A few days ago Kevin Miller caught my attention. He posted a message to Chris Brogan on twitter asking where he could get a deal on a box of 20 of Chris’s latest book, Trust Agents. He wanted to send them to a few friends. I can only imagine what will come of Kevin Miller’s gifts.
A while ago I was unexpectedly laid off from work. I was pretty shaken. I remember dusting off my tools and putting my carpentry skills back to work to pay the bills. It was the rainy season here in Oregon, but I felt that I had no choice. I needed to continue working in some capacity as I waited to see if my job would exist when the lay off ended. It was a very discouraging time. I started to reevaluate everything from life goals to job satisfaction. Throughout the process my good friend, Jon Dale, was there to encourage and listen. Better yet, he sent me a book. After opening the surprise package and reading the first chapter, I knew he had seen a perfect opportunity to share a hopeful message that would change my perspective. He had followed through with action. The book helped me launch into everything I am doing today.
How often have you read a book and told a friend about it only to find out many months later that they still have not taken your advice and read it? I do it all the time. Someone suggests something, but I just don’t have the time to follow through. On the other hand, I have read every single book that a friend has sent me. There is something profound about a statement followed up by a package from Amazon. It says, “I think you need to hear this message so much that I put money behind it”. We have the power to help others change their lives and perspectives, change their world, and carry on that change. We have the opportunity to help those around us in a time when bad news abounds and dreams are being dashed. I’ll bet the pay off will far outweigh the cost of a few books and shipping.
Go ahead. Give a book away.
Over the years we have all seen situations that call for communication and connectivity within a group. Whether you went to a conference or needed information on a special interest, you probably have had the opportunity to join a web forum. These sites worked great for simple idea sharing, but they were very limited in scope and usability. It was difficult to post a video, and your information page was limited to a few links to your webpage and text. Also, on forums there is a tendency for individuals to hide behind avatars and screen names, taking away from transparency and authentic community participation.
