Glowing Embers - A Little Idea Sets Off a Roaring Fire

I love to play with a good campfire. I love everything about getting the campfire started - that's probably why I've done so many start-ups and love working with folks making something new happen.

I've got some great stories about building campfires in all sorts of weather conditions, but the absolute best memories are all the friendships made and deepened around a good campfire. I'm an Eagle Scout, my two sons are Eagles, as is an older brother and many other friends - all Eagle Scouts. So, between Scouts and all the other camping trips I've done as an adult, I've built a fair number of campfires. And, will be doing that this weekend as we head out for a campout with good friends. Some gourmet cooking, great wine and a good campfire to get warm and cozy.

A well built campfire starts with good dry bits of kindling. I've seen many novices take a little paper, add some big pieces of wood on top and set a match to the paper. When the paper quickly burns out they look for more paper or lighter fluid and give it another go. The best method is to start tiny, then a couple of small twigs and then little bit bigger twigs. As a flame gets going, add a bit bigger twigs and then some small sticks - until you hear the snap and crackle of the sticks. You've now got a fire to begin building. Just like anything else, you always have to start small, first.

There's something magical about a good campfire. People are drawn into the campfire, especially as it burns down to the glowing embers. My wife loves to imagine herself being small and walking through an ember forest. A good campfire left undisturbed overnight, will be ready to fire up in the morning. Initially the embers are covered with a light gray ash, yet with a little kindling and a few puffs on the glowing embers, a bit of smoke appears and then a flame. I love to watch small children and even some older adults as they see a new fire be born, with just a little bit of effort.

So, it goes with Glowing Embers. They may be covered with a little ash, but give them a kindling of an idea and a little bit of breeze and they can burst into a raging campfire, once again. Get those fires a'ragin'.

God Bless,

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

Power of the Narrative - Storytelling to Release New Potential

The power of the narrative trend is growing rapidly in corporate America. Why? Because we work in the midst of extreme complexity. Things are changing so rapidly, if we do not stay somewhat current, we can be left behind in a matter of days.

Storytelling, today, has become a new art form. Ever seen one of those videos of someone drawing pictures on a whiteboard, only the drawing is going at a high rate of speed - and, someone is narrating the story as each new picture is revealed? It's engaging isn't it?

It keeps your interest and it encompasses your three primary channels for receiving information and learning. You see and hear it as you internalize the message and integrate what you see and hear with your feelings. Definitely beats a "talking head" or "boring powerpoint at #10 font" doesn't it? 

ZFactor Publishing has seen this trend coming and has positioned itself to be a thought leader in mastering the power of the narrative to help individuals breakthrough the complexity of the situations they face day to day and achieve the results they desire, and more.

This is essential for us to achieve our mission to Reveal and Release Untapped Potential in today's complex and accelerating paced environments. Please engage with us as we move through this journey to bridge the gap between traditional publishing, digital publishing and the new developing territory of narrative publishing. Let's do some on the job learning, together.

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing