The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero’s Journey:

Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

The Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.

Consider this:

• Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) – All Academy Award Winners Best Film are based on the Hero’s Journey.

• Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

• Heroine’s Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

Hero’s Journey: Spiritual Guidance

Following the Refusal, warnings and interdictions, the hero unconsciously searches for spiritual guidance and strength. He seeks a mentor / supernatural aid. Often the mentor is a wretched, deformed old man or woman but it can also be anyone that pulls the hero in the required direction. In the case of antiheroes, the dark mentor is that which provides the hero with the required temptation. Antiheroes differ form heroes in that they succumb to temptation instead of resisting it.

In Star Wars (1977), the mentor is Obi Wan.

In The Empire Strikes Back (1980), it is Yoda.

In Raging Bull (1980), it is Vickie – a young blonde sexually alluring teenager.

In Wall Street (1987), Bud Fox has his Dad.

In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), it is the older Marcus Brody and Sallah.

In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), it is the older, longer serving Red.

In The Big Lebowski (1998), it is Sam Elliott as The Stranger.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

In the increasingly competitive staffing and recruiting industry environment, staffing and recruiting firms both large and small are looking for a way to differentiate themselves. Quite possibly one of the most important strategic marketing tools a staffing firm can have is an effective and interactive Web site.

Why is it so important? According to David Tallerman, eMarketer Senior Analyst, savvy B2B companies (that’s your customers) use the Internet as the central channel for most marketing objectives. In the eMarketer article, “B2B Ain’t What It Used to Be,” the primary marketing goals of Internet marketing are:

• Customer acquisition
• Driving sales
• Brand awareness
• Lead generation
• Customer retention

Recognizing the Internet’s strategic value is one thing, developing and integrating a Web site for your firm that will work for your business is often another. Most staffing firms lack the specific skills necessary to create and maintain a sophisticated and professionally effective Web site. So it’s time to turn to professionals who do have the skills. The question then is: How do you select a Web site vendor? For the purposes of this article we will look at some key points you need to consider, these include:

1. What business goals do you want to achieve?
2. What Web development, technology, site hosting, support skills and capabilities does the vendor have?
3. How will the vendor make ongoing site updates easy for you to make?
4. What methods will the vendor use to assure you of on-track, on-time and on-budget delivery?
5. What experience does the vendor have that would help your site achieve your goals?

The first question you should ask yourself is, “What do I want the site to do for my business?” Web sites are a key communications tool for any business that wants to be competitive in the staffing and recruiting marketplace. A Web site can look nice, but if it doesn’t work for your business, what is the point? A static page with stunning photography isn’t going to improve your business operations. Make sure you look at sites that have some of the functionality you would like to include in your site.

Functional interactive elements can include: ‘contact us’ forms, client or contingent workforce logins to conduct specific tasks, document downloads, online applications and/or the ability to upload a resume to your site. These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg. Have a brainstorming session with your key team members and come up with features that will specifically work for your business.

In tandem with the functionality you want from your site, make sure to research your vendor’s technological expertise. What technologies are they using to create client sites? With a myriad of Web design software out there, be sure that you are getting the most bang for your buck. Do they use Microsoft .NET technology or something else? On a related subject, ask your vendor about hosting options. This is generally preferable to hosting and managing the site yourself or through another third party. In addition, don’t forget to ask about ongoing support and service capabilities.

Keep in mind that your Web site is your online presence, not your vendor’s. Do you have the ability to edit your content to keep your content fresh and up-to-date? Is it easy for ‘non-Web-savvy’ staff you designate as Webmasters to make minor changes, add pages, and the like? Nothing is less impressive than a site that last posted company news three years ago. Think of your site as a dynamic marketing tool, changing to keep up with your business.

Another key aspect to look at is a vendor’s methodology. How do they plan to role out your Web site? Look for vendors that can provide you a step-by-step process that ensures that no details or items are overlooked. Ask for previous client references. A vendor with a solid track record of getting their projects done how and when the clients wants is a vendor that should be considered in your final evaluation.

When looking at Web site development vendors, keep in mind one thing. The better they know your business, the better your site’s going to be in the long run. Be sure to ask them what types of companies they have worked with before and more specifically, have they ever worked with staffing and/or recruiting firms? A vendor that is familiar with the staffing industry and a staffing firm’s needs and business workflow will generally “get” the B2B needs and the core functionality you will need for your site.

More importantly, they will be able to meet your Internet marketing needs by focusing on your target audience because they know how you do business. And by focusing on your target audience – your clients and contingent workforce, your Web site will be a success.

David McCullough is Director of Operations for VCG. He is responsible for customer support, training, implementation, consulting and migration services. Prior to joining VCG in 1997, David held positions within Randstad Staffing North America including branch operations and sales, as well as in the corporate office as a part of the Training and Development team. He holds a B.S. and a M.Ed. degree from Auburn University. To contact David, email him at: dmccullough@vcgsoftware.com.

A lot of bettors have asked “Why would I require this rakeback? I play on the web when there is an incentive to clear.” What will you do if you get the opportunity to become a full time poker gambler? There are numerous poker players who are really dissapointed at disregarding poker rakeback and now all of them have opted in for every last major web based poker web site and skins. Don’t turn into one of them.

Rakeback Offers

If you are an individual that plays below a couple of dollars and then only bets when you are using bonuses, you are picking up usually around a hundred percent rakeback considering the bonus on your wager. A certain leading poker web site lately removed betters who logged into the web site exclusively for this type of betting. Who knows whether this will initiate a new trend. If it take place then immediately a poker rakeback is a necessity. Someday you may find your greatest game and then become extremely rich, if you are not already. I was injured by an accident and came upon poker during my recovery, I have no regrets. That occured the best part of 2 years back now and believe me I haven’t required to work since because of poker and naturally rakeback. It is good plan to look ahead. Regard it as as an investment for tomorrow, if you do not think poker rakeback is right for you now it just might end up being a good strategy before long, there’s no way you can lose. If you’re thinking about signing up for a different poker rooms you must check out rake back.

The Rakeback Professionals organization is happy to have so many ethical partners. Opting in can be as uncomplicated as surfing to a The poker afficionado help site Rakeback Professionals partner web site or even as accessible as sending an e-mail. The associate has the power to set anybody up without delay. You can begin playing straight off. If you sign up with a partner thru Rakeback Professionals you will be able to be confident as every partner has been screened and also have agreed to authorize The Rakeback Professionals organization to sort out any dispute you might have. Since we invariably screen each of our associates, we have had virtually no complaints and we will always act promptly to remedy the concern to take care of all our bettors.

Graduation Gowns

Graduation Regalia

Preschool Graduation Caps

Graduation ceremonies are usually very exciting for anyone who is taking part in them and this goes double for children. In preschool, the graduation attire cannot be complete if it does not have preschool graduation caps. The caps are usually made more attractive by tassels which sometimes have a different color from that of the cap. Red, yellow and blue are some of the colors that most pre schools use for their preschool graduation caps as they are bright and most children like them. Paper, card stock and polyester are some of the materials used to make preschool graduation caps. The preschool caps are usually bought in bulk from online shops or physically from shops within the vicinity of the school.

Graduation Information On The Internet

Graduation information is available all over the internet. You’ll find multiple links which can assist you in your research. Gordon International offers a lot of information which can be useful to anyone ordering graduation regalia but if you’re looking for specific history please see the link provided below.
The Following Site Offers Great Information About Graduation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress wikipedia provides the searcher with a great information source for any type of search. You can go to their search wiki and place an random search in the engine and you’ll come across a few useful sources & articles.

People familiar with the Myers-Briggs Personality test know that the writer is the INFJ. This person is introverted, intuitive, feelings-oriented and judgmental.

So, what happens when an extroverted, intuitive, thinking and perceptive (ENTP) inventor tries to write a novel? For one thing, it takes more than 35 years to finish. The story is never quite right; it always needs tweaking. And, lo and behold, when the ENTP finally does complete a manuscript, he/she will come up with another idea, brilliant of course, which requires scrapping and rewriting three chapters. Unfortunately, once scrapped and rewritten, left-over references to long-gone characters or events somehow live on in the word processor’s memory and mysteriously reappear somewhere in the manuscript. It drives all readers, editors and wives especially, mad.

Even if the ghosts are exorcised from the page, the spouse or whoever else is doing the editing won’t necessarily forget them. Their memories are harder to erase. Only the truest of friends will be willing to read your twentieth revision, and only the most intelligent will be able to assimilate the newest additions at will.

But somehow it finally is finished.
Then it turns out that finishing the novel was the easy part. Trying to get it published is another story entirely. What you hope to be an easy jaunt to the local mailbox to find an agent turns into a Homeric voyage, with hundreds of rejection letters floating in its wake. As every writer knows, authors are uniquely at the mercy of others to bring our work to public attention. A painter or sculptor can usually find a coffee shop or gallery to exhibit their work. The diligent composer will eventually find a local quartet or civic orchestra to play his or her work. But the author alone must rely on the judgment of the publishing professionals, gatekeepers who want to know what makes this manuscript worthy to be included in the approximately 100,000 new books that will be published in the coming year. Quality doesn’t even matter. Even if it is better than 95% of the books in print, the question an agent must face is why should a publisher add this particular manuscript to his list? Who will buy it? After all, this writer is unknown. Then comes the cruelest question of all. Why should I even bother to read it? Most of the time they don’t. According to Curtis Brown, on average, a known agent will get 50 to 100 queries a day. Of this number the agent will read as few as one percent of the total number of proposed manuscripts they receive in an average year. Only one manuscript in three will be accepted.

The sad fact is that there are more writers seeking publishers than the total number of books ever published. Jay Leno’s All Stars could have written many of them, but even if you have talent, the numbers are still staggering. Potential novice writers can find a writing class somewhere in the country nearly every day of the year. If they don’t want to attend one in person, they can always find one on the Web. Legitimate writing professionals lead most of these classes, but far too many are only meant to separate prospective authors from their cash. Either way they will sooner or later be looking for a publisher.

So, knowing all this, why did I persist? Because I could not do otherwise. The urge to write is as deep in my being as a smoker’s desire for the next cigarette or an alcoholic’s for the next drink. I love words and I love thoughts. The idea that someone 100 years from now might read and like the book outweighs any negative criticism or public indifference that I may run into in my lifetime. My advice to anyone who has such the same urge is simply: write. Forget the odds and don’t be discouraged. When you have a product that you know is your best work, try to get it published. Finally, don’t feel like a failure if you have to publish it yourself. Quality will tell, even if only your friends are aware of it. Believe me, it’s worth it.

John Anderson wrote The Cellini Masterpiece under the pen name of Raymond John. He is a historian who has sold stamps and other collectibles and a former Military Intelligence Specialist with the US Army Reserves. He is now working on his sequel to The Cellini Masterpiece, entitled Language School. The first chapter of The Cellini Masterpiece is available for available at http://www.cmasterpiece.com. Mr. Anderson can be contacted at the website.

A huge and growing phone UK market following the rule of introducing the latest camera phone has made it wonderfully complicated for individuals to compare cell phone deals. Most of the time, there are various aspects that cell phone customers need to look into when making phone comparisons that some of the very most crucial ones get overlooked.

As a result, one forever end up using a phone which is either too expensive or a mobile phone which is not suited for your cell phone call profile. And so we mention in this blog about the two very most prominent things that people should constantly notice when making mobile phone purchases. This will often help people land a mobile phone that at least meets the basic criteria people are looking for. Find the best Samsung phone deals online with MobileShop.

The entire cell phone market is booming on the basis of breathtaking features like cameras that keep getting added every month. Nevertheless, an incredibly large majority of folk acquire phones based on their appearance, brand and incredible marketing only to regret at a later stage when folk see that their brilliant cellphone lacks a really basic feature like sending emails or bluetooth. Lots of awesome pricey cell phones sell on the basis of hype, brand image and aesthetics at price tags that are unjustified if you look at the lack of features. For example the latest Apple iphone does not let folk forward text messages to all. Unfortunately, this phone’s target audience, 18 – 35, gets to regret the removal of this cell phone feature only after spending weeks worth of salary on it. And so make sure that your awesome new mobile phone has all the features like camcorders you require before tying yourself into a 12 month contract. Since mobile corporations will never tell mobile phone customers about the superb features like interactive maps that their mobiles lack, researching online mobile write-ups is the very best way to do it.

What will make your home page interesting? Good design plays an important part in your site’s overall effectiveness. But it’s not the flash that will interest your audience. It’s not the jingles that will connect with your visitor. It’s the benefits – the ‘what’s in it for me’ list that create interest and even desire. Create a home page filled with benefits and it will pull your visitors in. What you say your product/service can do is much more attractive than a beautiful web page with weak copy.

Promote with benefits instead of your bio, your credentials and even the features of your product/service. Put them in their proper place on your site. But your audience will most want to know the value of your product to them.

You must answer questions like, ‘Will it solve my particular problem?’ ‘What will I gain?’ ‘What will I lose if I don’t use your service?’ Some universal benefits answer the how tos: getting more passion, more energy, less fatigue, more money, good relationships, more time, less trouble, less stress, less drama and trauma. Here’s a quick tutorial on magnetizing your home page:

1. Develop a list of 10-20 benefits of each product and service. For example, a client of mine realized her audience didn’t just want to know how to get articles written, they wanted to know why should they write them?

So on the home page selling her article writing ebook, she started with a list of good reasons to write short articles to promote: For the serious marketer this ebook explains step by step how to promote your business, build a gigantic Opt-In List, increase your traffic, get qualified links, increase your page rank, grow your affiliate base, become a recognized expert, and collar more sales.

2. Be specific. List specific benefits. Describe how your customer will feel after buying your product. For example, after you buy my service of teeth whitening, you’ll look and feel 10 years younger without plastic surgery. Then post a picture of what your client looks like before and after the teeth whitening service. Let them see how happier and more confident they look with whiter teeth. Make your page magnetic with specific benefits.

3. Let the passion for your topic show in your marketing copy. Which arouses your interest more? “A 9-Step Power Plan to decimate and dominate the Consultant’s Marketplace” or “The 9-Step Plan to Become a Better Consultant.” “How to Convert More Buyers Into Customers” or “How to use the ‘FTP’ factor to pull amazing clickthrough rates that most marketers will only dream about!” Magnetize your web page with passion that creates desire and sales with your audience.

4. Develop the skill of writing headlines. Provocative titles will stir interest. Provocative statements capture our attention like a fish on a hook. They throw out the baited hook and reel a captive audience in every time. The shocking statement ‘Wives Who Don’t Want Sex’ even if they don’t have this problem will get the attention of the curious.

Use the Command statement for an immediate effect, ‘Become an Internet Millionaire!’ Even if it’s a well worn claim, it still captures a large share of attention. Don’t forget the power of the simple ‘How To’ information title. It alerts your audience that the information that follows will be simple and easy to digest. Capture the attention of your audience with a home page filled with magnetic headlines.

Don’t wait. If you wait you could be starting the next year without the explosive sales and traffic your site deserves. You have invested time and perhaps money into making your site the best it can be. Now, create a magnetic home page by giving your bulleted lists, headlines, subscription forms, pop-ups and links the power of benefits. Magnetize your home page and prosper!

©Earma Brown, 11 yr. Web Developer, Author, Business Owner
Helps service business owners, and writers with full featured hosting, domain names, websites and a host of other web solutions. Send any email to webwit@arrowproduction.com for
free ezine Web Wit and mini-course ‘Jumpstart Your Website to Success’ or visit her on the web at http://www.arrowproduction.com

There are three kinds of salespeople:

(1) Those who hate cold-calling, and would rather get a route canal;

(2) Those who love and hate it, knowing it’s good for them, but are still uncomfortable doing it;

(3) And those who actually look forward to doing it, who find it exciting and challenging and financially rewarding.

99% of the people I’ve trained are in the first two groups. They are only moderately successful as salespeople.

The real winners teach themselves to enjoy cold calling, to relish the thrills and spills and the special status that accords to the Big Dogs, who really know how to hunt.

Speaking of which, there are three kinds of hunters:(1) Those who want to hang around the campfire and tell stories; (2) Those who stay near the campsite, gathering berries and low-hanging fruit; and (3) Rambo’s.

Of course, you remember Rambo, the movie character brought to life by Sylvester Stallone. He was the guy that the small town Sheriff tried to bully. The Sheriff’s name, by the way, was Dummo.

Rambo can do it all, fashioning a poncho from a scrap of canvas, hunting with only a knife, some self-made string, and his grit. And he, better than anyone else can survive and thrive on adversity.

I was doing a ride-along with a salesman in Florida whose specialty is building his insurance accounts by cold calling at business parks and out of the way factories.

I asked him why he enjoyed cold calling so much. Here’s how this Rambo replied:

“You never know what opportunities you’re going to walk into, ” he beamed, brightly.

A second later, we passed through a portal only to find a million-watt, gorgeous smile waiting for us.

I’ll tell you why I like it. Once you can successfully cold call, you can accomplish anything else in selling. It’s like bench-pressing 300 pounds and then cutting back to 100.

A Rambo who is handed a warm lead swarms all over it, and doesn’t back off until a deal is made. If he’s so lucky as to receive an inbound call, well, the game is over.

He’ll definitely transform the lukewarm inquiry into a sizzling sale, on the spot-no call backs, or “Please send me a brochure” dodges, allowed.

Don’t believe anyone who says cold calling is dead, unnecessary, or passé.

Just Rambo-up, and you’ll prove them all to be wrong!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman © 2005

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a popular keynote speaker, sales management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone, You Can Sell Anything By Telephone!, Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and How To Sell Like A Natural Born Salesperson. President of Customersatisfaction.com & The Goodman Organization, he is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. Gary’s programs are offered by UCLA Extension and by numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. When he isn’t consulting, Gary can usually be found in Glendale, California, where he makes his home. He can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at gary@customersatisfaction.com

I realize that it is important for us to work on appearing natural while making a presentation. If, however, we become too natural and relaxed, we may not even realize that we have adopted one or more distracting habits that will rob our presentations of their power.

Avoid what I call the “speaker’s samba.” It is actually better to stand comfortably still than to get into a repetitious movement that resembles a dance. I have become noticeably distracted by speakers who move three steps forward, three steps to the side, three steps back, and three steps to the opposite side. It is not always “three” but it is repeated many times. Someone told them it was a good idea to move around, so they initiated this awkward approach. A video will provide an eye opener if you are unaware of your movement around the platform. Just remember that any movement without a natural purpose will distract the audience.

Watch where you are walking. While we are discussing movement — a good addition to a presentation if done with purpose — I want to caution you to be careful of common pitfalls. If you are using an overhead projector, a slide projector, or a computer generated slide show, do not walk in front of the light source. When people in the audience are distracted by seeing your silhouette on the screen, they will lose all focus on the brilliant words you are presenting. If you want to walk in front of your projector, turn off the light or blacken the screen with a dark slide. Also, be cautious about walking back into the audience. If you turn your back on the participants in the front rows, you will lose their attention completely.

Make note of other presenters’ habits when attending keynotes, seminars, and/or workshops. I have always attended many presentations, and not only for the information I will learn. I make note of the good, the bad, and the better. Oftentimes, another speaker’s habits will serve as a wake-up call to a habit I have that I wasn’t even aware of.. I also love to observe the great speakers — not to mimic them — but to make note of what makes them so special and unique.

Remember to check out your habits. Getting rid of the distracting ones will take you to another level of becoming a polished, professional speaker with pizzazz and panache.

Chris King is a professional speaker, storyteller, writer, website creator / designer, free agent, and fitness instructor. Sign up for her eclectic E-newsletter, Portfolio Potpourri, at http://www.PowerfulPresentations.net You will find her information-packed E-book How to Leave Your Audiences Begging for MORE! at http://www.OutrageouslyPowerfulPresenter.com and her business website at http://www.CreativeKeys.biz

Next Page »