Theme:– “The Year of ‘Growmance’
Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (Old-School Flava)

The secret’s out the bag! The Cuckoo’s Calling is not by some newly emerging author named Robert Galbraith. Instead it’s written by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Many publishing industry insiders were fooled and even stunned. Rowling got ‘busted for flying under the radar’ with her new book.

With limited sales and some mixed reviews, this crime novel didn’t debut with much fanfare. Rowling wanted to reinvent her writing without the added pressure of media hype. She wanted to connect with a new stream of audience feedback. So she came up with the fake name and storyline bio.

Sometimes this is how athletes and celebs reinvent their careers. First, there’s a time for ‘flying under the radar’ just to regroup. They look for new opportunities to connect their skills. Some go from retired to re-hired in a fresh role on Reality TV. Their careers get a new identity and 1-page bio.

Then there are the top-dogs in business who look to reinvent their brand. While ‘under the radar,’ Rowling was busy re-branding how she ‘dots the i’s and crosses the t’s.’ As @TaraDowdellGrp tweet reminds us of a Walter Landor quote, “products are made in the factory but brands are created in the mind.”

If there’s a plot line to Rowling’s makeover success it’s in moving from brand development to discovery to name recognition. The book went from bottom to #1 on Amazon. In baseball ‘the game’s not over until the fat lady sings.’ Well in career and business it’s not over as long as the brand name in the market rings.

The Year of ‘Growmance’
Where Love Beats Fear in Upping Our Game This Year” (New-School Flava)

Secret’s out the bag! Author with unknown tag. The Cuckoo’s Calling not by some new writer. Instead by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter creator. Robert Galbraith was the pen-name. Editor for both found to be the same. Insiders stunned and feeling the fool. Rowling ‘flying under the radar’ around the press pool.

Limited sales, modest reviews. A crime novel with some hidden clues. Low attention on the pop culture front. Many glossed over deciding to punt. Wanting to reinvent her writing career. By shifting her game starting last year. With a new fan-feedback stream. Adding a fake name, bio and PR team.

Athletes and celebs do it all the time. Reinventing their careers at the drop of a dime. First, ‘flying under the radar’ to regroup. Adding skills that bring opportunities to recoup. Some go from retired to re-hired in a ‘New York minute.’ Using Reality TV to take things to the limit.

Other top-dogs in the world of biz. Look to reinvent their market fizz. Rowling went under the radar for a reason. To re-brand her work for a new season. By how she dots i’s and crosses t’s. With her own style of abc’s. As @TaraDowdellGrp tweet reminds. “Products made in the factory, brands made in the mind.”

A plot line to Rowling’s makeover success? Moving brand thru development, discovery and recognition in the press. Book went from bottom to #1 ranking. On Amazon and Kindle Rowling is banking. In baseball ‘the game’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings.’ Well, in biz it’s not over if the brand name still rings.

Tip: Upping your game means working on a new idea you hatch and sometimes having to start over from scratch.

Talkback: What do you remember most about a favorite celeb, artist or athlete who made a career move that gave their brand new life?