March 5th I published The AV Project Manager handbook. It is my 5th published book

I have published books on Amazon, so I know how. Writing a book is a lot of work. I’ve done it enough times to respect what it takes. My ability to write a book and put it up for sale is the part I am most confident about.


I am very intimidated about selling it. Almost all my books have been very personal, while I attempted to write something beautiful and wise.

This handbook though, I knew was very specific. It is the book I wished I had when I started being an AV project manager. I feel confident in its value.

I tried a lot of different things to let people know about it. I also made a point of attending America’s largest Pro AV tradeshow in Vegas last week. Last year, Pro AV made $332 billion dollars. This show is the place where my handbook would have an audience.

However, it costs thousand of dollars to have a presesence—a booth—in that show. How was I supposed to get anyone’s attention? I’m not important.

I had plans, and concocted complicated strategies to promote my book and my expertise.

Which fell through the morning before.

That left me with my unadorned self. I laminated a 11×14 in printout of my book cover, punched two holes in it and wore it around my neck. It was light enough, I barely noticed it.

But others did. As I was in line to get my badge, I introduced myself to the woman behind me. “I’m Murphy! I wrote this book.”

She Bought it right away.

And I walked the floor, I met more and more people Some of them were not interested in the book. Others came from across the path to say hello and pose for a selfie.

Three days of introductions and sharing stories. I even met other people who had written books, and they share their expertise too.

of the 25 thousand people there, most were strangers. But I also met old friends that I worked with and have known for years.

I chose to go to the booths of companies where friends worked to give hugs and catch up.

Many of them said they already had the book. Many of them bought the book from me then and there.

I came away with a lot of perspective and joy. I did not and do not have a plan for what to do next.

I do know that whatever I do next will have to stay in the theme of being myself unadorned.