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Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation by Phil McKinney-Business Book Review

 

Innovation is one of the most ubiquitous twenty-first century business buzzwords; tossed around in boardrooms and company meetings more than any football during an NFL game.

 

Phil McKinney is the author of the new book, Beyond The Obvious: Killer Questions That Spark Game-Changing Innovation. He’s an innovation expert who has served as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for major technology companies and also leads innovation boot camps.

 

McKinney acknowledges that innovation isn’t easy. It requires work and effort, but that’s a good thing. Innovative thinking can honed by anyone with practice. It also demands an organized process to generate, prioritize and execute great ideas.

 

He provides a dynamic set of Killer Questions that force you to look “beyond the obvious.” Those Killer Questions are divided into three categories: (1) Who your customer is, (2) What you sell them, (3) How your organization operates.

 

Before you can use the Killer Questions to engage game-changing innovation, you need to get past your industry and company assumptions, manage the jolts; and neutralize the corporate antibodies. 

To learn how to get past your industry and company assumptions, you can read my Beyond The Obvious book review, published on EzineArticles.com.

Trapped by Michael Northrop: A Snowstorm, Seven Stranded Students, and Teenage Hormones-Young Adult Book Review

 

 A relentless Tuesday morning snowfall prompts an early dismissal at Tattawa Regional High School in a rural New England town. Seven students (five sophomore boys and two freshman girls) waiting for rides home, soon realize that no one is coming to their rescue. When will they be found? How will they persevere? Will they all be found alive? That’s the premise of Trapped, written by Young Adult author, Michael Northrop.

Yes, Trapped is written for a youthful audience. Regardless of your age, you’ll find yourself wondering how you would act under similar conditions, perhaps stranded at your workplace or a civic group meeting.

Northrop keeps readers guessing until book’s end to discover the fate of the seven stranded students.

For more insight on Trapped, please read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

 

 

Amish Mystery Book Review: Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo-Hate Crimes and Heartstrings

 

Hate crimes against the Amish are ravishing Coshocton and Holmes counties in Ohio for the past six months.

Amish men are being beaten, left half-naked and tied to their horses in frigid weather, farm animals are being slaughtered, and barns are being set ablaze. 

Solomon (Solly), Slabaugh, his wife Rachel and visiting brother, Abel, are found dead on their farm's manure pit (manure pits collect livestock wastes and produce lethal methane gas).

Is this the latest hate crime taken to a new level, or is the motive something else?

Kate Burkholder, Chief of Police in Painters Mill, Ohio and former Amish woman herself, is determined to find out.

Breaking Silence is the latest novel by New York Times bestselling author, Linda Castillo; and third in a series featuring Kate Burkholder.

If you enjoy reading well written mysteries with a small town feel, please read my Breaking Silence book review, published on Ezine Articles.com.

 

National Handwriting Day: Monday January 23, 2012-Celebrate Your Unique Signature

 

Monday January 23, 2012 is National Handwriting Day (National Handwriting Day occurs every January 23 in conjunction with John Hancock's birthday. Hancock was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, and is famous for his large, bold signature).

Handwriting allows you to be an artist and individual during a time when we primarily communicate via computers and email.

Your signature belongs exclusively to you. Write it often with pride. 

Expressing yourself through the handwritten word conveys sincerity and individualism.

Use National Handwriting Day as an opportunity to re-explore the power and purity of handwriting.

Visit the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association to learn fun facts about National Handwriting Day, including:

• Why are pencils yellow? 
• Who is the world's most famous pen collector?
• Do left-handed pencils exist?

 

PR 20/20: Paul Roetzer Presents at 2011 Midwest Social Media Summit

 

Pictured: Paul Roetzer of PR 20/20

On Thursday November 17, 2011, Paul Roetzer, founder and CEO of PR 20/20 presented Give Your Customers The Content They Crave at the initial Midwest Social Media Summit.

Roetzer is also the author of the new book, The Marketing Agency Blueprint: The Handbook for Building Hybrid PR, SEO, Content, Advertising, and Web Firms.

In addition to Roetzer's presentation, the daylong event included social media experts from a variety of industries, including:

Joe Pulizzi, founder and Chief Content Officer for Junta42. Pulizzi says:

• Find out where you can be the leading expert in your field (fields are crowded and they're getting more crowded).
• Heed the Big 6 social media sites in 2012:

1. Facebook. Customer retention tool.
2. LinkedIn. Professional networking.
3. Twitter. Follow searches.
4. YouTube. By 2013, 90 percent of smartphones/tablets will be video.
5. Google+. Fastest-growing social network site ever, yet, "the jury is still out."
6. Slideshare. The "YouTube for PowerPoint presentations." Underutilized-only 20% of businesses using site. 

• Figure out ways for your company to use video storytelling. 
• Create a Chief Content Officer (CCO) position at your company.
• Focus on what you can do with the resources you have.
• Journalism is the most important profession to be in now.
• There is no "silver bullet" for social media success.
• You can no longer separate your personal and business life.

Mary Henige, director of social media and communications, General Motors Co. Henige says that social media allows GM to bypass traditional media (not that we don't need it).

GM's social media strategy:

• Humanizes the company. 
• Builds relationships with its customers.
• Involves listening and engaging with its audience.
• Utilizes Radian 6 as a social media metrics tool.

By listening and engaging with it's audience, GM:

• Builds confidence and trust.
• Creates awareness of, and strengthens its brand.
• Helps sell vehicles by increasing consideration.
• Engages and empowers employee advocates.
• Captures and channels feedback to improve their business.

"Be who you are respectfully," says Henige. "Publish once, then share the content."

Personal branding within companies is a growing trend. Here's an excellent example from GM:

Chevy Malibu engineer, Suzy Cody not only helped design the new Malibu, but she's also a roller derby queen in her Michigan hometown. How cool is it to know some interesting facts about the people who designed your car? 

What's next at GM in regards to social media? Henige says a lot more focused video and content. She also says brands will become even more engaging.

Panel Discussions included:

Going Mobile:

• If you're not using mobile, then you're losing business today.
• There's no formula for mobile. Find what works best for you.
• Design for mobile (don't just shrink your website to mobile).

How to Use Social Media in Hiring:

• Today, 73% of 18-3 year-olds are finding jobs using social media.
• Social media should be the #1 focus when it comes to hiring.
• Companies need to be incredibly transparent in the age of social media.

If you missed the premiere, 2011 Midwest Social Media Summit, plan to experience the 2012 event; and capture your competitive advantage.

 

 

Amish Christmas Fiction: A Plain and Fancy Christmas by Cynthia Keller

If you received an anonymous, veritable letter informing you that you were mistakenly switched at birth; and biologically belong to Amish parents, would you pursue meeting them?  That’s the premise of the new fictional book, A Plain & Fancy Christmas by Cynthia Keller.

Keller penned last year's bestselling, An Amish Christmas. 

Many authors pen fiction based on Amish culture, few however capture the depth of plot like Keller.  A Plain & Fancy Christmas creatively combines storylines to produce an enriching holiday read.

To discover more about A Plain & Fancy Christmas, you can read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

 

Amish Christmas Fiction: A Lancaster County Christmas by Suzanne Woods Fisher

This year, Americans spent a record 52.4 billion dollars over Black Friday Weekend. Cyber Monday exceeded industry expectations, producing 1.2 billion dollars in online sales. Green Monday sales are expected to reach over 1 billion dollars as well.

One culture immune to the commercialization of Christmas is the Amish. During these hectic days, they pledge allegiance to their core values, including family, gratitude and love.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a town known for its Amish community. The new fiction book, A Lancaster County Christmas, by Suzanne Woods Fisher, is an enjoyable read that embodies the essence of the season.

To explore the story line of A Lancaster County Christmas, you can read my book review published on EzineArticles.com.

 

Amish Christmas Fiction Book Review: Christmas in Sugarcreek by Shelley Shepard Gray

The commercialization of Christmas occurs earlier every year. No sooner have we passed out the last of the Halloween candy and we're bombarded by holiday ads.

Media's frenzy over Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and today's  latest sales blitz, Green Monday makes it easy to forget the true meaning of the season.

New York Times bestselling author, Shelley Shepard Gray, authenticates Christmastime, as told through her new book, Christmas In Sugarcreek.

Follow lead characters, Judith Graber and Ben Knox of the popular Amish community in Sugarcreek Ohio, as they exemplify the importance of family, gratitude and love during Christmas and year-round.

For further insight to "Christmas In Sugarcreek," you can read my book review, published on EzineAritcles.com.

Fathom Online Marketing: Kurt Krejny Presents The "Ability" to Achieve Social Media Success: World Usability Day 2011: Northeast Ohio Usability Professionals' Association (NEOUPA)

Pictured: Kurt Krejny of Fathom Online Marketing

 

On Thursday November 10, 2011, Kurt Krejny, director of online marketing for Fathom Online Marketing, presented "The Ability to Achieve Social Media Success (Use-ability, Like-ability, Share-ability, Find-ability)" in honor of World Usability Day.

World Usability Day originated in 2005 as an initiative of the Usability Professionals' Association. Its mission is to ensure that products and services important to human life, are easier to access and simpler to use.

The Northeast Ohio Usability Professionals' Association (NEOUPA) celebrates World Usability Day annually on the second Thursday of November. Although World Usability Day focuses on a different industry each year, such as transportation, energy, etc., NEOUPA creatively focuses on the usability of Web design.

Krejny spoke in the afternoon, following the morning keynote and workshop of Dr. Susan WeinschenK: What Makes Them Click?

Tricia McCune, director of email marketing strategy, and Krejny's co-worker at Fathom, presented Don't Make Your Subscribers Think: How to Optimize Your Email Usability. 

To view Krejny's and McCune's presentations, visit their links above. Their messages are posted on Slideshare (Joe Pulizzi, Content Marketing Strategist, presented at the 2011 Midwest Social Media Summit. He named Slideshare as one of the top six social media sites to use in 2012: (Facebook;Google+;LinkedIn;Slideshare;Twitter;YouTube).

Slideshare, an underused platform, allows you to publish your B2B PowerPoint presentations online; and, is another search engine optimization (SEO) touchpoint, adding to your competitive advantage).

Le Freak by Nile Rodgers-Memoir Book Review-An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny-We Are Family Reinvented

Odds are, you've heard the 1979 R& B/Disco/Pop classic, "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge, either on the radio or a wedding reception. You might even know it as the anthem for the 1979 World Series Champion, Pittsburgh Pirates.

Producer Nile Rodgers (along with his business partner and friend, Bernard Edwards),wrote the smash hit.

Rodgers and Edwards also formed the late 70's Disco/R& B group, Chic.

Although disco died, Rodgers went on to become an even bigger solo producer; working with such artists as David Bowie, Duran Duran and Madonna. 

Rodgers chronicles his illustrious career (and his battles and ultimate triumph over alcohol and drugs) in his new memoir entitled Le Freak: An Upside Down Story of Family, Disco, and Destiny.

Le Freak is more than another story about a self-indulgent musician. It's testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. 

To read more about Le Freak, please view my Le Freak book review published on EzineArticles.ccom.

Hearthside Cooking: Experience Authentic Thanksgiving Cooking at Malabar Farm State Park in Mansfield, Ohio

Pictured: Darryl Roberts and Tim Zaun experiencing hearthside cooking at Malabar Farm State Park.

 

Have you ever experienced hearthside cooking with cast iron dutch ovens, while enjoying ideal fall weather and the company of new acquaintances? 

Such happenings are available at the Pugh Cabin at Malabar Farm State Park, located in Mansfield, Ohio.

Cooking over open flames or with coals was an early 19th century lifestyle. Desserts and breads were baked, fish and fowl broiled, and meat and vegetables roasted.

Every November, Malabar Farm State Park offers Hearthside Cooking Workshops in celebration of Thanksgiving.

Your Hearthside Cooking Experience:

• Begins at 10 am and concludes at 4 pm.
• Divides participants (up to 30) into groups of five to prepare and cook both a light lunch and full-course dinner in the afternoon.
• Includes all dishes made from scratch.
• Provides Malabar Farm volunteers to help with any questions about food preparation.
• Distributes all recipes as handouts for you to recreate at home.

Malabar Farm's Hearthside Cooking Succulent Recipes Include:

• Cranberry Medley.
• German Apple Cake.
• Roast Ham
• Roast Turkey.
• Pumpkin Pie.
• Sausage Potato Soup.

Before sitting down to enjoy your afternoon dinner, you'll be led in a Thanksgiving Prayer, written by Louis Bromfield, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and founder of Malabar Farms.

If you appreciate genuine, holiday cooking among family, friends and new acquaintances, and live in or near Mansfield, Ohio, plan to attend the 2012 Hearthside Cooking Workshops at Malabar Farm State Park.