On January 25-27, I had the pleasure of joining nearly 100 other professionals representing dozens of creative services firms in Nashville to attend the 2012 ReCourses New Business Summit (NBS). Hosted by ReCourses principal David C. Baker, and Blair Enns of Win Without Pitching, the event’s subtitle reads, “Using Your Positioning for More Reward, Impact, Control, and Fun.”

When it was all over, I asked many of my fellow attendees to provide two words that best describe their takeaways from the event, and the word cloud embedded above reflects their input. For anyone who has not spoken with me or others about our remarkable experiences at the summit, this provides quick insight into its powerful impact.For a bit more background, ReCourses, Inc., is a management consulting firm that works exclusively with marketing firms/departments in the communications industry, including public relations firms, advertising agencies, interactive companies, and design studios. As its principal, David Baker is a frequent contributor to most major industry publications, and as the leading management consultant to the marketing field, since 1994 he has become a widely renowned speaker. He’s also the author of Managing (Right) for the First Time and Financial Management of a Marketing Firm, and the principal of RockBench, an independent publisher of courageous thought leadership content.

Co-presenter Blair Enns is the leading sales consultant to marketing agencies and author of The Win Without Pitching Manifesto. Prior to founding his own firm, he spent 12 years working in client-service and business development roles for agencies big and small. As proven once again during NBS 2012, Blair is a proven expert at selling in this niche and teaching others how to reposition their businesses, set themselves apart and build solid, sustainable business success.

Beginning right away on day one and right through the final session on day three, like every attendee, I was madly scribbling notes and compiling a new agenda that I fully expect to help propel my business to new heights over the months ahead. The epiphanies and surprises came in many forms, and one thing that really stood out to me was the number of attendees who had heard David and Blair present in the past, whether at a previous NBS, at the Mind Your Own Business conference, or elsewhere. Clearly, these gentlemen have an inside track on the key business areas of management and sales, and meeting them once is very likely to lead to a continuing dialogue… which both seem eager to explore.

I left the conference with both David’s and Blair’s books, as well as one from Mark O’Brien, who is the president of Newfangled, a web development firm that has been specializing in helping marketing firms build websites for themselves and their clients since 1995. The author of A Website That Works and also a very accomplished speaker, Mark and his well-known VP Christopher Butler were also on-hand throughout the summit, helping attendees apply lessons and learn more.

Taken altogether, having the opportunity to get face-to-face with David, Blair, Mark, Chris, their colleagues and all the attendees and sponsors was an extraordinary development for me personally and for my business. As a sure-fire recipe for learning how to build and maintain business success through sound, smart, focused strategic communications, I highly recommend that you subscribe to, read, track, follow — and whenever possible, connect with — these genuine innovators and their ongoing efforts. To all my new friends but especially the NBS organizers and presenters, many thanks for making this such a valuable and fun learning experience.

We are immensely grateful for the service of Mr. King, his father and mother Martin and Alberta, everyone in his family, and everyone giving what they have to keep his dream alive.

Together with my family, I am sending my warmest thoughts to many friends and colleagues worldwide, and feeling a lot of gratitude. I truly appreciate your help in sending daily clicks to www.hungersite.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each and every day.

I have done some research on homelessness over the years, and we all know that there are displaced people living on the city streets everywhere in America. The organizations and initiatives highlighted below represent just some of the many phenomenal community efforts supporting homeless people in the U.S. and elsewhere. I found many of them through JustGive.org, and I’m also proud to point you to this list JustGive publishes, entitled 35 Ways You Can Help the Homeless. They list as item 7, “give money,” and to that, I’ll add my plea to give whatever you have to spare (from loose change to your time), to those people you see in need.

Also, it’s the time of year when I invite you to join me in sending daily clicks to www.hungersite.com, where our simple mouseclicks can benefit a number of vital causes each and every day.

Thank you!

. World Hunger Year (www.worldhungeryear.org) is a non-profit that fosters numerous programs and activities to effectively advance long-term solutions to hunger and poverty by supporting community-based organizations that empower individuals and build self-reliance.

. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Coalition (www.lahsc.org) and the San Francisco Homeless Services Coalition (www.sfhsc.org) have raised millions of dollars to support shelters across California, specifically benefiting homeless women, children, and families. Along with linking residents and their resources with area shelters needing donations, these groups also educate their communities about the causes of homelessness to raise awareness and understanding, and to enlist them in aiding homeless individuals in need.

This spot for the Illinois State Lottery was produced by Energy BBDO in Chicago, directed by Dom Bridges of Bob Industries, and features visual effects from design-focused production studio Leviathan. As Leviathan’s Jason White recently explained to SCREEN Magazine:

“We appreciate this engaging story. Something we can all relate to. Effective and emotive. We really got behind the aspiration of the spot concept – capturing these amazing gift revealing holiday moments.”

Today, White and his colleagues reported on their very successful 2011 in SHOOT Magazine. Here’s wishing you many magical moments and dreams come true over the days ahead.

Tommy and I are very proud to announce that our book “Ewasko: Days and Lights” — which was nominated for Blurb’s “People’s Choice Award” — is now available as an instant ebook download for Apple iBooks (iPad/iPhone).

We’re also very psyched to announce the release of the first wave of high-quality art prints and photographic products of images featured in “Ewasko: Days and Lights.” By visiting RKDfind Ewasko Gallery you can now order prints with mounting and framing services from Mpix Lab and Photobox, and specialty gifts and photo products from vendors such as IYP Photo Products and fotoflot.

If you have any questions on orders, please call me at 1.828.264.8898. Thank you very much for your interest in this project — we hope you enjoy these images and we look forward to hearing from you any time.

In August of 2011, The Index Festival took place in New York City with the goal of bringing together individuals and groups who cognitively engage media culture. Among its offerings were four panels, each of which was held at the Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center.

Panel 1: Festival Opening
Panel 2: Mediated Landscapes
Panel 3: Make Ready
Panel 4: Digital Born and After

The Index Festival’s organizers are committed to continuing to explore how media and technology impact our lives. For more information, please visit indexfestival.com

Today is World AIDS Day… and as made clear in these words from Nobel Peace Prize winner and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, today’s mission demands that each of us take part:

I expect you already know about (RED) — the innovative, private-sector initiative launched in January of 2006 to enlist leading companies to channel a percentage of profits to assist in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which kills three million people every year. The money generated by the sale of (RED) products supports Global Fund-financed programs which positively impact the lives of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. The Global Fund is a unique global public-private partnership dedicated to attracting and disbursing additional resources to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities represents a new approach to international health financing. The Fund works in close collaboration with other bilateral and multilateral organizations to supplement existing efforts dealing with the three diseases. Programs supported by (RED) and the Global Fund have reached over 5 million people to date. Around half of the funding is being spent on medicines, mosquito nets to prevent malaria and other products, while the other half is for strengthening health services.

For more information on the work of the Global Fund or to make a tax-deductible contribution, please visit www.theglobalfund.org.

Please visit (RED) to read about partners and take advantage of their offers, to learn more about the organization, Global Fund and World AIDS Day, and to learn more about what you can do to make an impact today and tomorrow.

Today, please take at least one action to help turn the tide for those suffering from AIDS in Africa. We can make a difference!

Starting last Friday and for the next month, shoppers in New York City and San Francisco can use their mobile phones to purchase toys for children in need at two new interactive storefronts presented by eBay and Toys for Tots. The initiative conceived and produced by advertising agency Venables Bell & Partners features interactive displays created by international production company and design studio Brand New School (BNS) and its School of Interactive Media.

As reported by TheInspirationRoom.com, all web-connected shoppers can experience the Give-A-Toy Store and make donations online by visiting www.eBay.com/GiveAToyStore and www.Facebook.com/eBay.

I’m not sure of its exact origin, but I’m indebted to ESPN SportsCenter star Stuart Scott for introducing me to this phrase: “Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose.” Tomorrow (Nov. 24) is Thanksgiving Day here in America, and on the occasion, I am feeling deeply grateful.

Like many other entrepreneurs in America and elsewhere, I find a great deal to be thankful for in my occupation. Writing for OnStartups.com, Dharmesh Shah has posted an excellent short article today entitled “12 Things Entrepreneurs Should Be Thankful For,” which I encourage everyone to read.

Among the story’s growing list of comments, here are a few of my favorites.

. Sean Rosensteel: “I’m thankful for the small (but meaningful) windows of freedom you experience while being an entrepreneur and blazing your own trail.”

. Kathy: “I’m thankful for the folks I’ve met that are willing to help me out, even though the returns for them will be a couple more years down the road!”

. Artin Youssefian: “It’s nice to stop and be thankful once in a while. It reminds us all about why we started down this path to begin with. I’m thankful for everyone that has come before me and being able to stand on the shoulders of giants.”

. Chris Wachowiak: “Another reason I’m thankful for being an Entrepreneur: Giving me the ability to be the change I want to see in the world around me.”

I hope you also have lots to be thankful for today and in every day to follow. With clear eyes and full hearts, together, I believe we can achieve anything, and that optimism is just one of the many blessings I am counting today.