HustleKnockin'

MTLB likes KTH!

Saturday, December 09, 2006

MAKE THE LOGO BIGGER!

Knock The Hustle.

Little late in getting some reviews done. Sue me. Knock The Hustle is the latest book I’ve been meaning to write up. Truth be told, my ADD kicks in and I end up starting a bunch of books and not finishing any. Apologies to Hadji, but it just takes me a long time to read books these days.

So of course, as I usually say: read this book. (Sorry, I’m pass-fail like that. I either like something or I don’t.) Billed as a way to save your job and your life from corporate America, Knock The Hustle offers another great POV on the advertising world. That’s what I like about the books I’ve reviewed on advertising, each has its own unique voice and perspective.

KTH will be at Alpha II Omega!

Guess what: I got a book signing/speaking gig THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2nd @

ALPHA II OMEGA
1838 West 95th
Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 445-9044

It's a hip bookstore in Chicago's Evergreen Pk community. Fairly upscale, educated crowd--lost of execs, MBA and college grads... This ought to be fun when they list to me tee off on all manner of Corporate Shennigans.

We'lls ee if Street KNOWLEDE beats Corporate KNOW-How. (LOL!)

I go on in the lounge area at 2pm. So stop by. Get a promo copy, ask goofy questions, etc. It should be fun!

ALPHA II OMEGA's Store Hours: Tues. thru Fri. 11:00am to 7:00pm, Sat. 10:00am to 6:00pm

BeyondMadisonAve digs KTH!!!

Got a cool industry review from Mark TrueBlood of BMA, BeyondMadisonAvenue.com, one of the better ad indutry collectives online. One of the bigger ones, too. It came about through a couple arguements about diversity and creativity, etc.  He struck me as a nice enough guy so i sent him a copy just because a I had a couple left and he was a lot more open-minded than i think I gave him credit for being.

next thing i know, i get this:

FWD>> THE BOOK THAT ALMOST WAS.

Like most authors, KNOCK THE HUSTLE wasn’t my first book to bubble. The first book I wrote was called “FWD>>: Emails from Me 2 You”. I wrote that one back in 1997 after being online for a few years and getting all kinds of crazy emails from people about everything imaginable: Top 10 lists, dirty jokes, confidential office memos, riffs about their wives and families, observational humor, etc.

Every chapter was about crazy emails with my commentary, backstory, etc. whatever effects they had on people who read them. Stuff like that.

Seems kinda corny now, but understand: this was 10 years ago. The internet was a totally new thing to most. Even though I was doing my corporate thing, and college-educated, I was from a community and a background where most folks didn’t have access to computers, let alone email. I never owned a computer at home—I had to use the ones in college and at work.

SO HOW DID THE BOOK FAIR GO? (PT 1)

As little brown angel once said to me, “It was way cool auntie!” It was pretty cool. Thanks to Constance, Rachel, and everyone who came out and supported. Book fairs are a great reminder that what you see in borders, Barnes and Noble are the only books worth reading. And I say that as someone who’s fortunate enough to have his book in both outlets. (Even though I’m buried in the “Black Authors” section and don’t get no ink until February… but that’s another story.)
Lots of folks seemed to like KNOCK THE HUSTLE. I gave away a few promo copies, got some good feedback from my little speech, signed a couple copies, posed for some pics and shook a few hands… It was a good time.

I tried taking pics but I was in such a hurry that I forgot my camera and my phone camera pics came out too blurry to be blown up in Photoshop, so I gotta talk thru everything.

Book Fair is Tomorrow!!

That's right! tomorrow's the big day! While most of you will be catching up on sleep (luck stiffs!), going thru bills, watching games, kids, canoodling (huh?!)... I'll be at a book fair!

KNOCK THE HUSTLE is coming to CHICAGO's OCTOBER BOOK FAIR at the CHICAGO CULUTRAL CENTER on Randolph and Michigan Ave.

From 9am-3pm, I'll be giving away street copies of KTH because I'm heading into my seconding printing--the first one's just about gone. got a couple cases left but that's it! Yipppeeee!!!!!

So i'll be there along with 30 other CHicago authors and Cheryl Cokely from NPR talking about reading, books, publishing, etc.

It's free, open to the public, and indoors and at a very cool spot. So come thru if you can.

My Book Fair is in 2 Days!

Yup, this Saturday I'll be at the Cultural Center in Chicago signing complimentary copies of KNOCK THE HUSTLE as part of the OCTOBER BOOK FAIR AT CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER!

Woaaaaah!!!!!

It starts at 9am and goes untl 3pm. It's free and open to the public.

I'll be one of 30 Chicago Authors in attendence who will have books, most authors ill be selling theirs, but I'll be giving away promo copies of KTH since I'm just about out of my first run and and getting ready for the second edition of KNOCK THE HUSTLE which will drop in early 2007. But you'll find some good deals on some great books from outstanding local and nationally recognized writers, some first-timers, too.

Check it out!!!!

3 days till my book fair!

So it's not "my" book fair, but it's a book fair that i'm in, which is close enough. plus it's indoors. during the day. there'll be cool fols from NPR there and all kinds of other fun authors with cool books for sale and to give away... so check it out!

here's the scoop:

Hadji Williams, author of KNOCK THE HUSTLE will be signing free copies of KTH and appearing at the
OCTOBER BOOK FAIR AT CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER!

Yippeee!!! I'm one of 30 special Illinois authors that will be out from 10a-3pm. It's a Saturday so if you're in town and have nothing better to do, come out and support! or throw tomatoes, your choice.

My Book Fair is coming up!

Hadji Williams, author of KNOCK THE HUSTLE will be signing and appearing at the OCTOBER BOOK FAIR
AT CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER!

I'm one of 30 special Illinois authors that will be out from 10a-3pm. It's a Saturday so if you're in town and have nothing better to do, come out and support! or throw tomatoes, your choice.

JUDGING A BOOK... PART II

By this point, which was probably mid-2004, I was so far behind schedule that I had no choice but to do the book cover myself. The book was already at the typesetter—a typesetter I ended up firing, which is another story.

Point is, I forked over $1,300.00 for copy of Quark Express and an Adobe Suite. Sat down with a sketch pad and went to work. Cost me about 2 months worth
Anyway…

Agency art directors looking for scrap/stock art used to have a saying: “The hardest picture to find is the one you’re looking for.”

thankx everyone else!

Thanks to everyone who bought the first run!

Thanks to Steve Hall and Adrants.com and Ignacio and Ihaveanidea.org… met some interesting folks from there—supporters and non. Mostly non, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinions. ‘appreciate the forums, regardless.

Thanks to Talentzoo.com for offering a variety of views, including mine.

Thanks to Tim Nudd at Adweek for being willing to publish some of my op-eds over the years. I’m not sure if I’m the only one who’s allowed to write about diversity and multiculturalism, or if it’s simply that no one else cares enough to speak on these issues.

Thank You, Danny G.,

Thank You, Danny G.,

Danny was one of the first people to champion KTH. He bought a copy, blemishes and all. In fact, I think he bought 2 and donated one to a high school library in OH.

By the way: Thank you, Danny Goldgeier for actually sticking to your word and interviewing me for the Talentzoo podcast, unlike that-trifling-Sally-what’s-her-name-broad.

I also appreciate Danny for raising the diversity issue, too. Obviously I think it’s an important issue.

You’re a good writer Danny G. Keep it up. I think they’re catching on.

H.

Tomorrow is My Fair!!!

Yup, this Saturday I'll be at the Cultural Center in Chicago signing complimentary copies of KNOCK THE HUSTLE as part of the OCTOBER BOOK FAIR AT CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER!

Tomorrow is Saturday, which means while some of you will be sleeping, partying, working, etc. I'll be at a Book fair in Chicago. Book fairs, rul! Especially when you're in it!

I'm in the OCTOBER BOOK FAIR AT THE CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER on Randolph and Michigan Ave from 9-3pm. So i'll be handing out "street copies" of KNOCK THE HUSTLE... (Second edition is coming soon!!!)

Again, the fair starts at 9am and goes untl 3pm. It's free and open to the public.

My Book Fair is tomorrow!!!

Tomorrow's the big day! (For me at least.) My Book Fair is tomorrow! OCTOBER BOOK FAIR starts at 9am and goes thru 3pm at the CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER in downtown Chicago on Randolph and Michigan Ave.!!!

if you're not busy catching up on sleep, the kids, the games,work, etc. stop by. I'll be signing complimentary copies of KNOCK THE HUSTLE and speaking along with 30 other top authors from Chicago!

it's gonna be pretty cool.

details below (the fair's formal press release, so I'm sharing):

thank you, tom messner

Thank You, Mr. Tom Messner.

Thanks for reviewing KTH and calling it a courageous book. Though to be honest, “career suicide” would’ve been more accurate.

KTH got another hot review!!!

Whoah!!!!!

“Williams provides corporate workers and ordinary people alike with a wealth of knowledge and information to change the way business is done in America.”
Yup. Looks like another hot review is in for KNOCK THE HUSTLE.

This one’s courtesy of Mr. Renarda Williams —no relation— of the Little Rock Free Press Newspaper in Arkansas.

Here’s the review in full:

Re: Definition pt.2.. (and 3!)

Re: Definition pt.2

THE HUSTLE (the huh-sèl) n. 1. The paradigm(s) and constructs of systemic oppression, suppression, and manipulation of the masses in order to enrich the few. 2. The Business World a/k/a Corporate America. 3. The Material World.

TAXIN’ THE POOR...

Quick bit of time travel. Past summer, Labor Day weekend to be precise, I was at the African Festival of the Arts on the south side of Chi. Blogged on it for a minute in late August, even. Anyway one of the biggest corporate booths I saw there came courtesy of the Illinois State Lottery. They had a huge set-up—flashing lights, real carnival-style barker stuff. They gave away free quick-pick tix, drawings, told people they had the chance to “win this and win that…”

I was half-expecting WC Fields or PT Barnum to come out there for a minute. (step right up--go away kid, ya botherin' me.)

It was actually pretty funny when you think about it: I mean here we are, in this whole, conscious, outdoor, pan-african, grassy grassroots, rootsy vibe that is the African Fest… And smack dab in the thick of it is THE LOTTERY.

Lose the ABM/AM Chip...

Sure, this one applies to me, too. but it's helpful advice to others. And Lawd knows plenty give us right to be annoyed/angry but....(Taken from KNOCK THE HUSTLE)
----

3. Lose the ABM/AM Chip.

Ah, the Angry Black Man/Angry Minority chip...folks are still bringing those things to work. Well in case you haven’t noticed lately: It doesn’t work. You might scare a couple of TRLers and soccermoms, but you won’t scare many businessfolks—they just don’t care enough to be afraid anymore.

No More Colorblindness!!!

This one is soooo deserving of its own post, it's not even funny. (Thank God it's friday! what a week!)