9 Tips to Be a Great Guest Speaker – and Get Results!

Have you decided to hit the speaking circuit to promote your product or service? Congratulations! Giving talks is a powerful, effective way to enhance your reputation and grow your business. Once you’re booked, these tips will help you be a speaker who is applauded, referred and invited back: 1. Provide appropriate promotional materials in advance. Find out if the host organization has a newsletter, when it goes...

How Not to Negotiate with a Writer

Recently I discussed the possibility of ghostwriting a book for someone who might have been (but will not be) a new client. The story illustrates everything you should not do when you’re looking for a writer for any project, but especially for one as important and comprehensive as a book. I was introduced to this young man by someone who used to work for a former client of mine. The book he wants to write is in...

Great Fatherly Advice from James Taylor

I grew up listening to and singing along with James Taylor and Carly Simon. In a recent interview, their son, Ben Taylor (who is currently on tour with his talented father), said this about getting into the music/entertainment business: “My dad let me know that it’s a blue-collar job, that the glamour of it is largely created by the media.” I was struck by the spot-on accuracy of that remark. As a ghostwriter...