LISTEN NOW on Apple Pocasts
March 29th, 2023
So often, it seems like the introduction of a new technology creates more harm than good. But when it comes to books, a new technology has been trying to make inroads into the publishing world, and the potential is amazing. In this Pocket Sized Pep Talk, you’ll learn more about this technology, and a reason to seek it out!
Rob Jolles (00:00):
So often it seems like the introduction of a new technology creates more harm than good, but when it comes to books, there’s a technology that’s been trying to make inroads into the publishing world, and I feel the potential’s amazing. Let’s have ourselves a pocket sized pep talk because it’s still not where it should be, and I think you’d like it if you knew about it.
Intro (00:26):
A pocket size pep talk, the podcast that can help energize your business and your life with a quick inspiring message. Now, here’s your host, Rob Jolles.
Rob Jolles (00:39):
There seems to be so much doom and gloom in the book World. Bookstores are closing the Nielsen Book scan. That’s the organization that tracks book sales, tells us that book sales around the world are in general decline. This decline has been seen not just in the United States, which is down almost 10%, but around the world. E-books were projected to be the great rescuer of reading, but it’s not been the savior that everyone predicted. Yes, there are positive things about e-books. They’re lighter to carry around with us, delivered almost instantaneously and no trees required to manufacture paper for these books called E-Books. However, it can’t lend an e-book to a friend, and there are those who believe. An unfinished e-book does not provide the visual reminder that an unfinished book provides e-book sales. Were up almost 20%, but below the numbers the industry projected, I believe there’s a technology that’s entered the book market that has the potential to save the industry, and I bet you’ve never even heard of it.
(01:54)
It’s called an enhanced ebook. When Barrett Kohler, and that’s my publisher, approached me with the idea for an enhanced ebook for my new book. First thing I had to do was learn exactly what it meant. Once I received an explanation, I almost jumped up and cheered. I was so excited. If ever a technology was right for a book, it’s this one. You see, most books have the following expectations when you read a book or take a training class. If I can pick up one or two new ideas, I’ll be happy. I hear it all the time and it always makes me think, really, that’s all you’re looking for. The reason people feel this way is because they are used to being overloaded with information without the ability to truly interact with the subject matter. Well, that’s about to change. An enhanced ebook allows for the incorporation of audio and video to help keep the file size from being too large to download or taking up too much space on your reading device.
(03:01)
Videos are kept to less than 30 minutes in total. I’m not sure how critical this would be when reading a Grisham novel, but for guys like me who teach actual processes, it’s invaluable. So I went to work on an enhanced ebook, completed the filming and got it going. We were able to take a few more intimate looks at what was written and why it was written, but the most important part of the filming was the role plays. Imagine reading a process for communication and then watching the process performed for you. By doing this, you see the words and you hear the tune in my mind, this justifies the technology and truly well enhances the bulk. As the saying goes, what somebody hears, they forget what they see. They remember, so when this book came out, it had more than just a couple good ideas to it. The book allows readers to understand and learn a series of repeatable and predictable processes reinforced throughout visual demonstrations and actively apply them to real world situations. Ultimately, this will allow unique opportunity to interact with what is written, not just by reading, but hearing and watching. I sure hope these enhanced books live a good long life. I know I’ve got one and how to Change minds.
Outro (04:39):
Thanks so much for listening. If you enjoyed today’s show, please rate and recommend it on iTunes, outcasts, wherever you get your podcast. You can also get more information on this show and rob@jolles.com.