This week is the official launch week for Epic Content Marketing, second edition.
If you’d like to help (of course you do), please buy or share with your marketing or business friends this week. It is much appreciated.
But…you ask…how did EPIC2 happen? Isn’t one version of Epic enough?
A little over a year ago I was in an online discussion group with some marketers talking about the future of content marketing and my latest book. Attending was my friend Brian Piper.
Every year Brian and I would chat (and have a drink or two) at Content Marketing World. I knew a few things about Brian. First, that he taught at the University of Rochester. Second, that he jumped out of planes. And third, that he LOVED the first edition of Epic Content Marketing (he told me many times how it changed his career).
So, of course, I liked Brian because he liked me 😉.
In this online discussion Brian was asking me some questions about my current book at the time, Content Inc., and here is how it played out.
Brian immediately shot me an email and asked me if I was serious.
I told him I was serious. I also told him to really think about if he wanted to do this. Brian would take point on all the interviews and the initial draft, so he would be carrying the heavier burden (by far). He said he was up for it (to his wife’s dismay most likely).
On November 1, 2021 I sent an email off to McGraw-Hill asking if there was interest (there was). Two weeks later, Brian and I submitted a book proposal to MH. Exactly one month later it was approved and we were ready to go.
And 16 months later, EPIC2 is being born.
Why should you care about this story?
Many people who read this newsletter are not authors, but want to be.
There are a lot of amazing books in your industry that should be updated with a new edition, but…
- maybe the author isn’t thinking about it.
- maybe they don’t have time.
- maybe they don’t want to do the work.
But, perhaps, you’d like to take on this role.
I can think of dozens of books out there that need a second edition. Can you? I bet you can.
I’m so happy Brian asked me the question and agreed to co-author Epic with me. Maybe there is an opportunity out there for you as well.
Add this to Your Bucket List
Two weeks ago I went on a Caribbean cruise with my wife and friends to the Cayman Islands (Georgetown), Jamaica (Ocho Rios) and the Bahamas (Nassau).
As you know, I’m a big fan of cruises. I love the floating hotel concept where I can get a small taste of a location (to see if I want to come back at some point) and then move on to the next spot.
The big surprise on this cruise was Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica.
To tell you how I make decisions, my wife and I watched a movie called Like Father starring Kelsey Grammer and Kristen Bell. The movie takes place mostly on a cruise ship where they just happened to go to Jamaica and visit a “falls-like area.”
I did a bit of research and found out that Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica is one of the island’s biggest tourist attractions. We received a free excursion with our cruise, and so we quickly booked a day at the falls.
I expected a tour through a falls area, possibly with water dripping on my head and looking at the beautiful sites of Jamaica. What I received was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
As we arrived, we descended hundreds of feet to drop off all our belongings at a locker area. We were told we’d get 100% wet, so we deposited our goods and had a bottle of Red Stripe beer (brewed in Jamaica) before taking on the falls.
We made it to the beach, turned around, and saw the falls (see picture). We were told we were going to travel up into the Falls almost 1,000 feet (Wikipedia says 600, but 1,000 is totally believable). In order to make it through, our group of 30 needed to form a human chain, hand-in-hand, in order not to fall. But don’t worry, anyone with solid knees can do the trip (there were many in our group who were almost 80 years old… they were a bit slower but did just fine.).
Upon completion, we all looked at each other like we really accomplished something. It’s one of those unforgettable experiences that I cannot recommend highly enough.
So put it on your bucket list. You won’t regret it.
10 Things I’ll Regret on My Deathbed
I’ve been following Sahil Bloom on LinkedIn for quite some time. I appreciate his mix of business and personal growth advice. This week, a post from Sahil truly made an impact. Please check out the original post, but the 10 things include:
1. Not spending enough time with my kids during the magic years.
2. Not spending enough time with my parents during their remaining years.
3. Not training my body and mind during my middle years.
4. Allowing true friendships to atrophy over time.
5. Allowing negativity to linger in my life.
6. Letting money control my life.
7. Not leaving something that lasts beyond my life.
8. Wasting precious time stressing about stupid little things.
9. Not working on things I consider meaningful.
10. Allowing my quest for more to distract me from the beauty of enough.
A couple things that stand out to me:
The first is health. I have a number of family and friends that are not in the best physical condition right now. I’ve heard from so many of them how they’d wish they’d taken their health more seriously when they had the chance.
Treasure the time you have with kids and family. Being new empty nesters, we love our new home, but we also find as much time as possible to visit our kids. Same goes for our parents. You have to make the time.
As my wife will attest, I get a new business idea almost daily. When I do, I quickly weight that idea against time with my family, my friends, and what’s the most important. Before doing anything about the idea, I generally get to the point that enough is enough.
What stands out to you?
What I’m Working On Today
Outside the launch of Epic Content Marketing, here are the things I’m working on right now where I’d love your support.
My first marathon. On April 23rd, I’ll be running in my first-ever marathon in Toledo, Ohio at the Glass City Marathon. Last week I ran 44 miles (my most ever in a week) and 19 miles on Sunday (my most in a day). Simply send positive thoughts that I survive the race in one piece.
Creator Economy Expo on May 1-3rd in Cleveland. If you’d like to go and can’t afford it, email me. We have a few scholarships available for creators who need some financial assistance.
100 Holes of Golf (May 15th in Elyria, Ohio). I’m raising money for the 4th year in a row by golfing 100 holes in a day. Please support me if you can at this link. All proceeds to go kids who need speech therapy but cannot afford it.