• Here we go (Again!)

    Posted on March 28th, 2011 by and currently 19 commenting.

    All Books on Deck!
    Those of us not on the road took this photo this morning just for you.Even though Dodds is in it, he took it!

    “Let your passion shine. Share who you are and what you stand for with the world. Your hopes, your dreams, your life. Then like magic, you’re going to start drawing kindred spirits toward you.”

    I believe that set of words with all my heart and soul. I try hard to feel and live those words.

    Every. Single. Day.

    About six months ago, our lives at Brains on Fire changed as a book we birthed hit the shelves and online retailers. We put our thoughts and passion out there for the whole word to see.

    It’s been exciting. Humbling. Scary. Weird. Fun.

    All that.

    I have to imagine it’s different being an author in this connected world of ours than is was, oh say, 8 years ago. Yea, change happens fast these days. As authors, you can and do connect with a lot of your readers.

    We have honestly found some amazing kindred spirits.

    Since the book has been released six months ago, we’ve also learned a lot.

    Some dreams have come true as some super smart folks have engaged in conversation with us after reading about our lessons learned. Frankly, that was one of our goals and dreams with the book:

    We wanted to ignite a conversation that sparked continued learning for us all.

    When the advanced copies first came out we gave away twenty books. Now that the real deal is out and circulating we’ve decided to do it again. So, tell us…

    What would you do with twenty free books?

    How would you use those twenty books to start something meaningful?

    Okay. Go! Share your ideas with everyone in the comments below.

    We’ll announce the winner next Monday.

  • http://www.signatureworldwide.com Cara Posey

    As the new Director of Marketing, I would share the 20 books with members of our staff who are responsible for Signature Worldwide’s social media voices. These staff members are dedicated to our company but need motivation and encouragement to let our company voice truly shine. Our company values statement is “At Signature, we do it right, do it well, make it fun, are proud of it and pass it on.” I want to take this statement off the poster and infuse it in the way we do business. Our company is known by our clients as fun and inspiring…I want to help the staff here find their voices and carry that through everything we do and say and all the relationships that we build.

    Brains on Fire inspired me as I started in marketing and communications a few years ago. Please help me inspire the people at my new company! Thank you.

  • http://adpr4300.wordpress.com Gee Ekachai

    I am teaching Emerging and Social Media class with 20 intelligent, enthusiastic and engaging students. I would give each student a copy of your dynamic book to further his/her knowledge and will power to improve ways long-term relationship building with stakeholders are suppose to be. Wouldn’t it be cool and gratifying to know you’re helping the next generation of savvy but strategic communicators?

  • http://superheromarketing.net Doug Greathouse

    I have a web video series entitled Entrepreneur Spotlight http://www.superheromarketing.net/category/entrepreneur-spotlight/ . Entrepreneur Spotlight is an interview series where I interview local entrepreneurs as well as heads of non – profits about entrepreneurship and about their particular business. I would give the books as a thank you to all guests who appear on the show as well as promote the book on the show. I will also use three of the books for a as yet to be determined contest ( something revolving around entrepreneurship possibly – best story). We also do blog post interviews with non – local entrepreneurs.

  • http://www.greenvillesbdc.wordpress.com Melissa Thomas

    As a business consultant with the Greenville SBDC, we consult with over 250 clients every year who are starting their own small business or who already own their own small business. The Brains on Fire book would be a great resource to have on hand for clients who show the potential to start campaigns and have their brand go viral. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and this is one way to contribute to the success and growth of just a few more here in Upstate SC. Thanks for the opportunity and please keep on doing what you’re doing!

  • http://womma.org Tarah Remington Brown

    As the Director of Member Relations at the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, I would use the books to education our brand members — share really outstanding insights, key learnings, and best practices that live within this book. I think the foundations of WOM are key to any successful and meaningful program and this book offers that. Education is key to driving the WOM industry.

    Disc: BOF is a WOMMA governing member and I (heart) them!

  • Chris Bohlen

    If i had 20 of the Brains on Fire books i would give them to the Marketing department at Augustana College. While reading the book i had so many Ah Ha moments that i wish i could have had while in school. My prof. seemed to want us to go with the gain, follow the crowd and not encouraged to let us think outside the box. This book might be able to help change a few minds, and possibly change the future !

  • http://Pointoforder@squarespace.com Tyler durden

    Please allow this comment in your ‘cone of safety’ zone. I’m a serial kleptomaniac, and have easily passed out over a dozen copies already. Perlioned, in the service of the greater good. As I near the 20 mark, I see a constant lowest common denominator among the recipients-passion. Passionate people, ready to be instigated into something bigger. People who can be inspired. Inspired into action, inspired to love. Don’t worry, I’ll make you whole if this thing ever gets profitable.

    Okden, hugs.

    And please lock the rest up, before I strike again.

  • http://www.wiprowess.com Craig Kinley

    I am currently instructing a High school Jr. Achievement Entrepreneur class on a business simulation program. In the short 7 weeks of working with them, I have found who has the passion in their blood and who can be adopted to be a business professional. I would use the 20 Brains on Fire books as parting gift to the students and their next instruction manual to gaining next steps in the creative business world. Although we would need 25 books to fulfill the requirements, I am willing to purchase the balance to make sure every student including the teacher received the creative business gift.

  • http://legalresearch.com Matt L

    20 copies of the book. I’d keep one, leaving 19.

    I’d give one to my current boss and to each of her two bosses, the heads of our company. These folks are great business persons, but get a bit anxious when it comes to marketing and reaching out to customers. And trying to convince them to give things away for free is pretty difficult.

    I’d give one each to our copywriter and to our top customer service person. These young’uns are the future of the company and bring a ton of energy and enthusiasm to our status meetings. They are eager to help develop new products and services for our customers and I would hope that your book would help them think outside the box and embrace creative ideas that they are passionate about.

    14 left. I’d give two copies to Jeff #1, my first real boss in the corporate world who gave me a big chance by moving me across the country for an admin position within a marketing department. He has his own small little agency now, along with some other projects, and I would hope that your book would encourage him to continue to pursue those passions.

    I’d give one to Jeff #2, another boss, who is trapped well within the confines of the box because deep down, I love the guy, and want him to have something other than spreadsheets to look at.

    Jon and Greg would each get a copy, along with Courtney, their designer. They represent my first agency job. We all learned a lot together during that time, including various methods for bending over for clients. In those days we needed a lot of encouragement for sticking to our guns and not continuing to simply make the logo bigger for our clients.

    I’d send two copies to Pittsburgh for Saul and BK, at the PR firm that gave me a chance out East. I learned so much about how to talk to clients from Saul, and about how to get creative. One day I hope to have the opportunity to return the favor by hiring his firm to help my business.

    7 copies left. I’d give a copy to my long-time drummer, who runs a successful construction company. He’s constantly asking me for marketing help – and I oblige. He hates reading, but would enjoy your book, I’m sure. We like our monthly man-dates when we get good beer and brainstorm get-rich-moderately-quick schemes, and I think your books would help inspire us there.

    Luke, an old coworker, would get a copy. He’s trudging through the corporate world for a company with a modest budget. I sure don’t envy that position. I would like to think that your book would inspire him and give him some hope.

    That leaves me with five copies. I’d save those copies for a little while. After everyone had a chance to read your book, I’d ask them what they thought. I’d ask them how it moved them, changed their thinking or changed their approach to their job or business. I’d give the remaining five copies to whoever became the biggest evangelist for the philosophy behind the book.

    Thanks!

  • http://www.wta.org LaurenB

    I’m the communications director for a wonderful non-profit hiking trails organization, and we ask a lot of our program staff, from photos to story gathering to volunteer profiles. As a result, their communications work is tactic-oriented and we produce a lot of engaging content, but it’s not particularly personal or fun for them.

    I’d pass it along to all 19 members of our staff and our Board President. I’d tuck in a hand-written note and a coffee card. Reading a whole book is a lot to ask. The note will ask them to please read the introduction. If they don’t want to continue the book, give it back. I know how hard it is to put this book down after the introduction!

  • http://CabbageWise.com Mary Helsel

    Brains On Fire is at the top of my list! I would give M.E. one for my birthday on April First, 2011.
    Then, for my little lunch cafe, which has yet to be named for its passion and culture, I would subject its thirsty souls who come in for soup and a moment to enjoy, to Brains On Fire. As a hungry soul seeks the food for the brain, I will observe and learn for whom the new book belongs. One Brain On Fire at a time. The cafe will be openning soon in the Historic Treasure Loft Building in Richfeild Ohio. April First will be a special date this year!

    To Think Easy!
    hugs, Mary Evelyn

  • Cheri Allbritton

    Like Jeff, I would keep a copy for myself and make five copies available to our division Vice President who is a member of the Social Media council within our company (within our parent company). I would send a copy to a Vice President in our Parent Company who just blogged a few weeks ago intracompany asking why we thought it was important for our company/brand to have a presence on Social Media outlets because he didn’t get it. (I thought that was brave of him to say actually). I would make 6 copies available to my Twitter community in a contest of sorts. The remaining 7 copies would be presented to my top 7 business customers who have been slow to recognize and embrace a more forward way of establishing their brand beyond traditional methods. It would be my way of staying engaged with more fully with the folks that have loyally supported my brand and an additional avenue I can show my loyalty for their businesses.

  • http://ericmarden.com/ Eric Marden

    Educating the masses! I’d like to ensure a couple of copies get in the hands of our clients (many of which are new digital agencies looking for Dev Support). I’d also drop off a couple copies to get them into the Chicago Public Library System. The final copies would go to our interns and/or be used as giveaways at the upcoming WordCamp Chicago.

  • http://brainsonfire.com Robbin

    Thanks for all the responses so far! I love to read these ideas. Cordell and I were out traveling and I got so excited every time I saw it in the airport he said, buy one and give it to the guy at the cash register. Just make his day! Might do it next week when I go to NYC.

    Hmm.

  • http://eqconsultantsgroup.com/site Elizabeth Quintanilla

    I would give the 20 books to my sister. She has one of the most rewarding and hardest jobs in the world – a high school teacher. Not just any teacher but teaches those “special” children – the ones that come from the poorest, the outcasts, the pregnant, and the trying to find something better than gang life after high school. All of her kids have graduated and some our even serving our country before being able to legally drink alcohol. She spends her days daily making sure that her kids’ Brains ARE on Fire.

    They are the future generation and the ones who will be making tough decisions about the rest of their lives. That book would be a great high school graduation gift to her kids.

    My sister inspires me daily.

  • http://healthtalker.com Andy Levitt

    How great – 20 free books to share and use to spread the word about spreading the word!

    I would give away the 20 books to pharmaceutical marketers to help them understand the importance of creating a movement about health conditions. As your book so elegantly reveals, too many marketers spend their energy on ‘campaigns’, and we want them to understand the value in integrating WOM into the DNA of how they market their products. It’s ok when I tell them this over and over again; it’s even better when I can support my story with yours!

    The end game here, of course, is not just to help me build our business. It’s about engaging PEOPLE (which as you point out are the killer app!), and empowering them to have important conversations about healthcare topics that matter to them. So from 20 books that you share with me, you could be a catalyst to influence MILLIONS of people who would engage in WOM that matters to them.

    Thanks in advance for your inspiration – keep up the great work!!!

  • http://hametzforhunger.org Daniel C. Petter-Lipstein

    I want to share a story about childhood hunger in America I recently heard:

    When a teacher at a local elementary school in Oklahoma recently asked her students what they had for dinner the night before, one little girl named Amanda responded that she hadn’t eaten dinner last night because it wasn’t her “turn.” Amanda and her siblings actually take turns eating dinner in order to have enough food to last the week.

    My wife and I are proud to be Americans, but ashamed at how many millions of American children suffer from hunger like Amanda. Especially as parents, we find it unfathomable that children like our very own go to school in the morning without breakfast or fall asleep at night having last eaten hours ago or not at all.

    We started a project to raise awareness about childhood hunger in America and we would like to have it catch fire, I think the book would really help. So we would keep one copy.

    The other 19 we would give to 19 different people who we believed deeply would each use it to help them in their daily work they engage in to give voice to the voiceless, power to the powerless and to shine a light on the dark corners of our world so that each day a little more joy and a little less suffering would hopefully emerge. Through the power of WOM as taught by BOF, this could be a force for exponential positive change where little deference is given to the powerful and great compassion is provided to the weak.

    Thank you for all the work you do to inspire and for arranging this contest.

  • http://thetweenandme.com Paula

    As a newbie blogger who’s all about spreading the word, I’d take them to one of the upcoming conferences I’m attending and give them out to other bloggers. I’d actually give two each to 10 bloggers and ask them to keep and read one and give away the second.

    I’ll BUY my copy, since I completely believe in what you’re working to accomplish!! :)

  • http://communitycc.net @ryandupre

    There church where I work wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our awesome teams of volunteers and volunteer leaders. We as the staff just make sure those volunteers have what they need to help people celebrate, connect, and contribute. Our band leaders, parking folks, child care people, and everyone that makes contact with people (all of us) could really benefit from checking the book out, spreading the love, and making the most of all our face to face interactions!