The Happy Burro

Official release is TODAY, July 16, 2007 for The Age of Conversation, a collaborative book co-authored by over 100 business and marketing authors from 10 nations.

AdAge , Social Computing Magazine , FastCompany, and BusinessWeek have reported on this book and event.

I am proud to be a contributor to this effort via my “No Limit Conversation” tool and look forward to the continued conversation with all of you!

All proceeds from book sales benefits Variety, the Children’s Charity .

The book may be purchased here.

Hardbacks $29.99
Paperbacks $16.95
E-book $9.99

You may contact any of the authors for more information and interviews:

Gavin Heaton
Drew McLellan
CK
Valeria Maltoni
Emily Reed
Katie Chatfield
Greg Verdino
Mack Collier
Lewis Green
Sacrum
Ann Handley
Mike Sansone
Paul McEnany
Roger von Oech
Anna Farmery
David Armano
Bob Glaza
Mark Goren
Matt Dickman
Scott Monty
Richard Huntington
Cam Beck
David Reich
Luc Debaisieux
Sean Howard
Tim Jackson
Patrick Schaber
Roberta Rosenberg
Uwe Hook
Tony D. Clark
Todd Andrlik
Toby Bloomberg
Steve Woodruff
Steve Bannister
Steve Roesler
Stanley Johnson
Spike Jones
Nathan Snell
Simon Payn
Ryan Rasmussen
Ron Shevlin
Roger Anderson
Robert Hruzek
Rishi Desai
Phil Gerbyshak
Peter Corbett
Pete Deutschman
Nick Rice
Nick Wright
Michael Morton
Mark Earls
Mark Blair
Mario Vellandi
Lori Magno
Kristin Gorski
Kris Hoet
G.Kofi Annan
Kimberly Dawn Wells
Karl Long
Julie Fleischer
Jordan Behan
John La Grou
Joe Raasch
Jim Kukral
Jessica Hagy
Janet Green
Jamey Shiels
Dr. Graham Hill
Gianandrea Facchini
Geert Desager
Gaurav Mishra
Gary Schoeniger
Gareth Kay
Faris Yakob
Emily Clasper
Ed Cotton
Dustin Jacobsen
Tom Clifford
David Polinchock
David Koopmans
David Brazeal
David Berkowitz
Carolyn Manning
Craig Wilson
Cord Silverstein
Connie Reece
Colin McKay
Chris Newlan
Chris Corrigan
Cedric Giorgi
Brian Reich
Becky Carroll
Arun Rajagopal
Andy Nulman
Amy Jussel
AJ James
Kim Klaver
Sandy Renshaw
Susan Bird
Ryan Barrett
Troy Worman
S. Neil Vineberg 
C.B. Whittemore

We appreciate your consideration and support of this charitable effort and writing endeavor!

Joe Raasch :: Jul.16.2007 :: Innovation, Leadership :: 1 Comment »

We’re close, my friends.  In less than a week, on July 16th, is the launch of the much-anticipated “Age of Conversation” book on marketing.

WHY GET THIS BOOK?

1.  It is cutting edge - Conversation!

2.  It is for a good cause. All proceeds will be donated to Variety, the Children’s Charity.  (We’ll be designating the funds to the native countries of our authors.)

3.  Awesome origin: It all started here.

4. Awesome dedication.

5. It is awesome!

6. Incredible mix of authors!

Launch date:  Monday, July 16th

Hardbacks $29.99
Paperbacks $16.95
E-book $9.99

Watch this blog (and all the other authors’ blogs) for more details and a link to the Age of Conversation store starting Monday, July 16th!

Over 100 authors are participating!

Gavin Heaton
Drew McLellan
CK
Valeria Maltoni
Emily Reed
Katie Chatfield
Greg Verdino
Mack Collier
Lewis Green
Sacrum
Ann Handley
Mike Sansone
Paul McEnany
Roger von Oech
Anna Farmery
David Armano
Bob Glaza
Mark Goren
Matt Dickman
Scott Monty
Richard Huntington
Cam Beck
David Reich
Luc Debaisieux
Sean Howard
Tim Jackson
Patrick Schaber
Roberta Rosenberg
Uwe Hook
Tony D. Clark
Todd Andrlik
Toby Bloomberg
Steve Woodruff
Steve Bannister
Steve Roesler
Stanley Johnson
Spike Jones
Nathan Snell
Simon Payn
Ryan Rasmussen
Ron Shevlin
Roger Anderson
Robert Hruzek
Rishi Desai
Phil Gerbyshak
Peter Corbett
Pete Deutschman
Nick Rice
Nick Wright
Michael Morton
Mark Earls
Mark Blair
Mario Vellandi
Lori Magno
Kristin Gorski
Kris Hoet
G.Kofi Annan
Kimberly Dawn Wells
Karl Long
Julie Fleischer
Jordan Behan
John La Grou
Joe Raasch
Jim Kukral
Jessica Hagy
Janet Green
Jamey Shiels
Dr. Graham Hill
Gia Facchini
Geert Desager
Gaurav Mishra
Gary Schoeniger
Gareth Kay
Faris Yakob
Emily Clasper
Ed Cotton
Dustin Jacobsen
Tom Clifford
David Polinchock
David Koopmans
David Brazeal
David Berkowitz
Carolyn Manning
Craig Wilson
Cord Silverstein
Connie Reece
Colin McKay
Chris Newlan
Chris Corrigan
Cedric Giorgi
Brian Reich
Becky Carroll
Arun Rajagopal
Andy Nulman
Amy Jussel
AJ James
Kim Klaver
Sandy Renshaw
Susan Bird
Ryan Barrett
Troy Worman
S. Neil Vineberg

Look for more info here on Monday, July 16!

Joe Raasch :: Jul.10.2007 :: Innovation, Leadership :: 1 Comment »

This past week I was in beautiful Vail, Colorado for a little R&R.  We hiked, rafted, rode horses, did some mountain biking, and stimulated the local economy via shops and restaurants.  If you haven’t experienced Colorado mountains in the summer, I highly recommend the experience!

 LEAVING THE OFFICE

I mean REALLY leaving - no phone, no Blackberry(tm), no ‘checking in’.  Few of us are so tantamount to the success of our businesses that we have to be in constant contact.  So why do so many keep close ties to the work they say they are trying to take a break from?

WHAT IF NO ONE NOTICED

Vacations are a great time to review the work we do, and decide what needs to be done and what can wait until our return.  Have you ever forgot to assign/delegate a project/report/etc to someone, and upon returning find out that no one missed it?  This should make you ask if you need to continue with that work!

WE ARE DEFINED BY OUR DAILY OUTPUT

Without the proverbial ‘box to ship’ at the end of the day, do you feel productive?  “I did 200 emails” - “I was in meetings ALL DAY” - “I was on conference calls the majority of the morning”.  Sound familiar?  We’re all a bit stubborn like that - willing to do painful, mundane tasks because “That’s my job” instead of questioning the value/validity of the output.

DO WHAT MATTERS

Sort of like Seth Godin’s “strategic quitting” message found in his awesome book, “The Dip”. Learn what you should be doing by listening to your customers.  Not sure who your customers are?  Start by figuring out who relies on your work; who gets that report or Powerpoint(tm) presentation, etc.  Then ask them what they do with your work and how you might improve it.  You just might find they have GREAT suggestions that will help both of you.

TAKE IT

Remember, part of your benefits package is vacation.  Use it!  Even if you don’t go anywhere but your local library, step away from the fray and you’ll be refreshed, and just might add more meaning, relevance, and value to your work when you return!

Joe Raasch :: Jul.10.2007 :: Change Management, Employee Engagement, Life, Personal :: No Comments »