Booked up

In January I announced the book dealers, I would bring out in spring 10 new titles. I somehow did not think that the bookstore spring goes only to March / mid April. Three new titles per month is MUCH! Phew! Three are already finished, five more are in various stages of wide, two are still quite as carcasses. Currently, I am pretty struggling .... Va piano style ...
For autumn I want to plan it that I will have "only" two new titles per month. That is good to create and then there is still space for marketing and especially for life, games, creativity .... it's important to me.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 @ 09:21

Change

I have put an article from the year 2007 on the theme of "success" into the "Lesbar", where I describe how frustrated I've cried because there was no success in the company, despite all efforts, ... I was amazed how much has changed since. The publisher is stable, but not only the publisher. Two days ago, I had a note in my hands, on which I had listed the areas in which my character and my behavior need to experience change. I'm amazed how many points are no longer an issue - because they have solved. I'm amazed and grateful.
Change takes commitment. And time!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, March 04, 2009 @ 12:24

Review - prayer for politics

Wonderful - the Christian radio and TV station ERF shows on its homepage a review on the new impulse booklet of prayer for politics. I am happy!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 @ 10:01

Down to Earth - Down Under

In Australia there is a Down to Erth Bed + Breakfast - with rooms that are below the surface to escape the Australian summer heat. However, the "a" is deleted ... but I will look over there, if I'm around there.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, February 03, 2009 @ 16:51

Postcard "encounter"

We - my designer and I - have once again created a free postcard. This time about "encounter", which is a part of the Year´s theme of Down to Earth. Up to 20 pieces you will get for free in the Down to Earth Store. From the 21st we sell them for the costs of 20 cents.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 10:59

Spring and Beauty

Beautiful: My book SPRING is now available as an e-book at The Beauty and Wellness Guide ... well, beautiful because that way totally different people are coming in contact with it.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Monday, January 05, 2009
@ 13:51

Tip for the New Year

It is a pity when good thoughts, ideas, etc. are lost - it is better to keep it firmly ... the best place is of course "My Quadro" a 15 x 15 cm wide, thin notebook with lots of room for

* Quotes
* Interests
* Numbers
* Addresses
* Inspiring
* Book Excerpts
* Thoughts from periods of silence
* Sketches
* Dreams
* Ideas
* Travel
* ...
Of course you can browse in the Quadro and see if it appeals to you ... I had a lot of fun, to design it together with my graphic designer - for me one of the finest projects in the last year and I hope that it will bring you as much fun as for me.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 20:29

Good questions for 2009

I have just written my client newsletter. And because a woman replied that the she liked the impulses that much, I present an excerpt here:

"The best way to predict the future is to make it. - Author unknown

Dear Friends,

Many people are wondering these days what the new year will probably bring. I have quit, to ask me this question - for the simple reason that I can not answer. No matter how much I think - I will not find a secure answer to this question. The answer can only bring life - I know it afterwards. The 31 12. 2009, might tell me what the year has brought.

But there are issues on which it is worth to think about. For example the question: How can I design this year - with God's help? What are the things I would like to learn? Where do I want to develop? What experiences and encounters, I would like to give space for? What do I want to produce, move and change? I can answer these questions and the clearer the answer is, the more powerful I can design it. I wish you the courage to abandon "fortune-teller-questions" ( "What will be?") on New Year's Eve but instead think of "design issues" such as the above. "

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 10:00

2008 - My year in numbers - Down to Earth

The end of the year is a good time to look back. I do this, inter alia, by looking at numbers - the internal issues will come later.

The Year of Down to Earth
1 edition - CD Rom "Well said"
1 new employee (an age-less)
2 international licensing agreements for impulse booklets closed (Japan + The Netherlands)
2 new online partners (E-books and clicking Germany)
5 new writers won for Down to Earth
13 lectures / seminars throughout Germany
16 new books / impulse booklets / Quadros of which I've written 14 (phew!)
18 Articles which were published in magazines (some twice)
24 reviews of Down to Earth Products in online and print magazines (which could be more)
? Coaching a few dozen hours, where I accompanied people in their processes.

In short: An intensive and successful year with slightly better sales figures than last year, and especially a lot of good matches. I think that we enriched people's lives in one way or another.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 @ 08:10

Compliments

Haso has beautifully blogged on the new Japanese impulse Issue .... among other things, it refers to the impulse booklets as
something like the opposite of Twitter in the print media - for lovers of short inspirational "bites".
- I value this as a true post-modern compliment.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, December 19, 2008 @ 18:56

Outrage

Sweet: I had given a box of impulse booklets on consignment to a pastor and he should send me at the end of the year the booklets, which he could not sell and the money for the ones sold. Today, he wrote:

On Sunday I have told the people that the books will go back. The reaction: loud outrage! They want to buy ALL!

All right!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 19:53

Title ...

All beginnings are difficult - in books, it is always the title.

What do you think is the better title
- Maturity. Impulses, to grow naturally.
- Growing naturally. Impulses, to develop maturity.

You can vote by leaving "comments".

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Saturday, December 06, 2008
@ 16:21

Growing naturally

"For he (God) grants sleep to those he loves," one says. I experience this again and again. Tonight, I woke up and had the title "Growing naturally" for a new impulse booklet in my head and the rough idea on the topic of "maturity", which I obviously have quoted immediately - without ever having planned the subject. I found that pretty cool!
But then I could no longer sleep because the brain was so inspired. Bad luck, if the Lord grants sleep to those he loves, but then they themselves can no longer sleep. But now I try to write down all good ideas, so that they are not lost. If anyone of you want to read the finished product and to tell me whether my night-thoughts also stand up to daylight, you can tell me!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, December 05, 2008 @ 13:34

Quadros - Feedback

Got great feedback on the Quadros, our new series of monthly devotional book:

I think the Quadros are superb!(the greatest invention since a long time, honestly!) And I really look forward to the next one - thanks for the "anticipation" in form of the Schedule for 2009! Think it's great, as you always "recycle" good material and let it therefore be accessible to new groups of people (Swing, Swing mini, Quadro Swing, Swing seminars, etc.).

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Thursday, November 27, 2008 @ 16:18

2 or 1

Once again a request to thinking in connection with the re-launch of the Down to Earth homepage. On the Down to Earth homepage there is a section "readably". Here I collect articles and essays by me and others of faith and life issues. Since I can not maintain the page by myself (technically too complicated), it is more likely orphaned.

Now I consider whether I
a) restart it as a blog system (better design, etc.)
b) integrate it into the Kerstin Pur- blog, then in addition to the usual entries also from time to time (about 2 times a month) a reference to a new article by me or others

What do you mean? What is better and why?
a) two separate pages (1 for articles, essays and articles 1 for blog)
b) a combined site

I'm anxious to see your comments!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 11:59

Smarties ....

A friend recently said this about the impulse booklets:

They have such a colourful Smartiesfeeling. Just like mocha cups, of which one always wants to collect more.

I'm not quite sure what that says about the content (I think she likes it aswell), but the design seems to be good.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Thursday, November 20, 2008 @ 20:35

"Time for wishes" in advent

A friend of a relief organization, wrote to me straight:

I like the impulse booklets that much, (unfortunately I don´t know the Quadros) that I will give the booklet "time for wishes" to all my staff for the Advent.

And I am happy!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ 19:04

First Japanese impulse booklet

I just signed the license contract for the first impulse Japanese magazine, which will appear soon. The design is very different from ours - Japanese. I like it.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ 14:02

Invitiation to thinking 2: Quadros

The new series of Quadros are very popular. It all seems to fit together: format and design and especially the idea of dealing with a topic for a month. I am planning, which Quadros I want to publish in 2009.

The following titles are already established, the authors are already writing:

- No more blues. Faith without guilt (Harald Sommerfeld)
- Communication. Training for better relations (Damaris Graf)
- Pure adoration. Learning to be astonished about God (Henning Rietz)

In consideration:
- Opposites. Feel free in thinking and learning. (Kerstin Hack)
- Founding congregations. Like Paul, or on our way?
- In the covenant with God (Rose Marie Stresemann)
- City stories. To love and change a city (Harald Sommerfeld, Kerstin Hack and others)

What do you say? Are the topics exciting? What issues do you still want? Presumably we still have energy for 3-4 more titles. I look forward to your comments.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, November 12 2008 @ 10:06

Invitation to thinking 1: Impulse booklets 2009

I´m planning what impulse booklets will be published in 2009. The following titles are already clear:

SUCCESS SERIES
- Money. Impulses, to deal well financially (Oliver Mack)

LIFE SERIES
- Everyday rituals. Impulses, to make special moments.

FAITH SERIES
- Prayer for policy. Impulses to strengthen people in responsibility

STILL REFLECTING
- Meeting God. Impulses, to discover God/ impulses to dare steps to him / Impulses for steps in faith / also, and especially as a gift for faith-distanced
- Friendship
- Creativity

What do you say? Are the topics exciting? What issues would you still wish to supplement? Presumably we have the energy for 5 to 7 other titles, because I want to choose the right course. I look forward to your comments.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ 10:03

New Topics

The themes of the new writers are also great:

Quadros
- No more blues. Faith without guilt (Harald Sommerfeld)
- Communication. Training for better relationships (Damaris Graf)
- Pure adoration. Learning to be astonished about God (Henning Rietz)

Impulse booklet Issues
- Money. Impulses, to deal well with financial issues (Oliver Mack)
- Creative live. Impulses, to think and act differently [working title] Torsten Huith


Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, November 07, 2008 @ 21:48

Joy at growth steps

I am very happy. 2008 I have produced 16 new titles (12 books impulse, 4 Quadros) , of which I wrote most (14) by myself. Tough program!
2009 is different. This is not just wishful thinking, but actually justified. For the spring program, I have already promises and first, very good text samples of four fresh, unused authors who write well and competently, and who already work on impulse stapling and Quadros: Haso, Oliver Mack, Damaris Graf and Henning Rietz. Of Thorsten Huith, No. 5, I will get a test text on Monday, and then I will finally decide, whether we will make a pulse booklet on "creativity" together. And for autumn's program, there are already discussions with potential authors.
I am pleased, because for me it does not discharge itself: even correcting costs time and energy, but usually less than conception and writing. It means that the burden of production is no longer mainly on my shoulders. But I am happy also because there is a marked growth step. New writers will write - in usual Down to Earth-quality (I will take care about that) - about subjects in which I am not competent and so that brings extension - even in new readers circles. I can express myself as an author on the topics I like and which give me most joy and I can concentrate on other areas.
The publisher is mainly strategic development and marketing / acquisition. Otherwise development of the coaching area, which grows well and gives me much joy. I am pleased with the development and about life!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, November 07, 2008 @ 19:59

All impulse booklets

My graphic designer has just given me a photo with all previously published booklets: 29 pieces! Wow! Looks really impressive. On Impulshefte.de there is also a good overview of the individual series (issues of faith, life, communication, words).

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Tuesday, October 28, 2008
@ 11:25

Seasons

The super-intensive production phase is slowly approaching its end. The impulse magazine "Wellbeing" is in the printing and the impulse booklet Communication is nearly completed. Since May I have finished 6 impulse booklets and 4 Quadros. Phew!
Now there is another time. Many lectures, seminars, meetings and coachings. I just had a very good coaching. After 45 minutes it was not really clear how we can find a solution, but in the last 10 minutes the solution then - surprisingly for me - was visible. It came as we changed the perspective. I asked the customer to go behind the chair where he just sat and to consider what he himself would advise. I was totally thrilled. And amused that the customer, who I often advise, already said: I ´would like to have another position, let's see what comes then. So I asked him to imagine that he was an adviser to the consultant, whom he should give some tips. Even that was surprisingly good. "That was important." he said. Fascinating, what happens when I support people. I am soooo happy to do coaching!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Monday, September 22, 2008 @ 15:15

Creative solution

The idea to print folded business Cards by a cheap print shop was not good. The cards have been delivered opened and not folded. After folding by hand they always re-open by themselves. This is quite impractical if the cards should be in a neat stack on a book table. All my experiments with the help of books stacks or ironing failed miserably - so I gave up the taming of the recalcitrant and instead I put the cards upright and in star shape on the table. With amazing result: The people took so many cards as I never have experienced. I'm curious to see what happens with all these new contact opportunities.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Sunday, September 14, 2008 @ 22:27

Power and reflection

The last week was also dominated by Quadros. I have designed three of the new Quadro books with my graphic artist and so they should be printed next week. I am looking forward to it very much. It is a completely new product - an impulse booklet for a month - and I am curious if the Quadros will be popular for people. The fourth is still in work, but I hope that all be finished in September.
After so much "power" I need some reflection. Tomorrow I´ll go to Rügen for a week where we have intensive training on "self-reflection and self-coaching". I am very excited what I will learn about me and my coaching work. I reflected a lot anyway, but am open to anything new. There are not many Internet cafes on Rügen, so there won´t be many entries in this blog during the next week.

Originally written on Friday, August 29 2008 by Kerstin Hack @ 12:51

Nice week end

This week I mainly concentrated on the new Quadros, inspirational books for a month. Next week they should be printed. The slogan "prayer book was yesterday - Quadro is today!"
Just as I wanted to shut down the computer, a mail from a girlfriend reached me. She wrote:

Today I phoned my dad and he told me that he was using the impulse booklet "faith questions" on the last senior circle.
And time passed by very quickly and he even had to break. A man who is not yet a Christian, was completely moved and touched and my father was very excited about this "little assistance".

Cool. I had not been aware until now about elderly as a target group, but it is all the more better if it still meets.
A few months ago, a friend told me that she had a week with her father, who is approaching the 100. She was afraid of the meal times because she feared they would not know what to talk about. She took the impulse booklet "questions of discoverers" in the handbag, used it as a "crib sheet". So she was inspired for questions and had wonderful conversations with her father in which she learned much about him. And she said for the next holiday I should supply some new questions. I will do my best.
But for now I am pleased about the people who encounter through my things together!

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Friday, 22nd August 2008 @ 22:24

Communication

By working on the issue for the new impulse magazine "communication" I have found two beautiful quotes:

Never argue with a fool, it could be that the viewers do not notice the difference. Mark Twain.

The dispute always begins where the knowledge stops. Silvio Gesell

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 @ 08:53

The way to the best

A few years ago I read the book "Good to Great". The author describes the way companies have gone, which have developed from good companies with good yields to a great company with outstanding earnings. Although the companies described with sometimes tens of thousands of employees in the size significantly differ from Down to Earth, the book inspired me.
Especially the idea that success doesn´t happen suddenly has touched me. Success is the result of a process of continuous improvement and change. The author compared this with a flywheel, which gets more momentum by every change.
After reading that, I decided to go on the "long march", steadily, step by step through improvements in work: Better communication, home layout, distribution, etc. Many of the measures were good and right, but didn´t have an impact on the operating profit (sales figures, etc.) immediately.
Yesterday I received figures from July: It was financially one of the ten best months in the history of Down to Earth. The best: There were better months, but these were all "exceptions": High sales figures at conferences, through special promotions. July, however, was almost without extraordinary events (only a few new books). A good result in a relatively normal months indicates that the long process of continuous improvement seems to bear fruit.

Originally written by Kerstin Hack on Thursday, 7th August 2008 @ 09:29 0 Comments