6.1.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Start at the end.

6.1.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Start at the end.

The following is a pre-publication excerpt from NONFICTION BRAND—Discovering, crafting and communicating the 'completely true / completely you' brand—you already are. Keep your eyes out for its publication in early 2021. This is actually from the very last section of the book, which (of course) I wrote very early on in the process. - DP Knudten Step out of the shadows, and into your personal brand spotlight. If you’re reading this, you’ve either skipped ahead…
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5.30.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Green-flagged the <emFocus on your expertise.</em>section.

5.30.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Green-flagged the section.

I am so pleased to say that this section of the book is completely done, and has been awarded a green flag in Scrivener indicating that. It doesn't mean I won't be doing a final editing pass as I get this beast closer to publication, but for now, I don't have to worry about writing this section any more.- dp Focus on your expertise— but make sure it’s based on your experience. The concept of…
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5.27.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / So why are you on the cover?

5.27.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / So why are you on the cover?

Last night's BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build was plagued by tech problems. The result was I didn't get a lot of writing done. So rather instead of a true 'daily build' post, I'm posting a section of the book that I wrote earlier in the process, long before I started this blog series. Good thing too, as it explains why I'm not at all shy about including my photo on the cover of the book.…
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5.26.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Face2Face & Face2Feed.

5.26.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Face2Face & Face2Feed.

The incredible power of Face2Face & Face2Feed. You don’t have to be an old-school Willy Loman-style sales person to understand the unparalleled power of the face2face meeting. Just think about it in your own life. Who are the people you most trust? Most depend on? Most recommend to others? I’m reminded of this fact by the fact that Mark Williamson is out in our backyard finishing up replacing a old deck with a new one.…
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5.22.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Beginning ‘Focus on your expertise.’

5.22.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Beginning ‘Focus on your expertise.’

Focus on your expertise. But make sure it’s based on your experience. The concept of personal branding is sound, but I think the way some people practice it feels a little bit icky to some. And for good reason. Think about the typical ‘follow your dreams’ inspirational quote posting guru-wannabe on any of the popular social media channels out there. Or the dude flaunting his late-model testosterone-fueled roadster. And what about the ‘ten ways to…
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5.21.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Found that Scott Galloway quote

5.21.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Found that Scott Galloway quote

Here's an update to my BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build post of two days ago. As you'll recall, I was writing about the power of podcasting, and wanted to use a quote I heard on the Pivot podcast from the brilliant Scott Galloway. I thought I'd never find it—but after speed-listening to about 30 old episodes, I found it and was able to transcribe it and drop it in the manuscript. Here's the revised copy:…
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5.20.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Book Intro

5.20.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Book Intro

Ok, so this is a little bit of a cheat. I didn't do much new writing in the book last night, and chose to spend my livestream time to do a little formating cleanup instead. Rather than not post something from the book today, I'm posting something the introduction to the book I wrote something like 70 livestreams ago. -dp “I am not a fiction writer.” A long time ago, at the very start of…
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5.19.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Writing ‘Your Podcast or Their Podcast? BOTH.’

5.19.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Writing ‘Your Podcast or Their Podcast? BOTH.’

Everyone who’s been paying attention has at least an inkling of the power of podcasting. As I write this, it was just announced that the #2 most popular podcast on Apple Podcasts, The Joe Rogan Experience, was picked up as an exclusive that will only be available on Spotify. While I haven’t seen any numbers yet, industry analysts think the deal was not in the millions, but tens of millions of dollars. Good job, Joe.…
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5.18.2020 / BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More on Expertise Laryngitis

5.18.2020 / BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More on Expertise Laryngitis

More about Expertise Laryngitis Expertise Laryngitis affects way too many people who have the goods to share valuable information and expertise for any number of reasons including, but not limited to, not know how or where to do it, lack of personal confidence, having no idea of how to get started, etc. You can literally create an endless list of reasons rationalizing your non-decision decision to sit on the sidelines. Back in the day of…
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5.17.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Worse than Imposter Syndrome

5.17.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Worse than Imposter Syndrome

Worse than Imposter Syndrome. By now, everybody’s heard about Imposter Syndrome, right? That thing were even if you’re been working diligently in the same business sector for decades you still have this gnawing suspicion that you really don’t belong there? That for all your hard-earned expertise, you still shouldn’t be openly sharing your thoughts about it as there are ‘real’ experts out there that know everything about the big picture when you’re only truly expert…
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5.16.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More on Strategic Authenticity.

5.16.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More on Strategic Authenticity.

Last night's BOOKWARD BOUND was cut short by technical difficulties, but I did manage to get some writing done before going suddenly dark. III. Knowing who you are. So you can be it. You just knew I was going to bring up this dual concept phrase pair again. It is the base pair concert of NonFiction Branding after all. To be 100% authentic is laudable. The share 100% of yourself is a mistake, and for…
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5.15.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More re: Strategic Authenticity

5.15.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More re: Strategic Authenticity

So what elements make up a sound Authenticity Strategy? The quickest answer to this question is ‘this whole book.’ It’s filled with ideas, frameworks, suggestions and processes that can help you, but let’s just focus on three important aspects of any well-founded authenticity strategy. I. The varnished truth. Do you have one of those friends who always ‘tells the truth’ regardless of its fallout? The ‘keeping it real’ jerk who may in fact be telling…
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5.14.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More re: Strategic Authenticity

5.14.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / More re: Strategic Authenticity

Authenticity’s evil twin: TMI. Too much information. The word authenticity has many meanings. Depending on who you are talking to, it could mean anything from ‘keeping it real’ (whatever that means) to oversharing about every aspect of your life, all the way down to your medical history. In some cases, and places, that can make sense and be incredibly freeing. In others, not so much. Strategic authenticity is about those ‘not so much’ situations. Let…
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5.13.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Strategic Authenticity

5.13.2020 BOOKWARD BOUND / Daily Build / Strategic Authenticity

Strategic Authenticity. Is there such a thing? Is it even possible to be both strategic in your goals, and authentic in your execution at the same time? Some people would say no. That to be authentic, you must let go all restraint and live a life completely unfettered by bourgeois considerations. To be truly authentic (for some) is to wallow in self. “I’m just telling you exactly what I feel at this exact moment in…
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