Joan's Biz Talk posts

The One Minute Millionaire, The Enlightened Way to Wealth by Mark Victor and Robert Allen

Does inspirational and self-help reading bring you business? You decide... Check out the October pick of the month double-sided reading of fiction and money talk.

This month's Read 'em and Meet Selection (October 13, 2009) is a different mix! Two writers, Mark Victor of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame, and Robert Allen, author of a best selling real-estate guide, present two formats to arrive at the same goal: enlightenment to wealth.

"In an unusual format, the right-hand pages depict the fictional story of Michelle, a lowly waitress and mother of two who breaks out to pursue her dream of creating her own business and owning income-producing real estate. The left-hand pages are organized into what the authors call Millionaire Minutes--short lessons for becoming an 'enlightened millionaire.'" -- Amazon editorial review from Booklist.

The editorial reviews and customer reviews are as mixed as the book's premise. Regardless, it's sure to be a quick and interesting read and could create a lively discussion on whether "feel-good" and inspirational activities can enhance business.

As one customer reviewer said. "I have to chuckle when people write reviews on quality books like this great one by Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen and refer to it as merely "feel good" stuff. Well, I have to agree. Reading this sort of "feel good stuff" does make me feel good. So good that I went out and made another $10,000 last week. I will tell you this. I perform much better when I feel good than when I feel lousy."

You can order this selection and business books through Biznik's Affiliation links found on the article's pages.

If you can't make our live event and want to read along, feel free to post your comments here.

"I Recommmend" for Read 'em and Meet

Do you have a favorite book that has helped your business? Is there one you've been wanting to read and discuss with others?

Use this discussion forum to recommend your favorite business book. It can be anything - marketing, accounting, motivational, thinking outside the box, social media, insightful, light hearted or whatever. (Hey, we all need break).

Include something about why your read it/ recommend it, perhaps a quick synopsis and what made it so awesome.

Have a selection we should steer clear of? Tell us more....

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott

This is the selection for our first Read 'em and Meet South Sound. September 8. Use this discussion center for pre-event ideas, questions, and comments.

Here are some testimonials from the book:

"Revolution may be an overused word in describing what the Internet has wrought, but revolution is exactly what David Meerman Scott embraces and propels forward in this book. He exposes the futility of the old media rules and opens to all of us an insiders' game, previously played by a few well-connected specialists. With this rule book to the online revolution, you can learn how to win minds and markets, playing by the new rules of new media." -Don Dunnington, President, International Association of Online Communicators (IAOC); Director of Business Communications, K-Tron International; and Graduate Instructor in Online Communication, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey

"The New Rules of Marketing and PR provides a concise action plan for success. Rather than focusing on a single solution, Scott shows how to use multiple online tools, all directed toward increasing your firm's visibility and word-of-mouth awareness." -Roger C. Parker, Author, The Streetwise Guide to Relationship Marketing on the Internet and Design to Sell

"The Internet is not so much about technology as it is about people. David Meerman Scott, in his remarkable The New Rules of Marketing and PR, goes far beyond technology and explores the ramifications of the Web as it pertains to people. He sets down a body of rules that show you how to negotiate those ramifications with maximum effectiveness. And he does it with real-life case histories and an engaging style."-Jay Conrad Levinson, Father of Guerrilla Marketing and Author, Guerrilla Marketing series of books