Book: Design by Tom Peters

An excellent book that takes a strong look at design and communicating the dynamics of stellar brands. You will look at the world in a totally new way. Design matters. Get caught up in The VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Book: "Good to Great"

For any size business and its leadership who wants to be great! Put aside your commonly held beliefs and discover the research that shows how great companies separated themselves from the pack.

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

The New Solution Selling

Do you love to sell? The formula for sales is pretty much the same. Master that simple formula and you are on your way to becoming more successful in that arena. This book offers a unique step by step approach that allows sales professionals to sharpen their understanding of how people and organizations make buying decisions. A must read for every sales zealot. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Radical Marketing

Every Marketer wants to be radical (or should)! This book profiles 10 unique companies and showcases how uniquely each Marketed their organizations. There is no one way to effectively Market one's company. Most adopt a mix that fits their company, its culture, and resonates with its customers. Learn what these great companies did to catapult their success. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

The Art of War

In the world of Strategy, none is more important than in war. The stakes are life and death. In business, the stakes are just as high for the life of the organization. Learn these principles, know your enemy, know yourself, and you can predict the outcome of every battle. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Positioning: The Battle for the Mind

One of my all-time favorite Marketing books. This book set me on my journey and curiousity into the dynamics or Marketing. Powerful. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Sergio Zyman, a Marketer's Marketer

"The problem to day: Markets have changed, Marketing hasn't." - Sergio Zyman

Sergio Zyman is an incredible Marketer. One of the few resonating voices on what Marketing is and isn't. Sergio is the former Chief Marketing Officer for Coca-Cola and a leading voice on Marketing. Read these two books and know more about Marketing than 90% of professed practicing Marketers. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!





To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Differentiate or Die!

An excellent book by Jack Trout, a Marketer's Marketer. This book takes a lot of the guess work of identifying and leveraging the Marketing of one's company. Positioning Strategy helps an organization to serve the market well by helping the buying public establish the relevancy of what a company does and what their brands should mean to them. Jack's rule of "Position or be positioned" still holds true. A must read for every aspiring and seasoned Marketer. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!



To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines

One of my favorite books of all time. The Marines deliver as advertised, "We win battles!" What is unique about this organization is unique to many successful organizations - an ethos, a history, a determination to be the best, and a vocabulary and action that serves the mission.

The Marine Corps doesn't promise a "Rose Garden", they will offer an opportunity to be one of the few, if you can make the cut.

Get caught up in THE VORTEX!




To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

The Pursuit of WOW!

This is one of my favorite books that makes Marketing real! I attended a Tom Peter's seminar in Houston, Texas in 1996 and have an autographed copy. Tom's mantra then and it still applies now, "If you can touch it, it ain't real." People don't buy products or services, they want experiences. Your brand should "Wow!" your clients.

Get caught up in THE VORTEX!



To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?

Read this book this month. If you've read it before, would love your feedback. Meow, I mean Bark! Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Final Salute and the 4th of July

I will be completing the final chapters of "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives" today. I received this book from Trish Forant, founder of eMailOurMilitary.com (a website resource that makes it easy to e-mail and serve those on the front lines of battle). She was assisting Freelance Journalist Becky of "Deep Muck Big Rake", via blog promotion raising awareness for the stories written by Pulitzer Prize winner journalist Jim Sheeler of the Rocky Mountain News.

This book serves as a reminder of our American journey. It provides a snapshot of war and freedom's cost, more recently the Iraq and Global War on Terror. The reader goes on a somber mission with those responsible for notifiying next of kin and the families who have lost loved ones in battle, in war. We meet each family, get to know them, and the son, husband, and father who chose to serve our country and died carrying out that duty.

We follow Major Beck of the U.S. Marines from the dreaded knock on the door in the late night, to the final resting place, and the hurt that families endure afterwards. Major Beck has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that each of his families and other's receive the "Final Salute" and ongoing support these families need and deserve. His attention to detail in every family request knows no bounds.

Few in America are close to war and for over 200 years, America continues to sacrifice for the sake our own nation and other's around the world (history proves that other countries and governments benefit from our success). Over 1.5 million service women and men have given their lives for the sake of independence.

For me, this book brought back the honor, respect, and solemnity that we should come to celebrate in appreciation of our hard won freedom. These chapters, these lives will make you cry. In fact, it made me remember Lance Corporal Timothy McMahaon, USMC and the 241 other servicemen who were killed in the Beirut, Lebanon barracks bombing of 1983. Tim was a friend of mine and inspired my life's focus. This book made me remember him and his family and identify with the families I read about.

The 4th of July is a celebration of freedom (it is not a time of sadness), a celebration of the modern day miracle that we call America. Freedom is not guaranteed, we have a chance to renew each day, each year, each decade, and hopefully another 100 years. To all our military serving in harms way, we salute you on 4th of July and rejoice in the American military and the American story. Take time today to look at an American flag blowing in the wind and render a salute and hopefully it will never be final. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

Semper Fi!

Andy Valadez
USMC 88 to 92

p.s. My family and I are heading to the world's largest land-based fireworks display in Houston, Texas this evening to celebrate the 4th of July - Independence Day.

Final Salute: Soldiers and Marines in Iraq

Buy this book today!



To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Threading the Needle

It is a great Saturday morning. My girls are in the kitchen drawing and my lovely wife is making breakfast (I am indeed a lucky guy, 27 years later). Of course, I am making a few postings on Twitter and just answered a LinkedIn request from my friend Lataya Ballard. Getting ready to read a chapter from "Become a Better You" by Joel Olsteen. My wife and I are excited about reading this book together.

What is "threading the needle"? "Threading the needle" to me is doing the seemingly impossible. Business ownership and creating successful Marketing campaigns is like "threading the needle". The odds are always against you, your campaign, or strategic plan. One has to be very fluid in today's business climate.

What is your biggest challenge? What dream can you envision for your company and what will it take to make that happen? I am a dreamer. I love dreaming big dreams and acting on them. The thrill of the chase of making a big call, floating a big idea, and leveraging opportunities inspires me. As a Marketer, our goals are to sway public opinion, change patterns of behavior, and impact the world. How one does that is by "threading the needle".

It may take years to "thread the needle". Do you have the temperment for that? We have to look for patterns and connections that could help us to create something truly remarkable. A phone call leads to an e-mail, that gets the attention of someone totally unrelated to the objective at hand - remember to avoid small minds. Two years later it all circles back and now you know why and how to make the "needle thread". Shazaam!

A quick example. My wild motorcyle riding sister "Jodie" visited our family last year and convinced us to attend the International Motorcycle Exhibition show here in Houston. I reluctantly agreed (I was busy). I figured I could work and be with family at the same time and my family needed to get out, so we ventured.

I took my video camera with me and was able to get in as part of the media because of my involvement with a local business radio show (the psychology of presentation is critical, by having a press badge (if you blog you are part of the press these days), people are more willing to talk to you openly - try it sometime). Of course, I had no "press" reservations so I had to do some fast talking, but the lady who ran the event was young and hip and she let me in (she was fluid) and introduced me around (how cool is that).

My girls went and looked at the cool bikes (a few pics here). I was in the hunt, looking for opportunities (they are everywhere, you have to be looking for them) and would circle back with my girls and update them on all of the cool interviews I was capturing. Well, I had a chance to meet motorcycle racer builder Denis Manning (see his intervew) who recently broke the world's record at 350 MPH (and many others).

After meeting Denis, I continued to mull on a few ideas a year later and called up his daughter-in-law to discuss a few ideas (it is important to be great on the phone, expect to communicate well). She asked me to put those thoughts in an e-mail. Well, I waited a few months (sometimes you have to let some projects stew) and fired off one hell of an e-mail (it is important to think through your e-mails, make it short, compelling and exciting). Well, I got a call from Denis yesterday and he was very happy about his plans to break the record again next year and confided in a few interesting details about his strategy to break the new record.

This discussion opened up the other possibilities for a few other non-related projects in film, racing, and advertising that we are working on (it is amazing how one project helps another). The "long-thread" of the needle will enable more opportunities to be sewn up. So keep "threading the needle".

Warning: I am convinced that far too many people are "too focused" (narrow minded) and miss opportunities. If this is you, learn to be like water and flow.

"Be water my friend" - Bruce Lee

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

Are you short-sighted or a long-term visionary?

God has given me the temperment for the long-term. I remember reading Robert Kiosoki's book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" where he wrote about the difference in thinking of wealthy people. They learned very early on not to work for money, but to work for wealth. So, are you working for money or wealth? Working for wealth can be very uncomfortable, while working for money can be very comfortable.

Having built and worked for successful companies, this discipline has been well entrenched (I love making money, but making it for others isn't so cool). I once took a client from $300K a year in sales to $5M in sales a year and $15M in total saves over a 4.5 year period. What I set in motion is still in play today for the client, but not for me. Lesson learned.

Three years ago, I was forced to diversify my interests and the division has been a tough journey. During the re-launch times, money is tight, but opportunities are great.

Interestingly, most business people view a "non-focused" approach as very dangerous. However, to me the danger is being too focused and so focused that one may miss opportunities. I believe that one can and should diversify and by converging those opportunities, they begin to leverage each other. Today I see that happening in many of my business interests in technology, real estate, radio and TV, movie making, working with authors and musicians, and more!

What I love about Marketing is that without Marketing, businesses go no where (you always have to Market your business and it is paid for somehow and some way). People are confused about what Marketing is and isn't. A Marketer's challenge is knowing the value of his contributions to the dynamics of the business model.

People find value in that expertise over time. So to all of the Marketers out there, keep building value and don't let the Market forget what you do. It is the Marketer's job to remember and make it happen! Finally, be sure to take an ownership position in most of what you build value in. Nothing like mailbox money (however small or large)!

To contact Marketing Dynamics visit: www.TeamMarketingDynamics.com or call 281.463.4560.

"Young Bucks" How to Raise a Future Millionaire

We are reading this book in order to develop and create dialouge about child entrepreneurship. You can read a recent post on how we are applying these principles with Kayla of Kayla Ventures. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

Frank McKinney, The Maverick Daredevil Real Estate Artist

Frank McKinney, Innovator Philanthropist

Franky McKinney is an amazing man of our time. Calling himself a "A Modern Day Robin Hood" who sells to the wealthy and builds for the desperately poor and homeless in third world countries (building shelters for families in the U.S. has proven difficult).

Mr. McKinney has been featured on 20/20, The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and other major media outlets for his ability to build mega-mansions and opulent works of real estate art, speculation homes that can reach values as high as $140,000,000. All of his homes are built without a buyer in mind. He has trained himself to push his "risk threshold" and lay everything he believes in on the line. He believes "That to whom much is given, much is required."

He is an inspiration to all who dream. Listen to this amazing interview with Frank McKinney, The Maverick Daredevil Real Estate Artist and Kevin Price, Radio Host for the Houston Business Show radio program that airs in the Houston market on CNN 650 AM and on-line at 11am to 12PM CST. Brought to you by Marketing Dynamics and the Houston Business Show. Get caught up in THE VORTEX!

Radio Interview: Part 1 <radio active>
Radio Interview: Part 2 <radio active>
Radio Interview: Part 3 <radio active>
Conclusion: <radio active>

Pay Your Children to Read Books and Raise Leaders

I recently attended the "Houston Business Expo" here in Houston, where Kirbyjon Caldwell, Jim McIngvale, Deborah Duncah, and Mayor Bill White spoke. Mr. Caldwell talked about one of his friends John Maxwell, a leadership training expert, noted for many successful books and corporate speaking engagments. In Mr. Caldwell's message, he cited Mr. Maxwell - "If you want to raise employees, pay your chidlren to do chores. If you want to raise leaders, pay your children to read books."

So, Kayla (my daughter) and I discussed this and came up with a program where she will get paid to read books. We also have decided on a negotiated price on the value of the book she reads. A $1 book would be very limited writing and many pictures, a $3 book would have more words and fewer photos, and $5 would be a thicker book, with lots of words. We haven't decided on a limit yet (who knows how many books she will want to read now).


Child Entrepreneur Kayla Valadez

Finally, a $10 book is a book that daddy and mommy want her to read that has more reading than she might be used to. In addition, we still want to instill the entrepreneurship spirit in her and other young children (if you have children, we hope you try this). So, we have started an on-line bookstore for all of the books that she reads that are available on Amazon.com for sale. She will be providing her review of each of her books and you and your family can decide if you want to puchase the book. If you have any business ideas for kids, please send them to Kayla@KaylaVentures.com Get caught up in The VORTEX!

We are paying Kayla $5 to read this book (she decided she wanted to make money (she will be writing a review on her blog when she is done with the book).

Prepare for Rain!

A church makes a movie? After we interviewed Stephen Kendrick, Co-writer and Producer of "Facing the Giants", I had to read the book written by Michael Catt, Senior Pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA. The book came to me signed by Mr. Catt and is an amazing story of the creativity of the mind and the excellence within us all (given to us by God). Are you working hard? Planting seeds and sowing into the lives of others? Then you need to get this book today. Get caught up in The VORTEX and Prepare for Rain!



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