One measure I use to determine if someone is going to be a successful DSNi Cast Member or owner of one of my programs is what is on that persons bookshelf.
What do they read? Fiction? Non-fiction? A good mix?
How often? Do they dedicate time in their day to learn and improve themselves? Or just when ever they have a spare minute?
So since this is the giving season, I thought I would mention a few to read and reference on your bookshelf. Or just maybe might inspire you to finally hit the YES button on your membership with us. Either way, you will have learned something and I will have helped you grow as an entrepreneur.
Over Deliver: By Brian Kurtz: Build a Business for a Lifetime Playing the Long Game in Direct Response Marketing. Brian Kurtz is the bridge connecting the bedrock fundamentals of direct response marketing to the state-of-the-art strategies, tactics, and channels of today. Overdeliver distills his expertise from working in the trenches over almost four decades to help readers build a business that maximizes both revenue and relationships.
Why Advertising Fails By Dan Kennedy: And How To Make Yours Succeed: How often have you spent your money on an ad only for it to fall at, bringing only a fraction of the results that you dreamed? Unfortunately, this happens far too often. But what’s to blame—company leadership, the format for the ad, the product itself?
With Why Advertising Fails, renowned marketer Dan Kennedy answers these questions and more, so you can understand why your advertising dollars are being thrown into a bottomless pit—and what to do to fix it. The key is properly purposed advertising that follows a consistent, measurable plan. And here’s the kicker: there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. By deploying evergreen content, you can obtain consistent results without wasting energy on brand-new campaigns.
Systematic Magic by Vance Morris: There are many books out there about successful businesses. But not many tell you how they got successful. All four of my businesses (I still own them all) were built step by step with systems that I adapted from my 10 years as a leader at Walt Disney World. If a carpet cleaner can Disnify their business, anyone can.
Be Amazing or Go Home: Shep Hyken: Quite frankly, I think Shep is a d-bag. But he did write a good book worthy of your study. Want to amaze your customers, impress the people you work with, and outshine your competition? Going from average to amazing isn’t an out-of-reach goal.
I am sure that if you block your calendar for a mere 30 minutes a day, you could finish them by the new year.
Maybe you have read some or all. This group of books would make a great gift for any entrepreneur or budding entrepreneur.
Skip the gift cards, socks, redundant appliances, ugly sweaters and video games (especially the video games) and give the gift of reading, discovery and knowledge.
And if you buy all of the books above as a bundle from Amazon, send me a copy of the receipt and I will gift you original training material used when Disneyland opened in the 1950’s. This includes:
- The original script used by the Jungle Cruise Cast Members.
- The 1975 40 page Cast Member Guide for new employees. A great model for any business to use in creating or updating their employee manual.
- The operating procedures of the Haunted Mansion from 1975.
Send me your receipt (screen shot of purchase ok) before midnight on 12/ to get these rare, valuable Disneyana gifts.
Remember, you won’t profit unless you implement,
Vance “Need to buy another bookshelf” Morris
