As part of our routine when the three of us visit Birmingham, we also make a stop at Dreamland BBQ. This visit to the joint was a home run, as seen in the video…

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I’ve been wanting to read more books. And the pile of unread material is stacking up nicely in both my office and next to the bedside table. It’s time to focus. Julien’s post was all I needed to get a goal in mind and get motivated. And of course, business authors are pretty darn important to us here in the High Velocity organization with our Video Dust Jacket Tour…

So, I will post once a week to let you know how I am doing, and to catalog all the books I am reading. Wish me well! If you want your book added to this reading list, EMAIL ME HERE!

Ultimately, all 52 books will be listed below. Here is the initial list:

WEEK ONE [January 1 - January 7] Conventional Wisdom, How Today’s Leaders Plan, Perform, and Progress Like the Founding Fathers, by Rebecca Staton-Reinstein

WEEK TWO [January 8 - January 14] The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell

WEEK THREE [January 15 - January 21] Think About It…96 challenging ideas to accelerate the methodical, relentless, continuous improvement of your sales process, by Todd Youngblood

WEEK FOUR [January 22 - January 28] Permission Marketing, Turning Strangers Into Friends, And Friends Into Customers, by Seth Godin

WEEK FIVE [January 29 - February 4] Linchpin, Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin

WEEK SIX [February 5 - February 11] Marketing: Unmasked, Insider’s Tips + Tricks For Success In Small Business Marketing, by Stephanie Frost + Erik Wolf

WEEK SEVEN [February 12 - February 18] Survival Is Not Enough, Zooming, Evolution, and the Future of Your Company, by Seth Godin

WEEK EIGHT [February 19 - February 25] The Leap, How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great, by Rick Smith

WEEK NINE [February 26 - March 4] Blue Ocean Strategy, How To Create Uncontested Market Space and Make The Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim + Renee Mauborgne

WEEK TEN (March 5 – March 11] Selling To The C-Suite, by Nicholas Read + Stephen J. Bistritz

WEEK ELEVEN My Little Black Book To Success, by Tom Marquardt

FUTURE BOOKS:
Social Media for Home Builders, by Carol Flammer
The Firefly Effect, by Kimberly Douglas
Drive, by Daniel Pink
Escape from Cubicle Nation, by Pam Slim
Business Stripped Bare, by Richard Branson
Trust Agents, by Chris Brogan + Julien Smith
The Dip, by Seth Godin
The Little Big Things: 163 Ways To Pursue Excellence, by Tom Peters

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If you follow my work at all, you know I speak a great deal about this idea of COLLABORATION.

I consistently admonish new clients, keynote audiences, vendors, and even my own local service providers to STOP clawing, scratching, biting, fighting others in your arena for the next little piece of business. I’ve said again and again (and have now been formally and informally quoted in a variety of media as saying) “Serve Your Competitors . . . And You Won’t Have Any.”

I can state without equivocation that in the world of High End, Premium Fee Consulting Services — This attititude, this market philosophy, is a) Still Rare and b) Incredibly Powerful.

Regarding the non-profit arena, my observation thus far is:

Some find themselves competing when they should be collaborating. Others speak of collaboration, but aren’t really quite there just yet (in either thinking disciplines or action), and . . .

More and More have clearly discovered the big “C” — and are enjoying tremendous success as they bring others into the fold.

The Reason I Mention It . . .

Cobb Symphony Orchestra strikes me as a tremendous example of the truly Collaborative non-profit.

I was feeling this already (through my conversations w/ Board Members and patrons over the last few weeks) — and then it really “hit home” for me as I viewed the first few moments of this brief video from last week’s CSO 5k event.

When you get a chance — Please take a look, and let me know if you agree.

FULL DISCLOSURE: As I write this post, CSO Board Members are on a conference call discussing the idea of inviting me to be their part-time Director Of Development. Regardless of how that conversation and my relationship with CSO unfolds — I stand by this post.

If you’d like more context regarding StoneQuest 2010 (this pursuit to apply my talents in the non-profit arena), Click Here.

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I’ve been wanting to read more books. And the pile of unread material is stacking up nicely in both my office and next to the bedside table. It’s time to focus. Julien’s post was all I needed to get a goal in mind and get motivated. And of course, business authors are pretty darn important to us here in the High Velocity organization with our Video Dust Jacket Tour…

So, I will post once a week to let you know how I am doing, and to catalog all the books I am reading. Wish me well! If you want your book added to this reading list, EMAIL ME HERE!

Ultimately, all 52 books will be listed below. Here is the initial list:

WEEK ONE [January 1 - January 7] Conventional Wisdom, How Today’s Leaders Plan, Perform, and Progress Like the Founding Fathers, by Rebecca Staton-Reinstein

WEEK TWO [January 8 - January 14] The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell

WEEK THREE [January 15 - January 21] Think About It…96 challenging ideas to accelerate the methodical, relentless, continuous improvement of your sales process, by Todd Youngblood

WEEK FOUR [January 22 - January 28] Permission Marketing, Turning Strangers Into Friends, And Friends Into Customers, by Seth Godin

WEEK FIVE [January 29 - February 4] Linchpin, Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin

WEEK SIX [February 5 - February 11] Marketing: Unmasked, Insider’s Tips + Tricks For Success In Small Business Marketing, by Stephanie Frost + Erik Wolf

WEEK SEVEN [February 12 - February 18] Survival Is Not Enough, Zooming, Evolution, and the Future of Your Company, by Seth Godin

WEEK EIGHT [February 19 - February 25] The Leap, How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great, by Rick Smith

WEEK NINE [February 26 - March 4] Blue Ocean Strategy, How To Create Uncontested Market Space and Make The Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim + Renee Mauborgne

WEEK TEN Selling To The C-Suite, by Nicholas Read + Stephen J. Bistritz

WEEK ELEVEN My Little Black Book To Success, by Tom Marquardt

FUTURE BOOKS:
Social Media for Home Builders, by Carol Flammer
The Firefly Effect, by Kimberly Douglas
Drive, by Daniel Pink
Escape from Cubicle Nation, by Pam Slim
Business Stripped Bare, by Richard Branson
Trust Agents, by Chris Brogan + Julien Smith
The Dip, by Seth Godin

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Monday Feb.22, we aired our first “Making A Difference” Roundtable on the High Velocity Radio Show, and plan to broadcast this same type of show featuring non-profits, corporate affairs reprsentatives, and cause marketing experts at least every quarter.

Guests for this inaugural show included Mollye Rhea and Amanda Nicewander with For Momentum, Brian Hermanson, Executive Director for Cobb Symphony Orchestra, Joe Blumberg, Executive Director for Men’s Health and Wellness Center, and of course — our very own Todd Schnick, who serves on the Board for Furniture Bank Of Metro Atlanta.

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I’ve been wanting to read more books. And the pile of unread material is stacking up nicely in both my office and next to the bedside table. It’s time to focus. Julien’s post was all I needed to get a goal in mind and get motivated. And of course, business authors are pretty darn important to us here in the High Velocity organization with our Video Dust Jacket Tour…

So, I will post once a week to let you know how I am doing, and to catalog all the books I am reading. Wish me well! If you want your book added to this reading list, EMAIL ME HERE!

Ultimately, all 52 books will be listed below. Here is the initial list:

WEEK ONE [January 1 - January 7] Conventional Wisdom, How Today’s Leaders Plan, Perform, and Progress Like the Founding Fathers, by Rebecca Staton-Reinstein

WEEK TWO [January 8 - January 14] The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell

WEEK THREE [January 15 - January 21] Think About It…96 challenging ideas to accelerate the methodical, relentless, continuous improvement of your sales process, by Todd Youngblood

WEEK FOUR [January 22 - January 28] Permission Marketing, Turning Strangers Into Friends, And Friends Into Customers, by Seth Godin

WEEK FIVE [January 29 - February 4] Linchpin, Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin

WEEK SIX [February 5 - February 11] Marketing: Unmasked, Insider’s Tips + Tricks For Success In Small Business Marketing, by Stephanie Frost + Erik Wolf

WEEK SEVEN [February 12 - February 18] Survival Is Not Enough, Zooming, Evolution, and the Future of Your Company, by Seth Godin

WEEK EIGHT [February 19 - February 25] The Leap, How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great, by Rick Smith

WEEK NINE Blue Ocean Strategy, How To Create Uncontested Market Space and Make The Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim + Renee Mauborgne

WEEK TEN Selling To The C-Suite, by Nicholas Read + Stephen J. Bistritz

WEEK ELEVEN My Little Black Book To Success, by Tom Marquardt

FUTURE BOOKS:
Social Media for Home Builders, by Carol Flammer
The Firefly Effect, by Kimberly Douglas
Drive, by Daniel Pink
Escape from Cubicle Nation, by Pam Slim
Business Stripped Bare, by Richard Branson
Trust Agents, by Chris Brogan + Julien Smith
The Dip, by Seth Godin

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Her clients describe her as creative and professional, talented and helpful, friendly and approachable. A graduate of the FIDER accredited University of Georgia, with a BFA in Interior Design, Michelle has worked in various aspects of the Interior Design field. In addition to hotel and restaurant design, decorating model homes, and working with an architect designing new estate homes, Michelle has worked with homebuilders, helping new homeowners through the design process, including fixture, finish , and color selection. Her real love, however, is working with clients to make their home inviting, comfortable and beautiful, and has done this for several years in various formats. It is with great pleasure Michelle returns to independent interior design where she can offer clients her design expertise, a wide and proven set of associates to lend their talents, as well as a wide variety of furnishings and accessories to fit most all tastes and budgets. The goal is to make your home a place you love spending time in, and sharing with your family and friends.

A proud and devoted Hokie fan, Michelle is also a graduate of Virginia Tech and loves watching her team compete in most any arena. College football is a passion. Her life experiences include teaching high school science in Central Virginia. With a M.Ed. from Virginia Commonwealth University, her teaching continues as she educates her clients on the design rationale she uses to transform their rooms. Her analytical side makes her very detail oriented and well organized to see your projects through. Michelle is a member of the Atlanta Designers’ Network and an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Michelle is the wife of Bill E, a construction executive, and is the mother of 2 wonderful children: Melanie, also a graduate of Virginia Tech and HR manager for USG in Stockton, California, and Lee, a business major at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

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Carol Flammer is a public relations and social media marketing expert, strategist and consultant. With 20 years of experience, Carol has established herself as the “go to” for real estate and construction products public relations and social media. Carol is president of Flammer Relations, Inc., and managing partner of mRELEVANCE, LLC, an Internet Marketing, Social Media and Public Relations firm with offices in Atlanta and Chicago.

Carol is the author of “Social Media For Home Builders: It’s Easier Than You Think” published by BuilderBooks. As the creator of the nationally-ranked and award-winning www.AtlantaRealEstateForum.com, Atlanta’s most popular real estate blog. Her launch of the site in 2006 was truly visionary and led the movement to new media – the precursor to social media. In other words, she was blogging long before blogging was cool.

Carol has spoken at a number of tradeshows including the International Builders Show and the Southern Building Show. She speaks frequently to Sales and Marketing Councils and PR groups and teaches social media seminars at home builders associations around the country. Carol likes to challenge audiences with the question, “When you Google your name, do you like what you see?”

Carol holds a BA in Business and Behavioral Science from Oglethorpe University. A member of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, Carol was honored in 2008 as the HBA Associate of the Year. She is a member of the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and is a recipient of PRSA’s prestigious George Goodwin Award. Other recognitions include the Oglethorpe University 2008 Spirit of Oglethorpe Award, as well as OBIE, Phoenix, APEX, Hermes and Communicator Awards for blogs and client projects.

Carol is a member of the Atlanta Apartment Association, Urban Land Institute, National Association of Real Estate Editors and Professional Women in Building. She serves on the Sales and Marketing Ideas Editorial Advisory Committee and the Board of the Atlanta HBA’s Sales & Marketing Council.

She holds the MIRM (Member of the Institute of Residential Marketing), CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist) and CSP (Certified Sales Professional) designations from NAHB.

In her free time, Carol pursues her love of dressage. Read all about her Trakehner stallion Favian *Ps at www.TheBigRedHorse.com (yes, even her horse has a blog). She resides just north of Atlanta in Cartersville, Ga., with her family and lots of four-footed friends at their farm, Thistledown.

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I’ve been wanting to read more books. And the pile of unread material is stacking up nicely in both my office and next to the bedside table. It’s time to focus. Julien’s post was all I needed to get a goal in mind and get motivated. And of course, business authors are pretty darn important to us here in the High Velocity organization with our Video Dust Jacket Tour…

So, I will post once a week to let you know how I am doing, and to catalog all the books I am reading. Wish me well! If you want your book added to this reading list, EMAIL ME HERE!

Ultimately, all 52 books will be listed below. Here is the initial list:

WEEK ONE [January 1 - January 7] Conventional Wisdom, How Today’s Leaders Plan, Perform, and Progress Like the Founding Fathers, by Rebecca Staton-Reinstein

WEEK TWO [January 8 - January 14] The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference, by Malcolm Gladwell

WEEK THREE [January 15 - January 21] Think About It…96 challenging ideas to accelerate the methodical, relentless, continuous improvement of your sales process, by Todd Youngblood

WEEK FOUR [January 22 - January 28] Permission Marketing, Turning Strangers Into Friends, And Friends Into Customers, by Seth Godin

WEEK FIVE [January 29 - February 4] Linchpin, Are You Indispensable?, by Seth Godin

WEEK SIX [February 5 - February 11] Marketing: Unmasked, Insider’s Tips + Tricks For Success In Small Business Marketing, by Stephanie Frost + Erik Wolf

WEEK SEVEN [February 12 - February 18] Survival Is Not Enough, Zooming, Evolution, and the Future of Your Company, by Seth Godin

WEEK EIGHT The Leap, How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great, by Rick Smith

WEEK NINE Blue Ocean Strategy, How To Create Uncontested Market Space and Make The Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim + Renee Mauborgne

WEEK TEN Selling To The C-Suite, by Nicholas Read + Stephen J. Bistritz

WEEK ELEVEN My Little Black Book To Success, by Tom Marquardt

FUTURE BOOKS:
Drive, by Daniel Pink
Escape from Cubicle Nation, by Pam Slim
Business Stripped Bare, by Richard Branson

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Joyce Bone is a wife, mom and successful entrepreneur. She cofounded EarthCare, an environmental company which grew from zero to $50 million in 18 months. Once she reached this pinnacle she took the company public on NASDAQ ultimately reaching $125 million in annual revenues. She has managed over 350 employees and has executed dozens of mergers & acquisitions. Once Joyce left her company she started her real estate investment firm, Emerald Real Estate, LLC. Joyce has been featured in MONEY, Kiplinger’s, and Millionaire Blueprints magazines, ABC news, numerous books and on CNBC’s The Squawk Box for her entrepreneurial expertise.

Her story of average stay at home mom turned successful CEO encourages those she meets to go for their dreams! She represents and teaches the road map to success for the everyday person. Her ventures www.MillionaireMoms.com and Millionaire Moms Network are her most fulfilling endeavors to date. She is passionate about helping other entrepreneurs, especially moms, succeed.

Joyce considers the term “Millionaire Moms” to be a metaphor for living your best life now rather than a dollar amount you have to reach in order to define success. She does believe that business advice should come from those who have been truly successful. The self made millionaire moms like she interviews provide sound business and family advice on the art of raising a business and a family at the same time.

You can contact Joyce via her website at www.JoyceBone.com or www.MillionaireMoms.com.

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