The Platform Debate: Author/Speaker Michael Hyatt versus the NSA – Resolved!

In the wake of the National Speakers Association announcement at its annual convention a few days ago that it was renaming the organization “Platform,” some of us, who are passionate fans of Michael Hyatt — the New York Times bestselling author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World — have become quite vocal about this poorly researched, dubious decision.
For my part, as I shared earlier (and maybe ranted a little) on this Sugar Shock Blog, when I witnessed this brand roll-out, I became both appalled and saddened.
Michael HyattAlthough I greatly respect the National Speakers Association and its many remarkable members, I cannot fathom how a talented brand-name-search committee — which allegedly spent “two years” on this — could have been so in the dark about the amazing Michael Hyatt, who has branded “Platform” in a big way. Or, worse, if they knew about Michael and still proceeded with this move, it’s simply galling.
Not only has Michael penned his fabulous book Platform — which is, incidentally, a must read for all speakers — but he has created a wonderful Platform University and fabulous Platform Conference.
Although I had initially planned to dedicate much of this holiday weekend to making major inroads on my next book, I felt it important to take time out to stress via comments in the private National Speakers Association Facebook group and in two blogs posts here that Michael Hyatt is the undisputed brand holder of “Platform.”
Please join me to support bestselling author and speaker Michael Hyatt:
Urge the National Speakers Association leadership to ditch the name change by writing to CEO Stacy Tetschner, who invites your comments about it.
Recommend that the NSA apologize to Michael Hyatt.
Do better Google searches and more substantive research before picking another brand name that may already be taken.
And don’t stomp on the toes of someone, who is, after all, one of your own! Indeed, Michael Hyatt is not only a New York Times bestselling author with a huge platform, but he’s a sought-after, world-renowned speaker, who has done so much to help speakers, authors, bloggers, etc. get their messages out to a wider audience.
Also, please post comments on blogs by Daniel Decker, Stu McLaren, Kathleen Ann Thompson, Mike Kim, and Andy Traub, and thank them for coming to Michael’s support.
I also encourage you to read these thoughtful posts about this matter from Ryan Avery and Skip Prichard.
FYI, you can see the explanation here as to why the well-branded National Speakers Association was ditching its name and now calling itself “Platform.”
Now, let the fabulous Michael Hyatt teach you about building your own platform.
Again, please join me in urging the NSA leadership to reconsider this name change, because Michael Hyatt is already the preeminent holder of the brand, Platform. Please share your comments now.

Join Me in San Francisco: Help Make My Book a Bestseller at Bestseller Book Launch Party

Live or work near San Francisco?
If so, join me Wednesday, May 30 between 6 and 9 pm PDT for a Bestseller Book Launch and Author Spotlight Party.
At this one-of-a-kind event, you’ll have a chance to meet several of us authors in the business and non-fiction fields, including bestselling author Marci Shimoff and yours truly.
Of course, I’m inviting you to come out and support my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, which will be officially released two days later.
Here’s how the Betseller Book Launch Party works. You can attend for free, but what you’ll do is purchase two books on Amazon that day (see details below).
Then, you’ll be able to share our (the authors’) excitement and join in the celebration as our books blast to the top of the Amazon.com bestseller charts right there at the party. Isn’t this an innovative idea for a party?
Special thanks to Alicia Dunams, a self-publishing expert and creator of the Bestseller in A Weekend business program. This Bestseller Book Launch Party is her brainchild.
Please note that this Bestseller Book Launch Party is not a book signing — but I’ll be glad to sign books — as many as you buy.
Remember, you’ll be an integral part of our success by purchasing two of the featured authors’ books on Amazon.com on May 30, 2012, anytime between 12:01 am – 11:59 pm.
Again, I’m inviting you to get my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, during that time. (If you’re not in San Francisco, I urge you to wait until June 5 to buy my book, because that’s when we’re holding the official book launch.)
To receive complimentary admission to the Bestseller Book Party:
1) You must show proof that you purchased 2 of the featured authors’ books on May 30, 2012 when you arrive at the registration table. A print-out of an Amazon.com receipt will suffice. Or…
2) Purchase 2 of the featured authors’ books (think: my book, please!) at the event between 6 and 9pm. I’ll be there with my new laptop, so you can buy them with me watching, if you like. (I’ll be happy to post for a photo, if you like too.) You must show proof of purchase before you leave the party.
To join the other authors and me at the Bestseller Book Launch Party fun on Wed., May 30 in San Francisco, sign up here.
Special thanks to USA Today for the Best-Selling Books image. Hope it was okay to use! If not, let me know and I’ll promptly take it down!

Help Me to Help You — The White-Out Diet Will Be In Your Hands Jan. 2010, Helping You, If You Spread the Word Now

Special Announcement:
Greetings, wonderful, savvy people,
Today, exactly 11 years since I first kicked sugar and refined carbs and got a better life.
And today, I’m launching an unusual pre-book-deal, marketing campaign.
The economy is prompting me to do something really different so that I can get a book deal for my next book, The White-Out Diet, which I know could help many.
Please see this email (below), which I just sent to members of my mailing list.
If you can help, I’d really, really appreciate it!
Anyhow, my goal is to help millions, and I think I can, but I need wonderful people like you to spread the word! Please read on.
Thanks in advance ever so much! See letter below.
Warmly and gratefully,
Connie
Subject: Help me, please… The White-Out Diet, my next book, is coming with your help — benefits galore
Dear [Your Name Goes Here],
Would you like to lose weight for good,
banish fatigue, boost your energy, feel and look
more youthful, get more oomph in the bedroom and
build a life of passion, purpose and pizzazz?
Well, The White-Out Diet, my next book
(the follow-up to SUGAR SHOCK!), is intended to help YOU
achieve ALL of that — and more.
This book, I hope, will come out in January 2010.
But here’s the catch: I need your help so that this book
will become a reality and be available to you through bookstores,
libraries and online retailers.
You see, while this fun, easy-to-read,
friendly, compassionate book can help
you in so many ways, these challenging
economic times are prompting me to
rely on you.
Let me explain.
Like all other industries, the
publishing industry has been hit
by the economic downturn.
Publishers are tightening their belts and making less acquisitions.
So my literary agent explains to me.
More importantly, major publishers only want to make book
deals with people, who are household names
— movie stars, TV personalities, celebrities and so on.
And publishers only want authors with a “Big Platform”
— this means millions (or least hundreds of
thousands) of followers, fans and friends.
Therein lies my challenge.
While editors at publishing houses loved my White-Out Diet
concept and my background as author of an acclaimed
book (SUGAR SHOCK!) from a major publisher (Berkley Books,
part of the Penguin Group), their enthusiasm was dampened
because I’m not a household name — yet.
And while I do have a Big Platform,
it’s not big ENOUGH — yet.
But I’m determined to get The White-Out Diet published so it can help you.
So I realized that it’s time to put the Law of Attraction into action.
And I’d be grateful to you for any help you can give to make this happen.
The White-Out Diet is a great book, and it deserves to be in your
hands next January, 2010, so it can help you.
Ultimately, this challenge presents an
incredible opportunity.
It’s time for me to become pro-active,
creative and what I call “author-preneurial.”
I’m even planning some outrageous, exciting activities
to drum up the necessary attention in The White-Out Diet, because
I KNOW this book can really enhance, improve and change your life.
(Got any clever, out-of-the-box marketing and promotion ideas? Know any celebrities?
Please share this info with me
ASAP, but privately.)
So would you be kind enough to act now (spending only about a
minute or two) to support the campaign to get The White-Out Diet
into the hands of people who need it?
Act now, please. Just go here:
=====>>>>>
http://www.WhiteOutDiet.com