Ascot Media Group Blog
Welcome to the Ascot Media Group BLOG! Visit our main website at www.ascotmedia.com

Archive for December, 2019

Crisis Of Purpose Hinders Humankind’s Efforts To Resolve World’s Biggest Challenges

Trish Stevens
Maria Jenson
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Crisis Of Purpose Hinders Humankind’s Efforts To Resolve World’s Biggest Challenges

The defining crisis of our time isn’t growing authoritarian regimes, economic uncertainty or even climate change. It is a crisis of purpose. Our hope for the future will ultimately depend on how we best conceive of progress if our actions are to result in real human advancement.

In Hope and the Future: Confronting Today’s Crisis of Purpose, the first of a three-part series, Dr. Charles M. Johnston contends that much of civilization lacks a narrative, a compelling human story that can propel us forward. The challenges we face require that we think, act and relate in new ways, he says, and the critical questions before us require that we “grow up” as a species in order to deal with these challenges effectively.

Among the critical questions the book tackles are: How do we best ensure a safe human future in a world filled with weapons of mass destruction? How do we address inevitable environmental catastrophes? How do we make love endure in the future with gender roles in flux today? How will we deal with important challenges that require global cooperation, such as terrorism and the need for a stable economic infrastructure? How do we make moral choices, given their growing complexity and the weakening of cultural guideposts? And finally, how do we best determine if our actions result in real human advancement?

Dr. Johnston’s book distills 30 years of work by the Institute for Creative Development, a Seattle-based, non-partisan think tank and center for leadership training. It introduces the “creative systems” concept of cultural maturity and provides a compelling guiding story for going forward.

Author Charles M. Johnston is also a psychiatrist and futurist, and is best known for founding and directing the ICD and is the originator of Creative Systems Theory, a comprehensive framework for understanding purpose and change in human systems. He is the author of 10 books and numerous articles on the future and how we can best prepare to meet it.

Hope and the Future: Confronting Today’s Crisis of Purpose
Publisher: ICD Press
ISBN-13: 978-1732219007
Available from Amazon.com, www.hopeandthefuture.com/hope and www.ingramcontent.com

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Drugs, Money And Cancer Challenge Ultimately Transform Texas Woman

Trish Stevens
Terri Lynn Polk
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Drugs, Money And Cancer Challenge Ultimately Transform Texas Woman

Amy Herrig loves dogs, the Dallas Cowboys, her husband and, of course, her family. You might find her cooking up a gourmet meal, reading a good book or discussing the latest movie she’s seen. She’s as American as apple pie, and one would assume that her life has been a series of successes. Except it hasn’t.

In her memoir No More Dodging Bullets, Herrig recounts her struggle with heroin addiction during her teenage years and, as an adult, an addiction to money. She and her father were the successful owners of a number of businesses, raking in the profits and enjoying all that it could buy when the government slapped them with a lawsuit that threatened to strip them of everything, including their freedom. During that four-year battle, she was served with another notice: she had breast cancer.

Her struggles, she says, have served to provide her with a new perspective and have deepened her faith. “All the bullets I’ve dodged and all the things that have happened made me realize how lucky I am to be alive,” she says.

Today, Herrig volunteers regularly and has founded the nonprofit, Hopeful Tuesdays, to assist the homeless in her community. She and her family enjoy spending time in Alaska, helping to run the family business there and spending time hiking and fishing. A self-professed foodie, she’s frequently hosting dinner parties and delving into meaningful conversations with her close circle of friends.

No More Dodging Bullets
Publisher: Inspired Forever Book Publishing
Available from Amazon.com
ISBN-13:978-1-948903-17-2
ISBN-10:1-948903-17-2

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Veteran Political Analyst Examines Key Forces That Led To Trump Presidency

Trish Stevens
Anna Jones
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone

(This press release may be reprinted in part or in its entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Veteran Political Analyst Examines Key Forces That Led To Trump
Presidency

What political, social and cultural forces led to the election of President Donald Trump? Polit-ical analyst Bradford R. Kane explores 10 dynamics of American politics and society that played a role in the 2016 presidential election and continue to influence our politics in his ground-breaking book, Pitchfork Populism: Ten Political Forces That Shaped an Election and Continue to Change America. Some of these dynamics have deep historical roots, such as the cultural divide between those who define our national identity in terms of rugged indi-vidualism versus those who emphasize community collectivism. The author notes that these opposing viewpoints helped craft our national identity as far back as the 1700s. He also con-siders the consequences of changing demographics, which will have a profound effect on community relations and politics.

Kane foresees a return to established policy processes and governing principles after the Trump presidency, as opposed to rule based on a president’s personal interests. He anticipates greater empowerment of the electorate as more demographic groups are increasingly enfranchised. Kane also forecasts the potential impact of recent developments on the 2020 election and beyond. Other topics discussed are the role of the media, accountability, globalization, the future of bipartisanship and more.

Bradford R. Kane has served in the US Congress as Legislative Counsel to Congresswoman Cardiss Collins; as Counsel to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer Protection; and as a member of President Clinton’s Task Force on Health Care Reform. Thereafter, he served the State of California as Deputy Controller, Legislation, and subsequently, as a Deputy Secretary of Information Technology. He was also a member of the Nielsen Media Research Task Force on Television Measurement; created the Bipartisan Bridge (a public policy initiative to advance bipartisanship in American government); and developed environmental and economic equity initiatives. In the global arena, he was CEO of the International Commission on Workforce Development, a Strategy Council member of the United Nations Global Alliance on ICT & Development, and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Director of International Development at TechSoup Global.

To connect with Bradford Kane, please visit his website at: www.pitchforkpopulism.com.

Pitchfork Populism:
Ten Political Forces That Shaped an Election and Continue to Change America Release
Publisher: Prometheus Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield
Release Date: October 15, 2019
ISBN-10: 1633885828
ISBN-13: 978-1633885820
Available from all major online retailers

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Fast-Paced Mystery Dishes Up Murder On A Dinner Train

Trish Stevens
Jenny Crain-Harrison
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
281.333.3507 Phone
[email protected]
www.ascotmedia.com

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Fast-Paced Mystery Dishes Up Murder On A Dinner Train

Honey Howell returned to her small, quiet hometown of Bardstown, Kentucky, thrilled by the prospect of working with her grandfather at his legendary bourbon distillery and reconnecting with K.C. Cleary — a master distiller and “the one who got away.”

What she didn’t expect was to discover K.C. with a knife in his chest. Honey’s a marketing whiz, not a sleuth, but that doesn’t curb her determination to bring the murderer to justice. Honey’s digging dredges up more than clues, and soon she realizes that her genteel hometown has dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of their polite society.

Also in the hunt for K.C.’s killer is Texan Sam Gentry, Bardstown’s newest detective. When he meets Honey he falls in love at first sight — with her bloodhound, Elvis. Sam and Elvis are a match made in heaven — both are relentless in their dogged pursuit for a murderer. When Honey finds another dead master distiller on a dinner train, Sam and Elvis work together to sniff out the truth. Sam’s greatest challenge, however, is thwarting amateur sleuth Honey from interfering with his investigation while preventing her from becoming another victim.

With a charming, relatable protagonist, the inviting backdrop of Kentucky Bourbon Country, and an irresistible bloodhound, Murder on the Bluegrass Bourbon Train from popular inspirational romance author Scarlett Dunn marks Dunn’s fantastic first voyage into the cozy mystery genre.

Puzzle-solving readers will enjoy the fast-paced narrative and believable characters as Hon-ey and Sam scout for clues — with a little help from Elvis, of course! With no shortage of po-tential suspects, the twists and turns throughout attempt to throw readers off the track. Who did it and why? Hop aboard to find out!

Before becoming a published author, Scarlett Dunn was an entrepreneur. In addition to writing cozy mysteries, Dunn has published several historical inspirational romance novels. She lives in Kentucky, and as an avid outdoorswoman she enjoys any activity under the sun, where she develops her characters and plots. When not writing, her favorite days are spent with those she loves. She has many hobbies, including making bourbon balls. She would tell you her closely guarded recipe, but then she’d have to throw you off the train!

For more information about the author, please visit www.scarlettdunn.com.

Murder on the Bluegrass Bourbon Train
Publisher: Lone Dove Publishing
Release Date: July 2019
ISBN-10: 1733179615
ISBN-13: 978-1733179614
Available from all online retailers and Louisville, KY, area Barnes and Nobles stores

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Accomplished Entrepreneur Shares Secrets To Business Success

Trish Stevens
Rena Gills
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Accomplished Entrepreneur Shares Secrets To Business Success

Earl B. Heard is living proof that faith can triumph over adversity. The successful entrepreneur and faith-based movie producer began at rock bottom before building a life that brought him genuine fulfillment.

Thirty-five years ago, he founded BIC Alliance, one of the nation’s largest multi-industrial, multi-departmental strategic marketing firms and publisher of Business and Industry Connection (BIC) Magazine. Heard’s rise up the business ladder came with faith, good old fashioned hard work and kindness toward others. He shares his remarkable insights, gleaned throughout decades of professional and personal ups and downs, in the re-release of his inspirational book, It’s What We Do Together That Counts – The BIC Alliance Story.

The updated edition of his book includes 11 Earl’s Pearls of Wisdom; 100 tips for achieving peace, happiness and success; plus Success Secrets from the Experts.

Readers will learn by Heard’s example how to overcome challenges and realize their own goals; how to inspire others by example; how to lead with empathy and understanding; and how to put God first.

Heard’s story is a testament to one man’s enduring faith in God, himself and mankind. Drawing upon 63 years of life experiences, Heard proves through his words and actions that any form of adversity can be overcome through faith, perseverance and kindness.

Author Earl B. Heard is the CEO and Founder of BIC Alliance, which publishes BIC Magazine, North America’s largest multi-industry, multi-departmental energy and construction publication. He has 40-plus years’ combined experience in industry and marketing, having served as an industrial training manager and buyer for Ethyl Corp. in Baton Rouge, La., before founding BIC Alliance in 1984. Having spent the past 30 years helping grow industrial service companies through marketing and training consultation, mergers and acquisitions and executive recruiting, Heard has a wide range of contacts in petrochemical, refining, construction, environmental and other sectors. He founded BIC Media Solutions in 2005.

In his role as an ambassador, Heard is active in helping BIC Alliance marketing partners and readers of BIC Magazine and hopefully others find greater faith, hope, peace, happiness and success through BIC Media Solutions, where we fund and co-produce meaningful media and events. These activities include funding, co-producing and promoting inspirational, entertaining, and faith/family-friendly books, movies, TV shows, a speakers bureau and events that help enhance lives and create better relationships at home, work and in our community.

For a video about the book, please visit https://vimeo.com/361396324/886d376c1e.

It’s What We Do Together That Counts – The BIC Alliance Story
Publisher: BIC Media Solutions
Release Date: October 1, 2019
ISBN: 0-9768310-0-7
Available from https://bicmediasolutions.com/shop/, Amazon.com and Audible.com

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Unbullied: Book Offers A Better Way To Fight Back

Trish Stevens
Anna Lee Simpson
Ascot Media Group, Inc.
Post Office Box 2394
Friendswood, TX 77549
[email protected]
ascotmedia.com
281.333.3507 Phone


(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Unbullied: Book Offers A Better Way To Fight Back

Anti-bullying campaigns in schools and communities get a lot of press, so have all the bullies in the world simply stopped being bullies just because there’s a heightened awareness of the issue? Of course not. More needs to be done, and some of the answers may lie between the covers of Unbullied – 14 Techniques to Silence the Critics: Externally and Internally from anti-bullying advocate Kalyani Pardeshi.

After attending an anti-bullying workshop at her child’s school, Pardeshi was struck by the realization that most of the tactics being taught today are just as ineffective as they were years ago. She drew upon her own experiences to pen strategies that worked for her.

In her book, readers will discover simple, yet effective, techniques for overcoming the debilitating effects of bullying, while ending the fear of suffering in silence, the fear of feeling powerless and the fear that no one will believe you. The author shares easy to use, compelling tactics developed from years of being bullied herself.

In this book, readers will learn a series of powerful techniques:
• The “somersault,” to turn name calling on its head
• The “sure pumpkin,” to have the perfect retort instantly
• The “flip the switch,” to overcome negative self-talk and thoughts
• The “3 I’s and a T,” to let go of the anger and hurt
• The “loudspeaker,” to be heard and taken seriously by those who can help

Additionally, exercises accompany each chapter to help readers hone their strategies along the way. Plus, Pardeshi includes a letter template to show readers how to communicate effectively with those who have the authority to help them.

While being a handy guide for teens, parents and educators alike, the techniques provided in this book can be applied to all forms of bullying: verbal, social, physical and cyberbullying.

A strong advocate against bullying, Kalyani Pardeshi connects with teenagers through a mutual enemy: Bullying. She openly shares her own experiences of bullying and overcoming the emotional scars left by it. In her own words, she says it is safe to say that wherever she went, bullying followed her, leaving her no choice but to develop skills to silence her bullies and build self-confidence. A short story of her experiences was published on more than 500 websites, including local news sites under internationally recognized authority brands like ABC, NBC and Fox news. She has been interviewed by Chris Burns from Burn It Up Coaching and by Trisha Malika Ghosh on Soulful Saturdays.

To learn more about the author, please visit
https://kalyanipardeshi.wixsite.com/website or connect with her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kalyanispeaks.

For the author’s compelling anti-bullying video, please visit https://www.facebook.com/kalyani.pardeshi/videos/10156784056031208/.

Unbullied – 14 Techniques to Silence the Critics: Externally and Internally
Release Date: August 26, 2019
ISBN-10: 1079160361
ISBN-13: 978-1079160369
Available from Amazon.com

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Warrior Spirit Can Drive Teams And Companies Toward Success

Trish Stevens
Joanne McCall
www.JoanneMcCall.com
503-642-4191

(This press release may be reprinted in part or entirety by any print or broadcast media outlet, or used by any means of social media sharing)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Warrior Spirit Can Drive Teams And Companies Toward Success

Have you been labeled a bully, abrasive or worse at work? Workplace Warrior: People Skills for the No-Bullsh*t Executive helps tough bosses channel their “Warrior Spirit” and provides the tools you need to survive, thrive and lead your teams to greatness in an age of political correctness.

Being the boss has never been harder. Recent events in the corporate world, Hollywood and politics have focused negative attention on the kind of tough, demanding leaders who used to be valued for getting things done, labeling many as bullies and accusing them of fostering a “hostile workplace environment.” They are demeaned and called names, as society demands that they change their ways.

But what if the very thing that makes them so abrasive is also their superpower?

Master Corporate Executive Coach and speaker Jordan Goldrich believes it is, and explores this theory in his new book, Workplace Warrior: People Skills for the No-Bullsh*t Executive (Greenleaf Book Group; October 1, 2019). Written specifically for executives who have been labeled abrasive or accused of workplace bullying, the book shows leaders how to protect themselves while remaining completely authentic, channeling their high standards and relentless drive into success for their teams and their companies.

“These executives have what I call a warrior spirit, which I believe is critical for businesses and organizations in our volatile, complex, uncertain, ambiguous (VUCA) environment,” explains Goldrich. “I wrote this book to challenge them to become better warriors, which means learning to lead with humility and protecting others who cannot protect themselves.”

In the book, Goldrich offers executives the simple option of doing the least they can do, whether their goal is to protect themselves in a world of political correctness, or to do the right thing for their organizations and their people. Specifically, he explains:

• The four types of no-bullsh*t executives, and what drives their communication style
• Understanding the “mental models” that shape people’s reactions
• How to hold employees accountable without being accused of bullying
• Simple ways to improve communication skills
• Secrets to cultivating compassion (even for people you don’t think deserve it)
• And much more
As inspiration, Goldrich invites readers to compare themselves to who he calls “the greatest warriors on the planet,” the Navy SEALs, Green Berets and others who are committed to taking charge, leading the way and accomplishing the mission, no matter what.

“In my experience working with these executives, I have found that most of them do not want to hurt people. They simply have a work ethic that accepts nothing less than always giving their all, and they expect the same from everyone around them. This book will help them communicate this without making others feel disrespected or demeaned, which will improve both quality and morale.”

Workplace Warrior: People Skills for the No-Bullsh*t Executive meets executives who get labeled abrasive or bullies where they are, providing the tools they need to decrease the unintended negative impact of their warrior spirit without tempering their passion or lowering their standards, helping them take their leadership to a higher level. It’s also for Human Resource Executives, Executive Coaches, or anyone working for or with a Workplace Warrior boss.

Jordan Goldrich helps leaders end dysfunction so their teams can do great things. He is a speaker, Chief Operations Officer and Master Corporate Executive Coach (MCEC) who partners with senior executives to drive results while developing their organizations, teams and the next generation of leaders. He specializes in helping valuable executives who are experienced as abrasive to increase their effectiveness while changing their impact. Jordan is a partner in CUSTOMatrix as well as Senior Executive Coach with the Center for Creative Leadership.

Please visit www.jordangoldrich.com for more information.

Workplace Warrior: People Skills for the No-Bullsh*t Executive
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
Release Date: October 2019
ISBN: 978-1-62634-651-2; e-Book: 978-1-62634-652-9
Available from amazon.com

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail