Category: Book

New Mayor’s Historical Appointment. Success And The Challenges He Had To Overcome…

I was flying out of the Fort Lauderdale International airport to Washington DC for a conference when I heard the familiar voice of Broward County’s newly appointed Mayor VC Holness announcing welcome to visitors. Mayor Holness made history recently when he was unanimously voted to become the first Black Mayor to lead the county. Indeed an achievement.

Success Strategies Research

Personally I extend my own congratulations because years ago when I conducted my research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders in the United States with Nova Southeastern University, Mayor Holness quite willingly agreed to participate in the phenomenalogical study. At the time he was Commissioner. In the research he shared the strategies he used to become successful as well as the challenges encountered along the way.

Regardless of how we feel about politics, his appointment signifies a goal he went after and achieved.

Mayor Holness continues to strive. To work hard to show those who wish to achieve that it can be done through hard work and dedication.

More of his story as well as those of other industry leaders in healthcare, aviation, education, media and more can be read in the book Success Strategies of Immigrant Leaders In The United States.

Thanks again Mayor VC Holness for your willingness to go beyond the call of duty to share your experience to benefit rising millennial leaders.

Cheers!

New York Times New Books: My Top 5…

Reading. The Thrill. The New York Times released its list of 17 New Books To Watch For. From the list I like 5. Here I share:

  1. Coventry: Essays,’ by Rachel Cusk

 

Care to share those you like? Whichever you choose, Happy Reading!

Cheers!

Toni Morrison. Novelist, Essayist, Editor, Professor Emeritus. The Tale…

Inspired. Informed. Educated. An iconic life exceptionally captured in one piece by author and educator Tiffani Knowles.

Excerpt cited. Read Tiffani’s full piece here

It was 1965, after splitting from Harold, when she began her career as an editor at Random House where she was instrumental in publishing American writers and luminaries such as Angela Davis, Henry Dumas and Muhammad Ali.

Yet, she knew there was a story that still needed to be told, one she hadn’t read or seen before.

At first, she was private about her own writing and would do so as a pastime very early in the morning before her boys would wake.

“I remember reading the ‘Bluest Eye’ and thought it was wonderful,” said Robert Gottlieb, a Random House colleague and the chief editor of the Alfred Knopf sub-division.

When Random House got wind of the fact that she was publishing, they wanted to keep her work in house and so, with the exception of one book, Gottlieb got to edit all of her books while they were published through Knopf.

Her first book, as Morrison claimed, intentionally eliminated the white gaze without “codes or notes explaining things to white people,” as she decided to put the entire plot on the first page.

“Quiet as it’s kept, there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941. We thought, at the time, that it was because Pecola was having her father’s baby that the marigolds did not grow.”

It was 1970 and “The Bluest Eye” boasted a story inspired by a conversation Morrison had had with an elementary schoolmate in Lorain many years before.

Her friend told her she had been asking God to give her blue eyes and he never did.

“How painful … can you imagine that kind of pain?” Morrison recounted for filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders in the “The Pieces I Am” documentary. “So, I wanted to say, this kind of racism hurts. This is not lynchings and murders and drownings. This is interior pain. It’s so deep to know that an 11 year old would think that if only she had some characteristic of the white world, she would be OK.”

Book It…

Such a thrill when dreams come through. My Book GreenLight is now available in-store Barnes & Noble, Broward Mall, Plantation, Florida. Pick up your copy in-store today or order online then pickup in-store.

It’s the perfect gift for yourself or someone who will be overjoyed for a boost of daily inspiration.

Cheers!

South Florida Book Festival Writers Event…

The 8th Annual South Florida Book Festival shined brightly as authors, writers and poets came together to share pieces of their work with readers and booklovers who came from all across the USA. Event was held at the African American Research Library.

South Florida Book Festival…

Join us at the 8th Annual South Florida Book Festival at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center July 20, 2019. Pick up copies of Ode To Miss Lou From The Soul of Dr. Sue and books on Success Strategies, Motivational Quotes and more.

INC’s 20 Books TED Speakers Think Everyone Should Read This Summer…

Think before you speak. Read before you think. ~ Fran Lebowitz

Here’s a list of INC’s 20 books Ted speakers think you should read this summer. From the list, below are my top 7 favs that I find intriguing.

1. Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie

2. How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan 

3. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp

4. Becoming by Michelle Obama

5. The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson 

6. The Fifth Trimester by Lauren Smith Brody

7. GreenLight: When God Says Go by Dr. Shelly Cameron

Happy Reading!

Writers Share 37 Funny Places To Do Book Signing….

After months, years or a decade of toil, you have finally finished your masterpiece! Yeaaa! Now onto  getting it out to the world. But where? How? Can you do it with a difference? In a writers forum the question was asked…

Where would be some funny places to do a book signing?

Here I share authors’ thoughts as they poured in their tales:

Funny Places For Book Launch

  1. Flea market
  2. The side of the road somewhere
  3. Ihop
  4. Outhouse line at the county fair
  5. Outside an Apple store
  6. 3D Theater
  7. Bluegrass Festival
  8. The Bathroom
  9. Carnival
  10. Chucky Cheese
  11. Beauty Salon
  12. Cemetery
  13. Hospital
  14. In the Bait shop at a local lake
  15. At a sign store
  16. At a winery
  17. Night club
  18. Funeral home
  19. Church
  20. County jail
  21. An organization for the blind
  22. High-end men’s clothing store
  23. McDonald’s
  24. Boxing gym
  25. Liquor store
  26. Laundromat
  27. Planned Parenthood
  28. An internet cafe
  29. A vet for a dog book
  30. At a book burning
  31. The stationary aisle at the local pharmacy
  32. In a kids backyard tree-house
  33. At the end of an obstacle course
  34. Under a mistletoe
  35. Bed, Bath & Beyond
  36. Aquarium
  37. Bowling alley

Yep, some of these are sure funny. But the thing is… it all depends on what your book is about. Your book’s theme can help your choice. For example if it’s about the story of dogs, then why not consider a veterinarian’s office. If it’s about building the perfect home, then Bed, Bath & Beyond will do.

So if you’re an author, go for it! Let your juices flow! Do the non-traditional. You and your guests will walk away with a smile. Any missing? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

 

My Top 5 Business Books For The Brave New Entrepreneur…

 

A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for. ~John A. Shedd

The Quest for Entrepreneurship has risen to new heights. 101+ Quotes For New Entrepreneurs contends that with over 25 Million Americans starting or running new businesses, entrepreneurship has become incredibly attractive, yet extremely difficult to sustain. Adding to the excitement, the Gig Economy’s Freelancers comprise over 35 percent of the U.S. Workforce. Even with the traits of fearlessness, risk-taking, passion, resilience, and creativity, difficulties arise, and Entrepreneurs need to keep going.

Keep The Dream Alive

Here I share my 5 top books that can help New Entrepreneurs keep the dream alive.

Good To Great By Jim Collins shares the result of a study about businesses that were not born with great DNA. Can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? My own research on Success Strategies of Caribbean American Leaders In The United States was influenced by Jim Collins study when I sought to answer Why Some Individuals Succeed While others don’t.

 

Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson argues that your message has the ability to change someone’s life. The impact that the right message can have on someone at the right time in their life is immeasurable. It could help to save marriages, repair families, change someone’s health, grow a company or more… But only if you know how to get it into the hands of the people whose lives you have been called to change. Expert Secrets will put your message into the hands of people who need it.

 

The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses is a book by Eric Ries describing his proposed lean startup strategy for startup companies.

 

 

 

Think and Grow Rich was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill, promoted as a personal development and self-improvement book. Hill writes that he was inspired by a suggestion from business magnate and later-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie

 

 

 

 

 

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business is a book by Charles Duhigg, a New York Times reporter, published in February 2012 by Random House. It explores the science behind habit creation and reformation. The book has reached the best seller list for The New York Times,

Amazon.com, and USA Today.

 

 

 

 

So those are my top 5 Books for those new to entrepreneurship. Did any of these books resonate for you as a new entrepreneur, or if you are a brave soul thinking to take the leap? If you have already taken the leap and have a favorite book, do share! We would love to hear!

Cheers!

My Favorite Author Is: Readers Tell All…

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A book is a gift you can open again and again. ~Garrison Keillor

Barnes and Noble asked Readers to identify who their  favorite Author was and the reason. Here I share excerpts as Readers chimed in telling all.

  • Sarah J. Maas because characters are one of the most real and complex characters of all time because
  • Sarah J Maas, because she tells stories of strength, epically and fantastically, and the writing is like music; just as amazing as any symphony.
  • Cassandra Clare. Her books inspired me to write more stories, and not stop loving books
  • My favourite write is Paul Coelhobecause he impresses me with each sentence and teaches me a lot, both about life and writing
  • J.K. Rowling, because she wrote Harry Potter
  • Megan Whalen Turner because I love her characters.
  • Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, his books changed and inspired so much my life that I decided to translate them in Italian! Such a blessed decision
  • J.K Rowling because she gave us the greatest Wizarding World
  • Stephen King because his talent is bottomless – as is my fascination with everything he writes
  • Agatha Christie because she gave me Hercule Poirot, the greatest detective in the world
  • Danielle Steel because she’s a master of romance
  • My favourite author is Andrzej Sapkowski because he got me thinking outside the box.
  • Danielle Steele because she keeps me entertained the whole book through.
  • My favorite author is John Green because his books are filled with mysteries and I love his way of writing.
  • Shakespeare because he is just timeless. Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte because when I read their books they take me to another world and the women in their stories are strong and what ever they dream of doing they do and that inspires me to be and do what I want to do.
  • Elizabeth Gilbert, because she wrote one of the most inspiring and life-changing books I’ve ever read.
  • Jane Austen, because her books are an insight into characters who we can relate to from a time when people and places were different.
  • Madeleine L’Engle is my favorite because she was able to write for a range of readers. She wrote children’s books, YA, adult, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. My second favorite is Jane Austen. Her works transport me to the nineteenth century in England, which is my favorite setting to read about.
  • John Hopkins because Lost Cactus is awesome!
  • James Patterson. He thought what life is about… I lived through his stories.
  • Truman Capote because he somehow makes beautiful stories from such simple words.

So who is your favorite author and why? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!