T. R. Reid joins American Heart Association Presidential Panel

The American Heart Association today unveiled six principles on healthcare reform as the presidential candidates begin a series of debates, the first scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26, at the University of Mississippi. With a vision of a stronger healthcare system, the association’s 2008 Statement of Principles on Health Care Reform outlines critical issues that must be addressed to ensure high-quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans.

The panelists were carefully selected to offer a wide range of viewpoints from different perspectives and industries. Besides Dr. Jones, confirmed participants include Bill Novelli, CEO of the American Association of Retired Persons; T.R. Reid, Washington Post journalist and BrightSight Group speaker.

An edited version will air on Louisiana Public Broadcasting and Mississippi Public Broadcasting at 9 p.m. CDT Thursday, Oct. 16, one day after the third presidential debate, which will focus on healthcare and other domestic issues. It will also air on other PBS stations across the country this fall.

T.R. is the author of The United States of Europe: The New Superpower and the End of American Supremacy

The New Yorker review of Kuttner’s “Obama’s Challenge”

BrightSight Group speaker and author, Robert Kuttner’s latest book,“Obama’s Challenge: America’s Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency.” is reviewed by Hendrik Herzberg in The New Yorker. Hertzberg says of the book, ” it’s riveting, brilliant, and persuasive.”

Pat Hanlon in Advertising Age

BrightSight Group speaker and author Pat Hanlon’s article “Winning in the ‘Pick’ Economy: Designers Will See Opportunities in a Marketing Model Where Push and Pull Strategies Are Less Effective” appears in Advertising Age. According to the article, “In today’s world, media are fragmented, markets are fragmented. Skews of race, sexual orientation, work life, digital experience, marriage and child status, plus other sociological forces crosscut markets even further. We have microtrends, micromarkets and micromeals. Only in rare cases can products (such as oil and toilet paper) claim to be ubiquitous and necessary. These days consumers choose from miles of aisles of cars, clothing, electronic equipment, food, beverages and other staples. To push is dangerous. To pull is difficult. We are engaged in a revolutionary new marketing model not driven by manufacturers or their marketing partners. In fact, it’s not enough to consider consumer push or pull strategies, because today, the consumer picks. “
Pat is the author of
Primal Branding: Create Zealots for Your Brand, Your Company, and Your Future

Robyn Waters on retaildesigndiva.com

BrightSight Group speaker and author Robyn Waters pops up on retaildesigndiva.com. In the blog post entitled, “The Contradictory Consumer” blogger Alison Embrey Medina gushes, “At a recent conference tour called Events Marketing Innovations, renowned speaker and retail branding consultant Robyn Waters did what she often does when I hear her speak–she blew me away.”

Robyn is the author of, The Hummer and the Mini: Navigating the Contradictions of the New Trend Landscapeand  The Trendmaster’s Guide: Get a Jump on What Your Customer Wants Next

Wall Street Journal Review of Billion Dollar Lessons

BrightSight Group speakers and authors, Paul B. Carroll and Chunka Mui’s latest book, Billion Dollar Lessons was reviewed by Daniel Akst of The Wall Street Journal. According to Akst, “Billion-Dollar Lessons is an insightful and crisply written book, one that offers wisely chosen and well- narrated case studies but also good advice, such as urging companies to appoint an in-house “devil’s advocate” to challenge the unhealthy unanimity that accompanies many major decisions.”

Max Boot LA Times Op-ed

BrightSight Group speaker and author Max Boot’s latest op-ed piece appears in today’s Los Angeles Times.

From the article, “Although the current crisis exposes vulnerabilities in the American financial system, it also shows one of our greatest strengths: the ability of our politicos to cross party lines and formulate a decisive response in a time of crisis. We saw that kind of bipartisan action after 9/11, and there is a good chance that we will see it now — assuming that lawmakers can agree on a bailout package that makes sense.”

Sam Harris on Sarah Palin

BrightSight Group speaker and author Sam Harris was recently featured in Newsweek writing on Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin.

From the article, “The point is that she comes to us, seeking the second most important job in the world, without any intellectual training relevant to the challenges and responsibilities that await her. There is nothing to suggest that she even sees a role for careful analysis or a deep understanding of world events when it comes to deciding the fate of a nation.”

Sam Harris is the author of The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason and Letter to a Christian Nation.

The Latest Billion Dollar Lesson

Paul Carroll and Chunka Mui, BrightSight Group speakers and authors of
Billion-Dollar Lessons: What You Can Learn from the Most Inexcusable Business Failures of the Last 25 Years

recently blogged about the current financial crisis, comparing Bank of America and Merrill Lynch’s recent activity with those of Conseco and Green Tree Financial in the late 1990s. From http://www.billiondollarlessons.com, “The Green Tree acquisition proved to be so toxic that Conseco soon took billions of dollars in writeoffs, then filed for bankruptcy protection.  It was the third largest bankruptcy in US history up to that time.” Read more….

Sam Harris Op-ed Palin piece in Los Angeles Times

BrightSight Group speaker and author Sam Harris, is featured in today’s Los Angeles Times.

From the article, “McCain has so little respect for the presidency of the United States that he is willing to put the girl next door (soon, too, to be a grandma) into office beside him. He has so little respect for the average American voter that he thinks this reckless and cynical ploy will work.”

Sam Harris has authored Letter to a Christian Nation and  The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

Will Bowen featured in the Montreal Gazette

BrightSight Group speaker and author of A Complaint Free World, Will Bowen was recently featured in The Montreal Gazette From the article, “Bowen’s little book is an eye opener. Even readers who think they seldom complain may catch themselves in the act. And if Bowen is right, complaining isn’t doing us any good. In fact, he’s convinced complaining serves only to maintain the status quo; it prevents us from moving forward..”

Will Bowen is the author of A Complaint Free World