Shake That Brain

Joel Saltzman teaches readers how to create "surprising, yet inevitable" solutions, no matter the challenge or task at hand. Easily. Consistently. And economically.

Shake That Brain! is a collection of creative and inspiring tips and tools for finding solutions in a variety of areas-from sales, marketing, and product creation to ethics, innovation, and the bottom line. Backed by powerful and compelling examples from a wide variety of real-life applications, Joel Saltzman delivers energy, edge-and lots of fun-as he guides readers through a series of proven formulas for creating outstanding solutions, from harnessing the power of opposite thinking to turning your worst ideas into your best ideas ever. Filled with exercises, easy-to-apply formulas, entertaining pop-quizzes, and eye-opening teaching examples from the world of business, technology, advertising, and more, here's a solution-finding guidebook that can be used for succeeding on the job or at home.

Joel Saltzman is a professional speaker, consultant, and bestselling author. He has conducted Shake That Brain! programs for Grey Advertising International, Harley Davidson, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Warner Bros. Studios. His work has been called "witty and rewarding" by People Magazine and he's the recipient of a national Audie award for "Best Educational and Training Audio." His website is www.shakethatbrain.com

Introduction.

Part One: Attitude – Or – How to Prepare Your Brain for “New and Improved” Behavior.

1: Be DARING.

2: Be PREPARED.

3: Be OPTIMISTIC.

4: Learn That MISTAKES Are GREAT.

5: Have FUN with It.

6: Don’t Feel Like a NINCOMPOOP.

Part Two: Actions – Or – How to Shake Those New Ideas Loose.

7: Question Your ASSUMPTIONS.

8: Ask GOOD Questions.

9: Take an “OPPOSITES” Approach.

10: Never Take NO for an ANSWER.

11: Look for ELEGANT Solutions.

12: Try Some EMPATHY.

13: Look for the WORST Solution Possible.

14: Turn Your NEGATIVES into POSITIVES.

15: Ask Yourself, “What Can I IMITATE?”

16: Ask Yourself, “What Would _______ DO? ”

17: Ask STRANGERS for Help.

18: Never Take YES for an ANSWER.

19: WRITE It Down!

20: Walk AWAY from It.

Part Three: Selling – Or – How to Avoid Having to Scream, “Why doesn’t anyone get this great idea that could just win a Nobel Prize!?”

21: Sell It to YOU.

22: Sell It to OTHERS.

23: BUILD It.

24: Demonstrate Its Value with P.O.P.

25: Get SUPPORT for It.

26: Call It Something CATCHY.

27: Be PERSISTENT.

28: KEEP Having FUN with It.

Notes.

About the Author.

Index.

Joel Saltzman is the creator of the Shake That Brain! system-for winning solutions AND lots of fun. A high-octane speaker, facilitator, and consultant, Joel helps organizations discover extraordinary solutions for marketing, innovation, building better teams, and improving the bottom line. The author of more than a dozen books-including four best sellers-all his work has one thing in common: creative solutions.
His first book, If You Can Talk, You Can Write, became a best seller for Warner Books and a selection of the quality paperback Book Club. In 2000, his audio recording of the book won him a national Audie Award for "best Educational and Training Audio."
As J. S. Salt, he created the best seller, Always Kiss Me Good Night: Instructions on Raising The Perfect Parent by 147 Kids Who Know (Random House, 1997).
The founder and publisher of Shake It! Books, he created and marketed the popular series, How To Be the Almost Perfect Husband: By Wives Who Know and How To Be The Almost Perfect Wife: By Husbands Who know (Shake It! Books, 2000).
Joel began his career in New York with the advertising agency Young & Rubicam. Moving to Hollywood, he wrote sitcoms for Perfect Strangers and The Robert Guillaume Show. He also served time as a stand-up comedian.
He's been a guest on Leeza (twice) and has been interviewed on CNN, NPR, and more than 500 radio shows. A graduate of Cornell University, Joel lives with his wife, son, and tux-the-Wonder-Dog in San Diego, California.

Each Shake That Brain! strategy is backed by compelling examples from a wide variety of real-life applications—from World's Worst Pizza and Seeing Eye Ponies . . . to why it can be a good idea to turn to your mate and say, "Shut up!"

Guaranteed: You'll learn to create surprising yet inevitable solutions no matter the challenge or task at hand. Meanwhile, you'll be entertained AND enlightened—with plenty of energy, edge, and just plain FUN.

Shake That Brain! will broaden your mindset and strengthen your upper-body solution-finding skills. You'll learn to:

• Shake, rattle, and question your assumptions—they're crippling you!
• Turn your worst ideas into GREAT ideas
• Learn the power of "Opposites Thinking"
• Have "Yes" meetings only
• Generate and implement bold new solutions—by using just what's in the room

Along the way, you'll learn to: ask great questions, never take "Yes" for an answer, turn any crisis into a great opportunity, and harness the brain power of experts for ZERO dollars a day. You'll get exercises, easy-to-apply formulas, entertaining pop-quizzes, and eye-opening teaching examples from the worlds of business, technology, advertising, and more—all designed to make the reading experience both profitable and fun!

Who'll profit most from this book?

People in business (large or small) and people with a life outside of work. After all, whether it's business or the business of life, we're forever challenged to find creative solutions. So sit back, relax, and get ready to have more than a few laugh-out-loud moments while learning to Shake That Brain! Pretty soon, you'll have people saying to you, "Gee, why didn't I think of that?"

—Alan Weiss, PhD, author, Million Dollar Consulting

"Do not miss this opportunity to have your brain shaken AND stirred to new levels of business achievement."
—Don Wilson, President & CEO, Association of Small Business Development Centers

"A smart, provocative read, filled with practical ideas from a uniquely entertaining writer and speaker. And it's fun!"
—Allen P. Adamson, Managing Director Landor Associates