When God Answers

Today I am happy to welcome Heidi Kreider as my guest. I met her when we served together recently on Michael Hyatt’s launch team. She has a great story to tell about how she was inspired to write hew recently released book, The Secret of Counting Gifts.I know you will enjoy meeting her.

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I sat with 4000 other women.  She stood and spoke.  She spoke with sincerity and authority…. authority that comes from first-hand experience.  She spoke of her childhood in Africa.   She called herself, “the poorest of the poor.”  She came to the conference to represent Compassion International. She had been a sponsored child herself.   I’ve not forgotten her beautiful ebony skin and the way she sang “His Eye Is On The Sparrow.” 

            I came home from that conference changed. I shared Lois’s story with my family.  We prayed and hoped that through writing and selling a novel our family could reach children around the world who need food, education, medicine, and Jesus.  I’m thrilled to say that eight months after that encounter with Lois The Secret of Counting Giftsand the accompanying The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal are now available in Kindle and in paperback through Amazon.com. 

            While The Secret of Counting Gifts is a novel, I wrote it from my life experiences.  I am a wife of 18 years and a mom of 3.  I’ve spent the past fifteen years at home washing dishes, folding clean laundry, blogging, and teaching my children.  My days are full of counting grace gifts with gratitude and asking for grace and forgiveness.  I am blessed with rich friendships and have prayed more friends than I care to count through the battle of breast cancer. 

            The Secret of Counting Gifts is a story about life, friendship, hardship, and gratitude.  It is the story of  Kris McClintock and Liz Bower and their friendship that spans twenty-eight years.  Through marriage, babies, and infidelity they stand by each other and hold one another up… until breast cancer delivers the final blow.  As she sits by Liz, Kris recounts the trials and  blessings that made them who they are.  She tells their story and recalls the many “gifts” they have been blessed with throughout the years. She shares of how Liz taught her to notice the gifts in each day and to live with a grateful heart. It is through the telling of their story that the secret of counting gifts is discovered….

             I’m excited for the release of The Secret of Counting Gifts and The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal.  It is a direct answer to the prayers of my husband, my children, my friends, and myself.  I look forward to seeing how God will use these books!  Throughout this month, I am on a virtual book tour.  You can see the stops along the way on my website www.heidikreider.com.  While you are there, stop in and say “Hey!” and register for my giveaway… autographed copies of TheSecret of Counting Gifts and The Secret of Counting Gifts Gratitude Journal in a hand-made basket. 

I’d love to hear your story. 

What have you prayed for?  

How has God answered?

            ** Heidi Kreider is a wife, mother, author and friend.  She blogs about life, grace and gratitude at www.heidikreider.com .

Welcome Heidi Kreider

Today I am happy to welcome Heidi Kreider, a fellow member of the launch team for Michael Hyatt’s latest book. We are all very excited about the book, and several of us decided to exchange posts on the subject.

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Are you a writer?  A musician?  An artist?  A blogger?  Do you have your own business? Website? Ministry?  Are you looking for ways to promote what you have?  Are you wondering where to start? 

START HERE…

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, by Michael Hyatt

 

Released this week, Michael Hyatt has written the new standard of marketing and renamed it platform building.  As he says…

            “It is about having something of value to others and finding the most powerful way of getting that message to others who can benefit from it. If you are an aspiring (or already successful) author, artist, musician, public speaker, salesperson, candidate for public office— anyone who has something to say or sell— I want to help you take the stage and get noticed beyond your wildest imagination.” 

If you provide the nuts and bolts, and the man-power, Michael Hyatt will provide the planks you need to build your platform.  In an honest and engaging manner, Michael teaches these profound truths in an easy to implement manner….

            Plank 1: Start With Wow

                        “Push… yourself to deliver great products that you are delighted— yes, delighted!— to offer. If you don’t, then your attempt to build a platform is doomed to failure.”

            Plank 2: Prepare to Launch

                        “Take responsibility for your own success and invite others to join you in the endeavor.”

            Plank 3: Build Your Home Base

                        “Your home base is the heart of your platform, and getting it right the first time will set you up for success.”

            Plank 4: Expand Your Reach

                        “Marketing is no longer about shouting in a crowded marketplace; it is about participating in a dialogue with fellow travelers. Marketing is no longer about generating transactions; it is about building relationships. Marketing is no longer about exploiting a market for your own benefit; it is about serving those who s hare your                       passion—    for your mutual benefit.”

            Plank 5: Engage Your Tribe

                        “The time to build an audience is before you need it. You need people for whom you add value, a small army of followers, if you will, who can help you when you need it. This is why every CEO, brand manager, and department leader should create a blog,                             maintain a Facebook page, and get active on Twitter. There’s no less-expensive way to create brand equity than by using these simple tools.” 

Platform:  Get Noticed in a Noisy World is now available in hardback and eBook through all major retailers.  Buy it this week (May 21-25) and get 7 FREE bonuses worth $375.98!  Just click here. 

 

Is it worth purchasing a hard copy?  ABSOLUTELY!  I purchased mine.  After highlighting my Kindle copy all over the place, I realized this is one of those books I will carry around, dog-ear, highlight, and refer back to time and time again.  I will not attempt to build my own platform without it.So… the question now becomes… what will you do?  Will you pick up a hammer and start building your own platform or are you too overwhelmed at that prospect?  Don’t give up before you even get started.  Listen to Michael’s final words…

            “what would having a platform like I have discussed in this book make possible for your business, your cause, or your campaign? What would it make possible for you? All you have to do is take the first step. You’ll figure out the rest.” 

Make your first step buying Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, by Michael Hyatt this week.  It’s the best first step toward building a platform beyond your wildest imagination that you could take. 

I received this book free from the author along with a request to post a review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Thank you, Heidi for sharing your impressions of a book that will soon be recognized as an essential guide to twenty-first century leaders and entrepreneurs. My readers can find my comments on the book today at www.heidikreider.com, where you will also enjoy her blog “Living on Purpose.”