The Jan Black Blog - Expressed

Easiest to Easiest

2009-09-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Go Gladys

2009-09-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Right now, we are watching Amazon like the thermometer on a really hot day. We keep checking in to watch "Gladys" rise on the Amazon charts. Our friends Marilyn Suttle and Lori Jo Vest have co-authored a book, Who's Your Gladys? How to Turn Even the Most Difficult Customer into Your Biggest Fan. It hit bookstores last week, but today is its debut online. The goal is to reach Amazon's Bestseller List in one day.

Please help them do it. Visit www.whosyourgladys.com and buy your copy.

But Wait! There's More! Look at the list of bonus offers and guess what you'll see!? Our Ludi-Q's Customer Service Mini-Kit there near the top of the bonuses. It's free. It's new. And we can't wait for you to have your own.

If you've already bought the Gladys book, you can still pick up the free Customer Service Mini-Kit at www.ludiqs.com/landing.

And while I'm at it, here's some more news: The Ludi-Q's book is now available in pre-publication form as an eBook. Only $9.95 or buy the Starter Kit with a book, printed Workplace deck, printed Clarity Tablet, and introductory Ludi-Lab for only $19.95 (limited time). www.ludiqs.com/shop.

Soon,

J.

Living Unreasonably - What it sometimes takes

2009-09-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

If you visit theclearing.com and find your way to its philosophy statement, you will read an artful description of not only how one company operates, but what intense focus requires. Credit for it goes to my friend and colleague, Chris McGoff, founder and CEO.

One line of the philosophy statement was particularly helpful to us at Quiddity during a recent and lengthy period of what McGoff would call “living unreasonably.” Our team set any notion of a balanced life aside for a time of intense product refinement and preparation. We were helped to endure it by this line in The Clearing’s philosophy statement: “The only person or thing that goes into a clearing is that which is necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.”

The desired outcomes in our case were achieved, and two of them are presented below. A third and fourth outcome will be announced soon.

Real

2009-09-05T10:07:00.001-07:00

We Three Kings of Autoland Are

2008-11-25T09:22:00.000-08:00

I woke up with "We Three Kings" playing in my head and suddenly it became a parody of the big three automakers flying to Washington.

Time ran out and I had to stop in the middle. Want to help me finish it?

We three kings of Autoland are

In our jets to salvage a car

Heeled and poutin', sore and countin'

Begging to fill our jar.

O Car of blunder, car of blight

Car with bailout in its sight

Downward leading, still proceeding…

…your turn!

There are many ways to be a mammal.

2008-11-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting in my favorite chair for hours this past weekend watching a marathon of YouTube videos I discovered on the TED channel when I hear National Geographic photographer Franz Lanting say "There are many ways to be a mammal." I become a merkat at attention.

Three days later I'm still holding the pose, the sentence looping through my mind, entertaining me. I watch the news and think "Yes, Franz, there are many ways to be a mammal." Someone asks me, "Can you believe what she just did?" And I answer, "There are many ways to be a mammal." It shows up again as I trail off to sleep last night, and I grin.

This mammal continues to be easy prey for the well-shaped phrase.

Hear Franz speak them for yourself - and be amazed at his photographic journey narrated in a sweet, understated way at YouTube