I'm [Never] Going Back to Graceland

But first, some news...

A year ago, almost to the day, book publisher Lulu purchased The Tilt and Content Entrepreneur Expo. The goal was to keep both the newsletter and the CEX thriving and growing, but to also to create a new product called Tilt Publishing.

Tilt Publishing would be a service for content creators to help them publish their books and get their ideas into the hands of their followers.

Tilt Publishing is a hybrid publisher with two differences. First, we take no royalties from authors. Not a dime. Second, we want our authors to sell direct first. This means selling their books directly from their own websites, keeping more profit (and data) for themselves.

We launched our beta author program in January. They helped us refine our processes so that today we have a better product to offer, with lowest price possible. Check out our full services here.

And today we are officially open for business. We are now calling for Fall 2024 Manuscripts.

If you have a manuscript you’d like published, or you have a book idea you’d like our input on, we are offering free 20-minute consultations to answer your questions. Submit your book idea here.

And check out the books we’ve already published. I’m so proud of each of these authors who took their book idea and turned it into reality with our help.

I believe in this process for content creators and entrepreneurs. If you agree, we’d love to publish your book.

Any questions…just comment below.

Let's go!

I’m [not] Going to Graceland

My friend and I took a road trip to pay our respects to the king – Elvis Presley - in Memphis, Tennessee. You know the house as Graceland.

I was never a huge Elvis fan. I’m more of a Beatles guy. But for some reason I always wanted to visit Graceland. After all, it’s the most visited private residence in the United States with more than 600,000 visiting per year.

After a long drive we arrived at the parking area. Ten dollars said the sign. I rolled down the window and handed over a five and five ones. The middle-aged woman said, as if reading a script, “parking is straight ahead.”

Our tickets were at will call. After receiving the tickets, we were pointed to room A.

We waited. Some more people trickled in. We waited some more. Then a very young woman entered to give instructions. Her speech volume was so low multiple people had to ask her to repeat what she said. All I knew was a movie would play and then we were to go through a door in the back and make our way to the shuttle.

The movie was a tour through all the positive happenings in Elvis’s career: the hit songs, the hit movies…even his social media reach (which seemed odd, but then again, Elvis is still alive ??.)

The movie was excellent. As it ended, no one really knew what to do next. Oh yes, we go to the door in the back. My friend and I stood up and the other visitors followed us out.

There was a shuttle waiting outside, but before we could reach the shuttle we needed to stand in line for pictures in front of an Elvis screen. No one said anything. We waited to get our picture, were handed what looked like a claim ticket, and headed to the shuttle. Before stepping in, we were given an iPad and some headphones. Presumably for the tour.

My friend JK and I noticed it immediately. No one was smiling. When people talked, there was no enthusiasm. We chalked it up to the heat. And it was toward the end of the day, so maybe everyone was tired.

But it continued. The shuttle driver. The escort from the shuttle. The other workers in blue shirts milling around. No emotion. No excitement. No…anything.

And there it was…the front door of Graceland. It was amazing.

“Move off the steps,” someone yelled.

“Now is the time to hit the start button on your iPads,” someone else screamed.

And then I started looking for anyone, in any position, who was smiling. Someone must be around who looked happy. Anyone? Bueller?

Not one person.

This tour should have been incredible. A once in a lifetime opportunity. But it left a bad taste in my mouth. I was glad I went, but barely. I will never go back. I will never recommend it.

Now, a few hours before going to Graceland we toured Sun Studio, the place where Elvis first recorded his music along with legends like Carl Perkins, B.B. King and Johnny Cash.

The tour, just $20, included two rooms. It’s hard to explain how little there is to see here. But man, what an experience. From the ticket takers to the “human” tour guide, everyone was so happy to be there, so knowledgeable, so (seemingly) grateful to be a part of this history. I would have paid $50, maybe $100 for that tour. We felt special. We felt like we did something truly unique.

Graceland had the better content. By far. Not even close.

Sun Studio left the best impression. That experience I will remember. I’ve already mentioned this tour to a dozen people.

At the same time, I’ve told twice as many about my negative Graceland experience.

Here’s the point. You can have the best content or product in the world, but if it’s wrapped in a sh*t sandwich, either nothing or bad things will happen.

Think about some of these questions:

• What’s the process to subscribe to your newsletter?
• What kind of story is your home page telling people?
• Who is the person at the front desk of your company? Do they smile? Are they generally happy people?
• Is the cover design of your magazine making people want to turn the page?
• Is the entrance to your business inviting?
• Do your employees show their excitement for your company or product when talking to others?

As the great philosopher Marshall Mathers (Eminem) has often said, “You only get one shot. Don’t miss your chance to blow.”

Don’t miss out on some amazing opportunities by creating a first impression of meh.

Graceland...I beg of you…time to clean house. Elvis would be so ashamed.

A Must-See Movie

Upon hearing about the passing of James Earl Jones, I couldn’t help but re-watch A Field of Dreams. I’m sure most people think Darth Vader, Mustafa or the Voice of CNN when thinking about Jones, but I always remember his performance in the baseball movie starring Kevin Costner.

Literally one of the best movie endings ever, Jones’ character, Terence Mann, walks into the corn fields to see what’s out there, just a few minutes before Costner’s character meets his father again as a 20-year-old catcher. And yes, I cried a little. Any kind of father/son reunion movie just tears me to pieces.

And then, for some reason, I immediately flipped over to watch the end of Kodachome starring Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris and Elizabeth Olsen. I love this movie. Again, a father/son tearjerker, it’s a cross country roadtrip to get four canisters of Kodachrome film developed.

And yes, most people think Sudeikis for his Ted Lasso character, but I think about Kodachrome. Worth the watch.

If you would like me to talk about something specific for next issue or ask me a question, just reply to this email.