Dear Friends,

Last weekend I spent the day at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in the sound studio with Charles Veal Jr. and Louis Farrakhan. Charles is one of the premier violists in the world and Louis is the leader of the Nation of Islam. My sweetie and I were meeting Charles to discuss his interest in doing the score for a feature film my sweetie is writing.

At the ranch cows roamed (Linda Ronstadt had given two of them to George when they were dating) and now there were dozens. The deer had just had babies and their spotted fawns stayed close to them--good news since a bobcat watched them with interest on a neighboring hillside.

The place is quiet and calm, a wonderful place for creative work. There were many men around of various sizes and shapes and I wondered why Charles needed so many assistants who didn't really seem to do anything. Turned out they were Louis Farrakhan's bodyguards.

It was a life-changing day for me. Watching Charles direct Louis who was playing the violin for his upcoming CD was magic. What made it magic was the way Charles listened and directed. He paid attention to every nuance, every note with such devotion it made me rethink how to live. I want to do everything with more subtlety, to notice smaller and smaller things, to heighten my awareness of people's moods, and expressions.

The other thing Charles did that directly impacted me was the way he brought out the best in Louis' playing. He asked Louis to do take after take, saying things like, that was technically perfect, now put the feeling back into it, and do that passage with more singing in the notes. What was just as miraculous is how Charles remembered the best parts of each take and began to edit them into what would be the final version on the CD. He remembered every note as if it were a beloved child.

I also recognized what it takes to be the very best at what you do. I think few people realize what goes on behind the scenes making a CD, writing a book, or doing publicity at a national level. There's talent and then there's doing the work. Charles, Louis, their sound engineer and computer whiz Winston, (who flew in from fixing computer glitches at the White House), were in the studio until 4 in the morning, day in, day out, playing, listening, editing, perfecting.

Then there will be 6 weeks of mixing once the recording is complete. I think many people underestimate the effort it takes to be great. This month I will discuss with Drew Gerber of Wasabi Publicity how to build your publicity so that you train yourself for greatness.

You don't have to be at concert violinist level now. (Charles decided, "This is what I want to do with my life," at age 14 when he heard Itzhak Perlman in a gymnasium concert with his father). He devoted himself to his passion and opportunities followed. Whenever you devote yourself to something, doors open.

It's never too late to begin. Are you ready?

Warmly,

Susan

What I Learned from Charles Veal Jr. & Louis Farrakhan

1. Draw out the best in people.

Charles Veal Jr., one of the premier violinists in the world, told Louis Farrakhan, the Leader of the Nation of Islam, what he did right or wanted more of. He described, but not criticized what he didn't want so Louis understood. He said things like, "That last bit was technically perfect, now let's go for lyrical." You'll be a sought after radio or TV guest when you can bring out the best in the interviewer and the audience. You'll be a sought after person when you can do it as part of who you are.

As soon as he had a break in the sound studio Charles came over to us (my sweetie and I) and flung his arms around me as if we had known each other forever. It felt like we had. His openness made me feel more open. I want to learn from his example not to close down and to welcome everyone as if they were a dear friend.

2. Concern yourself with humanity.

Louis was worried about the space shuttle astronauts as much as the future of rap stars. Secluded in the sound studio he hadn't heard the latest news and wanted to know about the astronauts. Were they safe?

He told me he had many of the rap stars over for dinner to talk to them about not creating music that denigrates women. There is great pressure from the music executives to stay with what works. They don't want to change a formula that sells. When you concern yourself with the welfare of others and stop worrying about what people think of you, you develop that all-important presence, that I talk about often. It's the most important thing about you.

3. Follow Your Calling.

Louis had played violin since childhood and also played in a Calypso band in his youth. His relatives were from the Caribbean. After he met Elija Mohammed it changed the direction of his life and he went on to lead the Million Man March and more. Now at 73 he decided he desired to leave a legacy with his music. His CD will cover everything from The Irish hymn, Danny Boy, to rap. He plans to have Denise Williams, Leontyne Price, Johnny Mathis and others on it. He wants to have artists of every religion as well. Buddhists to Jews. It's his homage to help create peace. What's the legacy you want to leave? This is the first thing to think about before you send out a press release of make a phone call to the media.

4. Establish Common Ground.

Louis lives in Chicago. I grew up in Highland Park Illinois where the famed Ravinia Park, haven for musicians, is located. As a kid I went to see everyone from Janis Joplin to Ella Fitzgerald. I asked Louis about playing Ravinia. I'm sure we would have plenty to disagree about in term of politics and religion, but I chose not to go there. Instead I told him of my love of the music I heard, like Duke Ellington, and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. We discussed music and the blues. Find common ground first with reporters, producers and hosts. You can always discover places you disagree later. Establishing rapport is way more important than being slick and perfect. People want to be around those that they can relate to first. Talent is secondary.

5. Let Your Inner Beauty Shine.

Louis is gorgeous. He has the smoothest skin, an unfurrowed brow, and speaks melifluously. Though he's 73 he looks about 50. It appears that he didn't have a care in the world. But he does. The CIA and FBI supposedly want him dead and he has six bodyguards outfitted in jogwear and bling to prevent such an occurrence.

I asked him his beauty secrets. "Give me your outer ones, not the inner. Tell me all!" But he revealed only the inner ones like, go to sleep with a clear conscience. Forgive everyone. Act according to your faith and truth. OK, but what about the creams?

Guess what? We can all spot a fake. Being real and loving other people is the way that you'll be most beautiful. And I know it's not easy--the loving people part. We're all so annoying. But, if you can look past the annoyance, at the core most people are made of goodness. Trying to control other people is fruitless, if you haven't noticed. Remembering this will help you in the most stressful of times when those around you at a TV or radio studio are being obnoxious, rude or inconsiderate. You can act according to how you want to be.

Francis Bacon said, "As for the passions and studies of the mind: avoid envy; anxious fears; anger fretting inwards; joys and exhilarations in excess; sadness not communicated. Entertain hopes; mirth rather than joy; variety of delights, rather than surfeit of them; wonder and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature."

Free Teleclass: Insiders Secrets to Doing Your Own PR Campaign

Join me and Drew Gerber, co-founder of Wasabi Publicity, Inc, to discover how you can create your own PR campaign--and get extraordinary results.

A seasoned publicist with his pulse on the marketplace, Drew Gerber has managed PR campaigns for large non-profits (Grameen Foundation, the Ms. Foundation), entrepreneurs and authors. Drew pioneered the online press kit made possible by the cutting edge technology he helped develop. The result? No lost opportunities and faster media bookings more often for his clients.

Drew will share with you:

• How to engage reporters and producers in 10 seconds or less;
• The crucial differences between pitching a radio producer and a print reporter;
• The kind of research you must do BEFORE you pick up the phone to call the media;
• What you need to know about the different news shifts and how that can make the difference between getting booked on a show or not;
• Pet peeves of the media-what they hate about publicists;
• Techniques to effectively follow-up with the media so they welcome your contact;
• Ways to cross pitch your clients;
• The inside scoop about what the media wants, how to meet their demands; and more.

Date: Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Time: 10am-11am Pacific
1 hour
Cost: FREE
Register: send a blank email to
oprah-180354@autocontactor.com

NOTE: You'll receive a confirmation email with the call details typically within a few hours of sending an email. If you do not, please check your spam filter and/or whitelist the name: newslettereditor@prsecrets.com.

Limit: The first 100 people--register early so you don't get left out.

Seeking Corporate Sponsors for Your Book, Speaking, Business or Charity?

Access Linda Hollander, the Wealthy Bag Lady's free replay of her teleclass on the Top 5 Ways to Attract Corporate Sponsors. Linda's sponsors include Citibank, Fed Ex, Staples, Southwest Airlines, Health Net, Wal Mart and IBM. Go to: http://www.WealthyBagLady.com/recordings

Do you want to learn how to attract sponsors and write a proposal that gets big bucks? Susan Harrow newsletter subscribers get a $100 discount on the Wealthy Bag Lady 4 week teleclass where she personally helps you profit from the awesome power of sponsors. Simply enter the promo code 245562 when you register.
http://www.WealthyBagLady.com/sponsorclass

Get Your Own Backseat Writer

Do you have a story to tell, but are not sure how to best attract media attention?

If you need someone to help you craft the perfect story or ghostwritten article to get media coverage, then Nettie Hartsock is the writer for you. A savvy and experienced journalist, PR veteran, and content guru, Nettie knows how to research and create compelling content to get your service or product covered.

Nettie has written for leading publications both online and offline including allbusiness.com, Ziff-Davis, Freelancewritingsuccess.com, ibizinterviews.com, whitepapersource.com and more. She's interviewed such luminaries as author Erica Jong, country music star Willie Nelson and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Nettie is also the editor of the Must Read Business Books blog. Contact her at: hartsock@gmail.com or nettie@corridor.net. She is fast, meticulous, has reasonable rates and is a marvelously delightful person.

Free Video Service for Your Website or Email

Camdeo.com is part of a company based in Berkeley that has created a service to allow business and individuals to market their services and products via online video or audio. Now your emails can have a 30 second video or audio of yourself talking about your product or service--at no charge. Pretty neato.

Want a Complimentary Consultation Session About Your Business?

Karl Zimmer of Zimmer Advisory Group, confidential advisors to business owners and leaders who want to Profit in Harmony®, is generously donating time to meet with business owners and leaders who might benefit from spending a couple of hours talking with an experienced, objective business person. He is accredited as an Executive Associate (AInstIB) by the Institute for Independent Business, an international research, training, and accreditation not-for-profit organization. Learn more about Karl here and more about the Institute, here. To set an appointment put: Susan Harrow Referral in the subject line and send an email to: karlzimmer@iib.ws.

What a great opportunity to get advice on any aspect of your business. Thank you Karl!

Come Meet Me

Anywhere in the World
Insider Secrets to Doing Your Own PR Campaign
Date: August 16, 2006
Time: 10am-11am Pacific
Register: send a blank email to
oprah-180354@autocontactor.com

Anywhere in the World
Christian Work at Home Moment
March 5, 2006
6:30pm CST on KCRO 660 AM
KCRO 660 AM, Omaha or listen
anytime at http://cwahm.com/wordpress/blog/

Anywhere in the World
Q&A to Get on Oprah & Other TV Talk Shows Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge at:
http://prsecrets.com/free-sign-oprahtvtalkshow.html

Anywhere in the World
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance Teleclass
1 hour
Download it at no charge at:
http://prsecrets.com/free-audio-signup-6f.html

Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge at:
http://www.webmarketingmagic.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=114141

For further schedule information and course descriptions
please visit:
http://prsecrets.com/speakingkeynotesworkshops.html

NOTE: Some new classes do not yet have descriptions. Your patience is appreciated.

Quote

When your desires are strong enough, you will appear to possess superhuman powers to achieve.

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