What Makes Character?

"People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world."

Actor and Author of Michael Josephson
Radio Commentator

What Is IT?

Bob Proctor explains "IT":

"Great politicians have IT. Movie stars and sports heroes have IT. Super sales people and exceptional business leaders also have IT. What is IT? If IT was exclusively connected to personalities, you could possibly narrow this mysterious quality down to personal magnetism. However, there are times when you hear a new song on the radio and instantly you recognize this particular song is on its way to the top of the chart - this song has IT. The same is true of movies - some have IT.

There have been many low budget movies that have had IT, and conversely, some multi-million dollar productions with big name stars that did not have IT. Advertising agencies spend countless hours with some of the greatest creative minds in their industry looking for that one word or line that has IT, which will turn the ad campaign into the sensation of the year. On the radio you will find certain disc jockeys that have IT. Every Christmas a product hits the market that has IT and millions are sold. Every young woman will tell you there are certain guys who have IT and the guys will tell you there are certain gals that have IT.

What is IT? That is a good question, which no one has been able to answer although many have tried for thousands of years. IT, that magical, elusive something which most everyone is attracted to, cannot be purchased at any price and, if it could be, the price tag would very likely be out of our reach.

How do you get IT? I don't honestly know, although I've thought long and hard about it. I have come to one conclusion, if you happen to develop, find or stumble upon IT, you will probably be the only one who will not recognize you've got IT. And, since you won't know you have IT, you won't be able to tell us how to get IT.

Finding IT would surely make a big difference in our lives. Let's keep looking."

- Bob Proctor

The Price of Accomplishment

"Every worthwhile accomplishment has a price tag attached to it. The question is always whether you are willing to pay the price to attain it - in hard work, sacrifice, patience, faith, and endurance."

John C. Maxwell
Author

What Makes a Great Person Different?

"The difference between great people and everyone else is that great people create their lives actively, while everyone else is created by their lives, passively waiting to see where life takes them next. The difference between the two is the difference between living fully and just existing."

Michael E. Gerber author of
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Wow Creator: What Every Marketer Should Learn from the Ron Paul Revolution

As you know, whenever I see someone doing something remarkable online, I can't resist examining their success. If I can learn something, I want to share it with my customers! That's what today's marketing tip is about.

Traditionally, people who want national exposure for their product, service, or message, have had to spend millions of dollars for national marketing campaigns. But with the growing influence of the internet, things are changing. There's YouTube videos, podcasts, email campaigns, article marketing and other no-cost or low-cost viral marketing methods for getting your message out to both a national and international audience.

The question is: Can someone who is taking the internet by storm transfer virtual fame into the "real world?" That is what presidential candidate, Congressman Ron Paul, is hoping will happen with his wildfire online popularity.

Regardless of your political orientation, there is much to learn from the "Ron Paul Revolution." His name is searched on Google more than any other presidential candidate. After both the California and South Carolina Republican debates, Ron Paul came out number one by a landslide on MSNBC and Fox polls. Even though these polls block duplicate voting, Dr. Paul's competitors still claim his supporters must be tricking the system or are just overzealous extremists.

The interesting thing is, if they are outsmarting the polls or are overzealous voters, why does no other candidate engender such devotion or creativity? Articles about Ron Paul consistently fly to the top of Digg. He has more subscribers on YouTube than any other Republican candidate. His fans join online groups to alert each other to every piece of media Ron Paul receives. Media clips turn up on YouTube and become viral marketing messages.

Ron Paul supporters gather in person in thousands of meet-up groups across the nation. The last I heard, he has more meet-up groups than any other presidential candidate.

But what about money? Doesn't it take money to make it to the primaries? It sure does. According to a July 1st, 2007 report Republican candidates had the following net campaign assets:

Rudy Guiliani $18,326,220
Romney $ 3,176,535
Ron Paul $ 2,354,855
McCain $ 1,567,009
Tancredo $ 583,451
Brownback $ 460,236
Huckabee $ 406,125
Hunter $ 212,926
T. Thompson ($ 5,787)
Gilmore ($ 67,163)*

* Dropped out of race

For a candidate with sparse coverage on major networks, Ron Paul comes in third! Evidently Paul's supporters are putting their money where their beliefs lie. And since he's doing much of his marketing via grassroots methods, he may not need as much money as other candidates.

As an internet marketer, I cannot help but try to analyze this success. I'm also carefully watching to see how and when Ron Paul translates his internet success into off-line popularity. Isn't that the quandary for so many of us online marketers? For example, how do we turn internet ebook sales into New York Times best sellers?

In analyzing Ron Paul's campaign, there is one thing that I believe stands at the root of his success. And it's something from which we can all learn.

It's All About the Message

There is no other candidate with a message like Ron Paul's. It's unique and it's one that many people crave. It's about liberty, smaller government, and a return to Constitutional principles. It's about a shift in U.S. foreign policy which would minimize our involvement in wars. It's about shutting down the IRS and getting rid of the income tax. It's about keeping the internet free and untaxed. It's about more individual responsibility, less government intervention, and hope for a better world.

It's a message that no one else is preaching, and he always delivers it with an optimistic smile. It's edgy, requires integrity, and few would have the guts to teach it, much less stick by it unapologetically. Yet, he does with the trust engendered by a kindly wise grandfather. In Congress, special interest groups won't even knock on Congressman Paul's door because they know if what they're asking for is unconstitutional he will not budge.

As edgy as his message, it's resonating with many Americans. In a recent interview YouTube conducted with Ron Paul, he praised the younger generation who were stepping forward to clean up the mess previous generations had made. Even though he's in his 70's, he's popular with a younger crowd who resonate with a peaceful, freedom message.

Unlike many politicians, Ron Paul doesn't just tell people what they want to hear. He sticks to his principles and trusts that those who resonate with those principles will step forward to support his cause. They do so in evangelical numbers.

So, how can you apply this to yourself? You define your message. You get clear about who you are and what you stand for. You make no apologies for it. Sure, there are going to be some people who don't like the way you do things. There are going to be some people who don't want or need what you're selling, but you don't worry about that. You decide your message and stick to it with integrity. If your message is powerful enough, your customers will start doing your marketing for you!

To learn more about what makes Dr. Paul's message unique, view Google's interview with him.

Wow Creators Believe

A friend sent me this and I thought it was perfect for those of us seeking to Create A Wow:

THE SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION

You may recall that for centuries people believed Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. The philosopher was regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of all time, and so it follows that he MUST be right!

But nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death someone actually tested the theory. In 1589 Galileo Galilei summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. He pushed two weights from the top of the tower -- one light and one heavy. They landed at the same instant. But the power of belief was so strong that the professors denied their eyesight! They continued to teach that Aristotle was
correct.

Galileo and others also tried to convince the educators of his day that the earth revolves around the sun. But they would not believe anything so radical and eventually forced him to recant his support of the Copernican theory. He lived the last years of his life under house arrest.

Erwin M. Soukup compiled a list he calls "The Seven Steps to Stagnation." You have no doubt heard these statements before. Most of us have said them! They are:

1. We've never done it that way before.
   
2. We're not ready for that.
   
3. We are doing all right without trying that.
   
4. We tried it once before.
   
5. We don't have money for that.
   
6. That's not our job.
   
7. Something like that can't work.
   

There is tremendous power in belief. Our beliefs shape our future; what we believe to be true quite literally becomes true for us!

And there is a bold and exciting tomorrow awaiting anyone with the courage to believe something new CAN HAPPEN -- things CAN BE DIFFERENT! Your life -- your organization -- can be stagnant or things can change.

Tomorrow can look very different than today for those who believe.

(The original author of this is unknown. If you know who wrote it, please let me know, I'd like to give proper credit)

Interview with Wow Creator: Gayle Lynds, Best Selling Author

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview NY Times Best Selling Author Gayle Lynds. Her books have won such awards as "Novel of the Year" (The Last Spymaster) given by the Military Writers Society of America, and have been People magazine's "Page-Turner of the Week" and "Beach Read of the Week."

Publishers Weekly lists her work among the top ten spy novels of all time. With Robert Ludlum (Bourne Identity), she created the Covert-One series and wrote three of the novels. One of them, The Hades Factor, was a CBS miniseries in April 2006.

In the interview she talks about her latest book, and also gives lots of great tips for authors – how to find a literary agent, working with editors, surviving in the publishing industry, promoting your work, and how she conducts research.

I recently finished reading The Last Spymaster and loved it. Gayle Lynds knows her subject and does a fantastic job of interweaving action and suspense while still reaching deeper into human relationships. The story is a rich exploration of the mentor - protégé relationship as well as what happens to people who are thrown together in a crisis situation. For those of you coming from my "clean romance" site, you'll be happy to know that The Last Spymaster has a wonderful romantic twist. Do be aware that there are a couple sentences that would be considered a little more graphic than I'd write, and there is strong language throughout the book.

To listen to the interview, click here.

Interview with Wow Creator: Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty

Mignon Fogarty, aka the Grammar Girl, took her podcast to #1 on iTunes in January 2007! Giving the world on-target grammar advice, she's become quite a celebrity in the world of podcasts. As such, I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to interview Mignon about her success. Anyone interested in podcasting has much to learn from this savvy young woman.

Here's an excerpt from that interview:

CreateAWow: Can anyone start their own podcast? What advice or resources would you recommend for someone who wants to learn how to create podcasts?

Grammar Girl: I do think that anyone can start their own podcast as long as they have the time and desire to read up on all the tools that are avaiable.

When I started my initial podcast, Absolute Science, I knew a lot about web technology and new media, but I didn't know anything about audio technology. I just started Googling around about podcasting and hanging out in podcasting forums like the Podcast Pickle where I picked up a lot of great tips and found people who could answer my questions when I got stuck. I started with free software programs and inexpensive microphones and headphones that I already owned and then upgraded my equipment as I became more serious about podcasting. So by the time I started Grammar Girl, I knew what I was doing and hit the ground running. After it became clear there were a lot of people listening, I felt more of a responsibility to make the sound quality as good as I possibly could, so I've upgraded more of my equipment and continue to tweak my set up.

CreateAWow: What were some of the milestones along the way? Pivotal points where you saw impressive growth in your listener base?

Grammar Girl: Getting featured at iTunes the first time created a big traffic spike. After that, the growth was solid and steady until the show was featured on CNN.com -- that caused traffic to grow about 50% overnight.

For the complete interview, go here.

WOW! It's All In Your Perspective

I saw this story in today's edition of Insight of the Day and thought it conveyed a key attribute of Wow Creators - it illustrates how they look at life and why they are successful:

WOW!

Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.

All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"

One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works.

Rob Gilbert
Editor of "Bits & Pieces"

WOW Quote to Live By

"Doubters do not achieve; skeptics do not contribute; cynics do not create."

- John Calvin Coolidge, U.S. President

Wow Site of the Week - Flixter

As a Web developer, every now and again, I run into a site that makes me go "Wow! I wish I'd thought of that!" or "Wow! I wish I knew how to program something like that." Today an associate invited me to take a movie quiz at www.Flixter.com. The site lets you share movie recommendations with your friends, or find new friends based on similar movie tastes.

But it's more than that. You get your own profile where you can list your favorite movies, actors, etc. Plus you can create "widgets" to add to your blogs or myspace. A widget can be a link to your reviews and profile or a widget might be a "movie poster" or "actor poster" that you create by selecting your favorite movies and actors (see mine on the left of this blog).

It's intuitive, easy to use and extremely visual: drag and drop. You can easily add graphics of your favorite movies and photos of actors to your profile or posters.

The main thing I didn't like about the site is that it's almost too automated. To tell friends about the site, it asks you to select your email provider - Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, or AOL. Then it lists your address book from whichever one you chose and lets you check off the email addresses of the people you'd like to invite. Handy, but what if you don't use these services? Or don't use them enough to have all your contacts in their address books? I usually use MS Outlook and rarely use my Yahoo account. But I was forced to select Yahoo, which only has a few email addresses in it. So I couldn't tell a lot of people that I wanted to about the service (at least not with their tell-a-friend script). I couldn't find any way to add an email address that's not in my Yahoo address book (short of going to Yahoo and adding it and coming back to Flixter... yuck!) Maybe I just missed it, but it wasn't obvious.

Also, the widget that links to your profile and shows your latest movie reviews requires that you leave a comment on a movie and seems to take a little while to kick in. It was about 30 minutes before it stopped showing "Doh! There are currently no reviews to show" and started showing my comments on movies instead.
Overall it's a nifty site and you could spend (or waste) hours (depending upon how you look at it) playing around on it. The programming and graphics are definitely a WOW! Kudos to the creators.

What Is the New York Times Best Seller List?

According to Wikepedia, "The New York Times Best Seller List is a weekly chart in The New York Times that tracks the week's best-selling books in the United States." It started in April 1942. "Unlike some subsequent lists of best sellers, The New York Times list is not based upon total sales figures, but instead upon surveys of a selected sample of retail booksellers." For example, Barnes and Noble and Amazon are counted, but your small mom-and-pop bookstore probably isn't. "The list is divided into Fiction and Non-Fiction sections, which each contain fifteen titles."

"While some believe a book is only truly successful if it appears on the list, the Times maintains that the list is simply that, with no assumption as to its intrinsic value. Nevertheless, some have accused publishers of marketing books in a manner designed to place them on the list. Examples include the works by L. Ron Hubbard, Battlefield Earth and Mission Earth.

Similarly, some listed books are flagged with a dagger (†) indicating that a significant number of bulk orders had been received by retail bookstores. Since it is normally more economical to place bulk orders for classroom or resale use through wholesalers or publishers, this might indicate that the purchases were made to increase a book's placement in the best seller list." (In other words it might be possible to buy your way onto the list? Hmm... wonder how many books that would take? Sounds like a chunk-o-change to me!)

"In 2001, a separate section of the best seller list was created to track the sale of children's books. Some have contended that the children's book list was created especially so that the Harry Potter book series, which dominated the list for over two years, could be moved to a separate section and other titles allowed to appear on the list."

If you're interested in seeing the current New York Times Best Seller List, go here.

The Last Spymaster

I picked up a copy of The Last Spymaster in hardback yesterday at BooksAMillion and am about 75 pages into it so far. Wow, Gayle Lynds knows her spy stuff. She mentions on her site that all the gadgets in The Last Spymaster are really gadgets that are either currently being used or soon-to-be released. That's an interesting tidbit as you read this book.

An impressive thing about Lynds is that she is meticulous in her research and consults with founding member of the CIA Counter-terrorism Unit, Robert Kresge, to make sure she gets her facts straight. Lynds weaves spy-speak into her work seamlessly and her descriptions of action scenes put you right there with the characters.

I'm also honored to say that Gayle Lynds has agreed let me interview her about her work toward the end of February. If you want to suggest a question you'd like me to ask this talented New York Times Best Selling novelist, please post it to the comment area of this blog. :)

New York Times Best Selling Authors

I'm starting my research on "Wow Creators" by looking for New York Times Best Selling Authors on the Web. One that caught my eye today was spy thriller novelist, Gayle Lynds.

Lynds' latest novel, The Last Spymaster, is about Charles Jay Tice, who was a legendary figure in the CIA and the intelligence world towards the end of the Cold War. But he was also a traitor, having sold secrets that seriously compromised the U.S. for years to come. Since his conviction, he's been kept in the tightest maximum security prison under the closest of security. Until one morning, his cell is discovered empty. Tice has disappeared without even the hint of trace. Agent Elaine Cunningham is a hunter, assigned to find Tice quickly, before the rest of the world knows he's gone. But she soon finds out that something is very wrong. This is more than just an impossible escape by a master spy. It's a much bigger, deeper, and more dangerous conspiracy than one old spook's last run for freedom.

I spent quite a bit of time on Gayle Lynds' site today - www.GayleLynds.com . It's crisp, polished and chocked with audio interviews you can listen to and learn more about how a best selling thriller novelists researches and writes. There's also a You Tube video of her explaining the difference between mystery and thriller.