Monthly Archives: April 2009

Alan Weiss and Chad Barr are pleased to announce a new joint venture, Million Dollar Websites. This was created in response to consistent requests for a combination of superb and powerful marketing text combined with state-of-the-art web technology. We’ve created an absolutely unique web site development approach—turnkey for a new site, metamorphosis for an existing site—with three programs to accommodate a variety of investments. The return on those investments will easily reach seven figures.

Hence, Million Dollar Web Sites. We invite you to visit. This is a unique service, finally combining high tech, with high touch in a pragmatic and customized approach.

I’m announcing a rare and unique charity fund raiser. Not long ago, I raised $50,000 for the Newport International Film Festival, which I chair, by offering a day of coaching at my home. Nine people have since come or scheduled appointments.

However, my wife is the special events chair for Festival Ballet Providence, and she is none too happy with me, since the ballet is in dire straits financially (artistically, it’s brilliant). Who knew that no good deed goes unpunished?

So, in order to ensure domestic tranquility and provide for the common defense, I’m announcing No Man Is An Island, Or Is He?

Specifically, I am offering two nights and three days at my personal Eden-on-Earth, the Wauwinet Inn on Nantucket. We’ve been staying there for 15 years, and many of you have heard my stories and seen the photos. (I’ve included some here.)

All you have to do is arrive (by plane, pedestrian ferry, or car ferry). Once there, ALL expenses are taken care of: room, local transportation, food, wine (except for souveniers!). We will start on the first night with dinner at Topper’s, the award-winning restaurant (with an award-winning wine list) where we might also share an 1870 Madeira at the bar while we watch the sun set. The next day we’ll meet after our breakfast together to talk about life, business, balance, politics—whatever makes sense, though I’ll have some topics to stimulate discussion.

Then, we’ll take jeeps with permits on the special reserve and drive out over the sand along the Atlantic to the point and lighthouse, a 40-minute trip. We may take box lunches, or have lunch on the Gatsby-like lawn before we depart. That evening we’ll dine in an exquisite restaurant in town, perhaps The Pearl or The Galley.

The next day, a gourmet breakfast again, rare talk, and another great lunch. You can depart at your convenience in the afternoon.

The donation is $7500. You can pay me by check or credit card (that ensures the tax deductibility of a business development expense) and I will remit the funds raised to the ballet. The deadline for registration and payment or deposit is June 1. NOTE: I’m only accepting 7 people at the most (two jeeps!). I can arrange for two installment payments if you prefer.

Logistics: Arrive September 21, depart September 23 in the afternoon or evening. You can fly to Nantucket from Boston, Providence, and New York; you can take a fast, pedestrian ferry or a car ferry from Hyannis. Weather permitting, you can swim at that time of year, though it’s not mandatory! Dress is casual during the day, business casual for restaurants (upscale casual).

I will review options for travel and other issues individually with each registrant. First come, first served. You register with me by phone, fax, or email, NOT on my web site:

800/766-7935 (401/884-2778
Fax: 401/884-5069
Email: alan@Summitconsulting.com

This is a rare opportunity to talk philosophy, spirituality, business, politics, careers, and anything else on your mind with a small group of kindred spirits. I can promise that the conversation, food, wine, and surroundings will be exceptional and inspirational. I’m announcing this first on my blog and Alan’s Forums before informing my wider communities.

Have at it, and help me reach year 41 in my marriage!

PS: In the event of unforeseen problems at Nantucket, we will either switch to another island, such as Martha’s Vineyard, or I’ll refund the money. I don’t anticipate such an eventuality–I’ve never cancelled a trip–but I want you to be assured.

I’m really excited about this new offering, The Workshop Workshop, or W2. I realized some years ago that brief, very high-end workshops were both more rewarding for me and more useful for participants than the quick, in-and-out keynote speech. Most of the money being made today in the speaking business is in training (non-celebrity, non-diversified keynoters are mostly starving). So, after launching over two dozen such offerings and realizing six figures per workshop and over seven for the year from this part of my business, I became existential and created a workshop on workshops! (The meta workshop?).

I’m going to accept a limited number of people who either have the intellectual property to create a workshop (of any length) or who are conducting workshops that can be improved in terms of quality, appeal, and revenue. We’ll cover design, delivery, marketing, fees, and even peripheral issues such as successfully negotiating with hotels and suppliers. There is one scheduled, I have three people thus far, and I have no plans to do this again in the U.S. In two intensive days, propel yourself to another level of success.

Take a look here.

End of commercial, thanks for listening.

There are so many scams out there that it’s no wonder I think the Internet is largely filled with crap. (In the great play, Avenue Q, the monster sings, “The Internet was made for porn.”)

A “global elite” outfit for speakers contacts me out of the blue and wants me to join “4,500 elite global speakers.” I told them that 4,500 doesn’t sound very elite, it sounds as if they’re taking on anyone willing to sign up. The National Speakers Association in the U.S. has only 3200 members, and only 5% of them are making it big, by way of example. That’s less than 200 elite in the largest speaking market in the world.

The elite operation tells me they ARE elite because there are 5 billion people in the world!! In other words, these speakers are elite because they are better than subsistence farmers in Africa, the inner city poor, and factory workers in China. Now there is a comparison, certainly justifying a speaker as “elite.”

Their promotional material goes on to state that they have great relationships with event planners—middlemen—and their material offers all kinds of things to sell to the “elite members,” such as financial planning services.

Be careful. Ignore those who want you to pay to “host” a radio show, or appear on cable TV with an ancient D-list celebrity, or pay for them to market you. These are the parasites on the professional scene.

Nonna and Tex with Gabrielle and Alaina in New York. They make their first trip to Rhode Island next week for Easter, when they will meet Koufax and Buddy Beagle for the first time.