July 14, 2009 (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press announced that the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on Mission Unstoppable hosted by Frankie Picasso on
August 25, 2009 at 5PM PACIFIC.
Date: August 25, 2009
Time: 5PM Pacific
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missionunstoppable
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Mission Unstoppable a mindset. It is an innate knowing that you can do whatever it is that you want to Do, and be whoever it is you want to Be! Mission Unstoppable is your new mantra. It is a way of life. It is a choice that you make on the inside that results in fruitful results on the outside. Mission Unstoppable is your call for action! Some folks find it on their own; others acquire it as they go along. Anyone can learn it. According to the host, Frankie Picasso, “That’s why I am here. I am Guerrilla Coach Frankie Picasso, aka The Unstoppable Coach. Join me and my Unstoppable Guests Tuesdays at 8 pm Est. and be inspired to live life large, live life by design, live life on a Mission, Mission Unstoppable!”
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style
The co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on At Home Biz Radio.
Date: July 20, 2009
Time: 10AM Pacific Time
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jeane/2009/07/20/Leadership-Texas-Holdem-Style
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Being the owner of your own business whether it's home based or out of the home can be quite challenging; especially with marketing and advertising being costly to reach a vast majority of people. That's where At Home Biz Radio comes in, we would like to help you get the word out about your business or venture. For more information visit: At Home Biz Radio.
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Date: July 20, 2009
Time: 10AM Pacific Time
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jeane/2009/07/20/Leadership-Texas-Holdem-Style
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Being the owner of your own business whether it's home based or out of the home can be quite challenging; especially with marketing and advertising being costly to reach a vast majority of people. That's where At Home Biz Radio comes in, we would like to help you get the word out about your business or venture. For more information visit: At Home Biz Radio.
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style
The co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.) will be a guest on Ramble & Rumble with Rabbi; hosted by Rabbi DF Eukel.
Date: July 15, 2009
Time: 7AM Central Standard Time
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RabbiEukel
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Ramble & Rumble with Rabbi hosted by Rabbi DF Eukel, is a M-F ninety-minute broadcast at 6AM CST. Our community conversations change with each broadcast day, distinctive segments. Come-on, get your coffee, courage and call-in or chat! We have had over 150 broadcasts since our beginning show Nov 22, 2008. Still going and growing! Want to "Ask the Rabbi"?
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Date: July 15, 2009
Time: 7AM Central Standard Time
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/RabbiEukel
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Ramble & Rumble with Rabbi hosted by Rabbi DF Eukel, is a M-F ninety-minute broadcast at 6AM CST. Our community conversations change with each broadcast day, distinctive segments. Come-on, get your coffee, courage and call-in or chat! We have had over 150 broadcasts since our beginning show Nov 22, 2008. Still going and growing! Want to "Ask the Rabbi"?
ABOUT RAYMOND E. FOSTER
Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton. He has completed his doctoral studies in business research. Raymond is a graduate of the West Point Leadership program and has attended law enforcement, technology and leadership programs such as the National Institute for Justice, Technology Institute, Washington, DC.
Raymond has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and is currently a faculty advisor and chair of the Criminal Justice Program at the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
His first book, Police Technology is used in over 100 colleges and universities nationwide. He latest book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work in leadership; by several civil service organizations and required reading for promotion; and, has been well received in the wider market.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Using poker as analogy for leadership, Captain Andrew Harvey, CPD (ret.), Ed.D. and Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA found the right mix of practical experience and academic credentials to write a definitive book for leaders. Working together, Harvey and Foster have written Leadership: Texas Hold em Style. Most often leaders find they are given a set of resources people, equipment, funds, experience and a mission. As Foster noted, "You're dealt a certain hand. How you play that hand as a leader determines your success."
More than a book: A fun and entertaining journey through leadership that includes an interactive website to supplement knowledge gained from the book.
Proven and Tested: Not an academic approach to leadership, but rather a road-tested guide that has been developed through 50-years of author experience.
High Impact: Through the use of perspective, reflection, and knowledge, provides information that turns leadership potential into leadership practice.
Ease of Application: Theory is reinforced with real-life experience, which results in accessible and practical tools leaders can put to use immediately.
High Road Approach: Personal character and ethical beliefs are woven into each leadership approach, so leaders do the right thing for the right reasons.
Uses Game of Poker: Rather than a dry approach that is all fact and no flavor, the game of poker is used as a lens through which to view leadership concepts.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret)
909.599.7530
raymond@hitechcj.com
www.police-writers.com
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Developing Subordinate Leaders
Gunnery Sergeant Darnell E. Patton, USMC
There are many great leaders who lead things from small businesses to large countries. Each of those leaders had to start somewhere. Leadership starts at different stages for different people; some start learning as a small child while others may not start until adulthood. But regardless of when they start, its how they get there and where they finish that matters.
READ ON
www.military-writers.com/articles/developing_subordinate_leaders.html
There are many great leaders who lead things from small businesses to large countries. Each of those leaders had to start somewhere. Leadership starts at different stages for different people; some start learning as a small child while others may not start until adulthood. But regardless of when they start, its how they get there and where they finish that matters.
READ ON
www.military-writers.com/articles/developing_subordinate_leaders.html
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Forensic Investigator
On July 24, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Esther McKay, a former Detective Senior Constable and Forensic Investigator with the New South Wales Police Force (Australia).
Program Date: July 24, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Forensic Investigator
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/07/25/Forensic-Investigator
About the Guest
Esther Mckay served seventeen years in the New South Wales Police Force, attaining the rank of Detective (technical) Senior Constable. She worked in the area of Forensic Services for fifteen years, attaining expert status in crime scene examination and vehicle identification. She also worked in Training and Research, as well as Document Examination. She has a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police), and was awarded the National Medal for service in 2001 and the Ethical and Diligent Police Service medal with fifteen-year clasp in 2008.
Esther Mckay was discharged from the force in 2001 with post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of her forensic work. Her best-selling autobiography, Crime Scene: True Stories from the Life of a Forensic Investigator.
Esther Mckay works actively in supporting traumatized serving and former Police and is the President of the Police Post Trauma Support Group. She was awarded the Pride of Australia Medal in 2007 for Community Spirit for her work with traumatized Police, and regularly speaks to various groups and schools about her life experience, writing and former forensic work. Esther is patron of the Australian Missing Persons Register and has been an Australia Day Ambassador since 2007. She lives in the Southern Highlands with her husband and two children.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/07/25/Forensic-Investigator
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: July 24, 2009
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Forensic Investigator
Listen Live:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/07/25/Forensic-Investigator
About the Guest
Esther Mckay served seventeen years in the New South Wales Police Force, attaining the rank of Detective (technical) Senior Constable. She worked in the area of Forensic Services for fifteen years, attaining expert status in crime scene examination and vehicle identification. She also worked in Training and Research, as well as Document Examination. She has a Diploma of Applied Science in Forensic Investigation (NSW Police), and was awarded the National Medal for service in 2001 and the Ethical and Diligent Police Service medal with fifteen-year clasp in 2008.
Esther Mckay was discharged from the force in 2001 with post-traumatic stress disorder as a direct result of her forensic work. Her best-selling autobiography, Crime Scene: True Stories from the Life of a Forensic Investigator.
Esther Mckay works actively in supporting traumatized serving and former Police and is the President of the Police Post Trauma Support Group. She was awarded the Pride of Australia Medal in 2007 for Community Spirit for her work with traumatized Police, and regularly speaks to various groups and schools about her life experience, writing and former forensic work. Esther is patron of the Australian Missing Persons Register and has been an Australia Day Ambassador since 2007. She lives in the Southern Highlands with her husband and two children.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2009/07/25/Forensic-Investigator
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Defining Leadership: Trying to Understand
By Darnell E. Patton, GySgt/USMC
You can ask ten different people what their definition of leadership is and you will probably get ten different answers. Leadership doesn’t have a specific definition. By giving it a definition, you are putting restrictions and limitations on the word and the true value of leadership. Leadership is something that is complicated to explain and understand. It is formless; it doesn’t take on a particular shape or form, nor does it go in one particular direction. A great leader can adjust to any situation at any given time, under any circumstance, and still come out successful.
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/defining_leadership_patton.html
You can ask ten different people what their definition of leadership is and you will probably get ten different answers. Leadership doesn’t have a specific definition. By giving it a definition, you are putting restrictions and limitations on the word and the true value of leadership. Leadership is something that is complicated to explain and understand. It is formless; it doesn’t take on a particular shape or form, nor does it go in one particular direction. A great leader can adjust to any situation at any given time, under any circumstance, and still come out successful.
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/defining_leadership_patton.html
Friday, June 12, 2009
Mullen Offers Leadership Lesson to National Defense University Grads
By Fred W. Baker III
American Forces Press Service
June 11, 2009 - Flanked by rows of professors cloaked in traditional academic regalia, the nation's top military officer offered one final, brief lecture to a group of graduating senior military officers at the National Defense University here today. But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen stood at the steps of the Defense Department's premier scholarly institution offering not a lesson on international security, national strategy or campaign planning, but instead a discourse on leadership.
As the nation draws down from the war in Iraq and refocuses its efforts on the war in Afghanistan, Mullen told the 582 graduates from three of the university's top leadership colleges that the skills they've learned over the past year now have a "great and immediate purpose."
"Not just to write strategy or think through problems, but to lead," Mullen said. The graduates, he added, would set the example in the field, and their leadership would determine the success of the U.S. military.
The admiral broke his lesson into three parts, noting that leading commanders, senior enlisted servicemembers and junior officers each need different types and levels of leadership.
Commanders, he said, want the opportunity to make a difference, accomplish the mission and innovate along the way. "They need to be able to question like you did, and debate like you," the admiral said. "Their ability and desire to think critically will begin with you as their leader. And like you, their opinions matter."
Opinions and advice matter most when those giving them are able to be held accountable, he noted, and change is best led by people in the fight who set the example from within.
"And by giving them credit for their ideas, and involving them in your decisions as you lead them," said he added.
Few in the military believe as fervently in its traditions and in taking care of families and troops as senior enlisted leaders, Mullen said. "What we can never do is take these leaders, or their convictions, for granted," he said, as they work to keep up with a new generation, mentoring them and ensuring they grow in their profession.
"Our senior enlisted best understand our troops, the sources of their motivations, and their hopes for the future," Mullen said. "You may lead your units from a strategic level, but these professionals really lead your units. You should measure your commitment by theirs."
Junior officers are the future of the military and the future of the nation's security, he said. How they are grown in the service is the key to the military's success.
"If you break their will, extinguish their passion, or squelch their dreams, you will be taking something that does not belong to you," Mullen said. "They want responsibility. They want the chance to make good and to do good. They want you to care – not for them, but about them."
Mullen said this group has been hit hardest by frequent deployments in the past seven years. But in those deployments, he added, they have gained insight that is valuable to the military and to the nation.
"They may be tired, but they are wise beyond their years," the chairman said. "It's up to us to keep as much of that wisdom as we can inside the institution, where we need it most. Their decision to stay or leave is a matter of national security."
Mullen said military leaders have yet to realize the full impact that the wars have had on troops and their families. He implored the senior officers to listen to troops and families, and to help to reduce the stigma of getting help for war-related stress.
Finally, Mullen asked the group to advance the fundamentals of learning they have enjoyed in their classes at the university.
"You will recall how you were inspired to think critically and to question without fear to seek out radically different solutions, and to voice them without reprisal, to read widely and deeply, and to examine without end and grow intellectually," Mullen said. "What I ask is this -- pass it on."
Those graduating today were from the College of International Affairs, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College, all at the university at Fort McNair. More than half are military officers, and the rest are federal government civilians, international students and private-sector senior civilians.
This was the university's largest graduating class, officials said.
American Forces Press Service
June 11, 2009 - Flanked by rows of professors cloaked in traditional academic regalia, the nation's top military officer offered one final, brief lecture to a group of graduating senior military officers at the National Defense University here today. But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen stood at the steps of the Defense Department's premier scholarly institution offering not a lesson on international security, national strategy or campaign planning, but instead a discourse on leadership.
As the nation draws down from the war in Iraq and refocuses its efforts on the war in Afghanistan, Mullen told the 582 graduates from three of the university's top leadership colleges that the skills they've learned over the past year now have a "great and immediate purpose."
"Not just to write strategy or think through problems, but to lead," Mullen said. The graduates, he added, would set the example in the field, and their leadership would determine the success of the U.S. military.
The admiral broke his lesson into three parts, noting that leading commanders, senior enlisted servicemembers and junior officers each need different types and levels of leadership.
Commanders, he said, want the opportunity to make a difference, accomplish the mission and innovate along the way. "They need to be able to question like you did, and debate like you," the admiral said. "Their ability and desire to think critically will begin with you as their leader. And like you, their opinions matter."
Opinions and advice matter most when those giving them are able to be held accountable, he noted, and change is best led by people in the fight who set the example from within.
"And by giving them credit for their ideas, and involving them in your decisions as you lead them," said he added.
Few in the military believe as fervently in its traditions and in taking care of families and troops as senior enlisted leaders, Mullen said. "What we can never do is take these leaders, or their convictions, for granted," he said, as they work to keep up with a new generation, mentoring them and ensuring they grow in their profession.
"Our senior enlisted best understand our troops, the sources of their motivations, and their hopes for the future," Mullen said. "You may lead your units from a strategic level, but these professionals really lead your units. You should measure your commitment by theirs."
Junior officers are the future of the military and the future of the nation's security, he said. How they are grown in the service is the key to the military's success.
"If you break their will, extinguish their passion, or squelch their dreams, you will be taking something that does not belong to you," Mullen said. "They want responsibility. They want the chance to make good and to do good. They want you to care – not for them, but about them."
Mullen said this group has been hit hardest by frequent deployments in the past seven years. But in those deployments, he added, they have gained insight that is valuable to the military and to the nation.
"They may be tired, but they are wise beyond their years," the chairman said. "It's up to us to keep as much of that wisdom as we can inside the institution, where we need it most. Their decision to stay or leave is a matter of national security."
Mullen said military leaders have yet to realize the full impact that the wars have had on troops and their families. He implored the senior officers to listen to troops and families, and to help to reduce the stigma of getting help for war-related stress.
Finally, Mullen asked the group to advance the fundamentals of learning they have enjoyed in their classes at the university.
"You will recall how you were inspired to think critically and to question without fear to seek out radically different solutions, and to voice them without reprisal, to read widely and deeply, and to examine without end and grow intellectually," Mullen said. "What I ask is this -- pass it on."
Those graduating today were from the College of International Affairs, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College, all at the university at Fort McNair. More than half are military officers, and the rest are federal government civilians, international students and private-sector senior civilians.
This was the university's largest graduating class, officials said.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Top Pacific Commander Embraces Early Leadership Principles
By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service
May 28, 2009 - As young Tim Keating was growing up just outside Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, his parents taught him to treat other people the way he'd like his children, one day, to be treated, and as if all those other people outranked him. It's a philosophy he embraced as he attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., and he never lost sight of it as he rose through the ranks to become the senior U.S. military officer in the Pacific.
"Dad tried to make sure we understood that he thought it important to treat everybody the way he would have them treat his kids. That kind of stuck with me," Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating told American Forces Press Service. "But my parents also taught me that if you figure everybody is senior to you, and regard them that way and give them that respect – whether they are or not isn't so important – it will allow you to develop the capacity to listen, to pay attention and to learn."
Approaching his third year at the helm of the largest U.S. combatant command, Keating said he strives to draw on the strengths of his people while providing them opportunities to grow.
"There isn't anybody in United States Pacific Command who doesn't have a good idea and isn't eager to do their job," he said. "And when given a certain amount of latitude and authority and responsibility, in an extraordinarily high percentage of the cases, they rise to the occasion.
"So you drive the authority down to the appropriate level," he continued. "Give some general guidance, and then kind of get out of the way and let people do their jobs at the level at which they are capable, capitalizing on the training and equipment they've received."
When forced to make tough decisions, Keating said, he strives to ensure they're "firm, fair, consistent and honest."
"You don't always have the blessing of sufficient time to explain every decision you make," he said. "Sometimes they're hard, and have to be made in a split second."
But whenever possible, Keating said, he seeks advice and counsel from what he calls "an immensely dedicated, smart group of men and women" at Pacom.
"If you give them the time to make their recommendation, sort through the facts and decide to do what you think is best for our nation, your command and the men and women who are going to have to do the heavy lifting, most times it turns out to be a pretty good decision," he said.
Shortly after taking command of Pacom in 2007, Keating declared it "the best job in the Department of Defense." Time on the job has reinforced that initial impression.
"It sounds trite and hokey, but I walk into the headquarters every morning happy to be there, and anxious to get up to the office," he said. "It's the best job in the world."
Now, as he expects to pass his command to his successor this fall, Keating said he feels positive about the state of U.S. Pacific Command. He credits the recently revised Pacom strategy, built on the tenets of partnership, readiness and presence, with promoting peace and stability.
One measure of that success, he said, is the fact that the region continues to enjoy a relative peace, with no significant military incidents and no state-on-state conflict. "In a way, it's what hasn't happened," he said. "Some of that is good fortune. But a lot of it is due to a concerted effort by a lot of people, including those at Pacific Command."
Keating calls Navy Adm. Robert M. Willard, whom Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced yesterday President Barack Obama has nominated to become the next Pacom commander, the right man for the post. Willard currently commands the Navy's Pacific Fleet.
"There is no one as qualified in the department as Bob Willard," Keating said.
In the meantime, as he looks back over his 38 years of commissioned service, Keating said, he considers his time at Pacom the crescendo to a career punctuated with high points.
That career path was all but sealed when Keating was just 8 or 9 years old and his father took him to the annual air show at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Two military air demonstration teams, the Air Force Thunderbolts and the Navy Blue Angels, alternated years at the show. As it turned out, it was the Navy team's turn to perform. Keating was smitten as he watched the Navy pilots scream through the air, leaving white smoke in their wake.
Suddenly, the young Keating had an alternative to his life-long dream of becoming second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. Maybe he'd become a Navy fighter pilot instead.
Keating ended up following the latter dream to Annapolis, calling his Naval Academy experience "one of the very great things that happened to me."
"I'm eternally grateful for that opportunity," Keating said of the lessons he learned there and the lifelong friendships he made.
Keating said his Naval Academy experience reaffirmed many of the leadership lessons he learned at his childhood dinner table. But he also pointed to several major figures he said influenced him and his leadership style during his career.
Retired Navy Rear Adm. Thomas A. Mercer laid the groundwork as Keating's first fleet squadron commanding officer.
Navy Adm. William J. Crowe, the former Pacom commander for whom Keating served as a military aide while a flag lieutenant, gave Keating wide exposure to the Asia-Pacific region and new approaches to addressing the challenges there. Crowe later served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"He expanded my horizons and exposed me to processes and thoughts and ways of thinking that I didn't know existed at the time," Keating said.
Another former Pacom commander, retired Adm. Joseph Prueher, became Keating's close friend and advisor.
Retired Rear Adm. Jack Zerr, who assumed command of Keating's squadron after its commanding officer died in a tragic accident, provided a "spectacular" model of leadership as he looked out for the health and welfare of everyone in his charge, Keating said. "I try to live those lessons every day," he said.
Retired Marine Gen. Peter Pace, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, left a deep impression, Keating said, citing his "towering integrity and abiding interest in the men and women in uniform."
But perhaps one of the most profound influences on Keating came early in his career, when he was serving with Attack Squadron 122 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. That's where Keating met the future Wanda Lee Keating, the head-turner he jokes was attracted more to his "fancy-pants Corvette convertible" than to the hot-shot fighter pilot behind the wheel.
Turning serious, Keating called his wife "the best thing that has ever happened to me," and a never-ending source of support and encouragement that has sustained him throughout his military career.
"Wanda Lee is a perfect example of the strength you can draw from a partner who understands the importance of what you are doing and makes every sacrifice to help you achieve your command and personal goals," he said. "She is every bit as dedicated to faith, family and friends and country as anyone in uniform."
Together, the Keatings raised two children: a son now serving as executive officer of a Navy F/A-18 squadron, and a daughter who's married to an F/A-18 pilot. Both Keatings hope to relocate closer to their children and grandchildren after retirement.
"We'll probably go to the East Coast, take a couple of minutes and figure out what we are going to do next," he said.
But in the meantime, Keating made it clear he has no intention of taking his eye off the ball at U.S. Pacific Command.
"We are going to do our level best to give everyone a very clear impression that we are going to sprint right to the finish line," he said. "There is plenty to do out here. And this is, and has been, the best job a man and women can have, so we will relish every moment of it."
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Leadership: Texas Hold'Em Style - by Harvey & Foster - A Leading Questions review
There are many different kinds of leadership books in the marketplace. The most prevalent kind are books written by business school academics and biographies of leaders. Each has their value, but for practicality, the majority do not translate well into practice. Then there are books that are written by practitioners. This is what I found when I came across Andrew J. Harvey and Raymond E. Foster's Leadership: Texas Hold'em Style (www.pokerleadership.com).
READ ON
http://edbrenegar.typepad.com/leading_questions/2009/05/leadership-texas-holdem-style-by-harvey-foster-a-leading-questions-review.html
READ ON
http://edbrenegar.typepad.com/leading_questions/2009/05/leadership-texas-holdem-style-by-harvey-foster-a-leading-questions-review.html
Monday, May 18, 2009
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards
Ever wonder how the leaders of America start their journeys? Want to honor the young heroes that are learning early the importance of helping others? I’m contacting you today on behalf of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. For their extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism, ten middle and high school students from across the country were named America's top ten youth volunteers for 2009 in a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, capping the 14th year of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
Each year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors the outstanding community service of young Americans. The results are now in the top ten youth volunteers from the May 4th ceremony have been announced!
Want to watch the winners receive their awards? Watch a webcast event, replaying all of the wonderfully inspiring moments and announcements: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=57997
You can get your children and community involved by encouraging them to visit http://spirit.prudential.com where they can find out how to become a nominee for next year’s honorary ceremony.
Please let me know if you would be interested in sharing this information with Military Online readers, as it is support like yours, from their communities, that keep these young people motivated and proud of the work they have accomplished all throughout the year!
Each year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors the outstanding community service of young Americans. The results are now in the top ten youth volunteers from the May 4th ceremony have been announced!
Want to watch the winners receive their awards? Watch a webcast event, replaying all of the wonderfully inspiring moments and announcements: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=57997
You can get your children and community involved by encouraging them to visit http://spirit.prudential.com where they can find out how to become a nominee for next year’s honorary ceremony.
Please let me know if you would be interested in sharing this information with Military Online readers, as it is support like yours, from their communities, that keep these young people motivated and proud of the work they have accomplished all throughout the year!
Friday, May 15, 2009
The 3 Cs of Ethical Leadership
Unfortunately, all supervisors or managers are not leaders. A good cop is genuinely a leader to the community they serve. But everyone in a position of authority is not really a leader. A well rounded leader possesses the 3 Cs: character, charisma, and compassion. These are the core foundation of ethical leadership.
http://www.police-writers.com/articles/ethical_leadership.html
http://www.police-writers.com/articles/ethical_leadership.html
Leadership Philosophy: Expand Your Mind
Leadership comes in many different shapes and forms. As leadership comes in different shapes and forms, so does leadership philosophies. There are people from all walks of life who have their own philosophy on leadership. Who's to say which is right and which is wrong? But if you expand your mind and allow your leadership to grow, you will benefit any organization.
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/leadership_philosophy.html
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/leadership_philosophy.html
Saturday, May 02, 2009
1000 Military Servicemembers
On May 2, 2009, Military-Writers.com added the 1000th servicemember who has written a book. The site lists current, former and retired military personnel who have authored books. In addition to being categorized by branch of service, the books written by military personnel can be searched by subject such as military fiction, military tactics and doctrine, leadership, non-military fiction and by conflict.
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
MORE INFORMATION
Military Books
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Petraeus Outlines Basic Leadership Tenets
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
April 22, 2009 - When it comes to strategic leadership, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan boils his philosophy down to four basic tenets: Get the big ideas right. Educate – and if necessary, sell -- your subordinates on those ideas. Execute them together. Then identify lessons learned and best practices to improve the whole process. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, described his leadership philosophy yesterday at the John F. Kennedy School of Government on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
During the forum, "21st Century Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Military," Petraeus shared the process of strategizing, communicating and refining that he said guided his watch as commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and more recently, at Centcom.
The first responsibility, he told the group, is "to get the really big ideas right."
Petraeus pointed as an example to his experience in Iraq, where violence was soaring before the United States implemented a new strategy in early 2007 that deployed more troops into the communities they were protecting.
"We realized that we had to change some of the big ideas," he told the Harvard audience. "We had to focus on securing and serving the people -- that was No. 1. And you could only do that by living with them. ... You cannot commute to the fight."
After the "big ideas" are established, Petraeus emphasized the importance of educating subordinate leaders about them to ensure so everyone shares a common command vision.
"Ideally, they are so compelling, so convincing, so powerful that the leaders embrace them," he said. But if they don't, "sometimes there has to be a little help," he said. "You might have to hold their arms around them ... so they then can take these on as their own."
Once everyone is on the same sheet of music, the next step is to work together as a team to put those big ideas into action, Petraeus said, but the process can't stop there.
"There's a very important final element," he told the group. "You have to identify lessons learned. You have to feed them back in to refine the big ideas -- which then have to be transmitted to the subordinate leaders to change the way you are executing."
Petraeus said it's also critical to capture and share best practices. That "has to be an enormous part of this," he said.
Serving as the point man in Iraq, Petraeus also cited the importance of holding true to the principles of honesty and other closely held American ideals. He called the information operations campaign – the public affairs effort – "of enormous importance" to the operations in Iraq.
"We explicitly said, 'We are going to be first with the truth," he said. "We want to beat the bad guys to the headlines, but it has got to be the truth. If you have a bad day, we are going to step up to the mike and say we had a bad day. If you make a mistake, you are going to acknowledge it and say what we learned from it and how we are going to try to minimize the chance of such mistakes happening in the future.
"We are not going to put lipstick on pigs," he said. "If it was bad, we are going to say it was bad."
Not everyone agreed with this approach, Petraeus conceded. Some "very senior people" who visited him in Iraq told him, "Dave, you have a messaging problem over here," he said.
In the early days of the surge, Petraeus said, he "would look them in the eye and say, 'Sir, we don't have a messaging problem. We have a results problem. And we have to let the results speak for themselves.'"
People will recognize when the results start turning around, Petraeus said he told the naysayers. "The idea should be to under-promise and over-deliver."
As they conducted their operations, Petraeus said, he insisted that U.S. forces stay true to basic American principles. When they have strayed from these principles – as at the Abu Ghraib detainment facility in Iraq – "we have paid for it enormously," he said.
"We have fought for centuries for certain values we hold very dear," Petraeus told the Harvard audience. "We must continue to live those values."
American Forces Press Service
April 22, 2009 - When it comes to strategic leadership, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan boils his philosophy down to four basic tenets: Get the big ideas right. Educate – and if necessary, sell -- your subordinates on those ideas. Execute them together. Then identify lessons learned and best practices to improve the whole process. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, described his leadership philosophy yesterday at the John F. Kennedy School of Government on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.
During the forum, "21st Century Leadership: Lessons from the U.S. Military," Petraeus shared the process of strategizing, communicating and refining that he said guided his watch as commander of Multinational Force Iraq, and more recently, at Centcom.
The first responsibility, he told the group, is "to get the really big ideas right."
Petraeus pointed as an example to his experience in Iraq, where violence was soaring before the United States implemented a new strategy in early 2007 that deployed more troops into the communities they were protecting.
"We realized that we had to change some of the big ideas," he told the Harvard audience. "We had to focus on securing and serving the people -- that was No. 1. And you could only do that by living with them. ... You cannot commute to the fight."
After the "big ideas" are established, Petraeus emphasized the importance of educating subordinate leaders about them to ensure so everyone shares a common command vision.
"Ideally, they are so compelling, so convincing, so powerful that the leaders embrace them," he said. But if they don't, "sometimes there has to be a little help," he said. "You might have to hold their arms around them ... so they then can take these on as their own."
Once everyone is on the same sheet of music, the next step is to work together as a team to put those big ideas into action, Petraeus said, but the process can't stop there.
"There's a very important final element," he told the group. "You have to identify lessons learned. You have to feed them back in to refine the big ideas -- which then have to be transmitted to the subordinate leaders to change the way you are executing."
Petraeus said it's also critical to capture and share best practices. That "has to be an enormous part of this," he said.
Serving as the point man in Iraq, Petraeus also cited the importance of holding true to the principles of honesty and other closely held American ideals. He called the information operations campaign – the public affairs effort – "of enormous importance" to the operations in Iraq.
"We explicitly said, 'We are going to be first with the truth," he said. "We want to beat the bad guys to the headlines, but it has got to be the truth. If you have a bad day, we are going to step up to the mike and say we had a bad day. If you make a mistake, you are going to acknowledge it and say what we learned from it and how we are going to try to minimize the chance of such mistakes happening in the future.
"We are not going to put lipstick on pigs," he said. "If it was bad, we are going to say it was bad."
Not everyone agreed with this approach, Petraeus conceded. Some "very senior people" who visited him in Iraq told him, "Dave, you have a messaging problem over here," he said.
In the early days of the surge, Petraeus said, he "would look them in the eye and say, 'Sir, we don't have a messaging problem. We have a results problem. And we have to let the results speak for themselves.'"
People will recognize when the results start turning around, Petraeus said he told the naysayers. "The idea should be to under-promise and over-deliver."
As they conducted their operations, Petraeus said, he insisted that U.S. forces stay true to basic American principles. When they have strayed from these principles – as at the Abu Ghraib detainment facility in Iraq – "we have paid for it enormously," he said.
"We have fought for centuries for certain values we hold very dear," Petraeus told the Harvard audience. "We must continue to live those values."
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Leadership Conference
The mission of the Leadership Conference is to provide a balanced program that meets the variety of skill levels and interest levels of the conference audience. The workshop speakers are of the highest quality and represent the diversity of the leadership arena in our region.
In collaboration with a number of community associations, businesses and programs, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce presents a full-day conference that brings together the business community, leadership program participants and graduates to continue the leadership journey. The conference endeavors to aid participants in finding new ways to inspire and motivate themselves to higher levels of personal and professional development, and to achieve deeper commitments to leadership development.
This conference is held in the spring of each year. It is regional in scope and includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties. The conference is designed to deliver relevant personal and professional development programs to its participants that will improve knowledge, skills, and abilities. These workshops will provide in-depth content regarding hot topics that are related to emerging leadership issues.
The Leadership Conference achieves these purposes through the effective implementation of the following objectives:
To learn about emerging Leadership issues from experts in the field;
To learn about ways to strengthen one’s sense of personal well being (self/personal development);
To rejuvenate and renew (mind and spirit);
To refresh existing professional relationships and develop new ones; and,
To network with colleagues (intra and inter discipline and industry).
The conference audience is typically made up of private (Business); public (Government) and independent (Nonprofit) sector individuals; seasoned as well as novice leaders/professionals from all industries and disciplines; students in higher education; and leadership (i.e. Leadership Albuquerque; Leadership Sandoval) program participants and alumni.
The Leadership Conference curriculum is generally directly related to the above mentioned goal and objectives and includes but is not limited to those areas of interest which reflect:
Emerging and requisite Leadership skills, knowledge and abilities;
Leading-edge information as it relates to training, learning, and performance;
Trends in the workplace learning and performance fields; and,
Leadership case studies, innovations, best practices, and research strategies for performance improvement.
MORE INFORMATION
www.abqchamber.com
In collaboration with a number of community associations, businesses and programs, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce presents a full-day conference that brings together the business community, leadership program participants and graduates to continue the leadership journey. The conference endeavors to aid participants in finding new ways to inspire and motivate themselves to higher levels of personal and professional development, and to achieve deeper commitments to leadership development.
This conference is held in the spring of each year. It is regional in scope and includes Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, and Torrance counties. The conference is designed to deliver relevant personal and professional development programs to its participants that will improve knowledge, skills, and abilities. These workshops will provide in-depth content regarding hot topics that are related to emerging leadership issues.
The Leadership Conference achieves these purposes through the effective implementation of the following objectives:
To learn about emerging Leadership issues from experts in the field;
To learn about ways to strengthen one’s sense of personal well being (self/personal development);
To rejuvenate and renew (mind and spirit);
To refresh existing professional relationships and develop new ones; and,
To network with colleagues (intra and inter discipline and industry).
The conference audience is typically made up of private (Business); public (Government) and independent (Nonprofit) sector individuals; seasoned as well as novice leaders/professionals from all industries and disciplines; students in higher education; and leadership (i.e. Leadership Albuquerque; Leadership Sandoval) program participants and alumni.
The Leadership Conference curriculum is generally directly related to the above mentioned goal and objectives and includes but is not limited to those areas of interest which reflect:
Emerging and requisite Leadership skills, knowledge and abilities;
Leading-edge information as it relates to training, learning, and performance;
Trends in the workplace learning and performance fields; and,
Leadership case studies, innovations, best practices, and research strategies for performance improvement.
MORE INFORMATION
www.abqchamber.com
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Military and Police Books of the Year
January 9, 2009, (San Dimas, CA) American Heroes Press, the publishers of www.military-writers.com and www.police-writers.com, announced the results of their annual recognition.
About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books. Currently, the site lists nearly 800 servicemembers and their more than 2,400 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books. Currently, the website lists more than 1,000 state or local police officers and their more than 2,200 books. Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book. Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.
About the Awards
The Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year.
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the police officer. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a police officer in the previous year.
The Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, United States Marine Corps (ret.) was awarded the Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year for his book, Once a Marine.
On April 7, 2004, during the First Battle of Fallujah, Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch “was wounded in action. During a firefight with enemy insurgents, he was struck in the head by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade, fired from a rooftop into the commander’s hatch of his tank. He received numerous shrapnel wounds.” His injuries necessitated the removal of his right eye; and, “his remaining eye was legally blind. His right ear and nose sustained significant damage and an implant was placed in his skull.”
In his book, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery, Nick Popaditch describes how at first he “fights to get back to where he was in Iraq - in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick Popaditch fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick Popaditch fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way - the Marine way.”
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr., Oakland Police Department (ret.) was awarded The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 for his book BeatCop.
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr. was born and raised in the City of San Pablo, California, a suburb within the San Francisco Bay Area. His desire to be a police officer was formulated early in life. He became a police explorer scout, and later a reserve police officer with the City of San Pablo Police Department. At age twenty-one Jack Lundquist was drafted by the United States Army, and served as a Military Policeman at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Upon being honorably discharged, Jack Lundquist returned to the San Francisco Bay area. After a brief stint as a Reserve Police Officer he was hired by the Oakland Police Department. During his tenure he attended the University of San Francisco, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. His love for basic patrol work kept him in a marked police car for two separate periods, totaling twelve years. The remainder of the time was spent as criminal investigator, ending with a seven-year period in Vice.
According to the book description, BeatCop is “a book filled with stories from the career of a BeatCop working the perilous streets of a dodgy city. The author is a retired Oakland Police Officer, who patrolled the streets for twelve years. His stories cover the good, the bad, and the oh-shits, as well as the humor experienced by a BeatCop working a large city police department.”
American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
About the Websites
Military-Writers.com is a website that lists servicemembers from all branches of the United States Armed Forces who have authored books. Currently, the site lists nearly 800 servicemembers and their more than 2,400 books. Servicemembers are listed by name, branch, rank and type of book.
Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local law enforcement officials who have written books. Currently, the website lists more than 1,000 state or local police officers and their more than 2,200 books. Law enforcement officials are listed by name, department and type of book. Additionally, the website has separate sections which list federal law enforcement officials, international police officers and civilian police personnel.
About the Awards
The Military-Writers.com Book of Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the servicemember. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a servicemember in the previous year.
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 focuses solely on the written contribution made by the police officer. It is that book found by the panel of judges to be the most significant literary contribution made by a police officer in the previous year.
The Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year
Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch, United States Marine Corps (ret.) was awarded the Military-Writers.com 2009 Book of the Year for his book, Once a Marine.
On April 7, 2004, during the First Battle of Fallujah, Gunnery Sergeant Nick Popaditch “was wounded in action. During a firefight with enemy insurgents, he was struck in the head by an enemy Rocket Propelled Grenade, fired from a rooftop into the commander’s hatch of his tank. He received numerous shrapnel wounds.” His injuries necessitated the removal of his right eye; and, “his remaining eye was legally blind. His right ear and nose sustained significant damage and an implant was placed in his skull.”
In his book, Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery, Nick Popaditch describes how at first he “fights to get back to where he was in Iraq - in the cupola of an M1A1 main battle tank, leading Marines in combat at the point of the spear. As the seriousness and permanence of his disabilities become more evident, Nick Popaditch fights to remain in the Corps in any capacity, to help the brothers in arms he so aches to rejoin. Facing the inevitable following a medical retirement, he battles for rightful recognition and compensation for his permanent disabilities. Throughout his harrowing ordeal, Nick Popaditch fights to maintain his honor and loyalty, waging all these battles the same way - the Marine way.”
The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr., Oakland Police Department (ret.) was awarded The Police-Writers.com Book of the Year 2009 for his book BeatCop.
Jack R. Lundquist, Jr. was born and raised in the City of San Pablo, California, a suburb within the San Francisco Bay Area. His desire to be a police officer was formulated early in life. He became a police explorer scout, and later a reserve police officer with the City of San Pablo Police Department. At age twenty-one Jack Lundquist was drafted by the United States Army, and served as a Military Policeman at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.
Upon being honorably discharged, Jack Lundquist returned to the San Francisco Bay area. After a brief stint as a Reserve Police Officer he was hired by the Oakland Police Department. During his tenure he attended the University of San Francisco, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree. His love for basic patrol work kept him in a marked police car for two separate periods, totaling twelve years. The remainder of the time was spent as criminal investigator, ending with a seven-year period in Vice.
According to the book description, BeatCop is “a book filled with stories from the career of a BeatCop working the perilous streets of a dodgy city. The author is a retired Oakland Police Officer, who patrolled the streets for twelve years. His stories cover the good, the bad, and the oh-shits, as well as the humor experienced by a BeatCop working a large city police department.”
American Heroes Press Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Friday, January 09, 2009
Leadership Writer's Advice on Writing
I think that a book is like a child. Conception is conception - you get the idea. The book is born with the final manuscript. Production is the toddling years.
READ ON
http://bubblecow.blogspot.com/2009/01/raymond-foster-gives-advice-on-how-to.html
READ ON
http://bubblecow.blogspot.com/2009/01/raymond-foster-gives-advice-on-how-to.html
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Different Kind of Leadership Book!
I write police promotional textbook exams and assessments for a living [...]. I'm always seeking out new and cutting edge books in the fields of police supervision, management and leadership. So, I was very pleasantly surprised after I finished reading this unique leadership book. It presents an impressive amount of information on leadership in a fun and interesting format - with liberal use of relevant and humorous quotes, experiences and analogies. Your retention of the material will be extremely high because of the author's unique writing style and the attention-grabbing format. Both authors are highly qualified and experienced to present this material - but that's not the primary reason you should consider this book. If you are in law enforcement, entering law enforcement or looking to advance your law enforcement career, this book not only covers the basic leadrship experience in a way that is lively and interesting, it makes you relate to and almost experience the hardcore, daily struggle all law enforcement supervisors and managers have with how to select, train and "grow" quality law enforcement personnel. It took a lot of guts to write a leadership book in such a unique format. And guts is what you'll need in Poker .. and in Leadership ... and this book, if nothing else, will make you see how you can embody these leadership skills.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, December 05, 2008
Police Author Published in Overseas Text Book
December 5, 2008 (San Dimas, CA) In November 2008, the ICFAI Business School Research Center (Chennai, India) published Employee Morale: Concepts and Cases. Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA is the author of Chapter 12: Morale: Whose Job is it Anyway?
The ICFAI said of the book, the initiative “is to publish a series of books in the areas of finance, management and allied areas with a special focus on emerging and frontier areas.” Foster, the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, said that he was contacted by the ICFAI University in the Summer of 2007 about using an earlier article on employee morale as the basis for a chapter in the book. Foster continued, “we were just in the finishing stages of production on the leadership book when the Indian University contacted me. I liked two things about the proposal – the subject is particularity interesting to me and it was an opportunity to reach out to an additional 900 million readers.”
Foster noted that while the book has only recently reached US shores, it has been available in India since August 2008. Foster said, “I hadn’t seen a copy, but when I began to get a lot of email from India from students, academics and business professional about the book, I knew it must have been published.”
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA is the author of books subjects of policing, technology and leadership. His most recent book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work and other organizations for employee development. He is also a part-time faculty advisor, lecture and the Criminal Justice Department chair at the Union Institute and University. Raymond can be reached through www.pokerleadership.com
The ICFAI said of the book, the initiative “is to publish a series of books in the areas of finance, management and allied areas with a special focus on emerging and frontier areas.” Foster, the co-author of Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style, said that he was contacted by the ICFAI University in the Summer of 2007 about using an earlier article on employee morale as the basis for a chapter in the book. Foster continued, “we were just in the finishing stages of production on the leadership book when the Indian University contacted me. I liked two things about the proposal – the subject is particularity interesting to me and it was an opportunity to reach out to an additional 900 million readers.”
Foster noted that while the book has only recently reached US shores, it has been available in India since August 2008. Foster said, “I hadn’t seen a copy, but when I began to get a lot of email from India from students, academics and business professional about the book, I knew it must have been published.”
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA is the author of books subjects of policing, technology and leadership. His most recent book, Leadership: Texas Hold ‘em Style has been adopted by several universities for course work and other organizations for employee development. He is also a part-time faculty advisor, lecture and the Criminal Justice Department chair at the Union Institute and University. Raymond can be reached through www.pokerleadership.com
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Leadership in Tough Times
Times are getting tougher. Most of us are not the top person in leading our organization; we are line supervisors and middle managers; but it’s still getting tougher. While we don’t make the big decisions we have a responsibility to provide leadership for our organizations and for our followers. Indeed, if enough of us in the ranks make small adjustments the cumulative effect on our organizations may forestall the sweeping cut-backs coming from the top. We have a responsibility to act and here are five cards you can play:
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/leadership_tough_times.html
READ ON
http://www.pokerleadership.com/leadership_tough_times.html
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Life Coach
The November 21, 2008, program of the Watering Hole will feature a conversation with former Ontario Provincial Police Officer Julie Hryniewicz-Hache who is an author, speaker, trainer and life coach; “If you are looking to achieve goals or overcome self-imposed limitations, Julie is a Certified Coach Practitioner, with the Certified Coaches Federation, Julie will support and guide you towards the life goals you are looking to achieve.”
Program Date: November 21, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Life Coach
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/22/Life-Coach
About the Guest
Julie Hryniewicz-Hache is an inspirational speaker, life coach, author, and corporate trainer in the realm work/life balance and wellness. As former Ontario Provincial Police Officer in five separate Northern Ontario detachments, some of Julie's specialty positions included Hostage and Crisis Negotiator, Acting Detective Sergeant, Investigator with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and Casino Intelligence Liaison officer.
Following her policing career, Julie became a college level instructor in the Police Foundations and Criminal Justice Program. Using her experience in policing and as a front-line social service worker in child protective services, with young offenders, and facilitating social skills programs in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and low income housing complexes, Julie shares her journey of burnout and healing with others as a writer of magazine articles, columnist, host of a community online talk radio show, author of a book titled, "Natural Balance" as well as the audio CD program, "What Happened To My Tires?" on life balance.
Julie Hryniewicz-Hache is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with criminology studies from Lake Superior State University in Michigan towards her degree, as well as a Law Clerk diploma from the Ontario business college. Julie was recently a selected participant of the two-and-a-half week, 2008 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. For further information about Julie, her work, and her inspirational blog, you can visit her website at: www.MakeItWorkSeminars.com.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/22/Life-Coach
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Program Date: November 21, 2008
Program Time: 2100 hours, Pacific
Topic: Life Coach
Listen Live: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/22/Life-Coach
About the Guest
Julie Hryniewicz-Hache is an inspirational speaker, life coach, author, and corporate trainer in the realm work/life balance and wellness. As former Ontario Provincial Police Officer in five separate Northern Ontario detachments, some of Julie's specialty positions included Hostage and Crisis Negotiator, Acting Detective Sergeant, Investigator with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, and Casino Intelligence Liaison officer.
Following her policing career, Julie became a college level instructor in the Police Foundations and Criminal Justice Program. Using her experience in policing and as a front-line social service worker in child protective services, with young offenders, and facilitating social skills programs in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and low income housing complexes, Julie shares her journey of burnout and healing with others as a writer of magazine articles, columnist, host of a community online talk radio show, author of a book titled, "Natural Balance" as well as the audio CD program, "What Happened To My Tires?" on life balance.
Julie Hryniewicz-Hache is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with criminology studies from Lake Superior State University in Michigan towards her degree, as well as a Law Clerk diploma from the Ontario business college. Julie was recently a selected participant of the two-and-a-half week, 2008 Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference. For further information about Julie, her work, and her inspirational blog, you can visit her website at: www.MakeItWorkSeminars.com.
About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.
About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, law enforcement technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in law enforcement.
Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LawEnforcement/2008/11/22/Life-Coach
Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
American Heroes Story Contest
Law enforcement, fire, military and other emergency services personnel are our American Heroes. Did one of your parents, a sibling, a friend or even an anonymous American Hero touch your life? Who is your American Hero and what is their story? American Heroes Press is looking for the best stories about our heroes. You don't have to be a member of the law enforcement, fire, military or emergency services community to enter. You simply need to share your story concerning these unique individuals – whether funny, compelling or truly life-altering
The contest launches Nov. 3, 2008. We will accept submissions through Jan. 31, 2009. Winners will be announced April 1, 2009.
Grand Prize
One Grand-Prize-winning story will be selected. The author of the story will receive the following prizes:
Choice of $200 cash, or $250 credit toward an American Heroes Publishing package
Featured spot for his/her Grand-Prize winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
Runner-Up
One Runner-Up-winning story will be selected. The author of the story will receive the following prizes:
Choice of $100 cash, or $150 credit toward an American Heroes Publishing package
Featured spot for his/her Runner-Up winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
Finalists
Fifteen Finalist stories will be selected. Each finalist author will receive the following prizes:
Inclusion of his/her winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
All participants will be eligible to receive an electronic copy of the finished anthology.
CLICK HERE FOR CONTEST DETAILS
About American Heroes Press
American Heroes Press is more than just a means of publishing your book. It's a growing, active and innovative community of writers. Retired police Lt. Raymond E. Foster of the Los Angeles Police Department started this community in 2003. Today it offers a brand of publishing designed specifically for true American Heroes: police, military, firefighters and emergency workers. As an American Hero, great things are accomplished through teamwork. This community – this team – is here to help you achieve success with your literary work.
More information about American Heroes Press can be found at: www.americanheroespress.com
The contest launches Nov. 3, 2008. We will accept submissions through Jan. 31, 2009. Winners will be announced April 1, 2009.
Grand Prize
One Grand-Prize-winning story will be selected. The author of the story will receive the following prizes:
Choice of $200 cash, or $250 credit toward an American Heroes Publishing package
Featured spot for his/her Grand-Prize winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
Runner-Up
One Runner-Up-winning story will be selected. The author of the story will receive the following prizes:
Choice of $100 cash, or $150 credit toward an American Heroes Publishing package
Featured spot for his/her Runner-Up winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
Finalists
Fifteen Finalist stories will be selected. Each finalist author will receive the following prizes:
Inclusion of his/her winning story in the contest anthology
Printed and bound copy of the finished anthology
All participants will be eligible to receive an electronic copy of the finished anthology.
CLICK HERE FOR CONTEST DETAILS
About American Heroes Press
American Heroes Press is more than just a means of publishing your book. It's a growing, active and innovative community of writers. Retired police Lt. Raymond E. Foster of the Los Angeles Police Department started this community in 2003. Today it offers a brand of publishing designed specifically for true American Heroes: police, military, firefighters and emergency workers. As an American Hero, great things are accomplished through teamwork. This community – this team – is here to help you achieve success with your literary work.
More information about American Heroes Press can be found at: www.americanheroespress.com
Monday, November 03, 2008
No More “My Way or the Highway”: Embracing the 21st Century Workforce
Editor’s Note: Registration is free and open
On November 19, 2008, the National Institute of Corrections will host a live 3-hour satellite/Internet broadcast to provide an overview of the divisions related to generational differences and how to address them.
Collaboration within today’s multigenerational workplace gets everybody involved with a common goal. Today’s workforce poses both challenges and opportunities for agency leaders. Developing effective strategies to recruit, communicate, train, retain, and lead staff is essential to high performance.
Is your organization looking for answers to the following questions?
Why don’t the younger staff act more like me?
Why don’t these boomers just retire and give me a chance to promote?
How do we begin to prepare new leaders given our fiscal circumstances?
What does the future of our organization look like? Who’s next?
How do we prepare the next generation of leaders? (“Building the bench.”)
How do we help the last century’s workforce evolve into the new century’s workers?
Does your mission/vision statement reflect a commitment to staff?
MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION
http://www.nicic.gov/Training/SIB111908
On November 19, 2008, the National Institute of Corrections will host a live 3-hour satellite/Internet broadcast to provide an overview of the divisions related to generational differences and how to address them.
Collaboration within today’s multigenerational workplace gets everybody involved with a common goal. Today’s workforce poses both challenges and opportunities for agency leaders. Developing effective strategies to recruit, communicate, train, retain, and lead staff is essential to high performance.
Is your organization looking for answers to the following questions?
Why don’t the younger staff act more like me?
Why don’t these boomers just retire and give me a chance to promote?
How do we begin to prepare new leaders given our fiscal circumstances?
What does the future of our organization look like? Who’s next?
How do we prepare the next generation of leaders? (“Building the bench.”)
How do we help the last century’s workforce evolve into the new century’s workers?
Does your mission/vision statement reflect a commitment to staff?
MORE INFORMATION/REGISTRATION
http://www.nicic.gov/Training/SIB111908
Friday, October 31, 2008
Finding Leadership
Stop the presses! (or, the bytes)
My question is – have you done everything possible to make your print edition as successful as possible? The business of writing is like any other business. You have different streams of sales. Each of those streams has a maximum capacity. By adding an electronic version of your book you are concentrating on adding capacity, but not maximizing capacity in existing streams.
BTW, I have published through large houses and self-published. My last book I sold to two different publishers (one small press and one medium), but I didn’t like the deal – they didn’t share my vision and it was obvious their marketing efforts weren’t going to at least match mine. So, I self-published. The first anniversary of that book past on October 27th. We sold 1400 copies in that first year.
Since you have both a website and an Amazon listing, here are ten things you can do to make those streams work together.
1. Search engine optimize (SEO) your website. Yes, you have written a book that readers will read, but you need to design a website that search engines will find. Many authors have their sites SEO for their own names or the title of their book. Okay, who searches for you? I mean if they already knew about your book or you they would have bought it. You will need to do some research and find out what people are searching for that closely matches what your book is about. As an example, Google “leadership book” and “leadership books.” The site for my leadership book should appear, for “book” on the first page of Google; for “books” the second page; and for the word “leadership” four or five pages back. You can see as a search term becomes more valuable (in terms of potential site visitors) my site (www.pokerleadership.com) descends the list.
a. Make a list of three word, two word and then single words that people search for and when they do would make your book a potential sale.
b. Begin with the three word combinations and adjust your website (title, meta data, content and links, etc) to reflect those words. As time passes, you can work on making the two word, then the single “hot” word push you to the top of the search engines.
2. Sell your book – make the “purchase now” button or whatever super super easy to find. On my home page there are at least five different ways to “click to buy” People simply see things differently.
3. Become an Amazon Affiliate. Make any book purchases through your site go through Amazon.
a. You will pick up, minimally, an addition 6.5% on each sale.
b. You will increase your own Amazon rating.
c. You can now “book bundle” on your own.
4. Add some mechanism for purchasing a signed copy. I use a paypal function.
5. Offer similar books somewhere on your website. First, if you are an affiliate, a sale a is a sale. Second, if someone buys your book and one other that you recommend, Amazon begins to bundle those purchases. They will, in some manner, offer your book as an alternative to the other book. They have some secret formula, but Amazon has actually sent out an email recommending my book, based on purchases of other books – how do I know? Well, a two day spike in sales along with someone forwarding what they received to me.
6. Use Amazon.
a. Ask every reader you know or meet to write an Amazon review. Good, bad or indifferent, reviews create content which is findable by Amazon as well as third party search engines. BTW, everyone you know is everyone who can type – your spouse, children, etc.
b. Tag your book and encourage others to do so.
c. Make an Amazon list, with your book at the top.
7. Set a “Goolge Alert” on your name, book title and the key word phrases you identified when doing your SEO homework. This is really cool.
a. As an example, I set them up. Two months ago Google emails me and tells me that the title of my book has appear on a university website. I click on that and find that the book has been adopted (yes, the self-published book) by the President of the university for use in a course he teaches in the Anderson School of Management. I send him an email thanking him and making myself available for lecture. The result was: 1) a speaking fee 2) firming up the books use in four subsequent years 3) referrals to other professors teaching similar courses 4) the library buying a copy 5) referrals to other people in the industry.
b. Every time my “key words” come up in an alert I go and visit the site. I look for: 1) is this a site that can possibly list my book 2) is this person a potential reviewer 3) should I ask this person for link to my site. You see, the search engine has already identified the site by the alert as being meaningful to you – that means a link, listing, adoption, review, etc by that website owner is pre-qualified as valuable to the search engine and your SEO efforts.
8. Google those key words – look for courses, websites, people, etc. that can potentially use your book. Sometimes, I ask them if I can send them a review copy. Open a dialogue with that person and make them a salesperson of your work.
9. On your website, find a mechanism for “fresh content.”
a. Rotate small excerpts for your book.
b. Make sure you have google ad words, they change and create shifting content.
c. Use some RSS for news feed.
10. Start a “revision” or “new edition” file. On the “contact” page on your website, let readers know you have this file. People love to help, or at least think they are helping. They will find the errors, omissions and suggest new content. Open a real dialogue with your readers by telling them you have this file and are saving their comments for future editions.
Well, that’s a lot of information. If you think my comments are valuable and you want to ‘repay me’ 1) forward this to someone 2) link to my site 3) buy my bookJ
Raymond
My question is – have you done everything possible to make your print edition as successful as possible? The business of writing is like any other business. You have different streams of sales. Each of those streams has a maximum capacity. By adding an electronic version of your book you are concentrating on adding capacity, but not maximizing capacity in existing streams.
BTW, I have published through large houses and self-published. My last book I sold to two different publishers (one small press and one medium), but I didn’t like the deal – they didn’t share my vision and it was obvious their marketing efforts weren’t going to at least match mine. So, I self-published. The first anniversary of that book past on October 27th. We sold 1400 copies in that first year.
Since you have both a website and an Amazon listing, here are ten things you can do to make those streams work together.
1. Search engine optimize (SEO) your website. Yes, you have written a book that readers will read, but you need to design a website that search engines will find. Many authors have their sites SEO for their own names or the title of their book. Okay, who searches for you? I mean if they already knew about your book or you they would have bought it. You will need to do some research and find out what people are searching for that closely matches what your book is about. As an example, Google “leadership book” and “leadership books.” The site for my leadership book should appear, for “book” on the first page of Google; for “books” the second page; and for the word “leadership” four or five pages back. You can see as a search term becomes more valuable (in terms of potential site visitors) my site (www.pokerleadership.com) descends the list.
a. Make a list of three word, two word and then single words that people search for and when they do would make your book a potential sale.
b. Begin with the three word combinations and adjust your website (title, meta data, content and links, etc) to reflect those words. As time passes, you can work on making the two word, then the single “hot” word push you to the top of the search engines.
2. Sell your book – make the “purchase now” button or whatever super super easy to find. On my home page there are at least five different ways to “click to buy” People simply see things differently.
3. Become an Amazon Affiliate. Make any book purchases through your site go through Amazon.
a. You will pick up, minimally, an addition 6.5% on each sale.
b. You will increase your own Amazon rating.
c. You can now “book bundle” on your own.
4. Add some mechanism for purchasing a signed copy. I use a paypal function.
5. Offer similar books somewhere on your website. First, if you are an affiliate, a sale a is a sale. Second, if someone buys your book and one other that you recommend, Amazon begins to bundle those purchases. They will, in some manner, offer your book as an alternative to the other book. They have some secret formula, but Amazon has actually sent out an email recommending my book, based on purchases of other books – how do I know? Well, a two day spike in sales along with someone forwarding what they received to me.
6. Use Amazon.
a. Ask every reader you know or meet to write an Amazon review. Good, bad or indifferent, reviews create content which is findable by Amazon as well as third party search engines. BTW, everyone you know is everyone who can type – your spouse, children, etc.
b. Tag your book and encourage others to do so.
c. Make an Amazon list, with your book at the top.
7. Set a “Goolge Alert” on your name, book title and the key word phrases you identified when doing your SEO homework. This is really cool.
a. As an example, I set them up. Two months ago Google emails me and tells me that the title of my book has appear on a university website. I click on that and find that the book has been adopted (yes, the self-published book) by the President of the university for use in a course he teaches in the Anderson School of Management. I send him an email thanking him and making myself available for lecture. The result was: 1) a speaking fee 2) firming up the books use in four subsequent years 3) referrals to other professors teaching similar courses 4) the library buying a copy 5) referrals to other people in the industry.
b. Every time my “key words” come up in an alert I go and visit the site. I look for: 1) is this a site that can possibly list my book 2) is this person a potential reviewer 3) should I ask this person for link to my site. You see, the search engine has already identified the site by the alert as being meaningful to you – that means a link, listing, adoption, review, etc by that website owner is pre-qualified as valuable to the search engine and your SEO efforts.
8. Google those key words – look for courses, websites, people, etc. that can potentially use your book. Sometimes, I ask them if I can send them a review copy. Open a dialogue with that person and make them a salesperson of your work.
9. On your website, find a mechanism for “fresh content.”
a. Rotate small excerpts for your book.
b. Make sure you have google ad words, they change and create shifting content.
c. Use some RSS for news feed.
10. Start a “revision” or “new edition” file. On the “contact” page on your website, let readers know you have this file. People love to help, or at least think they are helping. They will find the errors, omissions and suggest new content. Open a real dialogue with your readers by telling them you have this file and are saving their comments for future editions.
Well, that’s a lot of information. If you think my comments are valuable and you want to ‘repay me’ 1) forward this to someone 2) link to my site 3) buy my bookJ
Raymond
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Gates Honors Career Civilian Employees for Service, Dedication
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
Oct. 21, 2008 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today honored career civilian employees from throughout the department, crediting them with providing extraordinary support to warfighters and their families while improving efficiency and saving taxpayer dollars. Gates presented seven employees the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest department honor recognizing exceptional contributions by a civil servant. He also presented the David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award that recognizes a nonmanagerial department employee who exhibits potential as a future federal executive.
"It has been an honor to work with the people in this department – professionals whose overriding priority is the defense of our nation," Gates told the honorees.
He noted the broad range of pursuits in which the group has excelled: providing housing for troops, fielding new weapons systems while ensuring support for troops in the field, teaching safety training to foreign partners, helping to stand up U.S. Africa Command, negotiating treaties with allies and training new leaders.
Gates conceded that it's not always fashionable in Washington to honor federal government employees, and that some politicians have been elected by criticizing the people they seek to lead.
"During my career, however, I have dealt with governments all over the world, and have found that the United States has the most dedicated, most honest and most capable public servants of any," he said.
The secretary praised dedicated career employees he said provide stability through leadership changes. "You are the foundation that allows the Defense Department, the largest and most complex organization on the planet, to operate smoothly and efficiently," he said.
"Public service can often seem to be a thankless job," he said, adding that he counsels young people to accept the challenges because, "in truth, the satisfactions far outnumber the difficulties."
Gates told today's honorees their decision to dedicate themselves to public service "is to the betterment of our 2.7 million men and women serving in the active and reserve armed forces and to our leaders here."
Michael L. Rhodes, acting director for the DoD Office of Administration and Management and host of today's awards ceremony, said the award recipients demonstrate the tremendous dedication public servants take on every day.
The winners were selected through an extensive review process that culminated in 25 nominations, Rhodes said. Ultimately, those chosen for honors today "have truly set themselves apart and proved themselves worthy," he said.
Honorees awarded today were:
-- Stephen A. Fleet, director of Missile Defense Agency's Warfighter Support Center, who was recognized for excellence in leading the center through rapid changes while providing vital support to the warfighter community;
-- Steven M. Huybrechts, a director in the DoD Networks and Information Integration Office, for championing the strategy that provided precision targeting, secure unmanned aerial vehicle operations while denying these capabilities to the enemy;
-- Frank D. Kenlon, a director in the DoD Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Office, for his roles as the lead negotiator on the Joint Strike Fighter memorandum of understanding and in drafting and negotiating the U.S.-United Kingdom and U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties.
-- Claudia S. Knott, the Defense Logistics Agency's acquisition management director, for leading programs that transformed the agency's business practices while improving customer service in its global logistics mission.
-- Barbara Estock Mays, deputy intelligence enterprise manager for the Defense Intelligence Agency, for applying innovative approaches to transfer responsibilities and design an intelligence enterprise for the new U.S. Africa Command.
-- John K. Russell, tactical safety specialist for Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Base Safety Center, for developing the Marine Corps' forward-deployed ground safety program during Operation Iraqi Freedom II that provided a model for follow-on operations there; and
-- Edmund G. Zelnio, an engineer in the Air Force Research Laboratory's Sensor Automatic Target Recognition Technology Division, for contributions leading to the successful deployment of new sensor and sensor exploitation technologies in numerous weapons systems.
Gates also presented Umit A. Spencer the David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. Spencer, housing maintenance contract monitor with the 354th Civil Engineering Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, was honored for excellence in improving and maintaining 1,474 military family housing units, 48 playgrounds and five athletic courts.
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