February 10, 2026  • By Dennis Beaver

Prison is a place like no other. It is its own world and has rules that apply there and nowhere else. Knowing this reality was what my young reader needed to understand three years ago.

“Mr. Beaver,” wrote “Molly,” “my son ‘Ray’ just turned 18. He has been in and out of juvenile detention for years, primarily because he can’t say no and hangs around with boys who are up to no good. But he has a very high IQ and has been reading your column for years.

“Now that he is an adult, if he continues on the same path, he will wind up in prison. Could you talk with him about what the first days behind bars would be like and how to keep himself out of trouble? You might be able to wake him up. Thanks, ‘Molly.'”

I set up a video call with this polite young man who said he “just wanted to make friends, so I went along with whatever it was.” He could not hide the “smart-aleck” side of his personality that I doubt Molly saw.

If anyone needed to know what the first days in prison would be like, it was Ray. What follows is a summary of our conversation.

Some healthy fear is beneficial

“Ray, I’ve learned from our clients who did their time, and through letters I’ve gotten from inmates across the country, that when you are sentenced to prison, which only you can prevent, a dose of fear is healthy.

“It is a place where very bad people are forced to live together,” I went on. “For the first-time inmate, who is referred to as a ‘fish,’ danger stems from a lack of understanding the unwritten social rules that control prison life.”

The eight unwritten social rules that Ray needed to know:

1. Leave your ego at home. Do not fall into the newbie trap.

Never think that you are different or better than anyone else. You are, at first, a “nobody with a number.” An attitude of superiority will make you a target. So, be as plain vanilla as possible — to other inmates and the staff.

2. Keep your head up — literally.

Eye contact in the free world is considered polite, but in prison, looking at someone for too long is seen as a challenge, as in much of the animal world.

So, while you should keep your gaze low, you don’t want to stare at the floor, which would give the impression that you’ll be an easy victim.

3. Absolutely DO NOT accept gifts.

Accepting an offer of a package of ramen noodles or a hygiene item from another inmate is never simple generosity. Nothing is free in prison.

Consider it a transaction that creates a debt similar to a high-interest loan. In a few days, your “new friend who is so nice” will return to collect, and the repayment price will not be noodles. It might be your commissary privileges or physical self-respect.

So, decline all gifts, but politely.

4. Maintain a respectful distance from staff.

One of the most ill-advised and life-threatening things you can do as a first-timer is to try to develop friendships with the correctional officers and staff.

This could get you injured or even killed if other inmates see you being overly friendly with a CO. The message you are sending is that you are a snitch.

Likewise, being disrespectful to a CO is an invitation for a host of subtle, yet nasty, annoyances. So don’t be a jerk.

5. Understand the many aspects of respect.

“Mike,” a longtime client who has been in and out of prison, described respect in the joint this way: “In the free world, I deserved no respect because of what I had become.

Yet, in prison, the most despicable people demand respect. Respect is a matter of life-and-death, often meted out by people who never respected anyone on the outside.”

He described how this single concept is so powerful:

• It creates boundaries for personal space and conduct. Invading someone’s personal space, touching their possessions or sitting on their bunk is considered a sign of disrespect.

• Having manners and showing consideration for others is obligatory. Say “please,” “excuse me,” “thank you” — these simple words can prevent a fellow inmate’s anger from erupting.

• Newbies are often told to “be a man of your word.” If you lie or refuse to make good on your debts, the result is often violence.

• Stay “solid,” which means “don’t snitch on others.” And “keep your head down” by not messing with other inmates’ concerns.

6. Keep family and friends close by writing to them often.

Having the emotional support of people on the outside should not be taken for granted. Those who love you want to know that you are OK, so write to them often. Ask them to write back, and this way, at least mentally, you can escape the prison walls.

7. Read. Go to the library.

Mentally removing yourself from confinement will help prevent your own decline. Use the educational resources that are offered. Get your GED or even a college degree, as these things will enable you to establish a more normal life once you are released.

8. Remember your objective — going home.

All of our clients have stressed the importance of visualizing walking out that main gate the day of your release.

This will happen as long as you don’t create trouble for yourself while inside by causing fights, committing other crimes that add to your sentence or a host of other bad decisions that only hurt you.

Three years later …

Both Molly and Ray called our office three years later and asked for another Zoom session. I had almost forgotten them by then.

“You scared me, Mr. Beaver,” Ray told me. “I could not forget how you described life in prison. I woke up, dumped my bad friends and am just about to graduate from college and will become a physical therapist.

“I was really mad at you at first,” he went on, “but then I realized that you were trying to help me. All I can say is thanks.”

Molly said nothing. Her tears spoke volumes.

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

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Most of us have had the experience of being stood up for a date or some other social interaction, possibly a meeting with a potential employer or customer.

In a dating context, according to psychologists, we may never forget the pain and disappointment of being left waiting for someone who never shows up or even bothers to call to explain why they’re not coming.

Being stood up demonstrates a lack of respect for the other person’s time and feelings. When someone agrees to a date or commitment, we expect them to keep their word, or at least communicate if they cannot make it.

Now, let’s go one step further and ask: Could the results of the equivalent of being stood up form the basis for a lawsuit alleging breach of contract?

Scott encounters a frustrating scheduling issue

“Mr. Beaver, I am a fee-based CPA financial planner and work with clients on a per-hour basis. With an administrative assistant, I run my own shop and am usually booked at least two weeks in advance,” said “Scott” in our lengthy phone conversation.

“We budget from an hour to 90 minutes for an initial meeting with clients, and my hourly rate is $400 for general financial planning, but often a couple will be referred to our office to have their financial and estate plans reviewed.

“Depending on the complexity, this can run as much as $5,000 or more, and with older clients whose existing investment/estate plan was developed decades ago, we often need to draft a new one and refer them to an estate attorney as well.

“As there is a lot of competition in this field, making a client unhappy is costly,” he noted, adding, “Unless there is a very good reason, I try to avoid rescheduling appointments, as that tends to annoy people.”

A costly decision

“A few days ago, I got a phone call in the morning from a local talk radio show, asking if I could be on the show that day, following news articles about possible changes in inheritance taxes in the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Scott explained to the caller that it would be necessary for him to reschedule his afternoon appointments, but he could come to the studio to be on the show. He also stressed that he was counting on actually being on the show, since rescheduling clients was inconvenient for them.

He was assured that his guest spot on the show was a go and that he would get a follow-up call to officially set things up. He immediately asked his admin to rebook clients at their preferred day and time — including telling them why he was making this request.

“All but one client were OK with it,” Scott told me. “But the couple who needed the most work said that if I would do that to a client, then they would retain someone else. Right then, I lost over $5,000.”

Then Scott never got any follow-up calls about the guest spot. “I reached out to the people at the show more than once, and each time I was promised, ‘They will call you right back.’ Finally, I asked the station’s manager to directly call the show’s host and see what the heck was going on, and the host texted me, It is not for this week.

“This was like a Saturday Night Live comedy skit, with incompetent flakes working for the radio show host! I was so upset, you can’t imagine. These flakes kept on telling me, ‘Oh, yes, his producer will call you right back,’ not only wasting my time, but costing me over $5,000. Do I have any recourse at all against the station?”

Is the station in breach of contract?

This situation would make an ideal question for a bar exam: “Was there a contract for Scott to be on the air that the station breached? What are the station’s defenses, if any?”

No compensation was discussed — Scott would not be paid for his time on the air. Still, being on the show would mean a substantial benefit in free advertising for his professional services. And he would, in effect, be paying for the advertising simply by being in the studio to share his professional insight while potentially losing an afternoon’s income.

If this ever found its way into court, the station would maintain that Scott assumed the risk that some clients would not agree to reschedule their appointment. So, no, it’s not a breach of contract.

How to turn the situation into a win-win

It is seldom a good idea to pick a fight with the press or media. I told Scott this can be turned into a win-win. He doesn’t need a lawsuit, and the radio station — especially the talk show’s staff — does not need to reveal their incompetence to the public.

I recommended he speak with the station’s general manager and propose being a guest on the air to discuss the need for couples to schedule a consultation with a good financial planner and how to find one. “Turn this into a win for the station’s listeners,” I said, “and the benefits will come back to you tenfold.”

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

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Do you know someone who has forgotten that advice about “burying the hatchet and letting bygones be bygones”? Or who acts as if it’s much more enjoyable to remain angry at the people who didn’t vote the way they did or don’t agree with their political or religious viewpoints?

“In many instances, anger feels good, especially today, when political issues seem to dominate American life. ‘I’m right and you are wrong’ smothers all other moral and rational brakes that the brain has in place,” observes Dr. Luis Vega, professor of psychology and interim dean at the College of Social Sciences and Education at California State University in Bakersfield, Calif. “Additionally, anger can deliver a high similar to that experienced in thrill-seeking activities where danger turns on dopamine reward receptors in the brain and can become its own form of addiction.”

When this occurs on the job, it can become the basis for a toxic-workplace lawsuit. But there is something we can do to lower the temperature.

Confronting these destructive attitudes is one of the most positive, upbeat people I’ve interviewed — Juliana Tafur, the Bridging Differences program director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.

Tafur and her team are leading the 7-Day Campaign for Connection Challenge that, as she says, “Brings together folks with differences in politics, race, religion, culture, all sorts of attitudes — and teaching how to talk with each other. The goal is to minimize othering, prejudice and division and expand our sense of care and shared humanity for others in this time of tremendous division the country is facing.”

Here’s what leads to trouble

I asked Tafur to describe what fuels conflict in our daily lives. What are we doing wrong? She shared these four things, along with some ways to address them:

1. We see a label rather than a person.

We assume that we already know everything about a person based on the label we give them, whether political, cultural, racial, identity. For example, because of their political stance, we might dismiss any unique aspect of their personality, and since we don’t agree, we shut ourselves off from learning anything else about them.

2. We stick to our assumptions and refuse to listen with compassion.

We assume that our truth is the truth and avoid people who think differently. We associate only with those who are in alignment with our views and don’t read anything that doesn’t match our beliefs or that might encourage us to question them.

When meeting someone who does not share our opinions, we focus only on our differences and reinforce the person’s otherness. We dismiss the idea that we could have any meaningful commonality and disregard any shared identities or experiences, such as being in the same PTO at our kids’ school, or both caring about a problem in the community that needs solving. We think, “They’re not worth my time and are so different that we cannot have anything in common.” In the extreme, we might even consider them an enemy.

Actively listening to what someone has to say, with compassion, with our mind and body language — being willing to consider the other person’s feelings and intentions while still disagreeing — is possible. Being engaged in a discussion is one of the most powerful ways of showing that we care about another person’s feelings and want to understand them and their position.

3. When faced with an issue on the job or at home, we shut down the person we don’t agree with.

Looking for a way to upset co-workers or family members when faced with an issue where we are certain of having the only valid opinion? All you have to do is and tell them, “I don’t need any more details. I’ve already heard this viewpoint from others. I know exactly what you are going to say, so don’t waste my time!”

When they get upset, we put them off instead of showing compassion and a desire to discuss the issue. We act like they’re overreacting and say things like, “I don’t get why this would bother you.”

When perspectives clash, we should ask for the other person’s help with a resolution. For example, say something like, “It’s pretty clear we are not understanding each other, and I would really appreciate your help in figuring this out.” This reframes the conversation as a shared effort rather than a confrontation. It also invites collaboration and shows humility, a cornerstone of bridging differences.

4. We approach prejudice the wrong way.

Rather than calling attention to another person’s apparent bias and prejudice by calling them a bigot, Tufar says, consider saying, “Someone might say that your comments reveal a prejudiced mind, which I don’t think is correct, and I’ve caught myself in that kind of a situation but realized it just isn’t really me and sends the wrong message to others.”

Tafur concluded our interview on a positive note that, in my mind, stands as a powerful motto for what her organization strives to accomplish: “By recognizing that anyone can teach us something valuable and approaching people with this mentality, we allow them — and they in turn allow us — to be seen and to feel heard.”

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

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“Law is adversarial. Many lawyers have type-A personalities, feeling they just have to win, and some feel they will increase their chances of success by being absolute jerks to opposing counsel. Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Eastman, Ga., attorney Ron Daniels.

That reality — and the need for greater civility in the legal profession — is the theme of a highly informative continuing legal education podcast presented by Daniels for LearnFormula, a producer of professional development and continuing education courses for CPAs, attorneys, engineers and HR professionals, among other professions.

I asked Daniels to list some of the behaviors that damage lawyers’ relationships and reputations while also driving up attorney fees. He shared these seven thoughts:

1. Being unkind

The easiest way to set a relationship off on the wrong foot is to show anger or spite.

“Dennis, just imagine if I said, ‘Your position is completely unfounded, and I doubt that you passed the bar,’” Daniels posits. “Your mission will become to work harder than you would have in the first place to prove me wrong. Guess who pays? My client.”

2. Not letting things simmer before responding

Today, with email, we can respond immediately, and that is dangerous.

Before email, Daniels points out, we had to type a letter. That, in and of itself, required thought and reflection on what we were going to say. “But with text and email, there is little time to think about the consequences as we respond without reflection and might say things that cause trouble. Taking the time to pause is critical.”

I will add that the same advice applies at home with our partner and kids, by the way.

3. Giving in to clients and doing whatever they want you to do

“We are advocates,” Daniels says. “Our duty is to tell clients what they need to hear and should not do. Most do not hire us because we are yes people. We are considered to be attorneys and counselors at law, which means you counsel your clients about the facts, their position, the law and what their options are.”

We have all had demanding clients, and sometimes it is easier to say, “This is a really bad idea, but if you want to do it, OK, we will,” rather than, “You’re wrong. I’m not going to do that.”

“If other lawyers and judges know that you’re ‘letting the client drive the car,’ you lose credibility with your legal community,” Daniels adds. “People lose respect for lawyers who prostitute themselves for a buck.”

4. Failing to treat everyone with fairness, dignity and respect

Considering yourself superior to others, and acting that way, just because you are a lawyer is self-defeating. “From the courthouse custodian to the court clerk — especially the court clerk, who may be the most important person in the courtroom — it is critical to treat people with fairness, dignity and respect,” Daniels notes.

Be aware that you live in a very small world. If you act rudely, there is a good chance that someone will mention it or post video on the internet. Bad behavior anywhere can harm your business, whether you’re a lawyer or other professional. So, know when to be quiet.

5. Being impatient

A good lawyer needs to understand that other attorneys have demands on their time and aren’t always able to respond immediately to your requests.

The flip side of the coin, Daniels says, is, “Do not create false expectations of when you can have something completed or if you can accomplish what you’ve promised. Be grounded in reality. If you are not, you lose credibility with your staff, the court and other lawyers, and you can wind up losing clients.

6. Responding to sarcasm with more sarcasm

When you get hit with a sarcastic comment from another lawyer, don’t immediately respond. Some response is required, of course, but let it rest for a while. When you do respond, do not stoop to their level, but point out any factual misstatements they have made in their letter or other communication. “Never forget that others will read your response,” Daniels warns. “Be professional! Let the other guy wear a badge that says, ‘I’m a jerk!’”

7. Arguing about everything during a deposition

If you argue about every detail, no matter how insignificant, you make the deposition much longer than necessary. Same if you refuse to answer discovery questions using hypertechnical objections. Your job is not to be obnoxious and make life difficult for your opponent. You shouldn’t be thinking, Courtesy is for sissies! This is war! Plus, doing these things increases the cost of litigation to both sides.

Daniels concluded our interview by recommending clients consider writing on their lawyer’s retainer language something along these lines: Attorney shall copy client on all correspondence of whatever kind, including depositions, within three days of receipt and will provide a summary of all telephone calls.

“Read everything and speak up politely if it appears your lawyer is giving in to anger and running up your bill,” Daniels says. “Incivility has a price, and you should not be paying it.”

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

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“Many workplace issues that become unpleasant legal matters can be traced to questions that were not asked and complaints voiced by employees that were not explored,” says Marinor Ifurung, HR consultant with the Southern California-based law firm Klein DeNatale Goldner. “Out of fear or not knowing how to approach the problem, so often those of us in the HR world see the consequences of management walking on eggshells (because they) lack curiosity about what went wrong. It would be nice is there was a by-the-numbers guide to help restore healthier communication on the job.”

Author Jeff Wetzler agrees: “Marinor is right. Too often, we don’t find out what’s truly on others’ hearts and minds because we don’t know how to ask the right questions in the right ways. And that was my motivation for writing Ask, developing The Ask Approach.”

This communications guidebook is so needed at this time in our history, and author Wetzler is a recognized expert in adult learning and leadership development.

Wetzler divided Ask into three sections:

What people don’t tell you, why and the consequences
What do we do about it?
How to tap into what people are thinking and feeling and not telling you

When we talked, Wetzler listed the top ways that open, honest dialogue can become frustrated:

We don’t find out what the people around us are really struggling with, what they’re up against, what’s hard for them and what’s challenging.

The reason is they don’t feel safe telling the truth. “They’re worried that by revealing their struggles they would be thought of as incompetent, blamed and possibly fired,” Wetzler points out. “However, when management creates an environment of psychological safety, the entire organization benefits from necessary feedback — hearing the good and bad news.”

Actual opinions are not revealed, especially if they’re controversial and the person believes their opinion is unpopular.

Employees hold back what they really think. For example, a teammate may bite their tongue about a problem they see with a project because they worry what they have to say will upset others or make their jobs more challenging before a tight deadline. How many costly business decisions have been reached because no one voiced their legitimate reservations? If something is wrong in a process or on a project, it’s better to flag that issue as soon as possible so it can be fixed rather than letting the problem snowball.

When we come across as demeaning, we will not be given feedback.

If you disparage family, friends and co-workers to others often enough, no one will feel comfortable telling you about that spinach stuck in your teeth even though you can do something about it. Don’t be a jerk.

People will not tell us their best ideas for positive change in an atmosphere that discourages new ideas. The costs are often significant.

Think of the gold mine of insight — a wealth of collective intelligence — that is often suppressed, leading to poor decisions or failing to see the fatal flaw in plans because no one spoke up. “When someone is not telling us something because they don’t think we’re interested,” Wetzler says, “we don’t grow and learn, don’t raise our own game, as their ideas and feedback remain locked away.”

Bosses should open up first

So, how do we get people to open up and not fear embarrassment or worse? Wetzler outlines this approach: “Psychological safety is the first step in getting people to open up. We do this by opening up first, explaining, ‘I am really struggling with this, and perhaps you know something that can help me understand the problem better.’” That way, you are asking for the other person’s help. “It is important to let them know that you can handle tough feedback,” Wettzler adds. “This shows your resilience and opens the door for them to tell you what you need to hear.”

In four steps, The Ask Approach basically taps into what other people are thinking and feeling and not telling you:

1. Choose curiosity. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this person?” There is always something more we can learn.

2. Pose quality, open-ended questions that help us learn something important:
– What’s going on here from your perspective?
– Do you know what happened?
– What might I have been missing?

3. Listen to learn. We need to listen not just for the words, but also for the emotion that’s going on in the conversation and the actions that people are taking. Are they pushing back? Are they agreeing? Are they asking for you to tell them more?

4. Paraphrase and provide feedback. Ask, “Did I understand that correctly? If not, please correct me.”

This could be the best management book you’ll ever read

In my law practice, I’ve seen so many legal disputes that are the fruit of people simply not knowing how to talk with each other, assuming facts that, as we say in court, “are not supported by the evidence.” In Ask, Wetzler takes us by the hand, and we walk down a path that brings us together. It is an important read for those of us who are frustrated with all the yelling and not enough listening.

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

The post How to Get Employees to Tell You Like It Is appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

If you have owned a house or commercial property for several years, chances are that someone has recently either phoned or sent what appears to be an offer to buy it.

In March of 2023, an article in The Star News of Medford, Wisconsin, noted that, “Area residents are seeing a flood of unsolicited mail from people seeking to purchase their properties, often at greatly discounted amounts.”

“David” is the executor of his parents’ estate, and received a “Solicitation and Agreement” to buy 40 acres of land not far from Medford. In researching the company, no physical address was found, and when checking with the Better Business Bureau, either there is no rating or they are rated very poorly.

Red Flags Were Flying

After receiving the offer, David phoned the referenced telephone number, explaining: “It was a Saturday and the phone rang and rang with no voicemail which immediately raised my antenna. Who sends out a solicitation to purchase property and provides a telephone number without an answering service or voicemail?”

He called again the following Monday, “And while I still felt it was likely to be fraudulent, as I am the trustee of an estate where that property needs to be liquidated to carry out the wishes of the trust, I felt a duty to explore if this was a legitimate offer.

“I spoke to a receptionist, who did not answer using a business name. After inquiring where I could find properties they’ve transacted, I was told, ‘I’m only a receptionist, call Adam,’ which I did – without a return call.

“So I phoned again, got a different receptionist. Expecting a different outcome, I asked the same questions with an identical reply.”

By this time David was pretty certain something crooked was going on, especially with no call from Adam. “So I texted the number as the letter instructed, and, once again, there was no reply.”

Became More Assertive

Speaking with the receptionist again, but far more assertive, David point-blank asked her if the company is involved in some type of fraud? “Are you targeting older people who have owned parcels of land for extended periods of time and offering them a fraction of what their property is worth?”

“I told her that I planned to send a letter to the Arizona attorney general – which got no reply from her.”

Concluding our chat, David raised an important point about this unsolicited offer: They had the right to cancel at any time.

None of this made sense.

“Dennis, these 40 acres are worth over $400,000. And what do you think these people offered? $38,000!”

Analysis by Two Real Estate Attorneys

I asked Hanford real estate attorneys Ron P. Jones and Robert B. Zumwalt, both friends of this column, for their take on these unsolicited offers.

Jones: Interesting. I haven’t seen one quite like this before. What my wife and I usually receive in the mail is a postcard, often with a photograph of the subject property, telling us that we will get a cash offer with no contingencies that will close in 30 days.

The problem with these things is that they’re usually offering 25% to 35% of the market value, and sometimes much less. Somebody older, living in their house for many years, who bought the house for $15,000 cannot comprehend their house is worth $250,000 or even far more, depending on the area.

So, if they get an offer for $75,000 or $95,000, they think it’s a gold mine. The biggest part of the scam is that these snakes are making offers to people who don’t know better and then reselling the property and making an unscrupulous profit.

Zumwalt: This solicitation has a “fill out the contract yourself” section and that is the first time I’ve seen something like this that invites trouble. It could very well be that these solicitations are designed to gather personal information about people with no real sale in mind in order to steal their identity.

There is an assignment clause in that contract. I have seen at least one case in which the “buyer” is acting more like an unlicensed real estate agent. My guess is their real intent was always to quickly sell the contract to the real buyer for a fee without ever putting up any money of their own. So, they bear none of the risks of investing their own capital and none of the ethical obligations of a licensed agent.

What Should You Do?

If you are interested, ask for the person’s name, contact information, and tell them you need to think about the offer and run it by your family attorney before making any kind of decision. It is important to verify their identity before accepting any offer, and only after doing research on the person/company and meeting with your attorney or CPA.

Finally, your land isn’t going anywhere, so there is no hurry. Do not be pressured.

Dennis Beaver Practices law in Bakersfield and welcomes comments and questions from readers,
which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993,
or e-mailed to Lagombeaver1 – at – Gmail.com.

The post I want to buy your house! appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

“I am the fourth-generation CEO of our family’s agricultural services business. I want to write a book about our history, the people who have been at the helm for over 100 years, and show our business community just how dedicated to their needs we have always been, so there is a PR benefit I’m trying to achieve.

“Candidly, I don’t know a thing about what’s involved. Have you some suggestions on how to get started and how to not get taken advantage of by the internet ads I see about giving them two hours of my time and they will create a best-seller? Thanks, ‘Scott.’”

Advice from a Book Collaborator

I ran Scott’s question by Caroline Lambert, who is an internationally recognized ghostwriter and book collaborator. She provided down-to-earth recommendations for anyone who is thinking of writing a non-fiction book.

Lambert began our interview with these cautionary statistics and highly focused questions an author must not fail to answer:

“Only 10% of all books sell 10,000 copies in the first year, which pays for the publishing costs. Below that, a publisher does not make back its money. Statistically, few books even sell 1,000 copies. Very few sell a million copies. If someone goes into it thinking to sell millions of copies and become famous and rich, their odds would be better in Las Vegas!”

Still, she points out, there are valid reasons to write a book that may only sell just a few copies — such as family memoirs. Whatever your motivation, it is critical that you do not fail to ask these questions:

1. Why do you want to write this book?

2. Who is your audience? What do you want this book to do for your readers?

3. What questions do you want to answer for them, or what problems are you trying to help them solve?

4. What do you want this book to do for you? What are you trying to achieve?Are there some ideas that you want to share? Is your purpose business promotion, services that you want to sell? Or are you writing just for your family?

The answer to the why is that you need a central thread that ties everything together so that you never lose track as to what this book seeks to accomplish and who you are writing it for.

5. How much staying power do you have for this? (Hint: It takes more than just time.)

Writing a full-length book by yourself requires a lot of staying power. Besides skill, it takes effort and time. Unless you are clear as to why you are doing it and have a compelling reason that gives you a desire and motivation, at some point, you may hit a roadblock, such as getting stuck on a structure issue or some other frustration.

6. Do you have what you need? Do you have enough material, or do you need to do research? Are interviews needed?

How much time do you have to write?

Do you have the skills to write a book by yourself?

7. Should you consider working with a ghostwriter or writing coach?

A ghostwriter is a professional writer who writes on your behalf — and “becomes you” in terms of style and voice. Authors who don’t have the time or skills needed to write a book often go that route.

Even though it is faster than doing it yourself, don’t expect your book to be written in a week, however. It can be a long process.

Reputable ghostwriters will have a proper contract that sets out the various rights and responsibilities each of you have, including whether their name will appear on the book cover with yours.

A writing coach supports you through what, for many, is the challenge posed by writing itself, but you hold the pen.

8. What kind of publishing will you do? Traditional, hybrid or self-publishing?

If traditional publishers aren’t interested in your book, or you’re not interested in traditional publishers, then you can self-publish.

Self-published authors are responsible for all of the costs in book development: production, printing, distribution and marketing, but retain all of the profits (if any!).

You can do it all yourself or turn to companies that can help with self-publishing. Beware of publishers who advertise “Give us two hours and we will write a bestselling book for you.”

Research, research, research them. Use your business judgment. Are they reputable? Do they produce good-quality books? (You can read more about this in my article You and the Law: Author in search of a publisher? Beware!)

If you’re aiming higher on the quality scale, then hybrid publishing could be the right choice, as it is often described as a partnership with shared responsibilities, guidance and control throughout.

Authors still cover most of the costs, but hybrid publishers typically bring expertise honed in traditional publishing.

Lambert concluded our interview with this observation: “Never forget the why.”

Find out more about her and what she does on her website, carolinelambert.com.

The post Want to write a book? Here’s what you need to consider appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

An informative, accurate and accessible website has the power to enhance the credibility of a business or professional — or greatly detract from them.

However, as Hanford-based website developer Katherine Andes points out, “Many individuals and companies do not understand the consequences of failing to properly maintain their website and being certain that what they say to the world is, in fact, accurate.”

She set out a list of the things that have the potential to cause a loss of business or, worse yet, land you in legal trouble. Here’s what must be avoided:

1. Fail to update your website design and functionality.

Consequences: Your site will look dated. Websites are like fashions. Styles change. So, update the design and incorporate improvements in functionality. This will allow content to be displayed on most devices, such as computers, tablets and smart phones.

2. Ask a friend or relative to do your website (to save money) rather than hiring a professional web designer.

Consequences: If your friend or relative knows what they’re doing, it might be OK. But if they are not being paid, they may not be prompt, or may decide to go on a long trip for several months, taking your website’s log-in credentials with them while they are impossible to reach.

Hiring a professional connects you with someone who presumably knows what they are doing, will do a better job and are not likely to disappear, because web designing is their livelihood.

3. Assume your web designer can write text. Worse yet, think you don’t need text.

Consequences: “Photos of my dynamic product are sufficient, so I don’t need much text on my website,” is flawed reasoning because:

– Words help search engines such as Google find your company. To rank higher in search results, you need well-chosen language.

– Text establishes your expertise and authority.

– Lacking adequate text can get you into legal trouble, especially if you are not explaining the details of your offerings or warranty protections. Someone might think, “I was misled by the attractive photos of the product.”

– Text shows specifications and what might be unique about an item you’re offering. Without that info, a potential customer won’t know if it’s suitable for their needs.

– Text helps to keep a customer from feeling buyer’s remorse, keeping you out of a fight with a credit card company wanting to reverse the charges.

4. Fail to update your website content — could raise major legal issues.

Consequences: You must keep information current — especially if prices change. An inaccuracy can be an invitation for someone to claim consumer fraud due to false and misleading web content.

It’s also important to have a prominent disclaimer in your site’s footer — which appears at the bottom of each page — that makes clear, “prices can change.” Language along the lines of, “We keep this website current as best we can, but sometimes prices change before we can post them.”

Additionally, by not updating content, search engines might conclude that you are not a relevant site, because of stale information. So, delete old and irrelevant pages. A current website signals to customers your level of professionalism.

5. Skip adding alternative text tags on images, which risks an ADA violation.

Consequences: An alternative text tag describes, for example, what’s happening in a displayed photo, helping a visually impaired person to know what is showing on their screen.

While this is a highly complicated legal area, the best advice for anyone who sells items or services online to the public is to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Web hosting companies have tools that you can use to determine if your website is compliant. You do not want a disability lawsuit.

6. Neglect to put testimonials or project/portfolio images on your site.

Consequences: Testimonials are powerful validations of your product or service, especially in small communities where, with permission, you can use first and last names.

Someone in that city or a nearby community might know that person and find them credible. A testimonial from someone in another city results in your page being search optimized for different area and improves business’ ranking in search results.

Your website is an opportunity to show your work. Displaying a project or service, along with its location — which might be different from your main address — increases your website’s chances of ranking higher in search results for other cities.

7. Omit including your contact information — and in more than one place.

Consequences: If you want to cause aggravation, then don’t include a phone number that’s easily accessible — at the top, bottom and hopefully in the middle of each webpage. Make yourself reachable, and do not force a potential customer to fill out a lengthy form to contact you. They will move on to some other business or professional.

You can find more web design tips from Andes at her website, andesandassociates.com.

The post Seven website issues that can get you in hot water appeared first on Dennis Beaver.

“Mr. Beaver, I do the hiring for a paint and coatings company based in the South and frankly wonder if I am going insane, or if today’s job applicants think that a job interview is the same thing as Saturday night with the gang — wear what you want and don’t mind your language! You can’t imagine the people who come so unprepared for a job interview. They have little concept of how to dress professionally or act professionally — they answer questions while looking at the floor or ceiling and in general give an ‘I don’t care if I get the job’ attitude. I think it would be instructive if you looked at how not to get hired! Thanks, Theo.”

I ran Theo’s timely question by two friends of this column, senior HR consultants Marinor Ifurung and Andu Yohannes with the Southern California-based law firm Klein DeNatale Goldner. I asked them to list behaviors that can ruin your chances of getting hired.

Six red-flag behaviors, courtesy of HR consultants

1. Coming to the interview unprepared.

Andu: A lack of preparation can slam the door shut on a job offer. When you are asked to bring a copy of your résumé, a filled-out application or other documents, and you show up without them, this failure tells me you are not able to follow simple instructions. So, I would conclude you may have a hard time following directions and may struggle with successfully performing your job duties.

Marinor: If someone really wants this job, then they will take the steps to show they are prepared for it. Showing up without the requested documents is an interview killer. There are no excuses. This occurs less when interviewing for an administrative/professional position than when hiring for an entry-level job such as a receptionist or restaurant server. This shows lack of interest and, potentially, the applicant’s inability to follow reasonable instructions.

2. Failing to convince us that you are right for this role. Poor communication skills. Talking over and interrupting the interviewer.

Andu: We want to know what you can bring to the position. We don’t know which aspects of your past experience could be highly beneficial unless you sell yourself. This is an opportunity to communicate how your past experiences will help you succeed in this position.

Marinor: If communication skills are lacking, we can’t tell if this applicant will be a good fit for the position. What can you bring to the table? If you don’t tell us, your chances of being hired are diminished. You have to sell yourself.

3. Failing to dress appropriately for this employer and the position.

Andu: Showing up in a T-shirt and shorts and treating the interview as just another errand you had to do that day says, “I’m not taking this interview seriously.” Do that, and no one will take you seriously, as you are revealing a lack of self-awareness.

Marinor: Dressing for the position says a great deal about your seriousness.

4. Displaying excessive piercings and objectionable tattoos.

Andu: In the real world, display of piercings and objectionable tattoos aren’t going to help you land that job. So, before the interview, learn what the grooming standards are and comply. If you’re hired, violating those standards when you come to work will be a basis for termination.

Marinor: The person conducting the interview needs to be direct with the applicant and carefully study their body language. Often the applicant says, “Yes,” but their body language says something different, and when hired, they might come to work displaying tattoos and piercings. Applicants need to know that these are not constitutionally protected classes, and there is no right to wear them at work.

5. Believing that physical requirements listed for a job do not apply.

Andu: Applicants need to consider the physical requirements of the job and reflect on their ability to meet them with or without an accommodation. There are positions that require pre-employment physicals designed to determine the applicant’s ability to meet the physical requirements of a job. We often get asked if an applicant’s weight plays a role in the hiring process. With the exception of Michigan, New York, Washington state and a few local jurisdictions, such as San Francisco, weight is not a protected classification unless it is related to a medical condition or a disability.

Marinor: There is a completely false belief that, regardless of appearance, there is a “right” to be employed. There isn’t. However, some states have exceptions. California, for example, has a laundry list of protected classifications, so appearance matters to the extent allowable by law. Rather than focusing on the appearance of an applicant, hiring managers should base their decision on an applicant’s ability to fulfill the job expectations as well as the employer’s expectations.

6. Failing to show up on time for the interview.

Andu: Punctuality is critical. Show up late to the interview, and you will likely show up late to the job as well.

Marinor: Not showing up at all! This shows a lack of consideration for your potential employer. No call, no show = no job.

Some advice for the person doing the hiring

Concluding our interview, both Andu and Marinor offered this advice for the person conducting the interview: Don’t just hire anybody — that is an invitation for trouble later. If you doubt your interview skills, speak with an HR consultant. It will be money well spent.

Check back for my follow-up article to this one, about how to get yourself fired.

The post Looking for a Job? Here’s How Not to Get Hired appeared first on Dennis Beaver.