Motorcycling, Marketing, and Following Your Dream: Allan Karl's Recommended Reading

On yesterday’s episode of Smashing the Plateau, author and keynote speaker Allan Karl spoke about his three-year motorcycle journey around the world, and how the lessons he learned—about trust, risktaking, persistency, and decision-making—can all be useful for entrepreneurs. Here, he provides a list of the people who were the most influential to him, as he reinvented his life to follow his passions.

1. Regis McKenna (www.regis.com)

“A technology marketing trailblazer who recognized and helped defined so many marketing concepts we take for granted today: real-time marketing, relationship marketing, and the importance of influencers in establishing market position.”

2. Steve Jobs (www.apple.com)

“He needs no introduction, but for me, the products he championed created more possibilities for my business and my passions. He understood the importance of going with your gut and listening to your intuition, and that without risk-taking there is no innovation.”

3. Neil Peart (www.neilpeart.net)

“The drummer and lyricist for Canadian rock trio Rush. He has authored many books, including “Ghost Rider,” which inspired me to follow my dream and travel the world.”

4. Steve Farber (www.stevefarber.com; @stevefarber)

“A friend, speaker and New York Times-bestselling author, Farber has been influential in my pursuing and developing my speaking business.”

5. Pico Iyer (www.picoiyerjourneys.com)

“One of the best travel writers/essayists of our time, from his tales of cross cultures to his poignant articles on the importance of unplugging, silence and stillness, Pico’s wisdom and demeanor should be inspirational and though-provoking to anyone. Check out his 2014 TED Talk linked here.”

6. Jay Baer (www.jaybaer.com; www.convinceandconvert.com; www.jaytoday.tv; @jaybaer)

“A friend and colleague, Jay is a fresh thinker and social media guru that gets marketing and isn’t afraid to try new things. His latest book Youtility points out why helping is much more effective than selling. He launched a daily video podcast called “Jay Today” which gives quick and easily digestable tips that can be implemented with little or no resources every day in just 3 minutes. For businesses doing business online, if they are not watching Jay, they are missing out.”