Jon Dale

Can Seth Godin Change the Way Publishing Works?

In a remarkable move sure to make Tribes one of the best selling audio books ever, Seth Godin announced  today that his new book, Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us, is available as an UNABRIDGED audiobook on iTunes for less than a dollar.

He went on to say, "The souvenir, dead tree, printed hardcover edition is easier to take to the beach (Amazon)."

As I mentioned in a post earlier this week...I believe this may be the most important book this decade...and this may be one of the most important shifts in book selling strategy ever.  I've long agreed with Seth that we should offer digital version of books at greatly reduced prices and then offer the traditional paper versions at higher "souvenir" prices.  The increased buzz from audio listeners will result in even more sales of hardcover version. This is the first major release I've seen offered this way.

Here's a link to Tribes on iTunes: http://snurl.com/tribesaudio

And here's Seth's full announcement on his blog.

Forever Ruined for the Ordinary Work Week

Have you ever said "Thank God it's Monday"?  Dan Miller opens his new book, No More Mondays, with this question.  Dan's first book, 48 Days to the Work You Love, showed readers how to understand their calling and find fulfilling employment. No More Mondays picks up where 48 Days left off and walks you through the steps to converting that calling into a business of your own.  Dan presents a variety non-traditional work models and leads the reader on a journey of discovery to find their calling and the work model which will best fit them.

As a life long entrepreneur I'd recommend this book to anyone who dreads Mondays.

One of my favorite podcasts is Dan Miller's 48 Days Podcast.

You can visit Dan's blog here.

The Dip

I was listening to the 48 Days to the Work You Love Podcast yesterday and heard a brief interview with one of my favorite authors, Seth Godin (if you don't know who he is just google "Seth").  Seth was talking about his new book "the dip."  It sounded interesting so I dropped by my local Borders bookstore and read it cover to cover (its only 80 pages).  It was so good that I purchased every copy they had in the store. 

Its the only book I've ever seen on the subject of quitting...its about knowing when to quit and when to stick.  Seth talks about what he calls "the dip."  The dip is that period of time that is really difficult in any endeavor.  The dip in writing used to be getting a book published.  Now thanks to the internet and self-publishing anyone with a few bucks can publish a book.  The dip is now getting people to actually read the book.  The dip in snowboarding is those first three days of learning.  You know, the days that you spend face down in the snow after catching an edge.  Once your through the snowboarding dip it becomes lots of fun, but most people never get there. 

There are other dips that are actually cul-de-sacs.  Cul-de-sac is french for dead-end.  The sooner you realize that your in a dead-end the sooner you can quit and find something you can be the best in the world at.  For more from this priceless little volume check out the dip blog.