One frequent and logical question that many people asked me was “What about your next book?”. Well, I think it is a bit too early (only after one year) for me to publish the next book or even the next edition. Perhaps give me a few more years. I do have some ideas on the areas that I want to expand more if I write the next book. I will need more time to do more research and pondering beforehand.

Sometimes silence is gold. I can still recall clearly the first advice given to me by my editor friend Geoff right after my book publication. He advised me to take any feedback (in particular negative) with grace and not to start a debate/fight with anyone regarding his/her comments about the book. If I go down that path, it will generate “bad press” to say the least and it won’t solve the issues. After close to a year, I fully agree with his advice. It is so true.

Patience is more than a virtue! It is essential in learning in particular when we are more mature in life.

Being impatient generates negative energy (I am as guilty as anyone else as I am far from a patient person) and it will lead to adverse consequences in life if we don’t have it under control.

Being impatient is not necessary one of by-products of having a strong motivation and drive to success. One does not need to express that passion in a negative way by being impatient. Note the difference.

Wearing different hats and playing different roles are useful skills to have in life. I need to put on a more “corporate” face in order to promote my book to strangers. To put things in a more general perspective, we need to tune our approach and attitude towards the specific client. One size fits all will not work in most cases.

50 Shades of Friendship: My friends’ support came in so many different ways spreading throughout a wide spectrum. There were surprises on the upside as well as the downside. I think it is important to realize and accept that your friends have no obligation to help you in the way that you expected. One can’t realistically demand equality in a friendship (though working towards that goal is healthy). Fortunately, my book has not been a stumbling block to any of my friendship after personal disappointment being dealt with and overcome.

Everyone is different but equal. This point hit home to me during the past year in promoting my book. Every reader or potential purchaser of my book is equally important and is treated with the same respect. At the same time, different people have different reasons for purchasing my book, ranging from “getting me off their back” to genuinely interested in the content of my book. I have learned to respect them equally as one copy sold is one copy sold.
As some people say, “A customer is always right!” Not sure in reality if the customer is right or not but at least he/she needs to feel respected and appreciated. :>

First of all, to conclude the first year of my book publication, I am very pleased with experiences that I probably would not have had without the book. To recount a few of them.
1) Many people including myself were surprised by my sales skills (hard sell or not) and enthusiasm. I took a day off last year going to different book stores asking them to sell my book there.
It in itself was quite an interesting experience.
2) I asked a few restaurants and cafes to let me put my promotional posters and cards. The managers were very supportive. I felt very much encouraged.
3) I was promoting my book at every possible opportunity that I was “banned” by my friends to mention it during future social events. How inconsiderate (I meant them, not me obviously :>)!

Today marks the beginning of the 10-day period before the FIRST anniversary of my book publication. I did promise to use the first year after the publication to review and then decide what my next steps are. Therefore, to be myself “on the spot”, I will share some of my thoughts in the next remaining 9 days. Yes, I am keeping the suspense :> Please be patient.

Do you remember the time that you waited for a major decision to be announced? For example, an exam result or a job offer. That waiting time can be daunting and we can feel somehow helpless about it. On this subject, I have a few suggestions:
1) “Bottle” it – Once you have decided there is nothing more you can do about it, leave it alone. Avoid being obsessive and waste your time on something that you don’t have influence on the outcome.
2) Balance – Keep your life in balance by paying attention to all aspects of life.
3) Reasonable preparation – Be prepared for plan b, c, d.., but don’t over-analyze it.
4) Make the best out of it – Use the “waiting” time wisely, make every minute counts. Don’t let your anxiety of waiting make time slip through your fingers.

Ok – Get moving now. Yes, I am talking to YOU :>

Continuing on the subject of presentation, another good point from the discussion group is staying relaxed during the presentation. One experienced presenter pointed out it is important to stay relaxed during the presentation which helps to fuel spontaneity and avoid being “frozen” when things don’t go the way as planned. Being relaxed facilitates our creativity including improvisation and “thinking on your feet”.