The goal of this book is to help you on your journey to creating YOUR Santa - a Santa who knows how to create a memorable and magical experience for children and their families and a Santa who follows in the footsteps of St. Nicholas, the Gift Giver of Myra. I hope we travel this journey a long way together.

You may not agree with me 100% on everything and that is okay. We each must find our own way of portraying Santa Claus. But this guide will show you what I found that works for me and just might help you.

Many people think all it takes to be santa claus (with a small s and a small c) is to put on a red suit and a fake beard and say, ho ho ho.

They are wrong! I can put on a green operating room outfit, complete with hair cover and shoe covers and a stethoscope but that doesn't make me a doctor and you sure don't want me taking out your appendix.

Becoming a GREAT Santa Claus (large S and C) takes time to build up experience and training. Then there is the Performance Liability Insurance, annual back ground checks, good looking suits and more.

If you are just beginning to wear the red suit, this school and book will help start you on your journey to developing YOUR Santa Claus.

If you have been a Santa Claus for several years or more, this school and book may give you a new idea or two that will help you become a GREATER Santa Claus.

So, welcome to the journey. I will be your mentor, guide and friend during this part of your trip. I hope we travel a long way together. If you have questions, you may contact me through my business Facebook page (North Pole Marketing) or email me directly at John@NorthPole.Marketing

Who am I and why am I qualified to help you develop YOUR Santa Claus?

I am retired after 40+ years working in the US and Europe. During that time, I helped over 200 companies improve their marketing, fulfillment, customer service and computer systems. I have also been the keynote speaker and instructor at many seminars on marketing and customer service.

I am the author of three other business books:

• North Pole Marketing -- Santa's Secrets for Successful Marketing, Fulfillment and Customer Service, available from Amazon.com as a paperback or eBook
• Two other books on marketing, fulfillment and customer service, now out of print, for magazine publishers and sold in many countries around the world, one book was translated into Swedish

I am also the author of two Christian books:

• Running with God -- My journey to find God's love, forgiveness and faithfulness, available from Amazon.com as a paperback or eBook
• On The First Christmas Day, a sing-able poem with pictures to explain to children the true story of the first Christmas and the birth of the baby Jesus and why we place an angel or star on our Christmas tree, available from Amazon.com as a paperback or eBook

I first put on the red suit in December 1999. It was a full outfit, including coat, pants, wig, beard, belt and shoe covers (so that they looked like boots, sort of) and cost me $25.00 at Walmart.

The first two years I sat on a park bench in front of our garage and talked to the neighbor children while they drank hot cider.

Since then I have been mentored by many wonderful men and been invited for many commercial events and home events.