Eric Johnson

The Problem, The Solution, The Way

June 14, 2020 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

The events of the past few weeks have left us seeking answers. Demands for justice and change once again reverberate from shore to shore and echo around the globe. “Why does this keep happening?” people ask, or in the words of Rodney King, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

The truth is, all the problems we face in our world today all begin from the same source as they have since the beginning of humanity. The story of human history, even with all of our most noble efforts to overcome our shortcomings, has always been, and is still, a record of falling short of the ultimate goal of universal acceptance, peace, and love.

The record of early history, as recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible, was given to humankind to reveal that truth; that we are simply incapable of “doing it on our own.” We have a fatal flaw that continues to trip us up, regardless of our best intentions. Yet still, after thousands of years, we continue to try and try, ever failing, again, and again, and again.

After all this time, after failure upon failure, perhaps it’s time to recognize our innate character disability and seek another path. As often attributed to the modern era’s most prominent scientist, Albert Einstein, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.”

What if the answer to our long-standing conundrum is readily available and free for the taking? Could it be that it is simply hiding in plain sight? If so, what is it that prevents us from recognizing it?

What prevents us, sadly, is quite simple—human pride. It is our belief in our selves; in our abilities, reasoning skills, and so-called knowledge, that keep us from recognizing our fatal flaw. We just can’t get out our own way; we are not able to emerge from the shadow cast by pride, long enough to see the light of truth.

Are we—are you—weary of the battle of good vs. evil? Can we—can you—put aside pride long enough to admit, perhaps, that there exists a hidden, dark region, however small or significant it may be, that has kept you separated from God; He who loves you above all else? Feelings of shame, guilt, anger, envy, or hatred, are just some of the offspring of our brokenness—what we call “sin”—with pride being the parent and guardian of our self-imposed prison of darkness.

Two thousand years ago, a man emerged unlike any other before or since, with one objective—to provide a way out of that prison that binds us. He was not a profit or a sage as some today claim, but God in the flesh, offering every person, albeit undeserving, the gift of forgiveness for all of our iniquities, and life eternal as originally intended.

“So, what’s the catch?” you ask, “How can it be so easy?” Apparently, it is not easy at all because many reject the very thought of accepting His gift. Could it be that one’s pride is so overpowering as to make a fully-functioning, rational adult reject the gift of freedom from bondage? Indeed, that is the rule, not the exception.

The answer to all of huamanity’s troubles is but a decision away for every person. Today, that answer beckons; in fact, it now pleads, “believe!”

Even after more than 2000 years of repeated failure, He still loves you and has not given up on you! Leave your small, useless human pride behind and have the courage to accept His personal invitation to a life of freedom, peace, and love. He is the only answer; the only way.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:32-33

Facts and Fakes

June 9, 2020 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

As you probably know, not long ago, a tweet by President Trump was “fact-checked” by Twitter. The company then recommended to its users that they re-consider the President’s statement. What did he tweet that was so questionable? He had asserted that massive voter fraud was probable if all voting was switched to mail-in ballots.

Twitter’s implication was clear: The President’s statement was inaccurate at best, or a lie at worst, but in any case, it wasn’t a “fact.” The chorus of Trump’s critics certainly seized on the opportunity presented here. Those so-called fact-checkers made it clear—it was a rock-solid FACT that there is NO evidence whatsoever, that voter fraud occurs with mail-in ballots.

Hmmm. Is that a fact? Just on its face, common sense would lead one to believe that that is a pretty bold assertion. No evidence, as in, not a single ballot, ever? In all the elections ever conducted in the United States, have mail-in ballots never been tampered with?

When I looked into the matter, guess what I discovered. I found that while there aren’t a lot of examples of mailed ballot voter fraud, there are some, and there are plenty of examples where the appearance of fraud is fairly clear. So much for the “no evidence” claim.

Then, guess what I did next—follow carefully now—I thought about it for a few minutes.

My 89-year-old mother lives with us. She hasn’t voted in the last several elections, even though she gets a ballot in the mail prior to each one. Now comes the part that the fact-checkers must find difficult to check. How hard would it be for me to simply fill out her ballot, sign (forge) her name, and send it off along with mine? Hey, just in my little household alone, I could easily increase the power of my vote by one hundred percent! That’s pretty awesome, don’t you think?

Around the same time, in our neighborhood, everyone received a complimentary copy of a newspaper called The Epoch Times. That same day, posts appeared on Nextdoor from many in our local community, either complaining or praising the newspaper. “This is right-wing propaganda,” some claimed, “why is this being ‘allowed’ by the post office?” It wasn’t long before someone researched the paper on a “fact check” site, proudly displaying their so-called research findings, that of course, confirmed the poster’s opinion that the paper was “right-wing propaganda.” As you might imagine, a lively discussion ensued.

What was my first reaction? How about checking the fact-checkers?

I did, and yep, as I suspected, it was right there in their legal disclaimer. To paraphrase, it explained that “The information provided was the ‘opinion’ of the site’s editors, and is in no way to be considered as verified, ‘accurate’ information.” In other words, they played it smart with a CYA statement so that they wouldn’t be found liable if someone acted based upon their so-called “fact-checked information.” They could be right, or… they could be wrong. No matter. By naming their site with the words “Fact Check” in the title, they were keenly aware that the typical American would go right there and cite them as arbiters of truth and affirmers of fact.

Having worked in media for a very long time, one thing I know without a doubt to be true: The pen is mightier than the sword. The power of both written and spoken words is immense. They create policy and can shape opinions; they can mobilize the masses and move people to act in ways both noble and ignoble. Anyone who has studied critical thinking or rhetoric understands this. The problem today, I suppose, is that, so far as I can tell, those classes are not required curriculum in our public schools.

My OPINION? Everyone ought to be wary whenever the term “fact check” is employed by someone as a means of supporting their argument because “facts” are largely conditional or situational when provided without context. One idea (fact?) we might agree upon is that all human beings are biased to some degree and that words can be, and often are, used in ways to influence our emotions.

Think for a moment about the following words and phrases. Do they make you think or feel a certain way? Does a list of associated terms develop in your mind? Do you consider yourself “objective” when you read or hear these words, names, or phrases written or spoken in “news” reports? Do you accept each one at face value, and if so, how do you know that “face value” means the same thing to you as it does to me? Consider these:

Fact Check

Systemic Racism

Jihad

Expert

Black Lives Matter

Democrat

Science

Nancy Pelosi

The “N” Word

Terrorist

Hate Speech

Racism

Snowflake

Nazi

Victim

Assault Rifle

Police Brutality

Oh yeah, and of course, “Trump”

When it comes to the news, I think it’s fair to say the notion of “objective journalism” is largely fiction. During WWII, it was an accepted practice that members of the press would withhold graphic images and casualty details so as not to risk undermining the war effort. Journalists understood the reality that war was an ugly business, so they chose to frame their reports with a version of the “facts” that they believed (opinion) supported an American victory.

Was that the right thing to do? One could argue that they didn’t tell the truth or reveal the “facts.” But then again, as some have said, we might now speaking Japanese or German, had journalists not acted the way they did.

Then in Vietnam, the press swung in the opposite direction, having no hesitation about going above and beyond in their pursuit of so-called “journalistic integrity.” Magazines showed graphic images of Buddhist monks setting themselves of fire in war protests and ran full feature articles about outlier incidents like the My Lai Massacre. Was the reporting balanced or objective? Knowingly or otherwise, the opinions of journalists guided their reporting heavily to support one policy direction over another. Unlike journalists during World War II, those reporting on Vietnam determined the slogan “End the War” should triumph over “Win the War.”

Subsequently, the Vietnam War did end for America, but not in victory over the enemy. Instead, we opted for a complete withdrawal, essentially betraying the people of South Vietnam, even though we had promised to support and defend them. Today, you’ll find it is generally agreed by many that the pro-democracy forces of the South, along with the United States, had, by military standards, won the war. But because of an effective policy-influencing campaign by the press and subsequent pressure exerted on politicians by the public, America essentially surrendered to the North, making all of the American and South Vietnamese lives lost on the side of freedom, wasted.

As my choice of words and phrases suggest, we live in a time when realizing the potential power of words and phrases could not be more important. We ought not accept anything as fact, simply because the source of the information comes from a source that calls itself a fact-checking organization. Ultimately there are people there making decisions about that information, and those decisions cannot help but be colored by human bias and pre-conceived notions.

Is the news comprised of facts… or FAKES?

Think for yourself and do your own fact checking. And then, fact-check the fact checkers.

Adults Can’t Afford to Be Careless

March 11, 2020 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

I suppose what I am about to say will likely pigeonhole me as being sexist, but there is a line in what is arguably one of the greatest films of all time that I’d say rings true; it’s perfect in fact, particularly in light of the challenges we face in today’s world. Here is the line:

“I spent my whole life trying not to be careless. Women and children can afford to be careless, but not men.”

Did you guess it? Of course, this was Vito Corleone, offering fatherly advice to his son, Michael, in the 1972 classic, “The Godfather.”

I translate the “men can’t afford to be careless” notion to “being ultimately responsible.” To my way of thinking this has everything to do with being an adult. What is an adult? It’s a person (man or woman—see, I’m not sexist after all) who will be brutally honest with one’s self when needed, and who makes decisions and choices after thinking critically and logically, rather than emotionally. They then also accept the consequences of their choices and decisions. They also understand the difference between the things in life that they can control or influence, and the things they cannot.

Becoming an adult doesn’t happen magically at a certain age, by the way. You can readily identify grown-ups, and everyone else (the children), by their level of understanding and willingness to accept responsibility. There are plenty of people running around who do all they can to avoid personal responsibility. They point to everything and everyone else for their condition or state of being, never even considering that a glance in the mirror might be the most logical place to start if they really want to change their own circumstances. Why do you think the medical industry is such a huge part of our economy? Could it be because a large number of people avoid the personal responsibility of maintaining their own health (ie., eating right and exercising) and rely on their doctors and medications to keep “healthy?”

After nearly fifty years of observation, I have also seen how politicians have evolved, with those of one party in particular now being “all in” with candidates trying to capitalize on the many “not-quite-yet-adults” in America today. So there is no confusion, these are the candidates telling voters with immature minds things like; “’someone else’ will pay your college debt,” and “you aren’t responsible for paying for your child’s daycare, someone else is,” and, “the government (aka, other people) will pay for your healthcare,” etc., etc.

Another interesting mental exercise sometimes used to deflect the need of acting like a responsible adult is our tendency to always accept “expert” advice. In fact, people are often criticized for even questioning such admonitions. Recommendations regarding the Coronavirus is great example of this. Over the past few days I have heard it said numerous times by “medical professionals,” that “wearing a mask is only necessary if you are sick; that it won’t protect you from the virus.”

Hmmm. Is that true? I am a layman, not a doctor. But I do have some knowledge of biology and know how to think logically. I was always told that entry point of viruses is through our mucous membranes; primarily the nose and mouth, and that washing hands is the best defense because hand-to-face contact is how the bad stuff gets in. Wouldn’t covering the nose and mouth help create a barrier or at least provide a reminder not to touch our faces? And if masks don’t protect, why are the people who work in possibly infected zones (see left) wearing masks, not to mention full-body hazmat suits?

In the end, to be considered adults, we must be willing to take responsibility. Men—and women—cannot afford to be careless.

Forli Alamo: Love Italian Style

February 5, 2020 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

Like many Americans, my familial heritage is split. In my case, it’s half Swedish and English on my father’s side and Italian on my mother’s. Growing up, cultural influences from the Swedish/English side were non-existent, but from the other side—the Italian side—all I can say is, “Mama mia!”

Even though my grandfather—Nonno—came to America in the 1920s, he never learned to speak English. Nonna, on the other hand, understood and could speak “American,” but preferred her native Genovese dialect. And as we spent a lot of time with our relatives on Mom’s side of the family, up until my grandmother’s passing in the early 1970s, I was essentially bilingual, and well steeped in Italian culture and all that entails, including food and drink—especially food and drink!

Transitioning to my career life, my earliest years were spent in the restaurant industry, working in every capacity; from dishwasher, busboy, waiter, and maître d’, to restaurant manager and food and beverage manager at a country club. Of all those jobs, I enjoyed being a waiter most of all because I dealt directly with customers, and compared to the other jobs, except perhaps manager, I learned about what makes a restaurant successful, and how to tell the difference between a poor, average, and an exceptional eatery.

Sadly, one result of that “vocation education” was becoming somewhat jaded about eating out because I found that good service in restaurants was (and is still), for the most part, rare, and exceptional service is, well, the exception, not the rule. Nothing bugs me more than going out to dinner, hoping for a pleasurable experience, then leaving a restaurant feeling as though I just wasted my family’s hard-earned money, not to mention our time.

In my waiter days, I felt that any tip I earned was done so for service I provided above the basic standard, but sadly, too many “servers” today seem to believe all they are there for is to take an order, carry out a plate and drop it down in front of the wrong person, only to be seen again when you want to leave and have asked for the check. These robot-like food deliverers apparently expect to be paid above their restaurant-provided paycheck for doing little more than something akin to taking your place in line at a walk-up, self-serve-style café.

Sound familiar? Well, I am happy to say my bleak opinion about restaurants took a u-turn about fifteen years ago when I met Gabe Davanvante, the owner of Forli Restaurant and Bar in Alamo. Full disclosure: Forli began advertising in ALIVE Magazine back then, and at first, our relationship was strictly business. But then I started eating at Forli and quickly learned that this place was different, as in, “These guys get it!” I realized that they knew about good service and good food, but more importantly, they knew and lived by the secret; one that eludes nearly every other restaurant out there today.

And what is that secret? It is the essence of being Italian—love. Gabe and his partner, Roberto Ruffino, “get it,” as does their entire staff. What sets Forli apart is a love for what they do and for the customers they serve, where every person who walks through the door is made to feel like family.

Over the past decade, Gabe, Roberto, and I have become like brothers—fratelli—and while it’s said “you can never go home again,” whenever I’m enjoying a meal with my family at Forli, that is exactly how I feel—at home, in the company of famiglia.

That’s not to say Forli lacks elegance and class—it has that in spades—but it’s the real variety, not phony or “put on.” Like wearing a fine Italian designer suit, it’s something you must experience to understand. You know it’s special and that it makes a statement, but at the same time, everything fits and feels comfortable and as close to perfect as it can get. When it comes to eating out or enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine with my wife and some friends or family, Gabe and Roberto’s place—Forli in Alamo—is my “go to place.”

But don’t take my word for it. Visit Forli and experience “the secret” for yourself, and by the time you leave, even if you’re not Italian, you may just feel like one of the family none-the-less.

Forli Restaurant & Bar, 3160 Danville Blvd. (In the Stone Valley Center), Alamo. Open every day, 4:00 pm to Close, Happy Hour, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Mon-Fri. Reservations: 925-854-2638. A private banquet room is available. Visit ForliAlamo.com for more information.

American Ignorance and Being Right

February 5, 2020 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

My column last month, where I warned about the dangers of embracing Socialism, sparked some lively conversations. To those of you who took the time and made the effort to connect and voice your opinions directly, I thank you.

Whenever I write an opinion piece, it is just that—my opinion—and as is true with everyone, that opinion is based upon my understanding and life experience up to that point. Also like everyone, I don’t know everything and never will, and I’m prone to sometimes believing that my perspective is the only one.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received in how to deal with opinions one might not agree with came from renowned Alamo artist, Beth Batchelor, who said the best thing to say when someone says something you don’t readily agree with is, “Well, you could be right.” And she was right about that!

What I subsequently discovered about that however, in my own case at least, was that instead of making it easier to be dismissive about the opinions of others, I found it forced me to really think that way—to be more open to considering ideas and opinions I might not initially think plausible.

That said, while we all lack the ability to be an eternally-winning contestant on the game show “Jeopardy,” having a well-rounded foundation of knowledge is helpful, particularly as it applies to things like public policy and making decisions about who to vote for. Knowing something about how government functions and what our founding documents assert, for example, are quite important when it comes to discerning what impact the election of any given candidate may have upon the future.

With that in mind, let me ask you: Are you worried? I am. By and large, Americans appear to be more knowledgeable about trivial things and less so about things that affect us all and the future we face. Why do I think this? Consider these points:

In a recent Washington Post article, columnist Max Boot said, “A survey by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni found that ‘more Americans could identify Michael Jackson as the composer of Beat It and Billie Jean than could identify the Bill of Rights as a body of amendments to the U.S. Constitution.’”

A 2017 poll from the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center found that 37 percent of those polled could not name a single right protected by the Bill of Rights, only 26 percent could name all three branches of government, and 33 percent could not name a single branch of government. A 2010 Pew Research Center poll revealed that only 28 percent were able to name the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Aside from ignorance in these vital areas, we have other challenges. According to the National Science Foundation, one in four Americans thinks the Sun orbits the Earth.

I would argue that the greatest challenge we face isn’t our propensity toward entrenched opinions or even basic ignorance, but in how we treat each other in dealing with these differences. Civil debate is healthy, and we are better and more likely to create productive outcomes when we allow others express their ideas openly, without judgement or hostility.

Productive dialogue can begin by saying something as simple as, “Well, you could be right.”

Beware the Easier Road

December 31, 2019 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

If you haven’t noticed, there seems to be a movement afoot in America toward socialism. In a 2019 Harris poll, nearly half (49.6%) of adults under 40 said they would prefer living in a socialist country. The same group also favored “free” public college (67.1%) and universal health care (73.2%). Fully 75% of democrats believe America would be “better off” if it was more socialist, with about 43% of all Americans saying the same thing.

I understand that people want life to be better for everyone, but is becoming a more socialist-style nation a way to accomplish that goal? Before I go on, let’s settle on a definition of the term. Merriam-Webster defines socialism as:

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

2a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property

b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state

3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

As far as I can tell, the basic promise of socialism is to share everything equally, where the disparity between the wealthy and the poor is eliminated. Everyone makes a “living wage” and no one goes without necessities. This all sounds very nice. Every person is guaranteed housing, health care, clean air, water, food, education, and mobility (aka, an electric car). The balance of the living wage would be needed so Americans could also afford the other “necessities” they have become accustomed to—iPhones, Pilates classes, HD TV sets, streaming music, pizza, Botox, Starbucks coffee, visits to nail salons, and of course, Amazon Prime memberships.

Bernie Sanders points to countries like Sweden as examples of this utopia. The problem is these are not socialist countries; they are hybrid nations with various levels of capitalism. True socialist countries, like Venezuela and Cuba, have economies with state-owned or controlled production and commerce. How many migrant caravans do we see invading these stellar examples of socialist Shangri-la?

Socialism generally appeals to younger people, and others, who, so far at least, seem to believe that toil, struggle, difficulty, and failure are experiences to be avoided at all costs. They pray for a “lighter load and an easier road” rather than a “stronger back.” What they are missing is that it is only through life’s challenges that we develop the character, experience, and strength to accomplish greater tasks and goals.

The lie of socialism is that there are only so many pieces of pie in the universe to be shared, whereas the truth is, capitalism allows infinite pies to be created, limited only by one’s imagination. One only need study history to understand that most of the progress in solving the world’s greatest problems—hunger, disease, and poverty—all lie at the foot of Western capitalism, not socialism or communism.

Americans must remember that the easier road never leads forward.

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.

—Winston Churchill

A Most Important Miracle

December 5, 2019 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

Who is the most important person you know? It could be anyone, living or not. Who do you think of if you ask yourself, “Who is the most influential person I can think of?” Is it someone well known perhaps; a head of state, a religious leader, or a politician? Maybe it’s someone close—a parent, sibling, mentor, or your best friend. Is it Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammad?

We all know, or know of, other people who we think of as “important,” which is of course, a subjective and relative term. The first responder who arrives at the scene of a serious accident you are involved in is the most important person in your life at one moment, as is the surgeon who holds the fate of a loved-one’s life in their hands, at another.

Many years ago, a childhood friend asked, “Isn’t the person who cleans the pool for the President just as important as the President, because if he doesn’t do a good job, the President could get sick and die?” It was a heavy philosophical point to consider for a middle-schooler—and he was quite correct.

When it comes to the importance of certain people and how we relate to one another, one could argue that timing and context matter a great deal. This is especially true when we are thinking about our own needs and wants, and it sometimes seems as though much of life is consumed with that. I don’t know about you, but I seem to hear myself saying, “I need ‘x’,” more than I do, “What do you need?”

Now back to original question. Isn’t it true that beneath everything we think about others, there lies the critical element of how we see ourselves? Do we see ourselves as important or influential? I’m not talking about “status” here, where we seek to impress others by putting on a show of sorts. I mean, do you see yourself as having intrinsic, God-given value? Do you see yourself as being worthy of playing a seemingly small a role in what may be a grand plan designed to help the world around you?

In my faith, we are all—and that includes you—children of a loving God, each with immeasurable value and potential. But there is a catch; first, we must believe it; then, we must understand our role as being conduits of His will for humanity; and finally, we must choose to use it (“it” being our potential).

Every person is important, and everyone serves to influence others in one way or another, for good (or otherwise, when we don’t understand or accept the ‘conduit’ part)—but it is how you see yourself that matters most.

My hope and prayer this holiday season is that you choose to see yourself as God sees you. You, my friend, are a miracle—a most important person—and the world needs you.

Just Throw ‘Em In

November 13, 2019 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

While I was growing up, we moved a lot. Not far mind you—just from town to town, throughout Contra Costa County. Between birth and age eighteen, our family lived in Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville, San Ramon, Martinez, and Concord.

As for school, I attended Kindergarten at Oak Park Elementary in Pleasant Hill (no longer there), first grade at Happy Valley in Lafayette, second and third grades at Walnut Heights in Walnut Creek, fourth and fifth at Rancho Romero in Alamo, sixth at Vista Grande in Danville, seventh at Los Cerros in Danville, eighth at Valley View in Pleasant Hill (we lived in Martinez then), and all four years of high school at Las Lomas in Walnut Creek. In case you weren’t counting, that’s eight different schools.

Why all the moves? My mom. She’s always been a “grass is greener over there” person. Even after I moved away from home, my parents continued moving to other places even farther away, including Angel’s Camp, Jamestown, Murphy’s, Arnold, and Gardnerville, Nevada. And after my dad passed away in 1995, mom continued exploring, adding Altaville, Avery, and Westpoint, California, as well as Wyoming, Las Vegas, and even the Virgin Islands, to her resume.

One of the—I suppose you could say “benefits”—of moving so often, was that we kept things cleaned-out. In fact, I realized later in life that my mom wasn’t, and isn’t still, what one would call a “sentimental person.” She threw stuff out. There are no gold star-laden tests, hand-print turkey posters, or macaroni collages cluttering up her closet. I think she does still have a resin “diamond” necklace that I made in fourth grade for her, but not much else that I know of. Even family photos weren’t off limits, as I once had to intervene when I found her tossing Kodak prints into the fireplace because we “had too many photos.”

Another benefit of moving so often was I learned to become fast friends (I mean “fast” as in “quickly”) with anyone next to me, whether sitting in class or otherwise. If you’re a parent wondering how best to accelerate your kids’ relationship skills, just yank them out of school every year and deposit them in amongst a new set of classroom chums. It’s a sink or swim experience to be sure, but fortunately, I managed to stay afloat long enough in the early years, to then develop the strokes necessary to carry me the entire distance.

I can imagine some perhaps reading this, thinking, “How awful; what insensitive parents!” I believe, today, making kids change schools is generally avoided at all costs. Afterall, they might be traumatized; they might not be able to handle it!

Seriously, if you’re a parent who is perhaps dealing with making decisions about your kids changing schools, take a deep breath and relax. My parents never seemed concerned about moving and school changes, so while I may have been a tad bothered by it, I certainly wasn’t “traumatized” by the experience. They didn’t make it a big deal, so it wasn’t one to me, either. In fact, looking back on it, I’d say it was all a net-plus.

To this day, I love meeting and getting to know people, and enjoy conversations with just about anyone. Yeah, my wife, Peggy, rolls her eyes all the time because now I’m that (old) guy who talks to grocery clerks, waiters and waitresses, shoppers in line, or the guy (or woman) in the car next to me at the gas station.

Are you moving again? Are your kids facing a new class full of strangers?

Just throw ‘em in. They’ll do just fine.

Three Options, One Outcome

October 13, 2019 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

In a recent conversation, I claimed that some people support Trump because they believe he is more honest than other politicians. To that my debate partner cringed, “What are you talking about? He lies all the time. Practically everything he says is a lie!” He then went on to enumerate Trump’s every exaggeration, misstated phrase, and well-known sins. He then continued by saying the reason he might win again in 2020 is that many American voters have less than a 6th grade education.

I reminded my friend that grade level isn’t a very accurate measure of intelligence; after all, of the four types of intelligence—physical, mental, societal/relationship, and spiritual—one’s grade level is indicative of but a narrow portion of mental smarts. In fact, when it comes to making important decisions, the most “intelligent” option is to do so by tapping all four types of intelligence. I don’t recall ever attending “Advanced Judgment 202” or “Wisdom 101” in school, and it doesn’t matter anyway because we don’t even start learning the language necessary for these important courses until fairly late in the game.

Could Trump’s appeal with some voters have more to do with life experience than “book-learnin’?” Sure, President Trump is a loud-mouthed, egotistical, often insensitive, insecure “sinner” of the highest order—but then again, aren’t we all? Maybe some think a president who publishes a transcript of his conversation with a foreign leader is, perhaps, more trustworthy than one who is caught whispering his real intentions for “after the election.” A wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf. Sometimes it takes years of hearing and seeing wolves and sheep to truly recognize the difference.

Here’s the bottom line on what will happen next: There are only three options.

1) The democrats will be successful and Trump will be ousted, and Mike Pence will be our new President. This option is unlikely because a Senate vote to remove Trump is all but impossible.

2) The election will come and a democrat will win the presidency. Considering the current field of democrat candidates, this too is a long shot. The party is divided philosophically and a majority of voters won’t be backing any of the current democrats. Even many democrats still aren’t socialists—yet.

3) Trump will win a second term. This is the most likely, and he may well win by a greater margin than in 2016. In 2016, Trump was up against a united, well-funded democrat party, the experienced Clinton “machine,” the Republican Establishment, a hostile press, and possibly, even a weaponized prior administration. This time, he has solid republican support, a significant marketing budget, campaign and political experience, and so far, a robust economy as a foundation.

A lot of smart people were really surprised in 2016. Looking back these past three years, maybe they should have looked into why it was that Hillary got only 44% of the votes of the 45+ year-olds when Trump got 52%. Perhaps, instead of dismissing an enormous block of voters as dimwits, had they been more interested in asking some old-timers why they voted the way they did in the last election, things might turn out different than they are likely to again in 2020.

Book Publishing

September 16, 2019 by Eric Johnson Leave a Comment

If you’re reading this, it’s likely you are interested in having a book published or know someone who is—or, you are at least curious about the process. Maybe you’ve done some research on “self” publishing, but it all seems a bit confusing.

Not to worry. By the time you’re finished reading this, you should have a much better understanding as to the process of becoming a published author.

Indeed, that process is far different today than it was just a few years ago. Many of the changes are largely due to ever-evolving technology, as every step in the “author to reader” experience has changed due to those advancements.

Authors of fiction and non-fiction alike have far greater access to information, as well as tools to help in writing process. Spelling and grammar-check programs are common for example, as is voice-to-type/dictation software, and the steady growth and sophistication of the internet and search algorithms make research easy. Together, these changes help free the author of some of the labor and mundane aspects traditionally involved in the creative process of “writing” a book.

How printed books are manufactured today is far different than it was in years past, as advancements in this aspect of the publishing process continues at an ever-increasing pace. Print-on-demand (POD) technology allows one-off, single-book printing to be accomplished at very-low cost, within minutes of an order. This means authors and publishers no longer need order large quantities of books in order to keep unit costs low.

Alongside POD, the process in printing bulk-volume orders has also progressed. Our company, ALIVE Book Publishing, recently placed an order for one of our authors for 5,000 copies of his book. Within five days of the order, all 5,000 copies of his book were en route—printed, bound, boxed, and shipped. Just a few years ago, the printing process alone in this case would have required several weeks at least.

The advent of e-books is of course another change. An e-book is simply a device-friendly PDF (Portable Document File) version that one can read on a mobile device or computer. While not appropriate for all books (better than 80% of book-buyers still prefer the tactile experience of printed books), e-books are an attractive alternative for some books, like the “quick read” while you’re at the beach on your vacation.

Then, there is marketing and distribution. The gorilla in the room here of course, is Amazon. This behemoth is doing its best to dominate the entire book universe. Currently, they list about 33 million books for sale. While responsible for the demise of countless small, independent booksellers—a shame, however you look at it—they are not the “be all end all” in books and publishing for many reasons.

In terms of marketing for example, someone must know about your book before they search for it online. And here, nothing beats good old-fashioned advertising. After all, you came to this article by way of ALIVE’s cover, or the ad on the back cover, am I right? Traditional advertising methods and human-driven public relations are critical elements in the sales process that Amazon does not and cannot provide. At ALIVE Book Publishing, we have re-published several titles for authors who at first tried Amazon’s in-house publishing service. Did you know that most independent, local booksellers won’t list or sell books created through Amazon’s publishing service? Those authors didn’t either.

The fact is, while Amazon is terrific at warehousing and order fulfillment, when it comes to the more specialized aspects of book publishing, marketing, and sales, their automation-algorithm model is no match for the human touch.

New vs Old World of Publishing

“I have a manuscript but would NEVER pay to have my book published.” Those were the words of a young author in response to my mentioning to him that in addition to publishing this magazine, ALIVE publishes books too, but in most cases the author pays the front-end cost to have their work published.

While we sometimes hear the sentiment expressed by this young author, it is a throwback from a bygone era when a handful of large publishing houses served as gatekeepers of the industry. Today, largely due to those technological advancements I mentioned before, this is no longer the case, as independent publishing houses like ALIVE now compete, toe to toe, with better-known publishers like Random House.

In fact, had that author chosen to submit his manuscript to us at ALIVE Books, assuming we approved his work, in as little as 90 days his book would have been in front of the same book buyers throughout the world as the current best-selling authors’.

The Three Paths of Book Publishing

There are three ways to have one’s book published: traditional, subsidy, and self-publishing. All have advantages and disadvantages, and the path one takes largely depends upon the reason(s) for wanting to see one’s book in print. Some authors simply want to see their work bound in a book format with the intention of sharing it with family and friends; some have a desire to share their story or communicate an idea, and some have commercial success in mind, even if as only a “side benefit” of reason number two.

Path #1: Traditional Publishing

In the past, the traditional route was considered the only path. This is where an author begins the process by sending query letters—essentially a “sales pitch,” intended to capture the attention of a literary agent or publisher. The query letter includes a description of the work and the intended audience for it, along with some information about the author (a bio). In this case, if the author’s pitch is compelling, they may be afforded an opportunity to have a publisher review the author’s manuscript, and if it is “good enough,” the publishing house may agree to publish the author’s work. If one hopes to have their work considered by publishing houses like Random House or Harper Collins, it is essential that the author be represented by an experienced agent.

Unfortunately for most, this path is a long, unfulfilling process. Few authors “make the cut,” as most agents and large publishing companies are so inundated with queries that they reject all submissions they are unable to classify with 100% certainty as “marketable.”

The most likely candidates to have their work represented by established agents and considered by “Madison Avenue” publishing houses are celebrities and personalities with well-recognized names (the Clintons, Trumps, Kaepernicks, and Kardashians) or authors who have already demonstrated—through previous subsidy or self-publishing success—that their work sells. Publishing is, first and foremost, a business and the days of “speculating” on unknown authors are long gone. The only relevant question publishers ask about an author’s manuscript is: “How many books will sell upon release?”

For example, prior to January 2009, ALIVE Magazine’s fitness columnist was Lorrie Sullenberger, the wife of the now famous pilot, Sully. Prior to his successful landing in the Hudson River, had Sully approached the major publishing houses with a query letter about his experiences as an airline pilot, it’s likely he would have received the typical response—a rejection letter.

However, after a flock of geese collided with his plane and his subsequent artful skill in landing that plane, Sully became an instant celebrity—and a marketable commodity. The result? He was offered a two-book deal by a major publishing house, and eventually a motion picture was produced about the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

While traditional publishing provides advantages—namely brand recognition and the ability to have books placed onto the shelves of major book retailers, the profit margin for authors on each book sold can be miniscule. Publishers are betting on mega-sales—preferably millions of books—so they are looking for authors that fall into just a few, select categories. First, they look for “proven” authors; ones who can re-produce work that will be eagerly snatched-up by fans (the Grishams, Kings, Steels, Pattersons and Rowlings). Next, they are happy to publish the works of someone well known and currently popular; actors, sports stars and politicians for example; or anyone making news, like Sully, right after his remarkable landing.

In all these cases, if all goes as hoped, an author might earn thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the publishing houses, of course, enjoy significant returns in all these scenarios too.

But what if you are chosen by a major publishing house and your book doesn’t sell in the thousands? In that case there are challenges associated with traditional publishing. First off, major publishing houses will remove a book from circulation—designate it as “out of print”—if it fails to sell in significant quantities. Worse still, if a book fails to meet the publisher’s sales expectations, they will often demand that any “advances” paid to an author be returned. Ouch!

Unless one has already sold thousands of copies of his work, or has the last name Kardashian or Clinton, authors like the young man mentioned previously will likely never see their book published. The only reasonable—and wisest—route open to this young author is self or subsidy publishing.

Path #2: Self Publishing

It is possible to self-publish your book. The main advantage to self-publishing is that you control 100% of the process. The main disadvantage is… you control 100% of the process!

You will earn the highest margin of profit this way, but that is because you will be doing all the work yourself. The steps involved are numerous, and if your plan is to produce a quality product (your book) that sells well and sells enough copies to be commercially successful, you need a very large tool-box of skill sets.

Self-publishing means that you will not only write your book, you’ll need to edit it, design and create the cover, design and format the interior pages, obtain the necessary ISBN and bar code, file your copyright, and obtain your Library of Congress Control Number. And then you’ll need to know where and how to have your book printed.

Then assuming you want to sell your book with a hope of making money, you’ll need to market it. And even though your profit per book can be higher by doing all the work yourself, you still need to sell a lot of books to make very much. To do that, you’ll need to know how to make your book available through large online resellers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and to thousands of ancillary online wholesalers and retailers. Will you know how and where to make your book available to independent bookstores and libraries throughout the country and worldwide? Will you know how to re-format your book as an e-book and make it available that way in the marketplace, or if it even makes sense to do that? Will you be able to create your own website, promotional materials, and press releases? In short, do you already have the knowledge, technical and artistic skills, connections and resources to truly “publish” and market your book?

Self-publishing is an option if you’ve written a book. . . and then again so is building your own car if you want to travel. . . but sometimes just being the driver—or author—is a more logical choice.

Path #3: Subsidy Publishing

The final path of publishing is subsidy publishing. Years ago this was considered a second rate method, supposedly used only by desperate authors whose work was not “good enough” or had been rejected by traditional publishers. It was implied that authors who chose this route were having their work published merely for the sake of “bragging rights,” as in, “Hello, my name is Joe Smith, and I am an author.”

The fact is, however, many highly successful writers got their start this way, and in light of the realities of traditional and self-publishing, this is the most logical, effective, and affordable way for any author to have their work published.

To be sure, there are a plethora of subsidy publishing companies to be found online, most of which offering a menu of various services designed to get your book published. Most have low cost options to start, but just like in self-publishing, the more they do for you, the more it costs.

One of the major disadvantages of online subsidy publishing companies is their absence of personalized service. Looking at it from their perspective, because they function and compete solely in the very crowded online universe, they have designed their services with that in mind, so they often limit authors to “A, B or C” cover template options for example, or “Gold, Silver and Platinum” packages, each with narrowly defined options. And in most cases, these services are automated, whereby the author’s work is pushed into a pre-existing format—otherwise known as a “cookie cutter process.”

Another important consideration with online subsidy or self-publishing companies is their ability—or, more accurately, lack of—to market and promote an author’s book. While most of these publishers offer a variety of services, they are usually limited to very basic, simple things, like providing the author with a stack of postcards, or to writing up a press release. Some will even claim to include a website, which is often just a page on the web displaying the author’s book, with no functionality included.

The fact is, while web-only, cloud-based publishing services can publish an author’s book, they are limited in what that entails. You won’t be meeting with their art director or designer, for example, to discuss one of the most important marketing elements of any book —the cover; nor will you be able to select a font style from a vast collection of options for the text of your book. And while these online companies claim to offer marketing services, the fact is, they only offer a thin veneer of “marketing-like” resources at best.

Lastly, there is one other type of service to be aware of—authors who have self-published their own book(s) who now advertise themselves as a “publishing company.” While these individuals may have navigated their way through the maze of requirements listed previously so as to get their own book(s) listed on Amazon, this type of service is often akin to someone who wins a case in traffic court marketing themselves as a lawyer. If the first book they published was their own, they may be qualified to guide an author in the self-publishing process, but they are hardly a publishing “company.”

Are There Any Other Options?

Does all this sound a bit hopeless? Are you beginning to wonder if there are any viable options available to the author who wants to have their book not just published, but effectively and successfully marketed as well?

Yes, Option #4: ALIVE Book Publishing!

Let’s get something out of the way right now: Regardless of the reason that an author has for wanting to have their book published, the only reason any publisher will agree to publish an author’s work is if they believe it will be a profitable venture; plainly stated, the goal is to make money—period. Large commercial publishers are banking on a proven track record or an author’s celebrity status, while online subsidy publishers offer only a cookie-cutter process and are ill-equipped for little more.

After thinking about this dilemma, it occurred to us that with our vast experience in magazine publishing, we could create a kind of “hybrid” publishing company that not only publishes an author’s work but does so in ways that meet authors’ unique needs and situations.

Enter, ALIVE Book Publishing, where we provide what no online publishing company can—a one-on-one, face-to-face relationship, every step of the way. We consider every publishing project to be a partnership, so we work with our authors and their projects in a hands-on, individual way. One size does not fit all with ALIVE, so we don’t have set formulas for the projects we accept. We sometimes invest more in a project than the author because our goal is for the author’s book to sell successfully over the long term.

And, ALIVE is uniquely equipped to market and advertise an author’s book because we are the only publisher with multi-media marketing and advertising tools, and the expertise required to put real power into a local, national, and international book launch.

What Can ALIVE Publishing do for the Author?

The typical services we provide for all authors includes personal advice as to the overall concept of the book project; a custom cover design; layout and formatting of the book’s interior pages; the determination of the best price for the book; obtaining the required ISBN and bar code for the book; filing for a Library of Congress Control Number; Copyright; and POD (print on demand) set-up of every book.

We then advertise all our authors’ books in the Ingram Book Catalog, reaching every bookstore and library in the country. This is THE catalog book retailer use to choose what books they will sell in their stores. We also list all our authors’ books through major online distribution channels like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as throughout an established network of booksellers worldwide. ALIVE Books’ direct print book markets include the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, India, China, Japan, and South Korean. Additionally, ALIVE Books reaches over 100 countries and territories through a vast network of over 35,000 wholesale and retail distribution channels in a relationship with Ingram Books.

We are also able to provide comprehensive editing and formatting in all e-book formats, and we offer a wide variety of marketing and advertising options. We create and run display ads in ALIVE Magazine; create professional, fully-functional order-fulfillment-capable websites, and can produce professional videos for online and TV, and can conduct local or national public relations campaigns.

We even produce podcasts and own a podcast site, and can feature our authors on iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Radio Public, Stitcher, Soundcloud, and Spofitfy.

Putting it All Together: What Does it All Mean?

While advances in technology have radically changed the publishing landscape to the point where anyone with a computer and a credit card can become a published author, as I noted earlier, this is not going to be enough if an author wants to successfully break into the book market.

If everyone on the planet already knows who you are, you might consider having your book published via the traditional path. If you have all the skills and resources to go it alone, self-publishing may work, and if you’re only interested in a short-lived yet expensive ego boost, go ahead and send your manuscript into “the cloud,” and hope for the best.

But if your goal is to be serious about your book project and its chances for success, I suggest you elicit the aid of and partnership with a local publishing company that will be as serious and careful about your project as you are—ALIVE Book Publishing.

Email or call me today at 925-837-7303 for a free, confidential, one-on-one appointment, and tomorrow you may be well on your way toward having your book published!