The first pillar to expert branding is becoming a published author. Your book is your passport to the land of expertise! It is your billboard, business card, reason to be interviewed and your on-going money maker.

What if I told you, that you could self-publish your book essentially for free? Your only cost is your proof, which is the same price you set for your book! What if I told you, that you didn’t need to purchase an inventory or deal with shipping… and that you receive a royalty check every month… and that your book is listed on Amazon for FREE.

Come to our October Meetup to learn the inside scoop of self-publishing on a shoestring. Your ideas about self-publishing will be turned upside down and you will be armed with everything you need to know to publish your book NOW and start selling it within 2 weeks of submission.

Forget the query letters and publisher rejection slips! Get published on YOUR terms.

When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 8:30 AM

Price: $20.00 per person

Where:
Panera Bread Cafe
13th & Grant Street
Denver, CO 80201
303-830-7101

Please register at Expert Branding Academy Meetup

A few weeks ago, my son’s best friend came to live with us. The boys just started their freshman year at high school and Austin’s home life was quite volatile. Since he’s at our house quite a bit anyway, we decided to make it a permanent situation so that he can relax and focus on school.

I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about living with two teenage boys. At the onset, I created a chore calendar for the boys and explained a few rules, so that we all knew what to expect from one another and keep a peaceful and productive household.

One of my rules is that the boys call me after school to check in. We discuss after school plans and set a time to be home for dinner… pretty basic stuff. Then after dinner, the boys do their homework and their daily chore.

Well, it seems Austin wasn’t quite used to rules and “forgot” to call me after school one day. He stayed out until 11:00 PM, which is the legal curfew, but not mine. He also “forgot” to do a chore or two. After being grounded for a couple days and forfeitting his allowance, he started to “get it.”

During this time of adjustment for all of us, our household felt a bit cold. I didn’t feel like I could relax much. In fact, I felt like “cop-mom” and didn’t like it much. So, one day while grocery shopping, I decided to get the boys a treat. I put a Hershey’s bar on their pillows for an after school surprise. I don’t keep candy in the house, so for me, this is a big deal. For the boys, not so much!

My son, who knows me well, went out of his way to thank me and gave me a big kiss. Austin said nothing. In fact, Austin rarely said much to me at all, and never a “thank you.”

I decided to let it go and released my expectations for any kind of gratitude from Austin. I knew that was my stuff and that motherhood can sometimes be a thankless job. “Get over it!” I told myself. I know enough to know that those expectations can be relationship killers and I’d rather keep the peace than build resentments.

But then came a miracle! Yesterday, I came home and found a Hershey’s bar on my night stand. It was from Austin…

This morning, while pondering all the things I’m grateful for and counting my successes, this one tops the charts. Success comes in all kinds of packages and sometimes when we’re so focused on our business success, we can miss the ones that really count.

Today, I’m grateful for Austin. His presence has commanded my maternal and parental attention that was slipping away, as my focus was primarily on business. I’m a better mother today because of him.

And the pendulum swings…

Charlene

As you know, the world is on Facebook with over 250 million active users. Never before have we had the opportunity of a global market at our fingertips, for FREE, I might add.

Facebook is growing at a staggering rate and many of us are using Facebook for business, which is completely appropriate. However, as we build our professional platforms, it’s important to mind our manners to best leverage the immense power of Facebook and keep it friendly.

Today, I want to talk about writing on other people’s walls. There are definite DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to this.

DO write on other people’s walls to thank them or to congratulate them or recognize an achievement, milestone or celebration. This is their wall and anything you write on it should be about them. All of their friends will be able to see what you’ve written and your post might inspire or remind them to congratulate their friend too!

DON’T write on other people’s walls to promote yourself! This is NOT the venue for that. Don’t post an event, your website link, affiliate link or anything about you. This is considered SPAMTASTIC and very bad form, which is terrible for your business in the long run.

The world is watching… give them your best and you can expect the best in return!

Express your brilliance!
Charlene Murphy
STUDIOmurphy