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Nice weather? Beautiful people? In Detroit?!

June 14th, 2010 by Michael
Beauty in Detroit

Beauty in Detroit

I took a few journalism classes in school.  There’s a saying in the “J” trade that goes something like this:  “If a dog bites a man, it’s not news.  If a man bites a dog, that’s news.”

Of course, the media seems to mostly grab the negative news emanating from the city of Detroit.  Lately, the news has been reporting the negative behavior of our Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who has fallen from grace, ripped off the city, and gone to jail.  So far, he has not bitten any dogs, as far as we know.

When on the speaking circuit, I used to spend considerable time defending my home state.  People all over the United States LOVE talking about Michigan’s cold weather for one or more of the following reasons:

  1. Michigan isn’t known for anything non-weather related.
  2. Michiganders aren’t known for anything positive.
  3. Michiganders entertain these stupid discussions.


Script for a stupid discussion

Person from Kansas: Where are you from?

Person from Michigan: Michigan.

Person from Kansas: Isn’t it cold there?

Person from Michigan: Yes!  I hate it!  I’d like to move!  Ugh!


How to avoid stupid discussions

After years of these unrewarding scenarios, I finally found a way to avoid them.

Person from Kansas: Where are you from?

Person from Michigan:  Michigan.

Person from Kansas:  Isn’t it cold there?

Person from Michigan: Actually, we have four unique and distinct seasons.  Michigan is a great place to live and I really like it.

This works like a charm no matter where you’re from.  The negative tone of the discussion almost always dissipates and the conversation turns more pleasant.  Try it!


Every city and state has it’s problems

Illinois has huge problems with political corruption.  Sunny California may enjoy nice weather, but it’s about ten minutes from filing bankruptcy.

We live in a wonderful country.  Sure we have problems; we’re working on them.  Let’s stop dwelling on the negative and remember to accentuate the positive.

Michiganders–stop agreeing with people who trash-talk your state.  We live in a great state, no matter how many dogs the Mayor may have bitten.

Click here to see stunning photos of men and women who attended a benefit at the Detroit Opera House.  (My date, Kimberly Jones, got us into the society pages!  See above photo.)

It can be a full-time job defending your home state.  So stop doing it.

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5 Cool ideas for writing and selling your book

May 31st, 2010 by Michael
Your info is worth money

Your info is worth money

Everyone has a “how-to” book in them.  Your lifetime of experience and acquired skill sets should probably be required reading for the next generation, yes?

That book is easier to write than you think.   Once written, you can market your knowledge to people more than willing to pay for it.  Social media can be a cost-free delivery system.

Use the profits from the book to pay down bills, shore up your battered 401K, buy a car or just have some fun.  Here are 5 Cool Ideas for writing and selling your book.


1.  Do it yourself, the publishing industry is broken, anyway.

Self-publishing e-books is an easy, very lucrative way to create passive income.  The process can be as simple as writing a 20-page e-book and saving it to a .pdf.  Arrange a payment gateway through Google or PayPal and start telling Facebook friends about your creation.


2.  You can publish a book, even if you’re not a writer.

Mark Victor Hansen simply collected stories others had written and titled the book series, Chicken Soup for the Soul.  Another great idea is to create other types of information products, instead of books.  Audio programs, for example, are very popular and in some cases, sell better than printed material.   And get this–audio programs are even easier to create than books.


3.  A writing “system” can help you be published in less than 90 days.

I often write books by accumulating information.  My 5 Cool Ideas books have been the result of collecting info, reworking the content and formatting related ideas in groupings of five.


4.  Blog your way to authorship.

Web logging on Typepad or WordPress is a an easy way to develop your voice and build a following at the same time.  Just post a few paragraphs twice a week and you’ll be amazed at how much content you can originate.


5.  Think about what comes next after what comes next.

Celebrate your finished book as a great achievement,  but remember that a book is almost always more powerful as a means to an end.  Being a published author opens the doors to many opportunities, including speaking gigs, consulting work and media attention.  Consider having other products and services to promote when your book is released.


Get good advice on how to write your book . . .

Attend the Write/Sell Your Book seminar and get time-saving tips and valuable marketing idea so you can finally write that book.  Register at http://bit.ly/WriteSellYourBookJune9 or visit http://www.michaelangelocaruso.com/events/calendar/ to find a program near you.

Expect to learn a ton about creating, selling and re-purposing information products. You’ll also learn how to:

- Become a published author in less than 90 days
- Use information products to become more employable
- Build a distribution list so you’ll always have customers

- Write an e-book that will make your print book an even bigger success
- Leverage Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to grow your biz
- Self-publish your information products and earn more profit

- Write Web copy that sells
- Repurpose content so you can get paid over and over
- Create multiple information products

- Convert your new found “expert” status into even more opportunities
- Use video to promote your work

Can’t locate a live program?  Would you rather order the audio CD/e-book on the subject?  Go to http://bit.ly/CreateSellYourInfoProducts

Good luck and keep writing!
Michael Angelo Caruso, Author of the 5 Cool Ideas books and creator of over 75 info products

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The accidental marketing of Dennis Hopper

May 30th, 2010 by Michael

Dennis Hopper finally died.

There’s no denying that the man had rough life.  Many people wondered how Hopper lived as long as he did.  Some thought he had died again, such was the tumultuous existence of this Holly-world and real-world rebel.  When you consider all Hopper’s associated weirdness and drama, it’s a wonder the actor was able to cobble together a decent career.

Here are 5 Cool Ideas on the accidental marketing of Dennis Hopper, inspired by the New York Times obituary written by Edward Wyatt.


1.  Adversity can be a trump card.

Dennis Hopper was born in Dodge City, Kansas, home of many a showdown between good guys and bad guys.  During his life, Hopper had constant showdowns with alcohol, drugs, directors,  wives (five marriages), nature (a fire claimed his Bel Air home in 1962) and finally, prostate cancer after a 10-year battle with the disease.


2.  Dennis Hopper almost accidentally defined cinematic cool.

This guy starred in some of the coolest movies ever made including, Easy Rider, Blue Velvet, Rebel Without a Cause and Cool Hand Luke.  The parts came to him sporadically and Hopper often fell into great roles despite a bad reputation.  In many instances, he did well due to his proximity to greatness.  For instance, Hopper credited Marlon Brando with the idea of having him portray a gonzo journalist in Apocalypse Now.


3.  An early victory can make you a “success” for life.

Easy Rider won the prize for best first film at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, perhaps because it faced only one competitor.  This victory put Hopper on everyone’s radar.  He also shared an Oscar nomination for writing the movie, so the phrase “Oscar nominated” applied to Dennis for another, oh, 41 years.


4.  When it comes to marketing, you get points for what might be true.

Hopper was romantically linked to Natalie Wood and Michelle Phillips.  Extra points!  Again, the proximity factor.  These dalliances were never officially documented.  Hopper got credit for possibly sleeping with both women.  Note:  When it comes to marketing, getting points for what might be true can work for you or against you.


5.  Versatility is an excellent marketing device.

Paul Newman, as photographed by Dennis Hopper

Paul Newman, photographed by Dennis Hopper

When acting gigs were slow, Hopper learned to paint and write poetry.  He also became an accomplished photographer known for his “intimate and unguarded” images of Ike and Tina Turner, Andy Warhol and Jane Fonda.


Goodbye, Dennis

Dennis Hopper, like so many other talented people, succeeded in spite of himself.  But for all his mistakes and missteps, the accidental marketing of Dennis Hopper was made easier thanks to his habit of breaking bad in real life as well as in front of the movie camera.

See ya, Dennis.  Rest in peace, finally.  Again. 

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Good communication on the bike, in the board room

May 29th, 2010 by Michael
The earpiece

The earpiece

Communication is critical in any team endeavor, even the Tour de France. 

Forbes’ Rich Karlgaard reminds us that the first thing Johan Bruyneel did when he became Lance Armstrong’s bicycle team director in 1998 was fit the entire team with radios and earpieces.

The Tour de France is a three-week endeavor.  Communication is an important way to minimize costly mistakes.  As a team director, Bruyneel has eight wins and one third place in the Tour de France.

Good communication is key to Detroit’s success, too.  That’s why it’s important to hold events like the annual Mackinac Conference.  This year’s speakers will no doubt give us ideas on how to handle our many challenges such as the prolonged recession, a humbled automotive industry and insolvent municipalities.

Featured keynote speakers this year include former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich and Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne.  Of course the media will be there in force, including WDIV’s news anchor, Devin Scillian, an excellent communicator, himself.

Communication is important on the bike and in the boardroom.

-Michael Angelo Caruso

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5 Cool Ideas–Speaking tips from the pros

May 16th, 2010 by Michael

Rotaract talk in LA face right 0608 WEBImprove your presentations by modeling famous speakers.  Here are practical tips inspired by five great orators: John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Zig Ziglar, Bill Clinton and Robin Williams.

5 Cool Ideas–Speaking Tips From the Pros

1.  Say it in a special way. John F. Kennedy is known for his inspiring, almost poetic, phrasing.  JFK kept a notebook of inspiring quotations that he adopted and adapted in his speeches.  The famous phrase, “Ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country” was his, but JFK also borrowed verbiage from others.

Kennedy seldom credited to his primary speechwriter, Ted Sorensen, but you should always provide attribution when “borrowing” language from another person.

2.  Tell a good story. Everyone loves a good story.  Motivational speaker and legend, Zig Ziglar, mesmerized audiences with his funny and informative stories.  A Zig story could go on for five or six minutes as he interjected anecdotes, developed motifs and leveraged humor.

Zig used to drop to one knee for all of six minutes.  He would often prompt a rousing  ovation just for finally standing up again!

3.  Smile with your eyes. Words are important during presentations, but non-verbal cues are even more critical.  Bill Clinton uses a terrific technique I call “smiling eyes.”  He even used this strategy during his impeachment proceedings when he looked into the camera and said, “It depends on what your definition of the word ‘is’ is.”

4.  Tell the audience exactly what you want. So many speakers and presenters obscure their messages in fancy language and pretense.  Take a cue from Nike’s “Just do it” slogan and just say it.  Ronald Reagan was famous for his plain talk during speeches.

In 1987, Reagan spoke at at an event celebrating the 750th anniversary of Berlin.  He used the speech to directly appeal to Mikhail Gorbachev, then General Secretary of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party.  Reagan famously said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

5.  Get emotional. Robin Williams is not a conventional presenter, that’s for sure.  What he lacks in diction and structure, he more than makes up for in energy and enthusiasm.  It’s hard to ignore a person who’s excited about his own message.

Williams presentations are an onslaught of ideas, foreign language accents and gesticulations that audience members cannot ignore.  Don’t try to replicate Robin’s wild man delivery.  Just amp up your emotion by speaking louder and moving your hands more.


Teleseminar May 25–How to Improve Your Presentations

Join Michael Angelo Caruso at 3:30 PM ET on Tuesday, May 25 to get more great tips for your next presentation.  Get more info and register here; ask questions toward the end of the call.  Invite your boss to attend at no extra charge.


Can’t attend the live program?

Order the audio CD on the same topic and listen as many times as you’d like.


Reprint the above article

You’re welcome to publish the above article in your corporate newsletter, on your Web site or blog.  Simply send a message here.

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