R.I.P. Robert B. Parker
Today I learned that one of my favorite authors, Robert B. Parker, passed away.
He is probably best know for his “Spenser” books. These fast-paced crime stories are based in Boston (my hometown) and were the inspiration for the ’80s TV show, “Spenser: For Hire.” I read every book and loved them all.
He is also the author of the Jesse Stone books which were made into several made-for-TV movies starring Tom Selleck. And he wrote Appaloosa which was turned into a major motion picture featuring Ed Harris.
You can read a tribute to him in the Wall Street Journal.
Bob, you will be missed!
The picture is of me with Robert Parker at his home in 2008. He and his wife Joan hosted a lovely dinner party there for me and 20 of my friends. It will be a night I always remember.
If you found this article useful or interesting, please press the "Like" button and post a Facebook comment below.
TEDx NASA
I am now in Newport News, Virginia preparing for my speech tomorrow at TEDx NASA. There will be 1700 aerospace engineers and scientists in the audience. My topics is titled “Innovation is in the Space.”
I have only 6 minutes for my presentation. This may prove to be my most challenging speech yet! Blaise Pascal (not Mark Twain) once wrote (originally in French), “I have made this letter longer than usual, only because I have not had time to make it shorter.”
45 minute speeches are easy. I can do them in my sleep.
Other speakers at this event have as much as 18 minutes. I know, from a conversation with one of them that 18 minutes is proving to be a challenge. Imagine what it is like to prepare for a 6 minute speech.
They asked me if I could deliver anything meaningful in 6 minutes! I responded that my TV interviews are usually 3 minutes long – and the interviewer is talking half of the time. So 6 minutes is plenty. Hey, Toastmasters champions are able to deliver a powerful speech with 7 minutes.
If you want to see me and everyone else (including Mitch Albom) live through your computer, join us at 10AM EST at livestream.com/tedxnasa2009
My speech is from 2:20PM – 2:26PM EST.
I will post a transcript of my speech next week. And I believe that the video will be available sometime in the near future. Enjoy!
If you found this article useful or interesting, please press the "Like" button and post a Facebook comment below.
Complete Idiots’s Guide to Target Marketing
My good friend Susan Friedmann just released her next book today, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Target Marketing.”
Do you want to get the word out to buyers about all the great things your business has to offer, but a big-bucks marketing campaign just isn’t in your budget? Now you can get the expert information you need about how to get the word out.
Susan’s book is full of clever, practical, and easy-to-use strategies to help you get your message out to the right people, at the right time, and in the right place. In this Complete Idiot’s Guide®, you get:
- Savvy ways to identify your most lucrative niche markets.
- Viral marketing, blogging, webinars, and other web marketing ideas to reach your buyers.
- Creative public relations strategies that can help you reach your goals inexpensively.
- Powerful buzz-building methods to reach and impress your target market.
- The most effective ways to build and maintain strong customer relationships.
And much more…
If you order a copy today, you’ll receive a bonus pack of downloadable e-books, audio, and video programs, special reports, and articles – hundreds of dollars worth of free materials from some of the country’s most successful business strategists.
One of the free items is my Personality Poker® self-assessment and a 30 minute video. This simple quiz allows you and your team to determine your innovation style – and what it means to your organization. Think of it as a Personality Poker® simulator.
I’m told that today is the only day that this offer will be available — so act now!
For more details about this offer and to buy your copy of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Target Marketing” go to www.targetmarketingbook.com
If you found this article useful or interesting, please press the "Like" button and post a Facebook comment below.
Two Book Deal with Penguin’s Portfolio Books
Today I signed a two book deal with Penguin’s Portfolio imprint. They are the publishers of excellent books including all of Seth Godin’s books and “The Back of the Napkin.”
The first book, “Personality Poker,” is scheduled to be in book stores September 2010. The book will be packaged with a deck of cards. The commercially published book will be completely different than the instruction manual you currently get when you buy the Personality Poker System.
The second book is a completely re-written version of “The Little Book of BIG Innovation Ideas” and is expected to be published March 2011.
I will keep you updated on some of the exciting research we are doing in conjunction with the book writing. Stay tuned!
P.S. Thanks to my literary agent, Bonnie Solow. I feel honored and blessed to be working with her…
If you found this article useful or interesting, please press the "Like" button and post a Facebook comment below.
InnoCentive Seeks Experienced Innovation Consultants
I completed my first month as InnoCentive’s “VP Strategic Consulting & Chief Innovation Evangelist.” In a short period of time, we made excellent progress on a number of fronts and will be announcing our plans shortly. My next task is to build my team.
And maybe that is you!
I am looking for a number of highly skilled innovation experts who want to help me launch this exciting new venture. In short, I am looking to hire people who are passionate about…
- delivering innovation consulting to several clients at the same time. Our unique “catalyst” model reduces the amount of time spent with any one client while improving results.
- participating in sales activities of the company. Although this involves some lead generation (no cold calling), most leads will be generated by a dedicated sales team. The consultant’s primary sales role is focused on proposal development.
- creating intellectual property and methodologies that will help the consulting team be more effective and ensure consistency of delivery.
If you want to get a sense of my high level innovation philosophy, please read the following articles:
- The 3 levels of innovation & the innovation capability
- How to create a culture of innovation
- An example of innovation in action (pdf)
You can learn much more about the role from the InnoCentive Innovation Consultant Job Description
If you have questions, write me at steve@24-7innovation.com.
I want YOU for innovation!
P.S. As of December 31, 2009, we hired all of the people we need for now. We expect to start hiring more people in the middle of 2010. Feel free to write if you are interested and we will keep your resume on file.
800 CEO READ
Indiebound
