For Immediate Release
Contact:    Curt Harding
                 Senior Publicist
                 (615) 902-2246 office
                 (615) 902-2340 FAX
                 charding@thomasnelson.com

Introducing The Pep Talk
A Football Story about the Business of Winning 

“In every organization each member contributes to the whole, and every successful outcome must be attributed to all of the members.”

In many ways, business is a lot like football – there is huge competition, exciting gains and painful losses, and it takes teamwork to overcome the adversity. Sometimes people in business glance up at the scoreboard and feel like they’re as far from victory as possible.
  
The Pep Talk (Thomas Nelson April, 2008) is the story of the Lincoln Lions, a high school football team suffering through a horrible 24-game losing streak. They’re about to take on their cross-town rivals - the defending state-champion Jacktown Giants, a team riding high after winning 41 straight games. You don’t need to work for ESPN to know who’s favored in this lopsided contest.

But something interesting happened on the way to Jacktown’s victory dance. A stranger convinces the Lions’ coach to give his team a pep talk before the big game.  What happens next is both inspiring and life-changing – for the players, the coach, and for the reader.

How could a locker room speech turn this group of losing players into an unstoppable team – if only for one night?  What words could possibly carry on for years and play a pivotal role in the lives of three young men? And how can you apply what this stranger said to the way you conduct business?

The important lessons of The Pep Talk

• Don’t defeat yourself
• Seize the moment
• Nobody succeeds without the help of others
• Stay focused. Don’t be preoccupied with how much money you will make.

            Concentrate on your task at hand – the money will come.

• Visualize your success
• Adversity is part of life
• Be persistent
• Expect the competition to be strong
• Believe in others and others will believe in you
• Be a team player
• Believe and trust the process
• Believe you will succeed. Have faith in your future

I don’t have to tell you how busy your readers are. The Pep Talk is a quick and enjoyable read that has real business applications.  Please consider a review or feature of this great little book.

About the Authors

Kevin Elko is a certified addictions counselor who works with professional and college football teams. He owns a Super Bowl ring from the Dallas Cowboys, and three national Championship rings from the LSU Tigers and Miami Hurricanes.  Elko is in high demand as a speaker, often doing presentations to companies and organizations such as Pfizer, Wachovia, and Merrill Lynch.

Robert Shook has authored four best-selling books including The IBM Way, Mary Kay on People Management, Mary Kay’s You Can Have It All, and Longaberger. He also collaborated on Pampered Chef, aninstant bestseller.

KEVIN ELKO IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

CONTACT: Curt Harding 615.902.2246 charding@thomasnelson.com