Rarely does a book come out that has the potential to impact so many people like the new book called PLATFORM: Get Noticed in a Noisy World from Michael Hyatt.
If you already do not know, Michael Hyatt is the poster-child of the online CEO blogger/podcaster/social media expert.
Personal Background
I was introduced to Michael Hyatt at a Catalyst Conference event by a close friend David Childers a few years ago when Michael was the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Thomas Nelson Publishing. I was able to sit with him and his adult daughter during lunch and get to know him a little bit.
During our conversation, I told him that I had been approached by a different publisher to write a leadership book. I mentioned that I had also been to his publishing company in Nashville, Tennessee a few years earlier about the same topic because his Chief Publishing Officer at the time liked my idea for book I had in mind that I had titled The Knucklehearted Leader.
His first question to me was this:
Do you have a platform?
The question around EVERYTHING a publisher wants to know is everything about having a platform.
This goes for authors, speakers, entrepreneurs, small businesses, musicians, and more.
And Michael has seen it all in his tenure about how platforms from yesteryear were “evolutionary” processes afforded to only a few where today they are “revolutionary” processes available to almost anyone.
Getting To Know Him
While sitting with Michael’s daughter at lunch, she gained keen interest in my Recalibrate Cards that I use in a values-sorting/prioritization exercise. I gave her a deck of these cards and explained how useful they can be in really understanding and working with people.
She got excited about going through the exercise and shared the concept with her dad on their drive back from the conference.
A week later, I got a call from Michael asking about how to get these cards and how to use them. He had interest in bringing them on an upcoming family vacation where his large extended family would all be together. In walking him through the exercise, I got to understand his specific personal values and drivers that motivate him.
I mentioned the following to him that I teach to leaders:
Values drive Decisions; Decisions drive Behaviors; Behaviors drive Results
Now, to gain some perspective on my understanding of the connection between personal values and results, just know that I have done this values-card exercise with thousands of people. With this extensive experience, I have developed a good handle on evaluating/understanding people and seeing who seems authentic and who needs help in this area.
With Michael Hyatt, I can unequivocally tell you this:
Not only does this man have a well-thought-out value structure, but he lives, breaths, and succeeds with them. I can personally tell you that the head, heart, and soul of this guy are exceedingly well-aligned with his passion, focus, and servant’s heart.
This man is as authentic as they come. And… he comes prepared!
A Deeper Level
Anyone who follows Michael Hyatt on his wildly popular blog and podcasts can quickly pick up what I am saying here. But knowing something about someone, and sensing something about someone can often be two different things.
This guy teaches to “Show up as a giver” and he practices what he preaches.
His new book gives all the details and recipes for success in marketing oneself in this brave new noisy world.
And he knows from personal experience:
In the past eight years, he has experienced every setback, mistake, and headache you can imagine while building his own platform. But he also managed to generate:
- 300,000+ unique monthly website visitors
- 123,000+ Twitter followers
- 92,000+ monthly podcast listeners
- 70,000+ newsletter subscribers
- 17,000+ Facebook fans
Practicing What He Preaches
Michael Hyatt is the consummate giver. For instance, to get his new book Platform out, he went to the very impressive Daniel Decker of Higher Level Group to construct and implement the book launch. They took in 764 applications for only 100 spots on their “Platform Launch Team.”
Key to the launch was the generosity he gave to members of the launch team (I am one of them) and in what he is offering people who buy his book during this launch week. (Although I got a free digital copy of the book and some extra’s, I have also purchased a hard copy to give away.)
And his generosity extends far beyond just the launch team.
Michael wants to hit the New York Times Best-Selling List, so he is giving away $375.98 worth of goodies if you buy the book by the end of May 25, 2012.
Get all the details here: http://michaelhyatt.com/platform
- Platform Video Jumpstart (a $179.00 six-session video series)
- Why Now Is the Best Time Ever to Be an Author (a $47.00 one-session video)
- How to Write a Winning Book Proposal (a $47.00, two-session audio series)
- Writing a Winning Non-Fiction Book Proposal (a $19.97 e-book)
- Writing a Winning Fiction Book Proposal (a $19.97 e-book)
- All the Digital Editions of Platform (a $38.06 collection of the Kindle, Nook, iPad, and PDF formats)
- Audio Edition of Platform (a $24.99 audio edition of the entire book)
Specifically in the book, he covers in EXPERT detail the following:
- Six ways to find the courage you need to make “wow” happen
- Seven steps to big thinking
- How to build a media kit
- How to market yourself and your product
- How to start a blog
- How to generate website traffic
- How to use Twitter and Facebook to your advantage
Personal Recommendation
The book is an instant classic and will remain influential for some time to come. I personally feel greatly honored to be part of the launch team and to help support this effort that will help so many create and sustain a platform for success.
Bravo, Michael! Keep up the God Work!
Additional Book Reviews:
- http://www.danapittman.com/what-are-you-passionate-about/
- http://forwardstory.com/2012/05/does-your-forward-story-require-a-platform-your-game-plan-has-arrived/
- http://imaginationsoup.net/2012/05/build-your-platform-so-you-can-be-heard/
**********
Never miss an issue of Linked 2 Leadership, subscribe today here.
Learn, Grow & Develop Other Leaders™
——————–
Tom Schulte is Executive Director of Linked 2 Leadership
He provides leadership training fit for the Blackberry-Attention-Span
Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Web | Blog | L2L Group
Image Sources:
Linked 2 Leadership 
thanks for linking to Imagination Soup – I’m like you and thought this was such an amazing book and was thrilled to be part of the launch team.
LikeLike