Category Archives: global business development

Weekend Indie Publishing News

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Looking for good Mother’s Day gifts?

It is critically important to our society and all of our world to have decent homes and families with decent values. This Mother’s Day, order your wife, your mother, or any woman raising a family, a copy of  the book Building Materials for Life by Millard Fuller, Founder of Habitat for Humanity. The three volumes of this book are filled with short essays about raising families with common sense, good values and giving children a solid, strong foundation. Proceeds from the sale of this book and other books and DVDs from the Fuller Center will be used to purchase building materials for Habitat for Humanity houses.

Thanks to the Fuller Center, hundreds of children around the world have decent housing and brighter futures!

You can also honor the Mother in your life by donating to the Fuller Center or win free flowers for entering your essay of what your mother means to you! For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/c9S9cG.

Hurry, Mother’s Day is only 9 days away!

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Cultural Understanding

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“Things go wrong because people build walls instead of bridges”   ~Unknown

For those who do not work in the arts industry, understanding the value of a creative industry is difficult to understand. When you understand the scope of how many are employed in creative industry, how the Arts help to build the fabric of community life, how arts education touches the lives of children and how Art provides for cultural exchange between countries, supporting Americans for the Arts Action Fund www.artsactionfund.org is not a hard pill to swallow.

Mayer Michael Nutter recently testified about  the importance of the Arts in his city of Philadelphia. His testimony and arguments for the importance of the Arts, could be echoed by cities, big and small, across America. To listen to Mayor Nutter’s testimony, please go to http://bit.ly/bZetCV.

Even in small cities, like Steamboat Springs, Colorado (population 9600), the Arts are very important. The Macedonian Mission for Humanity (Colorado based non-profit organization 5013(C) is focused on humanitarian assistance and cultural exchange between Macedonian and U.S. artists.

On May 15, the non-profit will be hosting a Concert, at the United Methodist Church in Steamboat, between an international award winning concert pianist, Kalina Mrmevska from Macedonia, and soprano soloist, Keri Rusthoi from the U.S. It is bound to be a beautiful evening of entertainment between two artists who come from very different backgrounds.

All proceeds from the concert will go toward the expense of shipping no longer needed medical supplies from the U.S. to Macedonian children’s hospitals. For more information on this non-profit, please visit http://bit.ly/askllQ.

The Macedonian Mission for Humanity is building bridges between culture and humanitarian needs. What vision this represents!

 

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It’s A Perfect Fit!

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“The only thing that will redeem mankind is  c0operation.”        ~                       ~Bertrand Russell

In Steamboat Springs, CO and in places all across the country, there are so many non-profits that are quietly contributing to the betterment of others and to the world, in their own special way. Many of these non-profits are unheard of to the “average Joe.” With funding and grant opportunities being cut, it is never more important for non-profits to become visible and to demonstrate how they are helping others to fulfill their needs.

There is a way! To bring visibility and awareness to a non-profit, independent publishing can help. An independently published book or film, about your non-profit, may provide a way for non-profit organizations to spread the word about their mission and obtain corporate sponsorship. Also, it is a creative way for others to learn and see how satisfying it is to volunteer for a worthy cause and to increase your volunteer base by recruiting others who will commit to an exciting project or mission.

Independent publishing is a perfect fit for alternative marketing for non-profit organizations. One of the most successful global non-profits  has chosen independent publishing to advance their visibility throughout this world. To watch a preview of a great example of non-profit work and independent publishing joining together to bring visibility to a mission, please visit www.MillardFullerMovie.com.

Is your non-profit doing all it can to be recognized in your community, in your world?

 

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It Hit a Nerve

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“A great leader’s courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” ~ John Maxwell

Last week, I received an e-mail from a frequent visitor to this blogsite. The correspondent stated that independent publishing is a hobby,  and nothing more. I found it interesting. I guess then, from her statement, we can all surmise that she thinks the independent films that are shown all over the world every year, are produced only as “hobbies?” Hardly!

I couldn’t  help but take quiet offense to her statement. I assured her that if she were to attend a professional publishing trade association conference with me, she would quickly realize that independent publishers are no different than those who seek to have their books published through traditional publishing houses. That by attending an independent publishing trade event, she would see that there is a huge network of professionals and vendors working hard to support each other in business, helping each other to succeed and are passionate about educating, inspiring, informing and entertaining others through their independent publishing.

What  I decided was that perhaps I needed to educate her about the fact that the independent publishing industry now represents almost half of all publishing revenue. In fact, between 2008 and 2009, the indpendent publishing industry has grown by 40%! I project that the independent publishing industry will grow even further this year.

It’s funny how people criticize what they do not understand. I am posting this video in hopes that the frequent reader of this blogsite, who hit a nerve within me, will return again and become better informed. There is so much excitement in the independent publishing industry. It keeps me engaged each and every day.

Art & Media Building Bridges

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“Education is all a matter of building bridges.” ~ Ralph Ellison

My, my how our world has changed in unimaginable ways. When I  stumbled upon a Reuters news article, I realized just how far our  world really has come, in all industries, with regard to international agreements and trade. Even the arts and entertainment industry has joined forces with other countries to collaborate on projects. Reuters has reported that Time Warner Inc.’s Cartoon Network is  partnering with the United Arab Emirates to open Carton development in that country and also a training academy in September. New production studios will open in early 2011, in the capital city of Abu Dabi.

The initiative  is part of efforts by Abu Dabi to diversity their economy and create a 27 billion dollar cultural hub for television, radio, film, publishing and animation. The cultural district will also house branches of France’s Louvre Museum and New York’s Guggenheim Museum.

Many of the media broadcast stations such as Fox News International, the British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) and CNN have also joined forces in this collaboration. To read the article in it’s entirety http://bit.ly/djCEIp.

Never would I have I have thought a cultural exchange of the Arts and media of this proportion would be possible many years ago.  How far we have progressed in the world of international business and in the exchange of bright, open minds full of all kinds of possibility.

To see a model of the futuristic buidings designed by architects from France and California architect Frank Gehry, please visit 

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Peek-A-Boo, I See You!

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“Vision is the art of seeing things invisible”  ~ Jonathan Swift

Are you an independent publisher who has been tucked away, just waiting to be found? If so, you might be waiting for a long time before you are discovered. Some independent publishers are quite skilled at becoming visible in the marketplace. Yet, there are others who need help in becoming more noticeable to potential book buyers. Even the most well crafted book will not sell if it can not be found by potential book buyers over the internet. Visibility can be the make or break of book sales.

The dynamics of e-commerce (internet selling) are quite different than selling from a brick and mortar bookstore or through print advertising and marketing. If it is unfamiliar territory, consider seeking the help of others who can help you, as an author and independent publisher, and your publication. Come out from hiding and be “in the face” of those who are looking for unique and niche subjects, and books not found in the same ole, same ole bookstores.

Writing and publishing is a business. All businesses, big and small, need to rely on the most current, far reaching methods of marketing there are. Have you considered whether you are doing all you can to come out from hiding? Have you moved from antiquated ways of doing business into the new age of being discovered in places you have never thought of before? If not, why not?

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Walk the Walk

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“The most important thing about goals is having one.”                                 ~ Geoffry F. Abert

Today is World Health Day! It marks the beginning of a week long world-wide health campaign called 1,ooo Cities, 1,000 Lives. The World Health Organization calls upon all cities worldwide to open up portions of streets to people to promote health activities. For more information visit http://1000cities.who.int/

I love to walk, and it is a form of exercise that costs nothing. For me, daily walking eases any stresses in my life. I walk and ponder! It is how I keep my mental attitude healthy! I can go out the door as Oscar the Grouch and return after 20-30 minutes of brisk walking, as little Miss Suzy Sunshine. That’s not a bad trade off, is it?

Every month, almost all of the women’s magazines on the news stand tout articles about the benefits of walking. It is hard not to be informed about the issue. Although many people mention the lack of time to exercise, walking can become a fulfilling habit, with little change to your regular routine. Research has shown it takes 21 days to form a habit. Set a goal to walk a little more each day. It will help you to stay focused along the way. By reaching your goal, your self-esteem will be boosted and you will feel confident that when the tough gets going, you can overcome.

When it comes to walking, it is hard to find excuses “why not”, no matter where you live. Even in cities, you can take to the streets and get in your daily dose of exercise. The largest cities around the world have some of the most gorgeous public parks! Go see what they have to offer!

Springtime is the best time to establish a walking routine. Start today by becoming part of a global health campaign! Celebrate each extra step you take, knowing you are one step closer to your goals of becoming fit and healthy.  Have fun!

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Rallying the Troops

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“One of the things we desperately need is spiritual renewal in this country. We need a spiritual renewal in America.” ~  Billy Graham

It is Spring! What better time for Kiwanis International to have their new member campaign drive. May is coming up, and Kiwanis International of Steamboat Springs, CO is on a mission! As an organization, we are all going to put our focus into recruiting new members who have energy, heart and a common interest in “improving children’s lives, one child at a time.” Kiwanians believe “through guidance and example, we can work together to develop future generations of leaders.”

Guess what? We have started already! We have sprung ahead a month early by talking with prospective new members. To some people, spring means warming temperatures, longer days, crocuses, tulips, daffodils, baby chicks and a re-awakening of the earth from a long winter’s sleep. Those are all beautiful things!

To Kiwanians, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, spring means:

  • Stewardship
  • Possibility for New Members
  • Recruitment
  • Interest in Improving the Lives of Children
  • Non Profit Work and the Fulfillment it Brings
  • Growth and Renewal

Membership in Kiwanis International requires little time, and it brings great rewards in personal fulfillment! Join in, meet new community members who share some of the same values, and re-awaken the spirit in your step and guide by example, future generations of leaders.

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Artist’s Predictions

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“In all things, it is better to hope than despair.”  ~ Joann Wolfgang von Goethe

Someone sent me through the internet, an article about Vatican researcher, Richard Owen who has stated that daVinci predicted that the world will end on November 1, 4006 by a “universal flood.” (“The Times”, March 15, 2010). In daVinci’s “Last Supper” mural, the half-moon window above his painting of Christ with his disciples, contains a “mathematical and astrological” puzzle which has been deciphered to mean the flood will begin on March 21, 4006 and end the world, as we all know it now, on November 1, 4006. At which time, there will be a new start for humanity.

4006? Wow – we have a lot of generations to go before that time comes! I am happy to hear the world will not be ending before my time of natural death, whenever that may be. I have a lot of dreams to fulfill in my lifetime and humanity has a lot to accomplish in working towards a better world!

What gives me great hope is this generation of college graduates. Many of them have their eyes wide open to living and working in a more global world than past generations. There are brilliant students who have spent their college years studying foreign relations, international trade, e-commerce, other cultures and global environments as part of their curriculums.

Even some architectural students are thinking globally! My niece is a mid-year graduate of The Roger Williams University School of Architecture. For her masters thesis, she decided to plan and design a global project. She designed The Ocular Orientation Center, for those suffering from blindness and visual impairment, young and old. The Center was designed for a site in Chittagong, Bangladesh. She took into consideration every variable, such as climate, soil, topographical layout, local natural materials of the region and more, so that the school can be viably built. Her dream is to see this project come to fruition.

If daVinci’s predictions are correct, that is music to my ears! I want to see what is in store for this generation of college graduates. Despite the less than ideal economic situation at this moment, I think the up and coming generation of college graduates have a lot up their sleeves!

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