Advantage Media Group - Spring 2016 by Advantage Media Group

Th e M a r k e t i n g M a g a z i n e f o r E n t r e p r e n e u r s , Bu s i n e s s L e a d e r s , a n d I d e a - M a k e r s

Issue #34

C R OW N YO U R S E L F LEAD THE FIELD with the seven pillars of Authority Marketing

THE

A D A M ' S A D VA N TA G E 4 NEW RELEASES 5 NOISEMAKERS 7

CLOSING QUESTIONS Leadership coach Chuck Garcia on the u p w a r d c l i m b 14

Spring 2016

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In this issue... 8 | Authority Report

In a crowded marketplace, how does your message rise above the din? It starts with aligning your marketing efforts to feed into a singular goal: establishing you as the authority.

4 | Adam’s Advantage

As the saying goes: If you don't like change, you will dislike irrelevance even more. By Adam Witty

DEPARTMENTS

6 | Publicity Speaks

Words of marketing wisdom from Advantage's newest authority on authority. By Rusty Shelton

14 | Closing Questions

Advantage Arrivals 5 New releases from the first quarter of 2016

Noise Makers 7 A look at recent print, radio, and digital media hits for Advantage Authors

Advantage Team 7 Meet Advantage's newest ROI Guide

Chuck Garcia is wired for adventure. He's scaled Kilimanjaro and navigated the plate-glass canyons of Wall Street. His most recent summit? Publishing his first

Event Calendar 10 Dates of note and Member anniversaries in the upcoming months

book, A Climb to the Top. The message captured in its

Advantage People 12

pages is clear: for any leader, communication is key.

The first quarter of 2016 saw the Advantage Family crossing new frontiers

Authors on Books | Obey your thirst... "Drink deeply from good books." — John Wooden

Opening Number: Upping the ante...

Percentage of marketers who plan to increase their marketing output in 2016. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2015/12/10/35-content-marketing-statistics-you-need-to-know-in-2016/

843.414.5600 advantagefamily.com ADVANTAGE MEDIA GROUP

We help busy professionals Grow Their Business by becoming The Authority in their field.

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/advantagemediagroup /advantagefamily /company/advantage-media-group

CEO

VP of Publi shi ng

Guest Contri butor

Marketing Assistant

Editor & Art Di rector

Assistant Designer

Copy Editor

Production Assistant

Adam Witty George Stevens

Patti Boysen

Katie Biondo

Rusty Shelton Nate Best

Courtney Little

Olivia Iacovone S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 3

Adam’sadvantage You asked, we listened, and we took action.

K a r s o n P h oto g r a ph y

Change is in the air

f you don’t like change, you will dislike irrelevance even more!” These are frequent words inside Advantage, words typically uttered by yours truly. Every annual kickoff, Advantagestock, and monthly all-hands team meeting I strategically anchor this phrase. When we began our 5-year “Road to 1000” BHAG journey, I knew Advantage would look vastly different in 2019 than it did in 2014. Our five-year scale-up plan means growing Team Member head count by a factor of 5-7, introducing new products and services while scrapping old, building and moving into bigger offices, and changing internal systems and processes. To grow times ten, I knew that change would be a sort-of internal theme. This issue of Advantage Magazine introduces a number of new, positive changes. Over the last few years, Advantage Authors have been asking for more assistance in growing their businesses—more help with marketing, branding, publicity and media, content marketing, social media marketing, SEO and Google domination, and all the technical “stuff,” things like picking the right domain names, setting up web hosting, shopping carts, 4 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

and so on. Many Authors have said that they wish Advantage could handle their business and book marketing so they could focus on running their business and not have to worry about marketing and lead generation. You asked, we listened, and we took action. We went to work on finding the perfect company to bring to the Advantage Family—a company that would instantly bring value to our Authors, helping them market and grow their business faster and more effectively. Austin, Texas-based Shelton Interactive specializes in Authority Marketing. They have been working with authors and business professionals for years helping them with book launches, publicity and media, content marketing, website design, search engine optimization, and social media. Their author roster includes some of the top names in the industry, including twelve New York Times best sellers. They are also the trusted marketing partner of iconic brands such as Chicken Soup for the Soul, Columbia University, Harvard Health Publications, and Amazon.com. Advantage has changed from being The Business Growth Publisher® to The

Business Growth Company™. We have grown from being a “publishing company” to an “Authority Marketing company.” Our Authors can now truly become Members of the Advantage Family, as we offer a full suite of ongoing business marketing services. Instead of starting with a Fast Start Author Program®, we now begin with an Authority Marketing Blueprint Day™. Advantage’s fifty-two full-time Team Members are focused on helping you Grow Your Business as The Authority in your field. In 2016, we will publish close to two hundred books while also now being an active partner in positioning, promoting, and marketing the businesses of those book authors too! Change is in the air: change that is aimed to make Advantage more valuable to you! By helping position, promote, and market you as The Authority, we believe we can do just that.

Adam D. Witty,

Founder & Chief Executive Officer awitty@advantageww.com

Advantage arrivals Title

Author

The Spirit of Outreach

Jimmy Bailey

The Rest Easy Retirement Plan

Jim Betzig, John Beirne & Matt Gallagher

Capital Attraction

Matthew Burk

Community before Self

Malin Burnham

Financial Stability for Life

Daniel Butler

Growing Up Metric

George Contos

Pint-Sized Prophets

Dr. Chuck Dietzen

Making the Right Impression

Jason Drewelow

A Climb to the Top

Chuck Garcia

America's Savings Challenege

Rao Garuda

Scaling Up

Verne Harnish

Determined to Practice

Dr. Leonard Richardson

The Less I Do, the More I Make

Ron LeGrand

Adolescence Is Not a Disease

Jeffrey Leiken, MA

Retirement Income Built to Last

Daniel Miller

Blessings in the Sand

Alexander Nehme

From Receptionist to Boss

Nicole Smartt

A New Day One

Rodney Walker

Lead the Field

Adam Witty

Master Your Cash Flow

Albert Zdenek

S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 5

publicityspeaks | Rusty Shelton A stamp of approval

Why earned media coverage is a must for authorities and industry thought leaders

ow do you know if someone is an authority? At Advantage Media Group, we believe an authority is someone who combines the high-profile visibility of a celebrity with the credentials, experience, and unique perspective of an expert. Few people succeed professionally at a level that allows them to achieve either status, but even fewer combine the two to become a noted authority. We’re fortunate to work with some of the world’s leading experts. Through our proprietary Authority Marketing System, we’re able to expand their visibility to establish them as authorities who dominate their field.

terviews you or Fast Company features your article on the homepage of their website, they are giving a stamp of approval to your knowledge and authority status. Of course, reaching the huge audience that those media outlets have built is great as well, but we believe the bigger value for our Members comes in the ability to re-market that earned media coverage to potential customers and directly grow your business.

Learn more about your authority status:

Our Authority Marketing System leverages seven pillars: branding & omnipresence, content marketing, events, lead generation, PR & media, referral marketing, and speaking, to collectively transform Members into highly visible authorities.

We are offering all Members

Although each pillar is incredibly important to building authority, many of our Members are most excited by the opportunity for exposure through prominent media outlets.

stuskan@advantageww.com.

a free Authority Marketing Audit call. To request a call, simply send an email to Susan Tuskan at

Sure, there’s an obvious amount of pride that goes along with being interviewed on FOX Business or having an article you wrote run in Fast Company, but as fun as framing that article on the wall for all to see is, the more important outcome is the credibility that comes along with such coverage.

Think about it—when you arrive at someone’s website and see prominent media logos featured, or you walk into a physician’s office and see a CNN interview they recently did playing on the flat screen, you likely assign huge credibility to the person featured because of the stamp of approval associated with that coverage.

We call this coverage “earned media” because it can’t be bought or guaranteed—it has to be earned. Few things transform an expert into an authority more rapidly than prominent media coverage because of the perceived credibility that goes along with it. In the eyes of the viewer or reader, when FOX Business in-

For that reason, media coverage is the gift that keeps on giving for authorities. In addition to using the media coverage we secure for them to drive sign-ups for their email list, new leads to their website, and credibility for their authority status, our Members are also able to re-market their coverage in marketing mate-

6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

rials, advertising efforts, and in visuals across their online platform. I would argue the ability to re-market coverage over time is actually the most valuable outcome of earned media coverage. Over the past six years, my company, Shelton Interactive, has worked with some of the biggest authorities in the world, including Sally Hogshead, Tom Rath, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, to help them grow their visibility and secure earned media coverage. Now, we’re very excited to be joining the Advantage Family in helping all of its Members build their authority as well. Are you curious whether or not you are seen as an authority? To celebrate the Shelton Interactive acquisition, Advantage Media Group CEO Adam Witty and I would like to help you learn more about your authority status by offering all Members a free Authority Marketing Audit call with yours truly. Prior to the call, I will conduct an audit of your current authority position and rate your Authority IQ on a 1–100 scale. There is absolutely no obligation for this. It is a way for me to provide strategic marketing counsel for you while also introducing myself. My audit will reveal how you stack up against your competition authority-wise. During the call, I will uncover hidden marketing assets that you already have and share how they can be instantly leveraged to raise your authority position. To request a call, simply send an email to Susan Tuskan at stuskan@advantageww.com, and she will coordinate things. I look forward to meeting you very soon! Rusty Shelton first spoke at Harvard on the changing world of PR and marketing at the age of twenty-three and is VP of Advantage Marketing. He is the co-author of Mastering the New Media Landscape: Embrace the Micromedia Mindset and an EO member and has led strategy for the launch of more than thirty New York Times and Wall Street Journal best sellers in his career. Learn more at www.RustyShelton.com.

noisemakers | Advantage Authors in the headlines Kathleen Quinn Votaw Achieved #1 Amazon Best Seller status in multiple categories with her book Solve The People Puzzle: How High-Growth Companies Attract & Retain Top Talent.

Chuck Garcia Spoke at the GAIMOps Cayman conference: Where C-level Operations, Due Diligence and Compliance Alternative Investing Experts Meet.

Robert Lemon Author of Now Is Your Time: 9 Steps to Reach Your Full Human Potential spoke at the Joint Base Charleston on Friday, March 18th.

Peter Hayes & Art Saxby Reached #1 Amazon Best Seller status with their book The Growth Gears: Using A MarketBased Framework To Drive Business Success.

Maili Wong Achieved #1 Amazon Best Seller in numerous financial categories with her book Smart Risk: Invest Like The Wealthy To Achieve A Work-Optional Life.

advantageteam |

Have you been making noise in local, regional, or national media? Let us know, and we’ll feature you in next issue’s Noise Makers! E-mail: browley@advantageww.com

Advantage Team Member Profile

As Advantage’s ROI Guide, Jonna works with Members one-on-one to build a successful marketing strategy around their book that will drive increased revenue. She has a diverse K a r s o n P h oto g r a ph y

background working with businesses to find

Jonna Palmer ROI Guide

their brand niche, while helping them tell their story. A diehard LSU Tigers fan and Louisiana native, she enjoys the great foodie experience and beaches found in Charleston. Learn more about the various products and services that our team can suggest for your business. | p. 2 S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 7

Share seekers abound, but true marketplace royalty finds results by separating itself from the pack. Sharpen your message and build your following. Don't wait for the reins.

Lead The Field with the

what makes you unique. To some, a personal mission separates them from the masses, while to others, their journey or story may be the most memorable aspect of their brand. Many experts focus on their teachings or scienceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the insight and knowledge that only they have in the industry. And for others, their tribe or community might highlight their personal brand best. Wellknown leaders are very clear about who they are and what image they convey to their audience. They work hard to reinforce their best qualities in every communication about themselves, whether it is a radio interview, a quote in an article, or their online profiles.

Seven Pillars of Authority Marketing

or centuries, coronations have taken place in societies around the world. During these ceremonies, a supreme ruler is crowned and granted power to make decisions for the state or country they lead. In most cultures these days, this tradition has transitioned into a celebrity status, like that of Prince William and Kate Middleton. There is no equivalent to this type of public declaration in the business world. No one is going to announce to the world that a financial planner has the most experience in New York City, that one divorce lawyer wins more cases than another, or that a doctor has a better technique for heart surgery than his peers. Becoming the Authority in your industry, community, or marketplace takes a deliberate and systematic approach. No one is going to place the crown on your head and notify 8 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

your target market that you are the best at what you do. You have to do that yourself. However, by choosing to position yourself as the undisputed expert, influential authority, and in-demand celebrity who everyone wants to work with, you can take your business to new heights, making marketing, selling, and building trust with customers significantly easier and quicker than ever before. The process of building an Authority Marketing plan is different for everyone, but everyone who finds success in it aims to hit a minimum of seven main focus areas, which we call the Seven Pillars of Authority Marketing. Branding & Omnipresence Building a brand isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just about your companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand but also your personal brand. Before you can create visual images, logos, and online copy to showcase who you are, you must distill your personal brand into

Content Marketing A commitment to creating a significant amount of high-quality content, written specifically for your target audience is the best way to craft a strong omnipresence. Authoring a book is by far the most significant way to build authority with content, however, whitepapers, special reports, articles, blog posts, webinars, teleseminars,

and podcasts should also be utilized. The focus should be on creating rich content for social media and constantly sharing valuable information with your target audience. As you create content to educate your prospects and customers, you build up your trust and credibility and nurture a legion of fans who are excited to consume what you create. Make sure your content is always relevant and posted regularly, so you stay top of mind when a prospect is ready to buy.

find someone in your company to represent you and your brand in that way. Similar to the way an audience responds to seeing you being interviewed on the news, people automatically assume you’re an expert because, if you weren’t, the company or organization putting on the seminar wouldn’t have invited you to speak. In addition, if what you say is competent, polished, and professional, you will connect with a subset of the audience that will fall in love with you at first sight. They’ll want

rals from influencers. To succeed in gaining these valuable referrals, create a target list of people who are in front of a group of your prospects everyday. For example, for a wealth management advisor, this influence could be a lawyer or CPA. Then, make it easy for them to refer you with tools like a brochure, book, or whitepaper about what you have to offer. Educate your influencers on when to refer you, citing key issues or concerns they might hear that your products or services address. Authority marketers know how many referrals

PR & Media

to speak with you afterward and do business with you.

they receive each year and set goals to grow this number every year by investing in those relationships and thanking the referrer.

Getting your name and your company’s name mentioned in media is important because most people don’t believe what you say about yourself, but they will believe what others say about you. More importantly, they’ll believe what major media has to say about you. The authority that comes when you’re featured or interviewed on radio, magazines, or newspapers is noteworthy. When you receive mentions throughout multiple media platforms, it helps you build your online presence or “digital footprint.” Whether you appear on a major news station or a local radio station, the audience assumes you are the authority because if you weren’t why else would these outlets invite you as a guest? Marketing is about perception and, hopefully, that perception is built on reality. But people buy the perception, not the reality, and as you build your authority, you want the perception to be that you are the number-one-go-to person in your field. Speaking The best way to enforce your authority position and generate high-quality leads almost instantaneously is speaking. If you are not comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people, then you need to

Lead Generation Marketing mastermind Dan Kennedy often talks about the difference between selling and prescribing. As an authority, you can tell people what they need, and they’ll do it, but if you come at them looking and acting like a salesperson, they’ll ditch you faster than a toupee in a windstorm. The easiest way to generate high-quality leads is to have something that the prospects want, including information that they find valuable. Whether you do this in the form of a book or through consistent blogging, podcasts, webinars, or other forms of direct-to-consumer marketing, the goal is to get in front of as many prospective clients as possible. Referral Marketing If your best customers went to a cocktail party, would they brag about you to their friends? There are two types of referral marketing: client referrals and referrals from influencers. No matter the type, referral marketing is about marketing relationships. Client referrals are the most common and are generated from an outcome of great service. Oftentimes, business leaders miss opportunities to get refer-

Events The most successful businesses have tribes of customers. They create these tribes because they build relationships by engaging their clients to the highest level possible. This strategy is important because engagement signifies loyalty, and loyalty signifies consumption of your product or service. Holding annual events is one of the best ways to upsell, build additional loyalty, and expose more people to your tribe. Just as pillars have supported some of the oldest, most well-known structures in history, our Seven Pillars of Authority Marketing support you and your brand. Every aspect feeds into the next, and all of it comes together to create a mass of positive marketing that, when implemented well and deliberately over time, leads to an ongoing and growing generation of authority and, ultimately, an influx of business that allows you to do business on your own terms and only with those who you want to work with. Put the crown on your head, use the pillars, and rule your industry. S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 9

Event Calendar TUE

WED

THU

FRI

Speaker U Master Series

Clint Stitser Dan Kennedy Greg Wych Michael Goldberg Sue Caperton Daisy Saunders Issac Wright Harold Kurstedt Miles Kierson Glen Lerner Kevin Clark Shary Duff Tracee Wells Brady Roberts Almarie Chalmers Steven Cesari Melise Blakeslee Michele Michaels Michael Maddock Ashton Harrison Bill Gough Forrest Beck Bob Walton Tonya Shadoan Robert Deitrick Andrew Cass Michael Sprouse Valerie Porter Michele Michaels Matt Garrett Allen Neuenschwander Nancy Banfield-Johnson

S AT

Apr. May Jun. 4

APRIL

MON

Rich Webb Del Harris Daniel Yachter Jelynne Jardiniano Karen Phelps Clye Ishida Greg Hammond & Ron Ware Almon Gunter Jr. David Hislop Nader Bazzi Steve Clark Frances Pepper Ron Seaver Scot Ferrell Robert Guy Kevin Harris Patrick Riddle Steve Longford Tara Kennedy-Kline Tim Wambach Cassandra Joubert Todd Smith Michelle Prior Doris Houk Gary Turner Scott Tucker Scott Weintraub Bryan Crabtree Harold Mills David Ramos Vicki McManus

MAY

SUN

MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Lawyernomics 2016

WPO Conference

Happy Birthday to AMG's

Susan Tuskan

Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat

FPA Retreat

Author Success University Teleseminar—4 PM ET

Advanced Wealth Attraction & Time Management Academy 2016

Book Marketing Blueprint Day

Advanced Wealth Attraction & Time Management Academy 2016

Mother's Day

AMG Team Member Anniversary:

Helen Harris

Happy Birthday to AMG's

Katie Biondo

Scale Up Summit

Happy Birthday to AMG's

George Stevens

Scale Up Summit

Author Success University

Happy Birthday to AMG's

Steven Janiak

Book Marketing Blueprint Day

Memorial Day

Happy Birthday to AMG's

Claire Watson

11 MDRT 2016

AMG Team Member Anniversary:

Jonna Palmer

Jenn Ash

MDRT 2016

19/ 26

13 MDRT 2016

14 MDRT 2016

20/27

21/28

22/29

23/30

Author Success University Teleseminar—4 PM ET

Father's Day

1 0 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

JUNE

Teleseminar—4 PM ET

Belinda Johnson-White Elizabeth Vazquez Suzie DeBusk David Smith Kaiser Serajuddin Stan Levanduski Jay Hewitt Eddie Overdyke Doug Ecklund Lauren Wynn Patrick Renn Brad Berger Mick Scherer Dr. Kojo Pobee Herbert Johnson James Billmaier Tim Antion Ghislain Labelle Tom Jenkins Tim Pelton Thomas Casey Juliana Tu Michael Burgdorf Chuck Price Kenneth Ma Aaron Zwas Linda Franklin Peter Arthur-Smith David Brown Carl Casanova Chad Madden Dr. James Babiuk James Malinchak Carl Gould Jim Serger Jr Chuck Price Chris & Matt Noon David Moffet Scott East & Ivan Aguilar Kelli Ritschel-Boehle Jayson Dunbar Terry Hawkins Ana Richardson Marty Higgins William Brahms

Book Authorship for personal or business promotion is the MOST PROVEN, MOST POWERFUL action a professional can take to create powerful lead generation magnets; to use in advertising; to secure FAVORABLE MEDIA ATTENTION and publicity; to promote a cause or philosophy; or for fun, fame, or fortune!

Start the journey. Claim your FREE

Grow Your Business With a Book Toolkit

Inside this toolkit, you’ll discover nine exciting, different ways to make money and

ADVANCE YOUR

CAREER, BUSINESS, OR CAUSE

by being the Author of a book.

Your Grow Your Business With a Book Toolkit includes:

Adam Witty, Founder and CEO

ÜÜ Author autographed copy of Book The Business: How to Make Big Money With Your Book Without Even Selling a Single Copy ÜÜ Audio CD “How to Easily Write a Book (In 1 Day or Less), Use It To Grow Your Business, and Make a King’s Ransom” ÜÜ Special Report: “How a Book Will Double, Triple, or Quadruple the Effectiveness of ANY Marketing You Are Doing” ÜÜ Special Report: 9 Amazing Reasons Why a Book Is the Marketing Tool You Need to Explode Your Business ÜÜ Special Report: How to Get Your Book Written in Less Than 24 Hours Without Ever Writing a Word

Visit advantagefamily.com/toolkit to claim your FREE Grow Your Business With a Book Toolkit

Advantagepeople

4 FULL STEAM AHEAD:

1: Creative Manager, George Stevens (second from left) was granted

the newest Dream On prize, an REI backpacking trip in the Rockies during our annual Kickoff Awards dinner. Fellow winners include Project Manager, Allison Looney, and VP of Publishing, Patti Boysen. 2: The Advantage Team celebrated Mardi Gras with authentic beads courtesy of Members and Louisiana natives, Liz & Kevin Harris. 3: George Stevens won "Best Book Cover" design for the second year in a row at the Charleston American Marketing Association's annual Spark! Awards. 4: Female Team Members supported Jenn Ash at her breakout session during the Center for Women's Passion. Power. Purpose. conference. 5: CEO & Founder of Advantage, Adam Witty and VP of Operations, Jenn Ash, visited Austin, TX to celebrate Shelton Interactive joining the AMG Family. 6: Advantage Member, Rick Weyers holds up his 2016 marketing plan that he created during his one-on-one Authority Marketing Blueprint Day at our headquarters in

3 S ta n F ox w o rt h y P h oto g r a ph y 1 2 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

Charleston. 7: Advantage Member David J. Rendall, author of The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by

Flaunting Weakness poses for a picture with Adam in front of the infamous gong. 8: Corporate Marketing Assistant, Courtney Little, and VP of Authority Marketing, Mitch Broderick, manned the company booth at the ICON 2016 conference in Phoenix, AZ. 9: Team Members participated in a local Habitat for Humanity build and learned how to install a roof, even conquering the circular saw!

6 7

S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 1 3

For a full slate of new releases from the first quarter of 2016, turn to page 4.

CLOSING QUESTIONS Chuck Garcia is wired for adventure. He's scaled Kilimanjaro and navigated the plate-glass canyons of Wall Street. His most recent summit? He published his first book, A Climb to the Top. The message captured in its pages is clear: for any leader, communication is key.

Discuss how you developed a passion for studying and teaching leadership principles to both students and professionals. In my fourteen years at Bloomberg, I was fortunate to be led by such an inspiring and dynamic leader, who became a billionaire and eventually the mayor of New York City. Growing up in his organization, it was a thrill to work with such a powerful and captivating leader who influenced so many lives. He led by example and impacted me in ways I never imagined. Working there I recall the code that, â&#x20AC;&#x153;To those who are given much, much is expected.â&#x20AC;? Underlying that principle was an enormous opportunity to develop my 1 4 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | A D V A N T A G E F A M I L Y . C O M

leadership skills and help others to develop theirs. When I reflect on the immense generosity Mike Bloomberg extended to his employees and the world at large, I was inspired to carry forward that same spirit. Leadership communication became a part of me and now my personal brand. Teaching people to communicate persuasively has become an honor and a privilege.

successful executives in multiple industries to communicate in compelling and persuasive ways. I found after hours of working with so many clients (and college students) they were eager to continue refining their newly honed skills long after our training sessions were over. After many years on Wall Street, it was evident that the top jobs in companies are earned by the most compelling and effective communicators. There are plenty of

Since I was blessed with such good fortune, this is my way of giving back and dedicating myself to help others reach their career summits.

After years of practical experience and teaching leadership, what led you to write A Climb to the Top? It was driven by client and student demand. In my private practice, called Climb Leadership Consulting, I help

A Climb to the Top 2016, Advantage Media Group

brilliant people, but companies continue to seek and develop employees who can inspire, persuade, and provoke the kind of action that changes the status quo. A Climb to the Top fills a void in my clients’ desire to review and continually practice their exceptional communication skills. Writing the book was the most effective way for them to continually exercise the tactics and techniques they worked so hard to master.

Discuss the publishing process. What were the challenges? What was your favorite part? The first challenge is stepping into the unknown (I like that part); answering the question, “What am I trying to accomplish by publishing this book?” I had an idea for the book but didn’t know where to begin. I recommend finding a colleague who published a book to help establish a sense of direction. Then, pick a publisher who is compatible with the goals you have for the book and your business. I strive to help others and grow my business simultaneously. Advantage Media Group understands that objective and has a marketing and sales process in place to aid in the book’s promotion. This project is anything but a solitary effort. It’s a valuable asset to have a highly skilled team and pool of resources behind me to write, publish, and market the book, which leads to my favorite part: collaboration. Mountains aren’t climbed alone, career ascents are not individual efforts, and neither is writing a book. The best part has been leveraging the talents of others at Advantage that played a part in the editing, book design cover, and building the infrastructure to promote my book, and by extension, my business. All these elements have served as the foundation to ensure a successful launch and sustain the momentum long after the

book’s release. It’s been a blast, and I’m grateful for the enormity of support necessary to bring this book to fruition.

What advice do you have for anyone considering writing their own book? As Stephen Covey said in The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, “Begin with the end in mind.” The journey up the mountain begins with the first step. Stop thinking about writing the book…and begin. One word, one sentence, one page at a time. Pace yourself and write a little more each day. Put the manuscript down for a few days then come back to it. Edit what you’ve done, then write the next section. Before you know it, there is a ton of material ready to reviewed by your editor who will polish it into something better than even you expected. The process is a series of ups and downs that ultimately lead you to keep moving toward your goal.

What advice do you have for anyone considering writing their own book? After summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2004, I was alone in my thoughts heading down. Then it hit me like a lighting bolt. Mountain climbing is a metaphor for how we approach our careers. The mindset is the same. We set goals, take one step at a time, and most important, you can’t do it alone. Mountains are not climbed alone; neither are careers. They depend on the generosity you’re willing to extend to your colleagues, known as the Law of Reciprocity. It’s a universal understanding to explain that in order to create success, extend help to others along the way. They in turn will assist and inspire you to reach your career summits. Whether it’s a mountain or a career, the need to communicate powerfully and persuasively is a critical tool to have in your backpack or briefcase. S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | A D VA N TA G E M A G A Z I N E | 1 5

Every day is a new opportunity to

get it right. No one can go back and make a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, Rodney faced incredible hardships in the foster care system and coping with family drug problems and violence. But through sheer determination and the support of some key mentors, Rodney was able to reach for new heights as an entrepreneur and a Yale University graduate. A New Day One is Rodney’s story of triumph over adversity, filled with valuable principles and life lessons that are sure to inspire you into action. Whether you’re an inner-city youth or a high-net-worth businessman, there’s something to be learned from Rodney’s incredible story.

A NEW

DAY ONE R O D N E Y WA L K E R AVA I L A B L E N O W !

THE

U LT I M AT E BOOK

MARKETING BLUEPRINT DAY

BOOK MARKETING EVENT Offered to Advantage Authors at no charge, this is one day to create your step-by-step Book Marketing Blueprint that will guide your book marketing efforts for the next 12 months.

May 6 • June 3 • July 8 •August 5 Discover the Exact Strategies Used by the Most Successful Authors to Explode the Growth of Their Business and Acquire More Valuable Customers Consistently and Predictably While Commanding Higher Fees and Leave with a physical 3 foot x 4 foot Book Marketing Blueprint that contains your exact Road Map to Revenue for Your Book

Reserve Your Seat at BookMarketingBlueprintDay.com

Questions? Want to register by phone? Contact ROI Guide, Brette Rowley 843.725.7891 or browley@advantageww.com