Interview with author Michael Dalton Johnson

Here is an interview with author Michael Dalton Johnson – we asked him a few questions about his new book Rules of the Hunt, here is what he said:

What was the inspiration to help you write Rules of the Hunt?

Writing this book has been near the top of my bucket list for years. I have seen many entrepreneurs with great ideas who fail, despite understanding the big business picture, because they lacked day-to-day business knowledge and skills. This, in part, inspired me to write Rules of the Hunt. I don’t claim the book to be a road map to instant business success. However it will give readers small advantages that will make their hunt for business success more rewarding and in many ways easier.

What are the major themes of the book?

Since there are well over 200 rules which stand alone without reference to another, this book doesn’t really develop themes. The general topics these rules address include leadership, relationships, sales and marketing, foresight, and survival.

How would you describe Rules of the Hunt?

A friendly book of advice on ways to improve one’s business game. (And, in the end, business is just a game.) It’s written as if for an intelligent yet uninformed friend. The book has no academic pretensions and offers no “business religion” to join.

What is the most important lesson that entrepreneurs will learn from reading this book?

Of the many lessons, the greatest one is on what is required to be an effective leader. I advise those who would lead to first take complete responsibility for all outcomes. I teach the most powerful secret there is for motivating people which is not to tell others what to do but to tell them who they are.

What did you learn from writing this book?

That the mentor often learns more than the student and that after 30 years of successful entrepreneurship I still have things to learn. I learned a lot of those things in writing Rules of the Hunt.

What is your writing process like? Do you make an outline or do you just start writing?

I like to joke that I wrote the book in just 25 years. That’s how long I made entries of my business observations in a journal. When I decided to write the book I had nearly 1,000 entries and the job then was to pick the best of these and loosely organize them into a book format. Sounds easy until you realize the journal entries were written strictly for me and now had to be expanded and clarified for book readers. Fortunately my editor at McGraw Hill had a lot of patience.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

While semi-retired I still run two commercial web sites. I like to read and travel. I do a little pro bono work as a mentor to young people. One of my guilty pleasures is poker. My greatest joy is playing with my grand kids.

Are there any new writing projects that you are looking into? If so, can you share them with us?

My publisher has suggested a volume two of Rules of the Hunt but I’m not certain about doing it.

If you were writing a book about your life, what would be the title?

Shooting the Moon: An improbable journey through business and life.

About Michael Dalton Johnson:

Michael Dalton Johnson is a successful entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience!  He is the founder of SalesDog.com – a marketing website for sales professionals, marketers and business owners.  Michael has also written other books such as Top Dogs Sales Secrets and Top Dog Recession – Busting Sales Secrets.  To learn more about Rules of the Hunt please go to: http://www.rulesofthehunt.com