I knew my goal the day Wiley offered to publish my book ROAR!, August 10th 2009. The New York Times Best Seller: I have never wanted something so bad in all my life. Don’t get me wrong, I have been passionate about many things but getting on this list is a pinnacle for me as an author, expert and marketer.
I went through an internal inventory to determine if I was up to the task. I asked myself; “Is everything aligned for me to make this happen?”
1. Do I have the time? Well, thanks to the crash of IndyMac Bank and Lehman (my largest investors) I no longer need to focus time in my Finance business. I can turn full attention to my love of writing, speaking and consulting on marketing. I have a solid 23- year marriage and my son is away at Georgetown University. My poodle Spike requires some attention but is fairly forgiving with the addition of a Milkbone here or there.
2. Do I have the connections? My involvement with The Entrepreneur’s Organization has given me a network that is unsurpassed. I have a client list and network that stretches across the country and goes deep into the financial, entrepreneur and arts worlds. I may not be Keith Ferrazzi but networking comes naturally. Plus my relationships with thought leaders such as Ken Fisher, Verne Harnish, Jack Daly, Shawne Duperon and Sam Horn make me as well connected as any unknown author ready to break out.
3. Do I have the skills? ROAR! is my fourth book. My Dummies Book has sold more than 50,000 copies, which is unusual for a niche book. It was a good training ground for book marketing and PR. My last book Green$ense went from concept to contract in less than 4 months for a five figure advance and may offer a second chance to hit the list. This goal is a great chance to put my customer experience/marketing skills to the test in a world class way.
4. Do I have the book? ROAR! is already gaining an amazing following. I wrote it last December in the heart of the financial crisis. With the slowdown, people need a simple way to communicate in a compelling manner. And they crave an entertaining, memorable way to learn it. People get it’s unique approach in the first 2 chapters.
5. Do I have the team? Make no mistake, Wiley is the New York Yankees of publishing. With multiple books on the NYT list they offer every opportunity if I do my job right. I have a supportive co-author Dan, a great agent Joy and an incredibly supportive EO Forum and social network. My lack of financial resources is made up through human capital for sure.
6. Am I truly committed? A big fan of Napoleon Hill, I always believe you can achieve anything to which you set your mind. I had set my mind on the NYT Best Seller list and I was willing to change my behavior in a big way to get there. I have never been one to post my goals on stickies but now I am ready to do whatever it takes. Somehow though a sticky note on the mirror didn’t really seem like commitment to me. I thought, “Go big or go home!” So I tattooed “New York Times Best Seller” on my chest, backwards so I could see it in the mirror every morning. I had no idea that this $100 idea would be worth a ton. More on that to come.
My friend Lin asked me why this was so important that I would tattoo myself and I responded: “Don’t you understand? This is the Jewish equivalent of getting a Super Bowl Ring!” She said “No way! There must be Jews who have won the Super Bowl!” We looked it up on Wikipedia. Turns out only 6 Jewish players have ever obtained Super Bowl rings in the history of the NFL. One is actually coaching me. I’ll explain more about that connection in upcoming entries.
In this blog I will share my journey with complete transparency as to how I am achieving this goal. Once a week I will share my personal thoughts as well as the specific marketing mechanics I am using to accomplish this major league objective. Hopefully sharing my experience and path will inspire others to reach out for their own pinnacle of success, their own Super Bowl Ring.
Welcome to my quest. Stay tuned.
Kevin
Social ROAR!