Graduation Advice From A Book Marketer

 

 

No one has ever invited me to speak at a school graduation, not even my almer maters, Brooklyn College or Edward R. Murrow High School. That’s okay. I have an advice-filled speech to give. Would you like to hear it?

The best advice is given by people who live what they talk about, which means one of two things: They got lucky in life and suggest you try to replicate what is otherwise against the odds to achieve, or, they got to where they are only after making a series of mistakes that come not from ignorance, but more from a driven will to defy conventional wisdom and to take risks.

Quite often the advice others share is still aspirational, but it seems logical or ideal. It sounds like it should work and that it would be a nice way to achieve things — even if there is a true hardship to materialize such advice and convert it into a living reality.

What would I tell our nation’s youth today? I want to share a vision of truth and optimism, and of enjoying the moment but always with an eye out for more.

We live in a world of uncertainty, challenge, and change. We always have and always will.

We are at times to be cooperative, even charitable, and at other times we are to be competitive, even with the very same people that we try to help or work with. 

What I know now — about how the world is and how to navigate it — is far different than what I knew or wanted to believe when I graduated high school in the mid-80s, and college by the end of that decade. The world changed, as we all have. As I have. You too, will see great change in society and in your life’s maturation. 

Here are some values that I live by. You may choose to do so as well:

* Always live in the present but be grounded by the past and always strive to anticipate and shape the future.

* Your desires often are tempered by your obligations. 

* Find your code or ethical standard to live by — but be prepared to grow and amend it. 

* Seek to overcome or take advantage of the circumstances that you are born into.

* Remain curious, be willing to learn by trial and error, and act with kindness and empathy.

* Know that you won’t get rich working for someone else. 

* No one will think of you unless you make them.

* You are likely to have many jobs, several careers, and maybe even several businesses. There is opportunity out there. Don’t ask permission to initiate, assert, and seek.

* Be willing to experiment and try another way. 

* Read more books and find your truth based on facts. 

* Love and help each other. Do not let the political debates that alienate us leave you to see your fellow Americans as somehow other.

Here are some tips on selling yourself:

* Keep trying. Life is a game of numbers. The more you ask for or seek out, the better chance of succeeding. 

* Have an opportunistic mindset — see ways to grow, sell, and connect that are not obvious, and be ready to capitalize on opportunities that come your way. 

* Always believe in yourself and have a can-do spirit. 

* Accelerate where your strengths are and don’t worry about your weaknesses. No one us perfect.  

* See a “no” as merely a delayed “yes.” Keep changing your offer or approach until you breakthrough. Those that reject you don’t hate you; they just have not heard an offer they can’t refuse.  

* Find out what others say they want or need and give it to them, rather than try to give them what they don’t understand.  

* Be friendly and come off as caring. People buy from those they like, relate to, and feel a connection with.  

* Good research helps you sell to strangers.  

* Don’t fear blowing a deal or missing out on something; you create your opportunities and there will always be more of them.  

Lastly, don’t listen to anyone else but the voice inside of you. Trust in your instincts and always bet on yourself.  

 

Please Contact Me For Help

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2022. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This blog, with over 4,000 posts over the past decade, was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, IBPA, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.