A Closer Look with Pam Atherton

She's known for her "Seven Easy Pieces," and was the first to put stretch in the fabric for women's clothing. Fashion Icon Donna Karan is the winner of a slew of prestigious awards and the author of My Journey, a memoir of her life so far.  

In our chat, Donna talks about her astounding position at the helm of Anne Klein at the age of 25, through the startup and successes of the Donna Karan and DKNY lines, to her current passion with the philanthropic Urban Zen. Donna takes us on an amazing journey... her journey.

To learn much more about her endeavors please be sure to visit both www.urbanzen.org and www.urbanzen.com. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Rhodes Scholar and former Tropicana CEO Dr. Willie Pietersen shares how to have a winning strategy for your business. Author of Strategic Learning: How to Be Smarter Than Your Competition and Turn Key Insights into Competitive Advantage, Willie discusses the differences between strategy and planning, and the critical difference between a value proposition and a winning proposition.

Making sense of the tidal wave of information available to businesses now is the new challenge and Willie offers suggestions to drill down to the meat of what your business requires. This interview is jam-packed with lots of valuable business information!  For more about Dr. Pietersen, stop by www.williepietersen.com. Don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com for additional informative interviews!

Star Wars is a cultural phenomenon that takes on many faces. Toys, costumes, posters... you name it - somebody has Star Warred it!  Author Ian Doescher has penned six Star Wars stories in iambic Ppentameter in the style of William Shakespeare! This amazing mash-up has found an audience that can now follow Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in a whole new exciting style.

LucasFilm has approved this new venture and has encouraged Ian to see what's out there creatively. Readers are also receiving exposure to Shakespeare's style in a manner that gives them a new perspective of the Bard's influence in writing. Check out Ian's site at www.iandoescher.com for a more in-depth experience! Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews.

Smooth sailing through the business world is rare indeed. Esquire Senior Editor Ross McCammon has a lot of valuable information to help us get ahead in work, and in life. His book Works Well With Others: An Outsider's Guide to Shaking Hands, Shutting Up, Handling Jerks, and Other Crucial Skills covers everything from the initial interview to who pays for lunch, and how to deal with difficult people.

Ross delves into The Imposter Syndrome and what a crucial part empathy plays in dealing with others. He explains why curiosity is critical when you enter a room, why we need to stop “performing,” and his one rule that applies to everything! Plus, we find out the importance of the two-beers-and-a-puppy test. For more fascinating and informative interviews please be sure to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

Every business wants to stay at the top of their game and keep those dollars rolling in. Sales coach Mike Weinberg has simple to-the-point strategies that will lead to increased new sales in your business.

Mike shares how to capture potential buyers with a trio of key words and the secret to a successful sales pitch. There are too many tips to list here so please be sure to find out much more at www.newsalescoach.com.  For more informative interviews don't forget to visit www.ACloserLookRadio.com!

You may not know the names Bert and John Jacobs but you've certainly seen their T-shirts everywhere. Co-founders of the Life is Good company, theirs is a story of amazing growth from selling shirts out of a van to a $100 million dollar enterprise - which coincidentally was the name of their van.

The basis of their business? Optimism! Here are entrepreneurs that not only don't advertise because word-of-mouth recommendations keep the sales increasing, but Bert actually operates WITHOUT email. Find out also what's prompted them to donate 10% of their profits to children's endeavors. 

To learn much more about Life is Good, as well as checking out their book by the same name please be sure to visit www.lifeisgood.com

For more fascinating and informative interviews please stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com

Fascinated by art but have no real clue outside of museum viewings? Ovation Channel's reality series ArtBreakers with Miller Gaffney and Carol Lee Brosseau will shed some light on the mysteries of the art world. In our chat with Miller, we discuss the differences between purchasing art for pleasure or for investment, and what you need to keep in mind when bringing art into your home or work space.

Miller has plenty to say about what goes on behind the scenes of the new reality show, what have been the best and biggest challenges for her, and some of the strangest requests she's received from clients. Tune in to hear the fun side, as well as the educational side, of working with art. For more information you can visit www..ovationtv.com/series/art-breakers/. And don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

Well-known author Kristin Hannah stepped away from her standard novels to write the acclaimed The Nightingale. It's been a remarkable ride as her tale has swept the popular book lists as a sleeper hit!  Her perspective of WWII through the eyes of women offers rarely explored insight.

Already in the works to become a major motion picture by Tri-Star, the novel tells the tale of two sisters who must make terrifying choices to keep themselves and their loved ones alive. In a story inspired by the real life of a 19 year-old Belgian girl, Kristin asks the hard question: How far would you go to help a complete stranger? 

Take a look at Kristin's site at www.kristinhannah.com for more information. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more informative and interesting interviews!

Hot bestselling author David Baldacci is back to talk about The Keeper - the second in his young adult fantasy series featuring Vega Jane.   Known for his adult thrillers, David takes time to slip into writing YA fantasy, which he considers the ultimate liberation for a writer.

David shares how he intertwines parts of history, religion, and mythology in these YA novels, and how he considers it insulting to write "down" to young people. Don't miss out on part II of Vega Jane. To learn more about all of David's novels stop by www.davidbaldacci.com and check out his selection. Don't forget to stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com for more fascinating and informative interviews!

The author of 14 business books, and counting, Jeffrey Fox is one of the most respected voices in the world of business.  His book How to Get to the Top: Business Lessons Learned at the Dinner Table helps you to get to the top in not only business but in anything!

Discover why it's important to not take too big of a bite at lunch, and the difference between selling value and selling money. Jeffrey has input on character-building for children that will last forever. For more information check out  www.foxandcompany.com. For more fascinating interviews stop by www.ACloserLookRadio.com and pick up some great ideas!