Five Great News Stories You're Sitting On Right Now

Smaller companies don't always have the budget - or inclination - to retain a PR hotshot to tell the world about their business success, but that doesn't mean they aren't a ready source of news.

The problem is it's often dull news which is ignored by all except the industry press and quite rightly so in most cases. If you land a contract, you issue a press release. If you take on a new senior sales rep, you issue a press release. Attending an exhibition? Press release, natch. These are simply announcements that you are doing what you do, that it's business as usual.

With a little lateral thinking, however, you could be issuing press releases throughout the year which present topics and subjects that'll have editors from all disciplines chasing you for the full story. Below I've presented just five brainstormers to get the creative juices flowing.

o Your Survey Says...

Even though I know nothing about your company, the odds are that you have the time and resources to carry out a survey which could get you some coverage if it's implemented and reported properly.

Concentrate on your niche, whether that's your industry or expertise. Keep it relatively simple, but ensure the final results have the potential to grab headlines. For example, if you're a butcher, you could ask 100 people if they would give up bacon if their partner issued an ultimatum. '4 Out of 10 Choose Bacon Over Marriage' is going to get an editor's attention!

But be honest about your methodology. If you've simply polled a handful of your colleagues, don't try to pass it off as a six-month research project.

Some journalists won't touch a survey story with a barge poll unless it's been carried out with the kind of planning that goes into a Nasa shuttle launch, but others might find it useful, particularly if it's a fun subject and doesn't take itself too seriously.

o Your Opinion Counts

Surf the major news sites - try Google News for starters:

http://news.google.com/nwshp?hl=en&gl=us

Ask yourself what you or your boss would have to say about the main news stories of the day. Or perhaps a current event impacts directly on your industry. Pretty soon you're going to have a story to tell.

A property solicitor in Scotland did this and the resulting story is great - here's the intro:

"Scottish property solicitor criticises Gordon Brown's tax U-turn.

A leading Scottish property solicitor has criticised Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown's decision to abolish without notice the exemption for deprived areas from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), saying that the measure would have an adverse impact upon the commercial property market in Scotland."

Full story: http://www.clickpress.com/releases/Detailed/542005cp.shtml

o Your Opinion Counts 2 - Straight to the Editor's Desk

While serving as editor of business magazines in the past, there have been times when PR companies have contacted me following publication with some kind of gripe regarding coverage of their company or client.

Disgruntled PR people are often being beaten hard with large sticks by CEOs and senior management who just don't 'get media', so their persistence is somewhat understandable.

But 9.98 times out of 10 the PR exec is simply not going to get what they want - some kind of full-page, front-cover apology and glowing testimonial signed by the publisher himself printed with a photo of the editor's public execution.

Every time I let them down I did say: "Write in - we're always keen to receive letters to the editor." I'd guess one in 20 actually went ahead and did so, but you know what? If every one of them wrote in I would almost certainly have printed them all. Good editors embrace transparency - if you disagree with them or their reporters they're likely to print your letter.

o Happy Birthday

At the very most you're 364 days away from some company milestone and if you put your mind to it you may find a few anniversaries just around the corner.

Don't limit yourself to the xx years since the company was launched, how about the anniversary of the company's first profit, a look back at the day the company took on its 10th employee, or the date a key contract was secured.

Then tell the tale of how your company has developed since this date. Be sure to include some drama, the good times and the bad, and plenty of meaty quotes from the most senior talking heads.

o Make a Date

Hunt for an angle based on some future date that is covered in one way or another by local and national press.

Browse some of these major online almanacs for inspiration:

http://www.infoplease.com/dayinhistory/

http://www.scopesys.com/anyday/

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/archive.html

What you're doing here is following the Happy Birthday strategy, but looking for external hooks on which to hang your news release.

Local newspapers in particular like to keep an eye on the calendar, so if you can provide your neighbourhood newspaper with a story, photo opportunity or news release and photo package related to a particular event, celebration or holiday, you could get some great quality local coverage.

o Only Five?

Trawl the internet for reasons to write a press release and you'll come up with dozens of lists. Some of them provide 30 plus reasons to issue a release, but the vast majority of them require you to have "done something". They are reactive reasons, rather than proactive.

The reasons given above can be put into action today - you don't have to wait to secure a new contract or make a high-level appointment to get ink.

You might not have known you were sitting on those news stories, but there's no time like the present to tip off the press that you have them.

Copyright © 2005 George Hopkin

John Sandford - Author Biographies

John Sandford (pseudonym for John Roswell Camp) was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on February 23, 1944. He graduated from University of Iowa with a degree in American Studies and went back in 1970-1971 to get a master's degree in journalism. He was married in 1966 to Susan Lee Jones, also a student at the University of Iowa. They have two children, Emily and Roswell. They moved to Minnesota in 1978. Susan died in 2007.

John did a tour in the United States Army in the 1960's stationed in Korea where he worked as a newspaper editor. From 1968 to 1990 he has worked as a journalist on various publications. He was named as finalist to win a Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for his study of the Native Americans in Minnesota and North Dakota. He actually won the Pulitzer Prize in 1986 for a series of articles about the farm crisis in the Midwest. After burn-out from working the crime beat for twenty years, he was published as an author of two nonfiction books and many books of fiction. He still dabbles in journalism from time to time.

John does extensive travelling for book tours. While not travelling, he can be found at his homes in Minnesota. He has many varied interests including archaeology, fishing, hunting, karate (has a black belt), and photography amongst other things. He once canoed solo from the mouth of the Mississippi in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

He has also traveled in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Israel. He has been involved in archaeology digs in Beth Shean in Israel and Tel Rehov near the Sea of Galilee. He was the photographer and a major financial backer.

In January, 2008, MinnPost partnered with KYSP-TV to send John Sandford and photojournalist, Eric Bowen, to Baden, Iraq for two weeks. They were imbedded with the 2-147th assault helicopter battalion of the Minnesota National Guard. The articles he wrote can be found on his website. He says he still thinks of himself as a journalist. Asked why he wanted to go, he says, "I'm going to Iraq because I'm interested in the war there, and because I'm interested in the cultural dynamics in the Middle East, where I have a good number of friends."

John Sandford is world renowned for his Prey series, Kidd series, and Virgil Flowers series. He also wrote three stand alone books of fiction, Dead Watch, Dark of the Moon, and Night Crew.

He has also published two books of nonfiction, "The Eye and the Heart" and "Plastic Surgery". John's son, Roswell Camp, Designed and maintains his website.

Books by John Sandford:

The prey Series: Rules of Prey (1989) Shadow Prey (1990) Eyes of Prey (1991) Silent Prey (1992) Winter Prey (1993) Night Prey (1994) Mind Prey (1995) Sudden Prey (1996) Secret Prey (1998) Certain Prey (1999)

Easy Prey (2000) Chosen Prey (2001) Mortal Prey (2002) Naked Prey (2003) Hidden Prey (2004) Broken Prey (2005) Invisible Prey (2007) Phantom Prey (2008) Wicked Prey (2009) Storm Prey (2010)

The Kidd Series: The Fool's Run (1989) The Empress File (1991) The Devil's Code (2000) The Hanged Man's Song (2003)

The Virgil Flowers Series: Dark of the Moon (2007) Heat Lightening (2008) Rough Country (2009)

Stand Alone Novels: The Night Crew (1997) Dead Watch (2006)

Nonfiction: The Eye and the Heart Plastic Surgery

How To Find Free Hypnosis Recordings

Need to be hypnotized and change certain aspects or characteristics about yourself. Free hypnosis recordings are a great way to do so. You can go to many sites, like this one and find a large list of free hypnosis recordings. There are hypnosis recordings on everything, from losing weight, quitting smoking, increasing your metabolism, decreasing your stress, increasing your confidence and decreasing your fear of public speaking.

How free hypnosis recordings work is that someone else records a hypnotic hypnosis script and records it. When you listen to the free hypnosis recording, you are reprogramming your sub-conscious or inner self. When your inner self changes, it is easier to accomplish the tasks your conscious wants to do.

Take for example smoking. You may want to quit, but your body may still have the urge of the click of the lighter, the flame touching the tip of the cigarette and the first inhale of smoke. You can get rid of your bodies need for these things by a simply changing your subconscious perceptions of the subject. For example a free hypnosis recording may say something similar to the following.

You get up, its cold, but you have to go outside for a smoke. You throw on your shoes and pull your eye lids open. Upon opening the door you jump at the cold. You get outside and light your cigarette, it goes out. Its too windy, you have to pull your hands out of your sleeves and the wind bits at them. You finally get the cigarette light and take a puff. The smoke burns, the ash pours down your throat, you cough. You cough again and than you cough again. You can feel the snot dripping out of your nose. You wipe it with your shirt.

This is an example of what would be said in a free hypnosis script, simple and powerful to change you quickly.

The Reverend Billy Graham on Hypnosis

The Reverend Billy Graham when asked his thoughts on hypnosis stated that hypnosis was neither good nor bad. Like most tools it depends on how it is used. The Pope in 1956, the British Medical Society in 1957 and the American Medical Association in 1958 endorsed hypnosis as a complementary tool in health care. Even with those endorsements many in our educated society (and some are physicians) still misunderstand and fear the natural nature of hypnosis. Linking it with hocus-pocus, witchcraft and even mind control.

Would you be surprised if I told you that we all naturally go into hypnosis many times each day. The simple act of driving to work and not remembering stopping at red lights or stop signs is a hypnotic state. It is in that day dreamy time that hypnosis occurs. Our thoughts during that hypnotic state truly shape our lives.

In the 1950s, the Reverend Norman Vincent Peale wrote the greatest inspirational bestseller of his time. Over 3 million copies of his book The Power of Positive Thinking were put into print. In it he said that, "In formulating this simple philosophy of life I found my own answers in the teachings of Jesus Christ."

He wrote his book to help you release your inner powers. The Power of Positive Thinking shows:

× How faith in yourself makes good things happen to you

× How to break the worry habit

× How to get other people to like you

× How to energize your life to give yourself the vitality and initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes

× How to avoid the jitters in your daily work

× How to believe in yourself and in everything you do

× How to live a controlled relaxed life no matter how fast the pace may be

× How to build new power and determination to a simple formula that really works

× How to develop the power to reach your goals.

× How to think the k

Paul Harvey would say, "Now for the rest of the story." Because of his book the board of deacons, in their ignorance, requested that Norman Vincent Peale, the pastor of the largest protestant church in New York City resign his position.. Why? Because The Power of Positive Thinking is a book describing the use of self-hypnosis. Dr Peale did not resign. He was supported by the membership, which overruled the board of deacons. They understood that he wrote The Power of Positive Thinking out of a sincere desire to help them and you.

The Power of Positive Thinking was followed by Dynamic Imaging the powerful way to change your life. Daydreaming, creative visualization, guided imagery, and hypnosis are basically the same mindfulness states that allow us to change our lives for better or worse. It depends on whether we think positive thoughts and create positive outcomes or think negative thoughts and create negative outcomes. Worry is an example of a negative hypnotic thought. So if you want healthy changes in your life have Healthy Visions.

World Hypnotism Day January 4, 2006.

Ecological Tree Surgery

Trying to push the boundaries of modern ecological arboriculture

So, what is ecological arboriculture about? Well, obviously it's about try not to unnecessarily cut down trees, that goes without saying really. Perhaps maybe it's about planting more trees, as many of them as possible, especially when we had to remove one. But then what?

Biodiversity

Well, that's what we are trying communicate. This whole ecology thing goes way beyond replanting. It's about trying to preserve and enhance what we have and make sure there is more for the future. We all know that biodiversity is important and that the variety of species is diminishing, so I don't need to go on about that. But what can we do? What can each of us do? I certainly don't have all the answers but I could make a few suggestions. Death is part of the natural cycle of life. Huge numbers of species live either in or on dead and decaying wood. Deadwood on the ground, dead wood in the tree, it's all important, it's all a source of life.

There are many species that live exclusively in standing deadwood. These are not the big glamorous species we all know about lions, snow leopards, pandas and the like, but they do provide food for birds and small mammals and that`s important. We need to acknowledge that all forms of life no matter how insignificant they may seem are precious. Don't over manicure your trees As tree surgeons we have been responsible for the removal of far too much deadwood and other habitat from our trees. Of course we don't want them to be dangerous but an increasing culture of over manicured, chemical injected trees might look great to some people but personally I prefer something with a little more substance. Besides, a good bit of mulch is far better in the long run than quick fix chemical fertilizers.

A little wildlife haven in your garden.

Continuity

So what can you do to make your garden a little more wildlife friendly? Leave dead wood! Leave some in the trees, leave piles of it on the ground, if you do need a tree felled then leave a good sized stump. Leaving a dead standing stem is known as Monolithing, we normally cut them to about 3 metres but anything is better than nothing. If every garden in our neighbourhoods had a dead stump or two those little bugs and beasties would have new places to go when their previous dwellings finally become uninhabitable! Try leaving a little wild corner. It doesn't have to be much, but it all helps. This is hardly radical stuff. You will see more and more of this in parks and nature reserves, but from a tree surgeon, not so common.

How to Manage Your Energy - 7 Tips to Empower Your Day

How you feel: high energy feeling great or low energy feeling bad - depends on seven facts. The good news? You control how you feel. The better news? You can change an "I got out of bed on the wrong side today" to "I'm experiencing the best day!" The best news? That change from "ARGH!" to "YES" happens instantly when you choose to live consciously.

Copy this list on a small piece of paper and keep it in your pocket to ensure your day goes great every day:

1. Make sure your energy flows through your body as Nature intended: left to right, front to back, top to bottom. You know you need a tune-up when you find yourself saying, "It's hot!" through chattering teeth. Or maybe your computer works perfectly well for everyone else but not for you. Start your day with a 3-way energy rub. Ask me how.

2. Pay attention to your food. I am not talking about the cliche, "You are what you eat." I mean how you feel while eating is actually more important than what you eat. The better you feel the better your digestion. Check out your mood before you check out the menu. Then when you put the food in your mouth take the time to savor the flavor and delight in the texture. Enjoy your food. Your waist will love you for it.

3.Notice how you feel around different people and different places. Spend more time around positive people. They are the ones with high or calm energy who smile. Avoid energy vampires who suck your energy pulling you down to their low level rather than rising up to meet yours. Reply on how you feel and act to always feel your best. You may need to change your friends. We are talking about your well being.

4. You are a Divine spirit living a human experience. Your human body needs deep sleep to grow healthy new cells and repair tired old ones. You need enough good water to function physically and emotionally. Not all waters are created equal. Ask me how to tell what to drink and what to avoid. You need clean air to feed your muscles and brain. Remember you also need a spiritual practice--whatever that means for you--to optimize your well being.

5. Recognize your physical location impacts how you feel. Everyone feels better in negative ions so everyone feels better in the woods and by water. Concrete blocks magnetic energy from reaching your electromagnetic body. Light pollution interferes with melatonin production affecting sleep and health. The list goes on and on. Doing your part to protect Earth improves your life experience too.

6. Counter the effects of electromagnetic fields from your electronic devices. Simply place epsom salts in a porous clay pot next to those items. Replace the salt every week. Remember to drink enough water to counter the dehydrating effects of computers.

7. The biggest factor in caring for your energy is paying attention to your thoughts. Your feelings reflect the workings of your mind...your subconscious mind. The subconscious mind runs the programs that allow you to be, do and have certain things AND it prevents you from attaining goals for which it does not have a program.

Spaghetti With Tangy Greek Sauce, Artichoke Hearts, and Peas

I first tasted a similar recipe to this at a Greek restaurant and was amazed how this tangy flavor danced on my pallet. At that point I realized what a GREAT summer dish this would make! I spent a long time changing this recipe into an original dish by simplified steps while adding new elements to it.

Difficulty (Scale from 1-10): 6

Makes: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1 Pound of Spaghetti 3 large egg yolks 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/2 cup of heavy cream 4 tablespoons of olive oil 3 cloves of garlic (crushed) 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper 1 zest of lemon 14 ounces of canned artichoke hearts quartered(packed in water - drained) 14 ounces of frozen peas (thawed) 1 cup of Pecorino Romano Cheese 1/3 cup of chopped curly parsley Salt & Black pepper to taste

Preparation

In a medium sized bowl add yolks, gradually whisk in lemon juice, then cream, and set aside.

Cook spaghetti in salted water as directed until al dente then remove from heat but do not drain. Reserve (by removal) 2 cups of the pasta water and set aside.

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat combine olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, artichoke hearts, crushed red pepper, and peas. Saute for 5-7 minutes or until garlic turns a light golden brown.

Drain spaghetti and add to skillet with vegetables. Whisk one cup of the reserved pasta water into yolk mixture. Add yolk mixture, Romano cheese, and parsley to skillet. Toss over medium heat until sauce thickens and uniformly coating pasta. Add more pasta water sparingly if mixture is dry. Season with salt, pepper, and Romano cheese to taste.

Enjoy your meal!!

Books Set in Ireland - Five Novels to Read Before You Travel

If you are traveling to Ireland, then you will no doubt be aware of the rich literary tradition the country has. Almost everywhere you go there are references to Irish writers, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. And even today, somehow the Irish seem to be able to tell a story better than just about anyone else - whether it be in written form, or just through a chat in the pub.

So, if a trip to The Emerald Isle is on the agenda, then it is almost compulsory to take some books set in Ireland to read on your travels. But what should you read if Joyce's 'Ulysses' is not quite your cup of tea? Here's a range of novels that will take you the length and breadth of Ireland, and give you a real taste of life over the years in this country filled with passion and history.

'The Mammy' by Brendan O'Carroll

If you want to know more about Dublin in the 1960's, then this story of widow Agnes Browne and her seven children will do it. This is working-class Ireland with all its squalor, laughter and alcoholic fathers, and the best news is that the book is the first of a trilogy. The next time you are approached by a cheeky Dublin lad (and there are many!), you may find yourself thinking back to Agnes and her brood.

'Little Criminals' by Gene Kerrigan

And now to Dublin in contemporary times. The country has had its economic miracle and everyone is an entrepreneur, even the criminals. Frankie Crowe has a scheme to make himself some money, planning to kidnap a wealthy banker and set himself up for life. While this could be just a cops and robbers novel, Kerrigan does much to portray the underbelly of Dublin life, and the social changes that have taken place over recent years.

'Juno and Juliet' by Julian Gough

If you decide to head to Galway (and I'd highly encourage you to do so), then this novel is one of the few that is set there. This story of identical twins during their first year at university sees them adjusting to life in the city, drinking in the bars and attending classes from time to time. It's a coming of age story in which Galway itself is one of the main characters.

'The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty' by Sebastian Barry

The tensions surrounding the Irish struggle for independence lie at the heart of this novel set in the town of Sligo in Ireland's north-west. Unable to find work, Eneas joins the British-led police force the Royal Irish Constabulary, and in the process labels himself a traitor. As a marked man he goes on the run, and while the novel follows Eneas from country to country, he sneaks back to Sligo when he can. A compelling look at 20th Century Ireland, through a character who has become a victim of his country's fight to exist.

'Pomegranate Soup' by Marsha Mehran

In this novel we see a different kind of migration -- the story of three Iranian sisters who move to an Irish village in the 1980's. It's not often you get a food-lit story set in Ireland, but Pomegranate Soup is exactly that, with its celebration of Persian cuisine. Unsurprisingly the village residents take a while to adapt to this foreign influence in one of their local cafes, and despite the novel's focus on a different culture, it provides plenty of detail of Irish life and landscape for those trying to learn more about the country.

There are many stereotypes about the Irish, but as a traveler you have the opportunity to reach beyond the surface of Irish culture and see what lies beneath. Reading books set in Ireland will help you do that, revealing details of Irish streets and cities, hopes and history - and when you visit the places mentioned, you will feel as if you know it just that little bit better than if you had arrived a stranger.

Five Books Every New Entrepreneur Must Read

The beauty of starting a home-based business is that you don't really need any experience whatsoever. If you are careful, you can align yourself with a training program and a mentor who will guide and teach you everything you need to know.

One of the areas critical to long term success is constantly working on your personal development. This is also popularly referred to as "self help". The practice of self help became wildly popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the publication of Thomas A Harris, MD's book I'm OK, You're OK. Today, most people engage in some form of personal development, be it continuing education, reading or listening to books, watching a PBS program, or joining a support group.

Anyone seriously involved in business has a mentor and actively engages in personal development. The most successful business people read a personal development book every few days. They are honing their skills and learning from a very large Master Mind group.

An entrepreneur new to a home based business must start their library with the guidance of their mentor. A skilled and thoughtful mentor will instinctively know what work to start with and what the person is ready for next. There is no magic sequence. Every individual starts at a unique place and is ready at his or her own timing.

Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This is likely the book every new entrepreneur has read, or at least has been told to read. Who wouldn't want to learn how to just think about being rich and have it happen? If the reader actually studies Think and Grow Rich, he will discover that it is quite an impactful work. Published in the 1930s, the personal issues Hill writes about are still relevant today. The thoughts and behaviors that hinder people's success in acquiring riches have been the same through the decades.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Probably one of the most popular books on finance written in modern times, Rich Dad, Poor Dad speaks to the everyday person. The main theme is our attitudes about wealth and how we prepare ourselves and children to be money smart. There are many financial revelations in this book which make it an excellent primer for those seeking to change their perspective on wealth.

The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson

Olson teaches the concept of compounded interest in a whole new light. If you will just put a penny's worth of effort each day towards your goals, over time you will achieve them. If you are to be successful, you must make the Slight Edge philosophy a part of your daily attitude. Making a home-based business work takes a lot of time and effort. This has to happen over time: a little bit every day, done consistently.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Habits are a matter of choice. We can choose to continue ineffective habits, or we can chose to change those habits into more effective ones. Covey goes into the depths of our attitudes (paradigms) and principles to help us identify "where we are coming from". Once we can identify which of our paradigms are keeping us from interacting effectively with others, we can work on changing them.

The Secrets to Manifesting Your Destiny by Dr. Wayne Dyer

An audio that delves deeply into the heart of what troubles many people about getting what they want out of life. Dyer's work is definitely for people who have already started on the path of personal development and have begun to make some breakthroughs. Dyer has some incredible insights and speaks from a level of spiritual understanding.

Personal development is an ongoing process. As you grow and change, you will find that when you revisit a self help book it may seem like you had never read it before. It's not that you forgot. You are simply seeing things through a different "pair of glasses". Perhaps you are seeing things clearly for the first time.