We’re looking for some feedback about an idea that if it works, could help drive the How To Be Rich and Happy project forward in leaps and bounds.
If you read the post ‘Never, never, never give up’, you’ll know that we have been encountering some sticking points recently. A number of the charities we have approached are either not interested, or in most cases simply don’t return e-mails or phone calls. It’s frustrating, but it is what it is.
We have posted here many times that we cannot achieve our goal without the generous and kind support of people like you and we have had numerous offers that have been very much appreciated.
Now however, we want to do something a bit special and a bit different. After all, this project is a bit special and a bit different, so why not adopt special and different tactics, right?
We’ve already had a number of donations from people that have read the book, loved it, and believe strongly in what we’re trying to achieve. That’s brilliant of course, but we’d like to make giving a donation even more personal to the donor.
Buying a book is in effect making a donation because it helps us to get another 12 or so books into the hands of people that can really benefit and that’s very cool. But what if we could move that into the realms of uber-cool and help 60 people?
The Idea
When you make a donation to a charity you don’t very often know where the money is going or how it’s going to be spent. Some of the larger charities have huge running costs and many spend well over 50% of the money they raise paying the people that actually raise that money!
So what if you could be sure that your donation goes exactly where you want it to go and not into the pockets of some pencil pushing senior executive, would that be of interest, because that’s what we want to do.
We want to allow people to make sure their money goes to the charity closest to their heart (presuming it’s relevant that is. No matter how much you love them, rescued dogs will not benefit from reading How To Be Rich and Happy, they’ll probably just eat it)
The Donation
Buy a copy for yourself of How To Be Rich and Happy for $99 + shipping of $20 and tell us the charity of your choice you think could benefit from 60 copies (a case) of How To Be Rich and Happy.
We then ship 60 books anywhere in the United States as a donation from you.
We’ll also include a nice certificate explaining that the books were courtesy of you as part of the 1,000,000 book giveaway and you get that warn glow associated with helping others.
It may be that you don’t even want to give them in your name, but in the name of a friend or family member as a present. In that case we’ll also write to the person who the gift is for and tell them how amazing you are!
It sure beats trawling the stores for a gift that is often unwanted and unused, right?
If you don’t have a charity that you think can benefit from our book, but you have a business of your own or you are in an association such as a Book Club, Toastmasters, Rotarians, Weight Watchers, Meet Up Group etc then we may be able to do something for you too
This time you pay us $299 + shipping and we send you a case with a retail value of $1,500. Of course it would be under the strict understanding that all books are to be given as gifts and not to be resold under any circumstances.
Oh and just in case you’re wondering. Yes of course we will still be selling single copies of the book and yes the money donated would go back into the pot to buy more books just the same as with individual sales.
So that’s the idea, what do you think? It is doable or pie in the sky? Might it be something you’d consider if you have read the book? What sticking points can you foresee and are we risking devaluing the book. Any insights gratefully received.
Note: I Just want to recognize the help and support we have received from charitable workers, Virginia Moody, Susie Statham, Mark Romagosa and Cindi Kopelman. A huge thanks to all of you.
I think it’s doable with the caveat that for some charities, a case of books would just be more clutter to be managed and not useful at all. So, I’d be hesitant to send them just anywhere without verifying that they are wanted and needed first, both to avoid burdening the charities and to avoid acquiring the reputation as snail mail spammers.
For better or worse, the title does seem like it could possibly be some sort of get rich quick scheme so care would have to be taken that the recipients have some way of knowing what the book is about.
I do think it’s an idea with merit, just expressing the concerns I would have. I would very much like the opportunity to donate 60 books and it’s something I sincerely thought about doing when I have the money.
I had an idea the other night that I wanted to ask somebody about. You know how the Gideons put Bibles in motel rooms? Could I found the Johntimmians and go around doing the same thing?
And I would
Um, and I would nothing, that was just a stray thing that didn’t get edited out!
@ Tracy – I agree, we would have to make it known that the person donating has spoken to the charity concerned. The frustrating thing is of the 4 charities that have taken them to date, all have loved it and are really excited.
@Tim forgiveness if I missed anything, but is there some sort of page with a testimonial from the charities that others could use as a reference when they are telling others about this project?
I’m wondering how hard it would be to set up some sort of matching service between charities that could use 60 books and donors? Sort of like that donation service where you can pick a teacher’s classroom project and chip in a few bucks or like Kiva, where you can read a brief description of the charity and what they want to do with the books and chip in.
I think this is a workable option (and agree with the caveat regarding the Charity knowing about it, particularly smaller charities as arranging distribution to their clients may just create another logistical problem for them).
I would love to participate in this program, but being in Australia I unfortunately cannot. If at any point this process extends to an international option, please let me know. I will participate in spreading the message at that point.
If anyone is reading this who works for a courier/parcel company and would like to contribute through providing free shipment of a box of the books to Australia I will make it happen at this end!
@ Tracy – Great point and we’re asking for good news stories etc as we go along. Unfortunately, the first books were only shipped about 4 weeks ago and it takes time for the books to filter out there and for people to get the time to read them.
A specific page on the site is definitely planned moving forward though.
@ Mick – Mate I’d love to say screw it let’s do it! Having said that when I sold 30 copies of my first book to somebody in the UK the shipping was about $50 I seem to remember. If any charity over there would pay shipping it would be really cool to do though.
BTW, per capita we have sold more books into Oz than probably any other country outside the US and that includes the UK
Hi Tim & John,
what a wonderful idea! Being a European, I also quite like the idea of getting international here. How about a project to have the book translated into other languages, such as French, Spanish or German?
Sometimes, the Universe puts a few barriers into our path. Not because it does not want us to succeed, but because it wants us to be certain on our commitment. And I feel, the two of your are really commited. Just as I am too to being a who if I can!
I don’t have anything clever or useful to add – just that I think it’s a great idea!
Oh, actually… As well as providing a certificate thingy, could you have a page on this site that lists donations (similar to JustGiving where the donor and/or amount can optionally be kept anonymous – and also allow a message, e.g. donated on the occasion of x’s birthday). This would serve as a single-source, permanent record and would also allow people to see how well you’re doing in reaching your target.
@Tim that would be really great to read. I love good news stories.
Also, I think you and John should write a children’s book. Only being half-flip here.
@ Mark – I like that idea, although I think we’d have to get a few donations in before we commit to it. I don’t want to set up social proof in reverse!
@ Tracy – That’s weird my wife has said so many times that I should write a kids book. Although I think it’s because she thinks I haven’t graduated to writing for adults yet.
@Tim Seriously? Well doesn’t that settle it then?
I think it would be awesome, because for most people, I think they are the very best intersection between ability to grasp abstract concepts and not being a complete stubborn set in their ways doodyhead at about ages 8-11. That’s when you want to reach them!
Sounds like a great idea, Tim.
But will second (or was it third?) Tracy’s point about sending it to the charities that will make use of the books.
I think what you need is a cover letter that accompanies the books and explains how the book doesn’t offer a get-rich-quick scheme, but builds the foundations for a rich and happy life, helps address the beliefs about money that hold people back and helps people work through their life values, which might be subconsciously clashing, without people being aware of them.
This is the depth in the book that’s not so apparent from the book title, which will appeal to charities and can easily be conveyed in a cover letter.
Best of luck!
@ Uwe – Unfortunately we can’t do German or French, as the rights have already been sold and the book will b published there, probably in early 2012. IN fact we only signed the German contract last week. We (well me to be honest) are hoping that the sale of overseas rights will provide some respite financially. If we gave the rights away worldwide I’d be living under a cardboard box fairly quickly!
@ Haider – Weirdly I have had the offer from Amy our copywriter today to craft such a letter. I’m thinking of the best approach as we speak.
Great post!