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Techno Granny Show blog is an additional way for Techno Granny Talk Cast fans to keep up with Techno Granny. She is a 61 year old single grandmother who also hosts four Talk Casts on the Talk Shoe network. The Techno Granny show is designed to bring baby boomers and others up to snuff with 21st Century technology. TechnoGranny Talks is more than that, it is technology finds and opinions of a tech savvy grandmother who is a power user of technology.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Techno Granny Show, Lojack for Computers 5-9-2011
TechnoGrannyShow, Publishing a Book, What You Need to Know 12-13-11
| Hosted by: technogranny Title: Techno Granny, Publishing a Book, What You Need to Know |
| Time: 12/13/2010 10:00 AM EST Episode Notes: Weston Lyon is the author of 14 books and a passionate professional speaker. He is celebrating his 10th year in business and while he'ss considered a serial entrepreneur, Weston primarily focuses on helping Coaches, Speakers, and Entrepreneurs Become Authors Things we will talk about: 1. What is your idea? 2. Outline, how do you organize it? 3. Fill in the blanks, do you have enough material? 4. Goal, audience, message! 5. I don't know, flibiddy flab! 6. How do you get Testimonials for your book? 7 Traditional vs self publishing 8 Writing it yourself vs a ghost writer or organizer 9. Massive process of putting a book together to be readable 10. What do you gain by doing the book, sooner rather than later 11. Copyright and intellectual property issues when someone else writes for you, how do you protect yourself? Listen to archived show at: |
Weston Lyon is the author of 14 books and a passionate professional speaker.
He is celebrating his 10th year in business and while he’s considered a serial
entrepreneur, Weston primarily focuses on helping Coaches, Speakers, and
Entrepreneurs Become Authors.
Weston is also the Chapter Director for the No BS Marketing Meeting here in
Pittsburgh, where he teaches No BS direct response marketing techniques and
strategies to ambitious entrepreneurs and serious salespeople.
Weston’s Key to Success is:
BE PASSIONATE & TAKE MASSIVE ACTION
1. The idea? Before you even come up with an idea for your book look at your core business and determine what you want the book to do and lead readers to.
For example: If you’re a fitness coach the logical, and smart, path to lead readers to is your fitness coaching service. That’s where the money is, right? So, your book should be about your philosophy, your exercises, and your routines.
Remember this: the book isn’t where the money is…the back end is where the money is!
In this example, the back end is coaching. It could be speaking, consulting, a mastermind group, a bigger info-product, a seminar, or whatever you choose.
2. The outline? Once you analyze your back end, determine why you’re writing a book, and come up with a logical idea for your book, it’s time to outline the puppy.
Your outline depends on the TYPE of book you want to write. For simplicity, here are 2 types of books you can write: 1. Tip Book or 2. How-To Book
Tip Books are books that give the reader a handful of tips (7, 19, 37, whatever) they can use. To outline this type of book: brainstorm as many points as possible you want to convey. Rewrite them in a logical, flowing ordering and you have a basic outline.
How-To Books are books that teach the reader “how-to” do something. To outline this type of book: brainstorm the steps involved to do what you’re teaching. Each step is a chapter.
3. Fill in the blanks? One of the most asked questions I get is: Do I have enough content to write a book? Answer: If you don’t, you can always write more.
Don’t be concerned if you have enough or not. I’ve written 14 books and have helped numerous others do the same. Just write until you’re done getting your point across…there are ways to increase page count if that’s what concerns you (wink wink).
Don’t shoot for word count either, if you’re self-publishing. Only traditional publishers care about that. Instead, write your book in a Word Doc (single spaced, 12pt font) and shoot for 50+ pages.
This isn’t a perfect science, but it’s a good rule of thumb. 50 pages this way will turn out a 120 page book (roughly). In my opinion, that’s a perfect size!
People in today’s society don’t like reading massive books. One of my goals when writing a book is to GET IT READ. Big books are intimidating. Small books get read.
Now, if you want to write more, then write more. After all, it’s your book.
4. Goal, audience, message? This goes back to the first question…know your core business and your back end. Your book should be an extension of your core business and dovetail into your overall business plan.
5. I don't know, flibiddy flab? Sure you do! You know your business inside and out and you (should) know your customers inside and out.
Your book should simply teach them something they want to learn more about. If you’re a coach, teach them in your book what you teach them in person. If you’re a speaker, teach them in your book what you teach them from the stage.
What if you own a local business…say a flower shop? Teach them in your book how to celebrate life with flowers. As an example: teach men how to be more romantic all year round. Give them ideas…and have all the ideas incorporate giving different types of flowers.
6. Testimonials? The easiest way to get testimonials is to give a ton away for free…strategically. I learned this from my buddy, Scott Ginsberg. When he writes a book, he gives hundreds away for free to get testimonials.
Personally, I haven’t done this as well as I should have. One of the follies of moving from one project to the next too fast…I’ll have to work on that – haha.
7. Traditional vs self publishing? This can be a lengthy discussion…but some things to note are:
· Traditional Publishing has no upfront costs, while Self Publishing does.
· Traditional Publishing takes time to find a publisher, while Self Publishing takes little time.
· Traditional Publishing takes 12-24 months to get your book out to market, while Self Publishing takes 6-12 months if you do it by yourself…and less than 6 months with a company like mine.
· Traditional Publishing offers minimal royalties on your book (unless you’re an established author)…we’re talking under $2 per book; while Self Publishing offers much more per book…around $7-9+ per book.
· Traditional Publishing gives you very little room to make a back end offer, while Self Publishing gives you all the freedom you want and need to lead prospects to your back end.
Both have their pros and cons, naturally. I’ve self published all my books and teach people how to do that - actually we do all the work and heavy lifting of self publishing for our clients.
8. Writing it yourself vs a ghost writer or organizer? Writing a book yourself takes a lot of discipline. It can be done…and is all the time…just know that going into it.
Getting a ghost writer can make a lot of sense if you don’t have much time for writing, but can be expensive. Again, do it if it makes sense…just know your budget and your back end profit potential.
Having someone help you organize your thoughts is a good idea, too. Organization of thought is really the hardest part for first time authors (in the writing portion).
9. Massive process of putting a book together to be readable? Yes. Publishing a book takes a lot of time and energy. It can be frustrating at times, too, since publishing isn’t your core business.
Can you do it yourself? Absolutely. However, sometimes it’s just smarter hiring someone who knows what they’re doing. It really depends on you, your business, your time management skills, your organizational skills, and you patience. If you’re good in all these areas, do everything yourself. If you lack in any, hire someone to save you time, energy, and sanity.
10. What do you gain by doing the book, sooner rather than later? You gain positioning in your field, which leads to more opportunity and profit.
Waiting to write a book can cost you thousands (even tens or hundreds of thousands) of dollars. Not in book sales, per se. But. In back end profit.
If you have an idea and a back end to lead prospects to, writing a book NOW can help you take your business to new heights you cannot duplicate without a book…at least it’d be hard as you know what to duplicate.
11. Copyright and intellectual property issues when someone else writes for you, how do you protect yourself? Good question, but one I’ll pass onto your attorney. Listen, you NEED to protect your intellectual property. So…whatever you decide to do, make sure you get a contract stating all copy rights are yours! Consult a professional for further assistance.
For Techno Granny listeners ONLY…and ONLY until December 31st, 2010: Go to http://www.westonlyon.com/technogranny2010.php and take advantage of getting all your questions answered in a 30 minute free phone session. No obligation or sales pitch…just answers to your questions.
Weston Lyon
412-974-0739
6 McCabe St.
Sewickley, PA 15143
NEW ebook, Overnight Success:
Serious Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs ONLY:
Tired of the same old marketing BS...
come check us out:
Let's be Friends on:
Again, just until the end of the month, Weston will answer any questions posed by TechnoGranny listeners here’s the webpage for you:
Sunday, May 22, 2011
GAme layer on the top of the World?
Trying to get Seth Priebatsch on the TechnoGrannyShow. In the meantime watch this video, it will give you a whole new perspective on gaming over the internet. Seth is the owner
From TedX promo on this video:
From TedX promo on this video:
"By now, we're used to letting Facebook and Twitter capture our social lives on the web -- building a "social layer" on top of the real world. At TEDxBoston, Seth Priebatsch looks at the next layer in progress: the "game layer," a pervasive net of behavior-steering game dynamics that will reshape education and commerce."
About Seth Priebatsch
"Proud Princeton dropout" Seth Priebatsch runs SCVNGR, a mobile start-up trying to build the game layer on top of the world
See full bio at: http://www.ted.com/speakers/seth_priebatsch.html
Sunday, May 15, 2011
TechoGrannyShow, Fire Survival Kits for Kids, 12-2-2011
 Hosted by: technogranny Title: Techno Granny, Fire Survival Kits for Kids |
| Time: 12/06/2010 10:00 AM EST Episode Notes: Retired City firefighter, Captain Jim Wyzomirski personally experienced a fire where five children perished. He needed to know why and what could be done to prevent this from happening again. He spent hundreds of hours of research about children dying in fires. Realizing that not enough is done in educating children about fire safety he spent many more hours designing and developing a Fire Survival Kit for Kids called the Wyz Kit. Hear what this kit includes, how it is used and how he educates children on fire safety. |
Jim grew up in Etna,Pennsylvania and graduated from Shaler Area High school in 1972. A three year enlistment in the U.S. Army immediately followed.That gave me the chance to attend college on the G.I. bill.I graduated from California University of Pa. in 1980 with a Bachelor's degree in Urban Affairs.The next ten years were spent living in Philadelphia.I was in retail management for a few years and then became a professional firefighter.I found that firefighting was my calling.It is a truly admirable profession. It is both exciting and rewarding in knowing you actually can make a difference in people's lives.I decided to move back to Pittsburgh in 1980 and became a City firefighter here.The majority of my career was spent in East Liberty and I attained the rank of Captain.I retired from the Fire Bureau in July to pursue my interest in the Wyz Kit.I have over 23 years experience as a professional firefighter.
Wyz Kit Inc. was born from a personal experience I had from a fire where five children perished. I needed to know why and what could I do to help prevent this from happening again.I spent hundreds of hours of research about children dying in fires.I realized that not enough is done in educating children about fire safety and something new was needed.I spent many more hours designing and developing a Fire Survival Kit for Kids called the Wyz Kit.
The Wyz Kit is a unique and innovative fire safety product designed for elementary school children,although older children and even adults can benefit from the information it contains.The Kit combines traditional fire safety programs with actual fire survival techniques used by firefighters.The concept is to teach the children some basic fire behavior knowledge,show them the skills needed to escape a fire, and provide them with a few valuable tools to assist them in getting out safely.
The Kit contains several practical items that can be extremely important in an emergency situation.The Kit contains a nine minute video,which contains the most comprehensive array of information about fire prevention,fire safety,and explicit instructions about how to survive a fire in the home.It explains how and when to use all the items in the Kit.There are realistic demonstrations by children of what to do in a fire.A smoke detector is included ,specifically for the child's room.A small LED flashlight is also in the Kit and can be of valuable importance in finding your way in the dark or for signaling for help.A whistle is also included and can be used for alerting other family members and to help the firefighters find your location.A flag can also be used for getting attention from a window.The last item is a wooden mallet,which is only to be used as a last resort,and only if you cannot escape your room and cannot open your window.The video shows the safest way to break a window.
The box itself shows several safety tips and instructions on how to escape a fire.The Wyz Kit is designed to be kept in a very visible and accessible place in the room.It should either be hung on the back of the door or hung below a window.
Every year, over 800 children die in house fires and thousands more are injured.The Wyz Kit is designed to drastically reduce those numbers.
Questions:
1) Can you describe what happened at the fire where the five children died?
Answer; On route to the fire, there was a report of children trapped.When we arrived on scene,the first floor was completely involved in fire.We immediately raised a ladder to the second floor front porch.There were three windows and we broke out all three and entered the room.It was completely blackened with smoke.We used a thermal imaging camera to help find any victims.Within two minutes we found three children and removed them from the room and handed them off to waiting medics.As the third child was removed ,the room lit up in fire.At that point ,there was no chance of any survivors.A few minutes later we located the fourth and fifth child and removed them from the structure, which was still burning out of control.After the fire was extinguished,several of us firefighters looked up at the room and were puzzled as to why not any of the children tried to open a window and climb onto the porch roof and safety. The answer could be as simple as no one ever told them what to do in case of a fire.They were possibly waiting for their parents ,whom had left them alone.But whatever the reason,it was a senseless loss of life and completely preventable.Over the next several months ,I began my search for solutions.
2) Why did you choose those particular items for the kit?
Answer: I relied on my experience as a firefighter and saw what kind of equipment we use all the time and what we carry in our running gear.I had to decide on the most crucial ,yet practical items for a child to use in an emergency. The first thing was educating the child.Firefighters are constantly training and learning.I produced a nine minute DVD, with the most comprehensive array of information about fire safety.Knowing the importance of early detection,a smoke detector ,explicitly for the child's room was a necessity.The whistle and flashlight and flag can all be invaluable in alerting others of your location.The wooden mallet is a last resort item,only to be used when other means of escape are exausted.
3) Do you provide any educational classes to groups of children or adults and is there any cost?
Answer; Yes,I do different types of presentations. I offer free guest lectures for adults in any organization or group function.I do a Fire Survival for Kids program for elementary school aged children.The parents of the children must pre approve the class,and purchase a Wyz Kit.
4) What age groups do you think will benefit the most from the kit and how young of a child can use them?
Answer: The kit is designed for ages 5 to 12,but older children and even adults can benefit from the information it contains.Some studies have showed children as young as three can understand and follow instructions if reinforced by their parents.
5) Why do you think the Wyz Kit can make a difference in a child's safety during a fire?
Answer: The Kit goes far beyond the usual lessons learned in school.It is something that they can keep on learning with.The video can be viewed over and over with their parents and their friends.It gives them realistic scenarios showing them exactly what to do and not do in a fire.It is a unique and innovative product combining all the necessary components needed to survive a fire disaster.
Jim Wyzomirski
412-781-3820
Listen to the live broadcast from December 6, 2010 at:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=424913&cmd=apop
Saturday, May 14, 2011
TechnoGrannyShow Antioxidant Profiler for Vitamin and Supplement Analysis, 11-1-2010,
| Based on Nobel Prize winning science the BioPhotonic S2 Scanner represents a culmination of over 15 years of research and development at a cost of over $100M. It is the only patented instrument that non-invasively in 90 seconds conducts a live tissue measurement and provides an immediate personal antioxidant assessment.. Sunita Pandit, internationally known as Mrs. Cardiology for her fireside chats with her cardiologist husband will talk about how this device is the definitive way to find out if your vitamins and supplements are doing the job they are supposed to do. You can find Sunita's blog at: http://mrscardiology.com |
Techno Granny,
Antioxidant Profiler for Vitamin and Supplement Analysis
Based on Nobel Prize winning science the BioPhotonic S2 Scanner represents a culmination of over 15 years of research and development at a cost of over $100M. It is the only patented instrument that non-invasively in 90 seconds conducts a live tissue measurement and provides an immediate personal antioxidant assessment.
With more than 12 million scans performed worldwide since 2003, the phenomenal Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner has revolutionized the way we look at our health.
Antioxidants are our frontline defense against the free radicals that constantly affect our cells. Over 30,000 scientific papers have been written about free radicals and antioxidants in the last 20 years. With the Pharmanex® BioPhotonic Scanner we can now obtain an accurate measurement of your personal antioxidant level.
The Pharmanex Scanner is the only non-invasive device that
- Uses innovative laser technology to measure at the cellular level
- Obtains a baseline biomarker of your antioxidant defense network
- Objectively realize a nutritional program for deficient levels
- Periodical monitoring allows for the measurement of the effectiveness of the nutritional program
- Provides a yardstick to stay on the nutritional program
- Currently over 4,000 scanners are in operation throughout the world
- Over 2 million people have been scanned
The scanner produces anti-oxident reading in less than 2 minutes that is
more accurate than blood or urine tests as per a 2005 study conducted in collaboration with
three major universities.
Serum carotenoids correlate to overall antioxidant status and this is very well substantiated. The BioPhotonic Scanner is a scientifically-validated machine, with five published studies on the technology, and three clinical studies to date on the Pharmanex application.
"The amount of antioxidants that you maintain in your body
is directly proportional to how long you will live."
Richard Cutler, MD, Director of Anti-Aging Research, National Institute of Health
Guest Sunita S. Pandit, http://mrscardiology.com
Blogs on conversations after hours with her cardiologist husband.
TechnoGrannyShow 11-29-11, Alternative to Twitter, Entrpreneur's Tool, Sprouter
Everytime a new social media tool shows up, consumers and power users and geeks rush to espouse it thinking it will be the be all end all for it’s application. Users have referred to Spouter as the “Twitter-like tool” for startups and entrepreneurs.
When Sprouter first came on the social media horizon it seemed to have many twitter like qualities.
1. You can offer updates in 140 characters as you do on twitter.
2. It is a social tool with community members
3. Users can follow and be followed.
4. You can communicate with other users.
Ahah, the similarities have ended there. Check out the home page, you can get help with your startup by asking questions of a one of a panel of experts who may be on-hand in real-time or will respond relatively promptly to your queries.
Sprouter has also been sending out weekly newsletters that profile up-and-coming entrepreneurs and companies, as well as offering live webinar sessions with their experts. To entrepreneurs and start ups this is much more than a Twitter-like tool. It is an online educational resource for start ups and entrepreneurs.
Sprouter has risen beyond the microblogging model. IThere are so many Twitter like modalities out there, Jaiku, Plurk, Blippr, Tumbler. But the uniqueness of Sprouter is readily apparent just by going to the front page of the website. Sprouter has carved out a business niche.
Adding webinars and nearly real time feedback in the future could challenge icon business magazines like Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast.
From Sprouter.com: Sprouter facilitates networking and collaboration between entrepreneurs globally. Providing a platform for users to connect with other innovators, entrepreneurs can expand their networks to include fellow entrepreneurs and startups with similar interests and goals. By answering the question “What are you working on?” in 140 characters or less entrepreneurs can discover and join events in their local areas, start discussions and follow topics of relevance to their business.
If you’re currently an entrepreneur or thinking about launching your business, Sprouter is the perfect place to bounce ideas, get feedback, and meet like-minded people. Sprouter also holds monthly Sprout Up events in cities around the world to connect entrepreneurs in person, showcase local startups, and hear from relevant guest speakers.
Cost: Free
What makes it different? There are a number of differences:
1. There are less, but more targeted, users than many of the mainstream networks.
2. They facilitate offline meetings (Sprout Up events) around the world where users can actually connect in person – just imagine. Meeting feature guest speakers, and showcase local startups.
3. Sprouter focuses on business only, and specifically on challenges facing startups.
Principals:
· Sarah Prevette, Founder/CEO
· Erin Bury, Community Manager
Blog: Sprouter.com/blog
Popularity: Alexa site ranking: 63,322 (worldwide traffic rank) with 178 sites linking in.
Add-on tools: Sprouter integrates with Twitter. Users can choose to update their Sprouter account through their Twitter account by using the hashtag #Sprouter in an update, or they can chose to push all the Sprouter updates to their Twitter account.
What you need to know: Don't expect the flood of followers and direct messages that you get from other larger social networks. But what you do get is actually valuable. This is Twitter, all grownup and focused.
*****Techno Granny loves the updates that are sent out to find out about newly funded businesses. We have found many or our recent guests there.
Listen to the show we did on Sprouter as chat guests logged on and became members at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=423042&cmd=apop
*****Techno Granny loves the updates that are sent out to find out about newly funded businesses. We have found many or our recent guests there.
Listen to the show we did on Sprouter as chat guests logged on and became members at: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=423042&cmd=apop
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