An Angel Passes Away

Angel was put to sleep on November 13th in Sarasota, Florida - our winter residence. She was 15 years old. Angel was the inspiration for my book All I Know About Management I Learned From My Dog. She may not be here in person but she will be with us when our book is published in April 2011 by Skyhorse Press and distributed by W.W. Norton. 

Angel was on center stage for the almost five years that she was with us. She taught us many important things but in the last four months, as she struggled with a growth on the brain, weakness in her back legs, and a failing liver, she kept going, generously giving of her love.  

She was the force that drove the household. She walked as briskly and as often as we would take her, going as far as she could without a whimper. She loved to swim. And, as many of you have read, on October 2, just a little over a month ago, while we were in our house in Rye (which is located on the water) she disappeared in the late evening. She was out for her regular evening outing but slipped away while Paula was not looking, found her way in complete darkness down a 12-foot rocky embankment, and went swimming in Long Island sound. Paula, searching frantically with a flashlight, saw the sparkles on her collar and flew down the embankment, catching Angel just as she was paddling to get into the deeper water. Paula, shoeless, in her soggy nightgown, dragged Angel up to safety. Rather than being apologetic, Angel was frustrated and fretted at not being able to enjoy her midnight dip.

When we brought Angel to Sarasota, hopefully to spend the winter in a warmer climate, she was reunited with her friend Winnie - a one-year-old female small dog. Angel towered over Winnie, but when they met, Angel would chase after Winnie to show her affection, girl to girl.  Angel had respect for males, including me, but she adored women, especially Paula. At the last hours of her life she sought me out for a treat, but cuddled up to Paula.

It was Angel that inspired me, as you will read in our book, to select “Perseverance” as the most important of the Four Golden Rules. She tried to keep going through her illness, despite the frailties of her body. She persevered with a passion. She walked to strengthen the back legs, took the medicines to get well. Her love never diminished, even when she was in pain. She played with her tiny friend Winnie as though she were a puppy. When the time came to go, she sat quietly in the back seat of the car on our way to the vet. When we took her into the room from which she would not return, she went gently, quietly seeking us out for a last pat on her golden coat. When the vet asked her to lie down for the injection, she obeyed with the signal dignity of a lady. As the injection went into her veins, she closed her eyes, accepted the relief from pain and passed on without a murmur to join the other Angels.

In death, as in life, Angel is an inspiration. Maybe Rule Five should be “Make Certain You Make Every Minute Count”, treasure the short time we have together, make certain that we use this time to learn, lead, love what we do, and when the time is right, leave in dignity.

Martin Levin

The Further Adventures of Angel

Most readers recall that Angel is a Golden Retriever who is featured in my book, “All I Know About Management I Learned From My Dog” to be published by Skyhorse Press and distributed by W. W. Norton in May 2011.

Angel is a wise and adventurous dog who at 15 years of age is having some health issues. She is making great progress and here is her latest adventure.


Angel decided last night, October 2, when Paula left her out for her 11:00 PM pee in the back yard to vanish into the darkness while Paula's attention was diverted. It was very dark, the moon was obscured and the temperature was a cool 55 degrees. The back lawn is about 50 by 100 feet and drops off into a deep water inlet leading into a Marina.

Paula realized when she could not pick up the sparkle from Angel's collar that something was really wrong. She rushed up the stairs, alerted me and found a flashlight. Both of us started searching in the dark. There was no sound or hint as to where Angel was until Paula surmised correctly that Angel had decided since it was low tide to walk down the 12 feet of exposed rocks leading to the water.

Paula climbed down the abutment in her night clothes, her flashlight finally picking up Angel swimming energetically away from the shore. Paula stepped into the muddy bottom and plodded until she could finally reach Angel who was just about to get into the deep water.

Paula turned Angel around and dragged her back to the shore and then, in her soggy PJs, Paula dragged a reluctant Angel, step by step, rock by rock, up 12 feet to the lawn. Angel in typical frustrated dog fashion, shook herself vigorously spraying even more water on Paula.

Angel was dragged back to the house and deposited by Paula in a warm soapy bathtub, looking frustrated that her first sign of progress, since her terminal illness was diagnosed, was interrupted so unceremoniously. After Angel was dried and brushed she walked to her Posturepedic mattress, turned over on her side, and was covered by a blanket to dream about her almost impossible dream. After the rescue and clean up, Paula got her hot shower and dry PJ's.

As for me, I was the reporter on the scene keeping everyone up to date.

Martin Levin

Yale Publishing Course, July 18-23: A Smashing Success

 It is difficult to realize, even for those of us who were involved, that the Yale Publishing Course would be regarded by most of those who attended as a smashing success. The challenge was to create a meaningful course, a quality “student” body and a strong faculty in only four months. And this is what happened.

The Inaugural Class and the Resident Faculty
taken on the steps of the Greenberg Conference Center
July 18, 2010

On the afternoon of July 18, 2010, the 86 seat capacity in the Greenberg auditorium on the Yale campus was filled with “students”—enterprising leaders in book, magazine and digital publishing. They came from 16 foreign countries and from 18 different states in the U.S. During the next week, the “students” met with the 40 members of a faculty comprised of industry leaders, experts, legendary publishers as well distinguished members of the Yale faculty. The intensive course started at breakfast and continued through the evening hours with frequent breaks allowing for networking. It was major download of crucial publishing information.

The goal of the course was to mark where the industry was, where it was going, and to have the faculty and “students” share their insights and experience about the ongoing reconfiguration of book and magazine publishing. At the end of the week, the post mortems indicated that students felt they were now better prepared to deal with the challenges that they faced.

It was also gratifying that the “students” who came to the course as strangers went home as colleagues. The applause for each other at the closing ceremony, where the certificates from Yale were awarded, demonstrated that in a week these students had developed a kinship with each other.

I am a very tough critic, and ever more when I am involved. However, the Yale Publishing course in its inaugural year made a significant contribution to the future of publishing. It set a very high standard for the years to come.

Martin Levin

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NOTES

Credit is due to Tina Weiner, the Director, who led the effort brilliantly along with her Assistant, Jackie. Don Filer the Director 0f International Affairs at Yale and Tina’s boss, a strong supporter and Linda Koch Lorimar, Secretary of the University, who gave this course a final blessing and its life. The course that Stanford University closed down permanently on January 5, 2010 would never have been if it were not for their work and support.

Credit is also due to the veterans of the Stanford Professional Publishing course: Robert Baensch who devoted his every free minute to the Yale course, Richard Stolley an icon in magazine publishing, Dorothy Kalins, Kevin McKean, Mary K. Baumann, Will Hopkins, Keith Clinkscales, Peter Kreisky and the scores of faculty and students who were there when support was needed. It was a long journey that began on August 5, 2009 when we first were told the SPPC was terminated. Special thanks to Paul Saffo, the leading expert in the future of technology and publishing. He is the longest serving member of the SPPC faculty. He came from his teaching post at Stanford to give the opening session.

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Additional information about the notices from Stanford about the termination of the course can be found on this blog. For a complete description of the 2010 Yale Course go to Google for Yale Publishing Course.

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MPL

Publishing '10: The Tipping Point

“The Tipping Point – 2010” was held on March 9, 2010.  The program included a look at the past year and what is anticipated this year in the fields of copyright, mergers and acquisitions, and taxes. Asking guests to fasten their seat belts, speakers looked at where we were and where we are going in book publishing.  

______________________________

 



 The Tipping Point of Publishing in 2010
Major challenges and opportunities (13:24)

Martin P. Levin, Counsel, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman

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The Toughest New Author-Publisher Issues

(12:13)

Thomas Kjellberg, Counsel, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman

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How to Handle Change

(22:44)

John Kilcullen, Founder, IDG Books Worldwide

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 The Changed M&A Marketplace

(17:31)

Robert Halper, Counsel, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman

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Protecting Your Personal and Business Assets

(17:54)

Robert J. Giordanella, Partner, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman

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The Mixed Blessing of Technology

(28:33)
Jan F. Constantine, General Counsel, The Author's Guild





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Upcoming Event

Recent Developments in ©opyright Law
October 7, 2010

Click Here for More Information

Book Designer Wanted 6x8 Paperback and Hardcover

"All I Know About Management I Learned From My Dog"

Author who has commitment from publisher is seeking an experienced book designer for a book requiring:

• Front and back cover design
• Design of front matter
• Interior page designs
• Creative separation of Part I and Part II
• Design of four segments in Part II using full color PDF provided
• Design of chapter title pages, running heads
• Each page bottom will have small full color illustration (provided)

This is a challenging assignment for 

an experienced designer. Prefer New York City location. 

To see mansuscript go to: www.goldenrulesformanagement.com. 

Apply with portfolio to Martin Levin at MLevin7276@aol.com. 

Owning a dog will help.

__________________________________________________________________

 
NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

August 2, 2010

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The Future Is Here

This is an update on previous posts concerning the termination of the Stanford Professional Publishing Course (SPPC) and the decision by Yale University to begin its course. The previous posts are now filed in the blog archive. 

Yale Publishing Course - July 18-23, 2010

The good news is that the Yale Publishing Course, announced on March 28, 2010 as a successor to the SPPC, will convene as planned in the new state of the art Greenburg meeting complex on the Yale campus and take place from July 18-23. The curriculum calls for a week of intensive sessions dealing with the leadership challenges in magazine, book and digital publishing.

In less that four months from the decision made in late March, the director, Tina Weiner, assisted by the advisory committee, developed the program and selected a faculty of forty-three industry leaders and technology experts as well as members of the Yale University teaching faculty. And, at the same time, students were recruited (thirty percent will come from outside the United States) to fill the auditorium and meeting rooms of the complex. 

Great credit is due to Yale, its director, and the advisory committee that enabled this unique course to continue without interruption, enabling leaders in publishing to bring the future to the present.

Martin Levin

You will find full information concerning the course at  

http://publishing-course.yale.edu/ including the most 

current course curriculum and session leaders.

Yale Publishing Course Announces Program and Faculty

If you have been following this thrilling true life story, you will be delighted to read that the program and faculty is set - well, almost. After agreeing to take over from the 32-year-old Stanford Professional Publishing Course (SPPC) in March, all is set to welcome the first class on July 18.

Almost all of the SPPC faculty will move to the Yale Course. Go to http://publishing-course.yale.edu/ to get all the details: pictures of the classrooms and campus, the classroom schedule, and the faculty. Read the brochure and press the "sign up" button that will take you to the application process. The class size is set for 80 students. It is expected that 40 students will come from abroad.

The Yale Publishing Course is the Only Leadership Course in the World for Mid Career Professionals in Book, Magazine, and Online Publishing. 

The Future is Here.

Yale Publishing Course Now Accepting Applications

Yale Publishing Course (successor to Stanford Professional Publishing Course) now accepting applications for Course, July 18-23, 2010.

Apply at http://publishing-course.yale.edu/.
Course limited to first 80 accepted. Early application recommended.
The Yale Publishing Course

One Door Closes and Another Opens

As you read, rejoice with me. Watch for more information. If you wish to attend or recommend a friend or associate, send me an email at MLevin7276@aol.com. The class size will be limited to 80 students worldwide to maintain the close connection between student and faculty.    Martin

Yale Launches Course for the Book and Magazine 
Publishing Industry

New Haven, Conn.—Yale University will launch a new Yale Publishing Course this summer, bringing emerging industry leaders from around the world together with experts in their respective fields to tackle the most compelling issues facing publishers.  The first session will be offered July 18-23, 2010, with subsequent sessions held annually. The week-long program is geared to middle- and upper-level professionals in the book, magazine, and on-line publishing industry. It will provide participants with the skills required to lead their publishing organizations during a time of accelerating change.

The Yale Publishing Course will fill the gap left by the closure of the renowned Stanford Professional Publishing Course (SPPC), which was offered from 1978 to 2009.  Senior advisors to SPPC, Robert Baensch and Martin Levin, as well as publishing executives who have long been associated with SPPC, have joined the Yale program as advisors and lecturers. The Yale program will expand the international scope of the Stanford course and concentrate more heavily on the business side of publishing, with an emphasis on emerging technology.

The Course’s curriculum will focus on such topics as strategic planning, financial management and entrepreneurship; best practices in the use of new technology and content delivery; legal issues involving open access and intellectual property; and the future of digital dissemination. The program will feature lectures and seminars by distinguished members of the Yale faculty and publishing executives with proven records as innovators. It will also tap into the rich resources of the prestigious Yale University Press. Participants drawn from around the globe will be immersed in information on the latest technological advances and be exposed to cutting-edge thinking about the business of publishing as a global enterprise.  While stepping back from their daily jobs, they will be able to reflect on broader perspectives, discuss strategies with their counterparts, and consider new approaches that will enable them more effectively to operate within their own organizations. The program will combine lectures with small discussion groups and provide ample opportunity for participants to meet informally with each other and with the presenters.  The Course’s presenters will be available throughout the week to advise participants on a one-on-one basis.

The Yale Publishing Course will be held on the historic Yale campus in the state-of-the-art Greenberg Conference Center.  The Course will join a suite of international senior leadership programs already in place at Yale, such as the Global Health Leadership Institute, the India-Yale Parliamentary Leadership Program, and the China-Yale Advanced University Leadership Program.

For more information on the Yale Publishing Course, contact publishing.course@yale.edu.

# # #

Yale News Releases are available at http://www.opa.yale.edu

All I Know About Management I Learned From My Dog

It was a long time coming but after more discarded drafts than I would dare mention, the manuscript is finally done and it is now being posted in installments for you to read online. I am soliciting your comments, photos, and asking you to tell me about your own dog stories.

What I tried to do is to tell the story of how Angel made me rethink a 60 year career. You will find some stories that will make you laugh. You will meet some of those people, such as Stephen King, that influenced me and made my career interesting, informative and exciting. I look forward to reading your comments.

NOW ONLINE:

www.GoldenRulesForManagement.com 

All I Know About Management 
I Learned From My Dog.

Stanford Permanently Closes the Stanford Professional Publishing Course

Every summer for the past 32 years book, magazine and digital publishers, marketers, advertising and circulation executives, editors, designers, writers and people in search of their next career have gathered on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto California to attend the Stanford Professional Publishing Course (SPPC).

Mr. Michael Keller, after discussions, meetings with students, major publishing executives, and after reading the report of his “Surveyor”, has decided to “permanently close” the SPPC.

The SPPC was a week-long intensive course. It was the only one of its kind, where mid-career professionals from the U.S. and around the globe (40% of all attendees were from abroad) encountered the newest technologies, the smartest thinking and a community of their peers taught by a world-class faculty.

The need for a course that meets this need exists today more than any other time when both book and magazine publishing is in seismic transition. Members of the SPPC faculty are now working with universities who are currently deeply involved in publisher education and have an interest in offering an enriched Stanford-type program.

Michael Keller, on behalf of Stanford, has generously offered to assist in a transition by making available information that would be helpful. I will be keeping you up to date with our progress.

Martin Levin