worked hard for in life, but then you still have to keep living! I see a movie/documentary coming from all of this. Any comments? Please stay tuned there are some interesting things yet to come... See you tomorrow.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Day Fifty - Loss of Focus
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
I spend most of my days during the week fulfilling tasks that do NOT progress what I want to do. I suppose that is another reason I like the weekends, because I can devote almost as much time in days as I can during the 5 weekdays. I am getting the last few chapters edited though and am extremely grateful for that. I have self-edited but there is nothing like a fresh mind, (someone else's)to go through and find errors that become blurred to me from the hundreds of hours already put in. I also get to the point that I read it so much that I think that what is in the book is trivial and that I need to put better stuff in it. Can you imagine that? Of course to me it is trivial, it is the basics for someone to begin to understand and I have been at it for over 22 years.
I just need to finish this and get it out.
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
I spend most of my days during the week fulfilling tasks that do NOT progress what I want to do. I suppose that is another reason I like the weekends, because I can devote almost as much time in days as I can during the 5 weekdays. I am getting the last few chapters edited though and am extremely grateful for that. I have self-edited but there is nothing like a fresh mind, (someone else's)to go through and find errors that become blurred to me from the hundreds of hours already put in. I also get to the point that I read it so much that I think that what is in the book is trivial and that I need to put better stuff in it. Can you imagine that? Of course to me it is trivial, it is the basics for someone to begin to understand and I have been at it for over 22 years.
I just need to finish this and get it out.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Day Forty Nine - How'd Sunday Get Here So Fast?
I think instead of Sunday I'll call it Suddenday. It seems like it was Sunday just yesterday, and then all or a sudden it's Sunday, again, not that I mind. I like Sunday, for me it really is a day of rest. I go to Church, which I enjoy, especially with my youth class. All boys, all of them have short attentions spans. But they learn quickly. Today one of them, Miguel, had a youth talk. He did a good job. So in class I had him place the characteristics of his topic on a Q-Chart. I was impressed. He did a good job. It may seem sometimes like that is all I talk about...the vicious circle. However, I think they are beginning to understand that almost anything that they bring up can be placed on a Q-chart.
We talked about fasting and its importance. But I worked into the lesson why smoking, alcohol and drugs were not beneficial for them either. It presents a challenge to me to teach correct principles but in a way that they are the ones who are actually saying it. That way it is impossible to rebel against an adult, but rather if they rebel it is against what they themselves have said.
I got another chapter of my book back from the editor and this time she had butchered one of the principle stories in Chapter 11. For awhile it bugged me, but I sent her back an e-mail explaining why the story was necessary. So often I feel like all I am doing is teaching others. My wife and I went into a very serious debate about self-esteem. I continue to have to teach...but how do I do it in a way that it stays with the person and it really sticks? That is the purpose of There Is No Power In Chaos. I have countless hours of pondering and learning how to teach a concept that sticks. Sunday's youth class is the laboratory, with all my little guinea pigs, just kidding! They aren't so little! And for the Pigs? They are boys and they DO eat a LOT!! Test subjects? Of course, They do give me an opportunity to see what sticks and what doesn't. COnCEPT Q sticks. They know the concept! And that has been proved, over and over.
Well perhaps you can see why I like Suddenday. It gives me the opportunity to learn and to teach and to learn to teach. Well, for now I will leave it at that. Want a good book to read? There Is No Power In Chaos will be out very soon. And I continue my quest to see what Mr. Faith will do next! See ya!!
We talked about fasting and its importance. But I worked into the lesson why smoking, alcohol and drugs were not beneficial for them either. It presents a challenge to me to teach correct principles but in a way that they are the ones who are actually saying it. That way it is impossible to rebel against an adult, but rather if they rebel it is against what they themselves have said.
I got another chapter of my book back from the editor and this time she had butchered one of the principle stories in Chapter 11. For awhile it bugged me, but I sent her back an e-mail explaining why the story was necessary. So often I feel like all I am doing is teaching others. My wife and I went into a very serious debate about self-esteem. I continue to have to teach...but how do I do it in a way that it stays with the person and it really sticks? That is the purpose of There Is No Power In Chaos. I have countless hours of pondering and learning how to teach a concept that sticks. Sunday's youth class is the laboratory, with all my little guinea pigs, just kidding! They aren't so little! And for the Pigs? They are boys and they DO eat a LOT!! Test subjects? Of course, They do give me an opportunity to see what sticks and what doesn't. COnCEPT Q sticks. They know the concept! And that has been proved, over and over.
Well perhaps you can see why I like Suddenday. It gives me the opportunity to learn and to teach and to learn to teach. Well, for now I will leave it at that. Want a good book to read? There Is No Power In Chaos will be out very soon. And I continue my quest to see what Mr. Faith will do next! See ya!!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Day Forty Eight - Normal days?
If I say that today was a normal day, what is that supposed to mean? If I see normal as a day that I get a lot of work done but don't get anything in particular finished, then there are a lot of those days. I don't like them. I don't feel like I see progress. For instance, I had to redo the book cover because the other file was corrupted. I didn't lose the whole idea, because it was printed. I just lost the digital file that I can make the changes on. In a way it was good because it forced me to make changes that I might not have the other way, simply wanting something to be done once and for all.
I have the book reedited up until chapter 10 (out of 20) and I received Chapter 11 today but was disappointed. The main story and idea was cut out. It frustrates me to think that I did not express myself clear enough to portray this message so that the editor could see that. This is one of my major frustrations. I have spent 20 years learning about the power of faith and I understand it, a LOT. I admit that there is a TON more to learn. What really frustrates me is how many people equate their own knowledge with mine and wipe out 20 years of experience with the "oh yeah, I understand faith." My response? "Really, then I must be stupid. It has taken me 20 years to understand what I know and I don't even know THAT much about it."
A normal day huh? I am going to have to define what normal is so that I can have a standard to judge by. Hey, Have a normal day!, ok? Naw, HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!! CU2morrow.
I have the book reedited up until chapter 10 (out of 20) and I received Chapter 11 today but was disappointed. The main story and idea was cut out. It frustrates me to think that I did not express myself clear enough to portray this message so that the editor could see that. This is one of my major frustrations. I have spent 20 years learning about the power of faith and I understand it, a LOT. I admit that there is a TON more to learn. What really frustrates me is how many people equate their own knowledge with mine and wipe out 20 years of experience with the "oh yeah, I understand faith." My response? "Really, then I must be stupid. It has taken me 20 years to understand what I know and I don't even know THAT much about it."
A normal day huh? I am going to have to define what normal is so that I can have a standard to judge by. Hey, Have a normal day!, ok? Naw, HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!! CU2morrow.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Day Forty Seven - A Day In the Battlefield
Prelude to 90-day Case History of Mr.Faith and
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
As days seem to roll by, and I seem to be caught in the rolling, there are several good things to report. The cover was printed today and it shows up with mistakes so the pdf file won't work. The original InDesign file is also corrupted and won't open so that means I get to build the cover again, and this time paying attention to details and making sure that it not only saved as a backup but making a few changes to the cover to make it better. Who said writing a book was easy? And publishing, even more difficult. And selling all 10,000 copies even more challenging. And I said good things to report? Actually it is good to get to this stage of the cover development, just a few tweaks and this important piece is done. Printed work sure is different from what is on the computer screen.
For lunch today, Rosa and I went to choose the menu for the wedding banquet and now I like that! It was a free lunch, or 5000€ how ever you want to look at it. Just today I didn't pay anything. It was fun and excellent food. It was a hard decision to select for many people between what you really like and what you think would be a good mix for Spanish guests as well as the American guests that will be there. (It was a delight to have an opportunity like this one, even though I am paying for it.)
Two things done! Next, an interview with a marketing specialist. Two and a half hours later (thank goodness for Skype, the call is free) And I think I found an important piece of getting the book known. This really is an exercise of faith! On one part you have to have product, on the other, the marketing expert's opinion is that it is going to be hard to sell 10,000 books. This is a job for Super Mr. Faith!!!! Just wish I knew his phone number. Just kidding. This is fun! Who else would do silly things like this and not pull hair out?
Last but not least...we are on a roll with the final edits. With a bit over half way and a good weekend ahead let's hope by Monday we are getting close to done with everything. I will be happy when the daily battles all result in a substantial victory. Fighting in the trenches makes it hard to see what the outcome can be. Doing this blog caused me to step back and see what is happening. So more than for the reader's good this one is for me!
Awhile back when I was struggling to keep a business alive and was lost in the 16 hour workdays fighting the battle alone, I really could not see a way out. I fought to fight and hoped that my sheer willpower would bring the victory. It doesn't work that way. Hard work and good intentions can never bring you to your desire without some good strategy and consistent evaluation to guide the overall effort. So even though it seemed like just another day in the battlefield, even with its casualties, it was a good day for the strategy department. See you tomorrow!
A Brief Description of COnCEPT Q
As days seem to roll by, and I seem to be caught in the rolling, there are several good things to report. The cover was printed today and it shows up with mistakes so the pdf file won't work. The original InDesign file is also corrupted and won't open so that means I get to build the cover again, and this time paying attention to details and making sure that it not only saved as a backup but making a few changes to the cover to make it better. Who said writing a book was easy? And publishing, even more difficult. And selling all 10,000 copies even more challenging. And I said good things to report? Actually it is good to get to this stage of the cover development, just a few tweaks and this important piece is done. Printed work sure is different from what is on the computer screen.
For lunch today, Rosa and I went to choose the menu for the wedding banquet and now I like that! It was a free lunch, or 5000€ how ever you want to look at it. Just today I didn't pay anything. It was fun and excellent food. It was a hard decision to select for many people between what you really like and what you think would be a good mix for Spanish guests as well as the American guests that will be there. (It was a delight to have an opportunity like this one, even though I am paying for it.)
Two things done! Next, an interview with a marketing specialist. Two and a half hours later (thank goodness for Skype, the call is free) And I think I found an important piece of getting the book known. This really is an exercise of faith! On one part you have to have product, on the other, the marketing expert's opinion is that it is going to be hard to sell 10,000 books. This is a job for Super Mr. Faith!!!! Just wish I knew his phone number. Just kidding. This is fun! Who else would do silly things like this and not pull hair out?
Last but not least...we are on a roll with the final edits. With a bit over half way and a good weekend ahead let's hope by Monday we are getting close to done with everything. I will be happy when the daily battles all result in a substantial victory. Fighting in the trenches makes it hard to see what the outcome can be. Doing this blog caused me to step back and see what is happening. So more than for the reader's good this one is for me!
Awhile back when I was struggling to keep a business alive and was lost in the 16 hour workdays fighting the battle alone, I really could not see a way out. I fought to fight and hoped that my sheer willpower would bring the victory. It doesn't work that way. Hard work and good intentions can never bring you to your desire without some good strategy and consistent evaluation to guide the overall effort. So even though it seemed like just another day in the battlefield, even with its casualties, it was a good day for the strategy department. See you tomorrow!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Day Forty Four / Five & Six - Stuck in Time
Well I guess I should have never thought about inventing a time machine. Some how I got stuck in time and I seemed to jump from Monday to Thursday and didn't even realize it. I really have no clue as what happened to Tuesday and Wednesday's posts. Let's not go there...I know what your thinking...this poor goon's got Alzheimer's. What? Did I say something? Get outta here. I was just trying to duck my mistake by claiming that I forgot. I just saw that trick make money for two ex-Whitehouse characters. Bill and Hillary are coming out with their Memoirs and Bill gets $12 million for his and Hillary gets $8 million for hers. The funny thing is that during eight years they couldn't seem to remember what was happening..."Uhmm...I don't remember if I did or didn't."
I think though that you have to have lived in the Whitehouse for that scenario to work. I visited it once. At that Rate my Memoirs would be worth $6850 approximately! Darn! I should have been a U.S. President in my life instead. You know, I think that for post like this one, I am probably better off not posting. :-(
Ok let's get serious. Let's just say that I have been a little busy. My time is running out and I am running behind. Beside that I have been in the gym, working out. Now this is serious! I am on a diet, I am exercising (and hurt all over, again) and am getting things ready for a book launch and a wedding. (Stefanie, my youngest daughter.) With that in mind and knowing that I am up against deadlines, even some good things are happening. I just sent a letter to the President of Search Big Daddy, a new search engine (like Google) and requested that I be interviewed for a half hour radio show by Robert Floyd. I think that they will do it. It will give There Is No Power In Chaos some good exposure for the launch. Friday I talk with a book promotion specialist and see if we have a chance to work together. It may be exposure to more than 1 million people. I'll let you know. So besides, working a part-time job (which gets me my contacts in China, Andy Gong, who prints my book) and seeing the doctor (for the kidney stone that got stuck on the way out...yes it still bugs me) and getting in shape, marketing a book, putting the final touches on it, helping prepare for a wedding, being lazy every now and then...well, I think I am doing pretty good.
I still have three websites to prepare and a workbook to get done, two other books to edit and continue to make my posts. Oh, had a high council assignment that I attended to tonight as well. I think I am ready for my vacation. Which my vacation will go like this... Fly to Washington D.C., change planes, fly to Phoneix, miss my flight on purpose to Salt Lake, stay and meet with Search Big Daddy, (in Phoenix) catch a flight the next day, get to Salt Lake, head up to Idaho to see mom and Buddy and have a family picture, rest. Head back to Salt Lake, set up Search Big Daddy portals in Salt Lake, help Dan get his new business going, attend the temple with Stefanie, set up some sales reps in the Salt Lake area, have a wedding, rest. Get back on the plane and head to Spain for a reception here. Oh and somewhere in there keep the promo/book launch on target! So when I am done with my vacation I will be ready for a vacation. But for real... Its it a wonder that Rosa gets frustrated with me when she wants to just go on vacation and do nothing but that? Hey see you tomorrow...if I remember.
I think though that you have to have lived in the Whitehouse for that scenario to work. I visited it once. At that Rate my Memoirs would be worth $6850 approximately! Darn! I should have been a U.S. President in my life instead. You know, I think that for post like this one, I am probably better off not posting. :-(
Ok let's get serious. Let's just say that I have been a little busy. My time is running out and I am running behind. Beside that I have been in the gym, working out. Now this is serious! I am on a diet, I am exercising (and hurt all over, again) and am getting things ready for a book launch and a wedding. (Stefanie, my youngest daughter.) With that in mind and knowing that I am up against deadlines, even some good things are happening. I just sent a letter to the President of Search Big Daddy, a new search engine (like Google) and requested that I be interviewed for a half hour radio show by Robert Floyd. I think that they will do it. It will give There Is No Power In Chaos some good exposure for the launch. Friday I talk with a book promotion specialist and see if we have a chance to work together. It may be exposure to more than 1 million people. I'll let you know. So besides, working a part-time job (which gets me my contacts in China, Andy Gong, who prints my book) and seeing the doctor (for the kidney stone that got stuck on the way out...yes it still bugs me) and getting in shape, marketing a book, putting the final touches on it, helping prepare for a wedding, being lazy every now and then...well, I think I am doing pretty good.
I still have three websites to prepare and a workbook to get done, two other books to edit and continue to make my posts. Oh, had a high council assignment that I attended to tonight as well. I think I am ready for my vacation. Which my vacation will go like this... Fly to Washington D.C., change planes, fly to Phoneix, miss my flight on purpose to Salt Lake, stay and meet with Search Big Daddy, (in Phoenix) catch a flight the next day, get to Salt Lake, head up to Idaho to see mom and Buddy and have a family picture, rest. Head back to Salt Lake, set up Search Big Daddy portals in Salt Lake, help Dan get his new business going, attend the temple with Stefanie, set up some sales reps in the Salt Lake area, have a wedding, rest. Get back on the plane and head to Spain for a reception here. Oh and somewhere in there keep the promo/book launch on target! So when I am done with my vacation I will be ready for a vacation. But for real... Its it a wonder that Rosa gets frustrated with me when she wants to just go on vacation and do nothing but that? Hey see you tomorrow...if I remember.
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