Of course the reason any book appears in this particular space is because I found it to provide invaluable tools or information.  This one is no different.

The subtitle, "A Language of Life" only really hints at the gold that's inside.  But the sub-subtitle (at the bottom of the front cover) reads, "Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values."  And that's really what it's all about.

Successful marketing and sales is all about communication. And while Rosenberg never even hints that these tools would be helpful in creating wealth, he does show us how communicating in compassionate ways can help make our business lives richer.

Read the first chapter of Nonviolent Communication online

Buy the book at Amazon 

What the heck is 'Marketing' anyway? 

For years, people have been puzzled about what it is I do for a living.  Many of them often tell me that they always thought 'marketing' was just another word for 'advertising' or 'promotion.'

But marketing is so much more than that. 

The 4 Ps explain that Marketing is supposed to oversee just about everything in a business:  researching and developing a product (or a service), determining its appropriate price in the marketplace, positioning its distribution (or place), and then promoting it to those who might purchase it.

Well, after nearly 20 years in this field, I've added a few of my own Ps to the list:  Purpose and Passion. And these two really need to come first -- before anyone starts researching and developing anything.  

Purpose is the mission and the vision of the company (or in most cases, the entrepreneur who launches the organization to begin with).  Having a clear mission statement will keep you on track as you grow your business or not-for-profit organization. It is the touchstone that keeps you moving in the right direction.  If you know what your mission is, then every product or service you decide to pursue can be held up against that mission to see if it moves that mission forward.  If the product you're considering doesn't align with that mission, then pursuing it will take you sideways and scatter your energy.

And then there's Passion.  Passion refers to the feeling that exists when your mission and vision are in alignment with your own personal values. When what we do each day for a living matches up with our own needs and personal life mission, then we can't help but have passion for what we do.  And when we have passion, we are able to find the energy, resources and emotions necessary to communicate our organization's mission and vision to the world. 

All of these Ps can't really give you a true picture of what Marketing is -- but it's a start. Please give us a call if you have a question about creating your own mission or vision statement...805-658-8196.

Clarity is Power.

According to the 9th annual Edelman Trust Barometer released earlier this year, only 20% of people trust corporate or product advertising to be true and factual.

But we all trust our friends.  And 85% of us will pass along both good and bad information about a company or organization. 

For the full report, visit www.edelman.com. 

Good Idea: Social Good Directory
If you're like most businesses, you could use some help with promotions.  If your Ventura County-based organization can be termed "Socially Conscious," you can get a fre*e listing online at the Social Good Business Directory.  Visit the site now and download an application to get started.  If you're not sure if you are a socially conscious business, read a great definition here.

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