It’s pretty rare for me to read a book and think, Wow, this book is the perfect compliment to Get Known.

But I’ve just found one, and now I’m in search of others. Got any ideas for me? Know any books that cover topics that are complimentary to the author-platform topics covered in Get Known?

Here’s my review for Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, Crush It, Why Now Is The Time To Cash In On Your Passion (Harper Studio).

I had heard about Gary Vaynerchuk from a few folks when I decided to attend his talk at Book Expo America 2009. Naturally, my first response was, “Well, this guy is a little over the top for me…but I’ll see what I think.” Far from being put off by Gary, I was charmed by his laid back no-baloney cut-to-the-chase message. It was then that I decided to get and read his book. Now that I’ve read “Crush It,” I’m convinced that, like Seth Godin’s books “Permission Marketing” and “Tribes,” “Crush It” is a book that everyone needs to read. And hey, if you are at all down in the dumps after what has been a tough year for many, I highly recommend that you drop whatever you are doing and read this book. I’m not sure that passion can replace a paycheck in anything less than six months to a year, but certainly, if you have ever contemplated that possibility, this book will give you the nudge you need to focus on your strengths and turn them into prosperity. I look forward to reading more of Gary’s books, which I hope will be coming down the publishing pipe soon.

Why do I think Crush It! is a nice compliment to Get Known? Well, in Get Known, I focus on finding a niche that can result in a traditional book deal. Whereas in Crush It!, Gary focuses on finding what you are passionate about and then turning that love into work. Obviously, since his passion turned into a huge multi-book deal, his method works, as well. (Okay, perhaps a bit more effectively than mine.)

But let’s not forget that Mr. Vaynerchuk, just like every bestselling author I’ve ever heard of has been working on his platform tirelessly for many years. Consistent hard work is still going to be the best indicator of future success whether you are blogging or writing for a book in partnership with a publishing house.

And finally, I agree with Gary’s definition of passion. I also like his explanation of DNA and how it impacts choices and decisions in business. And, probably the most important point, I like Gary. He’s present, he’s energetic, and he keeps things real.

I think every writer should read Crush It! as we head into 2010 and then read Get Known. They make a great one-two combination.

Last week, I talked about how we need to strive, in our online communications, to save readers time so they can learn all they need to know about us as they go clicking by.

In my latest book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow Your Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books), I outline what you need to do to clearly communicate who you are and what you do. Learn more.

Like most professionals, I spend quite a bit of time online these days. Perhaps this explains why I have less spare time than ever. The more time we spend spreading our “real” life out into our online life, the more important it becomes for writers to communicate concisely and precisely who we are and what we are all about.

If you strive, in all of your online communications, to save folks time, then they can learn all they need to know about you as they go clicking by. You might even gain someone’s respect, admiration or strike up a conversation, by keeping what you need to get across short and to the point.

But if you your communications online are muddled, scattered (a little bit of info here and another little bit way over there with no links in between), and poorly composed, then you will repel folks rather than attract them. I can’t tell you how many times I have become curious about someone online and then tried to follow their trail of links to learn a bit more…only to end up clicking and clicking and clicking without learning any of the key pieces of information I’m looking for.

In my book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow Your Author Platform (Writer’s Digest 2008), I outline what every writer needs to clarify in order to make smart choices about what to communicate and how.

Your Name
Let’s say, because it’s such a popular name, that you name is Jennifer. This means that you have one of the most common names around (It’s true, I can vouch that the most popular name of moms who take my classes is indeed Jennifer.) Are you going to go by Jennifer, Jen, Jenny, Jenni, or something else? You might think this is a minor consideration but not according to search engines like Google, who will find you a lot faster and more accurately if you pick one name as your “writer name,” make it as original as possible (use a middle initial if necessary), and stick with it over time.

Your Identity
Remember that song by The Who: “Who are you? Who? Who? Who? Who?” I always think of that while I’m clicking links trying to figure out who the heck somebody is. And guess what? If I can’t figure it out in just a few clicks, then I don’t care anymore! What these mystery folks really need is an identity that they can spread around the Internet making it easy for someone like me to figure out quickly who they are and what they are all about.

Now some people like to substitute the word “branding” for identity, but I’m not partial to the former. Are you a writer or a pharmaceutical company? Are you a writer or a can of soda? Are you a writer…you get the idea. Be who YOU are and spread the word in a professional manner. This takes more thought than you might expect because it’s part of the story that precedes you, goes with you, and lingers behind you, everywhere you go. For more on this topic, start reading on page 175 and don’t stop until you figure out your Otherwise Known As.

Your Tagline
My tagline is: Make the most of what you have…to author! A tagline’s job is to communicate in one short line what you offer. As you can see, my tagline is even a play on the word “offer.” Instead of the common phrase, “Make the most of what you have to offer,” I use author instead. The substitution is intended to get your attention and spark your thinking about what you might author. Does it work?

To be continued on December 18th…

In my latest book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow Your Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books), I outline what you need to do to clearly communicate who you are and what you do. Learn more.

Okay, whiteboards aren’t really magic, unless you know how to use them.

What do I mean by that? Well, just as traditional list-makers understand the value of getting their ideas out of their head’s and onto their to-dos, white board scribblers know how to get an inanimate piece of magnetic plastic to tell them what to do.

I’ve already discussed in part one of this discussion, how I like to doodle my way to a fleshed out idea. I know lots of people do. But I don’t stop there. Once an idea starts to get legs,  it’s time to put the initial action steps up on my office white board.

Otherwise, an idea would remain an idea, instead of getting a chance to grow into an experiment.

I keep the usual suspects on my calendar like dealines, where I have to be when, conflicts with other family members’ schedules, so I can see what’s happening when. But in order for any creating to get done (or editing or proofing or whatever), each idea needs to start as a bunch of orders from me to me.

I guess what I’m saying is that for anything to get done around here, I need a boss to tell me what to do, when. And who better to be that boss than me?

In addition to the action steps I need to take, the whiteboard often contains the list of things I’m really not that jazzed about doing. But if I want the speaking gig, I have to plan the travel to get to the event. If I want the published article, I have to work backwards through all of the steps to get it done.

Like most people, I like some aspects of each process better than others. In the past, not enjoying a step in the process might have stopped me from succeeding at all, but these days, I get it all done eventually.

I identify a few of the most pressing items each day and get them done. Not just checking them off, but simply erasing them from the board once they are accomplished.

About once a week, I take a look at my calendar and add more tasks.

Most of the time, my white board is full. One thing I’ve been working on for 2009 is having less administrative tasks and more creative tasks on my whiteboard. And what do you know, it’s working!

So, those are my thoughts on how to use a whiteboard to be more productive and to help you get all the junk you don’t want to do done. Anybody have anything to add?

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