I'm Still Knocked Out by this Fabulous Review

Wow! A triple-scoop serving of gratitude for Clif Bridger's review of my 31 Days5/4/10 book series. When I forwarded the review to our publisher, Alfred Poor of Desktop Wings, Alfred shot back, "Wow! And WOW! That’s great! That’s an amazing review by someone who clearly “gets” the books and what you’re trying to do with them."

So, all humility aside and with the upfront disclaimers that Clif is a friend and that he owns a local bookstore, RBR Books in Leland, NC, where my books are on sale (he also sells them via Amazon), here's the review, reprinted in full:

31 Days To.....
In the great range of self-improvement, professional development, career coaching advice that is available on the market today, there are only a few that stand out from the teeming hordes. Trump, Iacocca, Thiagi, Kiyosaki, are but a few of the luminaries who, over the years, have offered career advice based on real-life experiences. On the whole, their efforts are genuine and aimed at making your a better person, and perhaps a better business person.

There is a new player making inroads in the career coaching market who is distinctive from so many others. Bruce Brown has unleashed his boundless energy on a new endeavor; to help you make a 'quantum leap' in your personal and professional life. His first entre´ into developing a practical set of tools that can be used by anyone in any business, was 31 Days to Networking Event Mastery, first released in 2009. That was quickly followed by 31 Days to Relationship Marketing Mastery, and then, 31 Days to Greeting Card Marketing Mastery in early 2010.


Networking Event Mastery is now in its second, expanded edition. The 2nd edition offers a much richer guidebook to understanding how an individual can optimize business networking events without feeling pushy or out-of-place. Laid out in an easy-to-follow, thirty one day format, Bruce introduces the reader to the concept of how networking isn't really about handing out business cards to everyone at an event. It is really more about establishing and building personal relationships with clients, business partners, and friends.

The approach is very practical. Each chapter is very short. They follow the 31 days of a month (any month). Each day of the month presents simple advice followed by work pages. The readers can take inventory of resources they might leverage in their own efforts to build an effective network. Some might argue that the 31 day format is too didactic, too shallow. It is, however, the right format for Bruce's highly concentrated, fast-moving method. Readers who are moving at the 'speed of Bruce' don't need more than the essential elements being offered and the chance to reflect and write down what they can do to take the next step toward improving their networking skills.

This is not a book based on years of scientific research and endless studies. This is a book based on years of practical experience and drive to engage others in finding mutually beneficial business relationships. Bruce distills his years in marketing, real estate and a wide variety of other relationship-dependent jobs into the 31 Days... series. Bruce's skills as a seasoned writer make the the entire 31 Days... series enjoyable and easy to read.

To add the essential touch for readers in the Wilmington, NC area, Bruce also offers associated seminars and talks on relationship and networking marketing around the area. He can be found every morning (early morning) on Twitter (www.twitter.com/BruceBrownNC) checking in with pointers to daily events in the region and motivational quotations.

The entire 31 Days To... series by Bruce Brown (DesktopWings, $17.95) is available at RBR Books. RBR Books at the Waterford Village Shoppes, Leland's Only Bookstore.

So thanks, Clif, your review of the series and your continued support are much appreciated. Beyond the individual volumes, more of which are in progress, you also really do, as Alfred said, "get" the books and what we’re trying to do with them. - Bruce

UNCW Masters of Public Administration, Graduate Student Association-

On Tuesday evening I had the honor of speaking to the Graduate Student Association of UNC-W's Masters of Public Administration program about business networking and relationship marketing. I had a fine time and appreciated the opportunity to present and field questions from this knowledgeable and involved group.

Below, MPA-GSA Shamair Faison introduced me.







The half hour passed quickly (they actually let me go on for almost 40 minutes) and I had a great time. Thanks again to Shaimir and all the student and faculty member of the GSA and MPA program who were in attendance.

Also, Tom Barth of the MPA Faculty told me about an important annual service recognition program the MPA department puts on. Each year the MPA department sponsors a Public Service Awards Reception. In Tom's words, "It's a marvelous opportunity for the region to celebrate outstanding examples of public service in the government, nonprofit and corporate sectors."

Tom's group is looking for nominations for this program as well as sponsors. They hold a reception free to all nominees and their supporters and, according to Tom, typically draw about 125-150 people.

If you're interested in attending, nominating, or sponsoring this fine community recognition effort and event, I've posted three documents you can access, an description of the awards program, a Call for Nominations, and a flyer from last year's event. You can access them at this link: MPA-GSA Public Service Awards Program.

Ashcraft Insurance Ribbon-Cutting

Mary Ameling of Ashcraft Insurance is a new member of the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and had her ribbon-cutting at the NBCC office yesterday. We had a nice turnout and welcomed Mary to our hard-working, hard-partying group.

It was raining so we gathered under cover at the end of the building for the actual cutting.


Photographer Bob Baer.

Chamber Ambassadors Walter Denniger, Joan Smith and Frances Denniger.

It was great to have so many Ambassadors at this ribbon-cutting - they add big smiles, big hearts and lots of effort, skills and time to NBCC and it's members. Here are two more, Marilyn Johnson and Anne Donovan.

Mary with Randy Larson of East Coast Staging and Dana Fisher (who we've just announced will be our new Executive Director!).

Kerry Kasotsky of Health Choice One, Dave Seaton of Pestco Exterminating, and Rick Paxton of SafeSurroundings.

Rick with Suzanne Piccolo of NeoNexus Corp.

Connie Reeves of Azalea Plaza.

Ron Pezzote of Cape Fear Technologies, Monica Clark of Cape Fear Business Consulting, Randy and Kerry.

Ambassadors Marilyn Johnson, Joyce Throop and Carol Koenig.

Joan Smith, Fances Denniger, Anne Donovan and Sandra Dawson.

Mary had no trouble at all cutting the ribbon!

And she kept the cut piece as a momento.

Mary, it's great to have you with us!

Very soon now, LOL

Today may be the day my three new books show up on Amazon, or at least fully. I'm looking forward to it.

As of Sunday night the two book on my Amazon.com author page were the original edition of 31 Days to Networking Event Mastery and Ready, Set, Invest!, the real estate investment book Marge and I wrote in 2007.

Yesterday my three newest books (finally) started appearing on Amazon, but it's funny because only parts and pieces. This morning, as I write this, the covers for the three new books aren't there, but the book descriptions and everything else is.

So now, for a first look, including clickable links to Amazon.com, here are Volumes I-III in the Quantum Results Coaching 31 Days to Business Mastery Series:

Volume I is the Second Edition of 31 Days to Networking Event Mastery. Here's a brief description and reviews from the back cover (note the reviews are based on the first edition - all of which is contained in the Second Edition - we just added more): "31 Days to Networking Event Mastery" by Bruce Brown is an inspiring and powerful book that will teach you how to make the most of business social networking opportunities. The 31 tips -- one each day for a month -- teach you what you need to know to help make valuable new connections that will help both you and your business grow. This second edition is expanded with personalization and action plan pages. "Enjoyable read. No-nonsense clarity and proven things that work (when you work them)." John Milton Fogg, author of "The Greatest Networker" "31 Days to Networking Event Mastery" is a must read, especially in this day and age with so many business professionals in desperate need to reinvent themselves. There are 31 excellent tips that cost little to no money to implement." Curtis Lewsey, co-author of "Appreciation Marketing"


Volume II is 31 Days to Relationship Marketing Mastery. Here are early reviews, again from the back cover: "31 Days to Relationship Marketing Mastery" by Bruce Brown is an inspiring and powerful book that will teach you how to make the most of your business relationships. The 31 tips -- one each day for a month -- teach you make a positive contribution to the relationships you have with customers and colleagues. This expanded edition includes personalization and action plan pages. "Bruce points out that the most important parts of relationship marketing are attitude, buy in, and communications." David M. Merrill, WilmingtonNetworkingEvents.com. "I like the personal effort espoused here for people to take charge of their world of work. The commitment to work at the process will ensure success." Raymond K. Smith, LMFT, West Hartford Counseling Service




Volume III is 31 Days to Greeting Card Marketing Mastery. Here are some early reviews (from the back cover of the book): "31 Days to Greeting Card Marketing Mastery" by Bruce Brown is an inspiring and powerful book that will teach you how to use simple greeting cards to accelerate your business. The 31 tips -- one each day for a month -- teach you what you need to know to get new customers and clients, as well as build loyal relationships with existing customers and colleagues. This expanded edition contains personalization and action plan pages. "This book is on point and presented as a results driven, no nonsence guide to getting results. Every page presents a clear, actionable idea capable of producing tangible bottom-line results." Clif Bridges, RBR Books, Leland, NC "I love this book! Bruce starts out with very practical things that we all know we ought to do, like sending Thank You cards, and then makes several surprising suggestions about how to make a real impact with your clients using Greeting Cards." Maran Banta, Atlanta, GA


And of course the original edition of 31 Days to Networking Event Mastery is still available. The first edition has the tips only, no workbook pages or suggestions. Some will prefer that one (even though the cover now looks pretty drab, to me at least, LOL).

Will ebooks Kill Printed Books?

Are print books dead?

This past weekend at Bob "Bob the Teacher" Jenkins SIMPLE program in Wilmington, NC I meet a very impressive woman. Felicia Slattery went to college on a public-speaking scholarship and has made speaking and effective communications her life work.

Felicia has written a pretty cool book, which I bought with real (plastic)money. The title is CA$H in on Communication. This book is for home-based and small business owners and could be your essential guide to effective, inexpensive communications. I didn't find it on Amazon (yet, it just very recently came out), but you can contact Felicia at 630-554-0636 or felicia@communicationtransformation.com.

Anyway, to get to the point here, yesterday on Twitter Felicia (@feliciaslattery) sent a Tweet about a New York Times article of interest to anyone on any side of the book authoring and publishing business. Click the link in this sentence to see what the New York Times says about the business side of ebooks versus print.

How Can Authors Use Social Media?

This 4 minute video of Chris Brogan speaking at O'Reilly's Tools of Change in New York has some direct answers.

Does Everyone Want to Author a Book?

As you know, I write. I write articles, blog posts, an email newsletter and books. Lately, because I've recently published one book and have three more due out any day now (wooohooo!), people who know me and people I meet ask me often how we got 31 Days to Networking Event Mastery published so quickly.

It turns out (and this may be no surprise to you, but it was to me), lots and lots of people, both business people and people who aren't in business have books in them they are driven, eager or at least interested in getting out.

When I attended Bob "Bob the Teacher" Jenkins SIMPLE program in Wilmington, NC last weekend there were lots of conversations about book publishing. Several in attendance already have books in print (some quite recently) and many others want to publish.


On of the attendees, Kristen Eckstein, owner of Imagine! Studios works with people who want to publish a book but need help with either a whole range of services from cover design to butt-kicking, with editing, development and physically registering and publishing 100% in your name included. Kristen will also provide services a la carte. You can contact Kristen at 336-510-9629 or kristen@artsimagine.com.



My publisher is Alfred Poor with Desktop Wings, Inc. Alfred is a (young) old friend who has written and published more books than I have fingers and toes and is now working with a select group of authors in what can best be described as joint ventures. Alfred is keeping this side of his business on the down/low (ooops) so it's best if he talks with you about it directly. Here's his super secret office phone number 215-453-9312 and private email: apoor@verizon.net.

I'm going to explore this topic and post about it occasionally in the next few months, but it's not going to become a business for me. I'll likely work out some kind of finders fee or affiliate deal with Kristen and Alfred and maybe other services I find, so there's that, but I'm only going to promote people I've met and with whom I've either had good first hand experience or who have been recommended by people I know. Two degrees of separation at most.

If you know of other great folks, companies or services (other than traditional book publishing houses, or vanity press) that you know totally rock, please send me their info at bruce@quantumresultscoaching.com.

Wilmington Tweetup at Pomegranate Books, February 23, 2010

It was time for the monthly Wilmington (NC) Tweetup meeting and I was pretty excited because of the location: Pomegranate Books on Park Avenue. Pomegranate is an author-friendly bookstore as (well, I suppose they all are, but Pomegranate regularly hosts workshops and meetings for authors and authors-to-be).

They were ready for us, as you can see from the sign on the door!

The Pomegranate staff greeted early arrivals Shannan Bowen (who stopped in from the gym) and Kimberly Ott Brumsey (back to the camera). In the center is bookstore owner Kathleen Jewell.


Shannan with Sarah Barbee. Sarah is the primary organizer of the Wilmington Tweetup.

Jackie Willse and Marge Brown

Jennifer Caslin and Becca Jones.

Kelly Cain Smith and Marge.


Jeremy Smith and Rick Huston.

Attorney Robin Robinson (she's running for District Court Judge) and Jackie.

Pomegranate's Anna Weddington has magic hands - look at how she can make them disappear in the light.

And here are Anna's hands in full view.

Writers Elizabeth King Humphrey and Dawn Bugni


Artist Angela Johnson

And yes, there was food and drink at the event.


Jackie and Kimberly kept finding great books. There were a lot of readers in the crowd!

Jenn Beddoe showed us her Special Olympics 2010 Polar Plunge shirt.

Designer Brooke Foreman

Jenn, Brooke, and Gayle Taybor of Glynne's Soaps.

Dawn with a Buy Local ILM sticker!

Cape Fear Volunteer Center Director Annie Anthony

Once again a successful event. Thanks Sarah and Jackie for organizing it and thanks to Kathleen and the staff of Pomegranate Books for hosting this month's Wilmington Tweetup.

Brunswick Stew Cook-Off, February 6, 2010

It's always fun to try a new festival and this Marge and I headed out to Shallotte to the Brunswick Stew Cook-Off. Held today on the grounds of the Rourk Woods subdivision, this annual event is organized by the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce. Marge and I were only able to go for an hour or so but in that time we saw some old friends, said hello to some recent acquaintances, and met some good cooks!

You can look below for a poster that describes the origin and history of Brunswick Stew, and, if that's not the way it really was, it's the way it should have been. Today Brunswick Stew generally has chicken, vegetables, sauce, seasonings and what ever else the cooks dream up to make their stew unique and tasty. The Cook-Off competition works like this: you pay $5 for six tickets; exchange each ticket at one of the 20 odd booths for a cup of stew, a plastic spoon and napkin and maybe piece of some type of bread (the variety was impressive) and hot sauce if you wish. Later on you vote for your favorite by putting colored tickets (one for best stew, one for best presentation). The award categories are for best stew in booths from media, nonprofits, individuals and restaurants.

Here's Marge sampling stew at one of the most fancy of the booths.


Marge with BCCC Events Director Megan Masser.

Linda Stinson of Patriot Management Systems, BCCC Executive Director Cathy Altman, Marge, and in the background with the New York Yankees cap, Billy Noble of Nobles Landscaping.

Same group as above with the addition of Chris Tyler of Carolina Tents and Events.

Cathy Altman and me.


Marge talking with one of the individual booth entrants.

The Purple Onion Cafe (a popular restaurant in Shallotte) had an attractive booth.


There were a few nonfood booths, this one sold handcrafted waterbirds made from PVC!

A look at the main venue.

The VFW entry was an award winner in the past I my tongue and tummy can attest that they know their stew!

This blow up attraction did its job, attracting kids.

A colorful line of booth tents.


A band was scheduled to start at noon but we had to leave prior to their arrival.

Here's the poster that explains how it all started. If you click on the image you should see a larger, more readable version.

Lancaster Farm had a huge cast iron pot of stew. I got to stir it with a canoe paddle.

Here's a closer look at the Lancaster Farm stew.

And one more of the proud stew stirrer.

This was where we voted for best stew.

Finally, a couple more shots of various booths at the Cook-Off.




It was a a little chilly (in the upper 40s) so the hot stew was wonderful and I didn't try one I didn't like (I sampled 9 in all). One had a mustardy flavor, one I was sure had curry, and others tasted like the best homemade stew most of us have ever had. Overall it was a fun time for a good cause. We'll be back next year.