800-CEO-READ Blog

Is it worth your time to write a business book?

A group of researchers from RainToday.com explored the question: Is it worth the blood, sweat and tears required to write a business book?

They found that ultimately while writing a book is a long and strenuous process, if you have something worthwhile to say, it can have a tremendous positive impact on your business across the board—especially if the marketing process is approached correctly.

The difference marketing can make is fairly significant. When authors hired a marketing/PR service, "the median number earned $55,000 in direct revenue from book sales, compared to the $25,000 earned by those who did not".

Read more stats here.

The Sad State of Business Books

There is a piece in the Financial Times today about how business books are not what they use to be. Jack is quoted at the start and the end the article. Writer Simon London quotes lots of people from the industry.

It is worth a look.

Adams Media Launches Platinum Press

Adams Media has launched a new business imprint called Platinum Press. This news is kind of old. They officially announced the imprint back in November. I sat on it until it was a little closer to the publication date of their first titles.

This spring, they are launching the imprint with three titles:

• Done Deal by Michael Benoliel and Linda Cashdan (March 2005)
• Creating We: Change I-Thinking to We-Thinking, Build a Healthy Thriving Organization by Judith Glaser (April 2005)
• Get Them on Your Side: Win Support, Convert Skeptics, Get Results. by Samuel Bacharach (May 2005)

Create Your Own Luck

Thee is a fourth trait of the "You Never Know It Alls" featured in How To Create Your Own Luck: They not only listen well, but they eavesdrop.By overhearing, they are in a position to offer help and to learn some new information.

On a vacation, Lisa Miller and I were in Jerusalem in the famous Fink's bar where the media was known to hang out. It was a very quiet night when a man walked in and we heard him order a scotch in what sounded like American English. Lisa and I looked at each other and gave the "why not" shrug. So she asked, "Is that American English?" "Yes, it is", He answered.

We learned he had a rough day, just covered a peace rally that had gone wry. Coincidence provided our conversation as we had gone to the Via Dela Rosa to follow the Stations of the Cross and were met by this rally. We left early. Larry Register, then MidEast Bureau chief for CNN, and four time Emmy Award winner, filled us in.

That was in 1989 and we are still friends. He stills fills us in on the news from an insider's vantage point. He has opened doors for my books and me with his network and I continue to support ( nudge him to fulfill) his goal of writing his book.

When is eavesdropping OK? When it allows us to help others, start a conversation, find out we have something in common. Why? You just never know! You may learn of a job, a client or make a lifelong friend.

Name Dropping for Networking Results

Another trait of the people who turn serendipity into success is one that we were admonished not to do: be a name dropper. And yet, those who are willing to risk hearing "no, I never heard of Joe Jones" reap the benefits. The type of name dropping the You Never Know IT Alls' do is not the offensive type that sounds like nothing more than showing off.

It's done to establish a common link. It's more a "do you know who I know" reflexive comment to find a person known to both people, a place both parties have lived or visited or a favorite movie, sport, team or book. The results can be surprising.

When I called the audio club to chat with the woman whom I had met at the Book sellers convention, her successor answered the phone and explained that Christine was on maternity leave. Jennifer was warm, open, interesting and we had a great conversation about the audiobook industry.

Towards the end of the conversation, I took a deep breath because I was about to ask one of "those" questions. "Are you any relation"?" I didn't even have to finish my sentence when Jennifer said, "Yes, he's a second or third cousin." " Wow! he must be a fun relative to have" was my response. "I don't know him my self but I have heard what a nice guy he is," she commented. That impressed me as I like hearing when celebrities are also nice and remember their roots.

Our business conversation took a different turn and our connection was deepened. On my next trip to New York, I met Jennifer and we had a great conversation in person. As a result, she featured my audiobook, What Do I Say Next? in their catalogue with a promo piece on me. It was their topseller that quarter.

Because we liked each other, Jennifer and I stayed in touch even after she left the industry. Last year, I was delighted to attend her wedding in New York. Business creates friends, friends create business. All this (including some nice royalty payments on my audiobook) were the result of my taking the risk and seizing the opportunity to drop a name as it relates to 'relativity'.

BTW, Jennifer's last name was Stallone!

New Kids Special

I wanted to also mention Amazon has a 40% off special on all of the new Wharton titles. The discount is available through August 16th. It is the best deal you are going to find anywhere.

Crown Business' Fall Season

As we head into the fall, we are going to make you aware of the books coming out from various imprints. We are going to start with Random House's Crown Business imprint. I think Crown is a good example of what pundits like to point to when they say that business book publishing is in bad shape. Crown only has three titles coming out this fall. Their strategy is that they are backing known authors and are betting on blockbuster hits. I am not sure if that is a right or wrong strategy, but it is hard to argue when Execution has sold over 500,000 copies.

I am sure we will be talking more about each of these titles as they get closer to release.

• Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End by Rosabeth Moss Kanter (August 31st)


• Confronting Reality: Master the New Model for Success by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charam (October 12th)


• Business at the Speed of Molasses: How Patience Produces Profits by Joey Reiman and Andrea Hershatter (December 14th)

As I am writing this, Jack tells me he finished reading the galley of Confronting Reality and is going to post about it tomorrow.

Update: I type too slow. Jack posted below.

Dearborn Trade: What are you reading?

Q: What are you reading now?

Zigmund: I'm about to start reading Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. Like everyone else, I recently finished The DaVinci Code for fun.

Dearborn Trade - Wishing

Q: Is there one non-Dearborn Trade book you wish you had?

Zigmund: Who wouldn't have wanted to be the publisher of a bestseller like Built
to Last or Good to Great? Dearborn is focused on leading by being first to market, and finding that next big business bestseller.

Dearborn Trade - Cover Design

Q: What you do think makes a good book cover?

Zigmund: A clean and intriguing cover; a cover's main goal is to make a statement and get a potential customer to pick it up. Strong type, bold or striking colors with an interesting image do that. A cover should be creative without being overwhelming. One of our favorite covers is "Creating Customer Evangelists"--a combination of a striking image and interesting type.

Dearborn Trade - The Difference

Q: What is one thing that sets Dearborn Trade apart from other business book imprints?

Zigmund: Dearborn Trade's books present ideas that are actionable; we inspire our readers to take action. We've read so many business books that leave you with, "now what do I do?" Dearborn books give readers not only the inspiration but also the tools to take action.

Dearborn Trade - The Books

Q: How many titles did you publish last year, publish this year and plan to publish next year?

Zigmund: In 2003 we published 40 titles. This year we expect to publish 50, followed by 60 in 2005.

Q: List five or six books that represent the type of books you publish:

• The Power of Six Sigma by Subir Chowdhury
• The Radical Leap by Steve Farber
• Anatomy of a Business Plan by Linda Pinson
• Creating Customer Evangelists by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba
• Marketing to Women by Martha Barletta
• What's Your Corporate I.Q. by Jim Underwood

Dearborn Trade - Personality

Q: Tell me about Dearborn Trade. How would you describe the "personality" of the imprint?

Zigmund: Split! At Dearborn we publish a combination of basic, tried and true titles as well as forward-looking, first-to-market books. This is a deliberate strategy: our customers have varying needs. Some are just starting out and want the basics that are covered in Anatomy of a Business Plan or You Need to be a Little Crazy, while others are trying to break out of the ordinary and look to books like Creating Customer Evangelists or The Radical Leap.

Imprint Q&A I - Dearborn Trade

Our first business imprint in the 800-CEO-READ Imprint Education Program is Dearborn Trade Publishing. Last week, I did a Q&A with Cynthia Zigmund, Vice President & Publisher at Dearborn Trade. I am going to post the questions and her answers throughout the day.