Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Erik Wahl


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was   no consensus. Feel free to renominate, if so desired. SarahStierch (talk) 18:51, 22 November 2013 (UTC)

Erik Wahl

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I think he may be notable as an author and presenter, but this article is  unclear, promotional, and over-personal. Unclear: it is not clear to me what his book is actually about, or what information he presents. The only thing I can decipher is that he produces amusing drawings of notable figures as entertainment during his presentations. Many things are asserted, but I think none of them amount to notability.

Promotional: The article was written mostly or entirely by a known paid sock-puppetting editor, and it shows. The inclusion in the lede and infobox of claimed notability in a  number of occupations including the rather ill-defined one of   speaker is in my experience an almost sure sign of promotionalism. Ido not see how he can be claimed to be a notable entrepreneur when he became a speaker and consultant ofter his own business failed--this is fairly common, but it's not a qualification for getting an article here.

Over-personal: The further content is essentially what he chooses to say about himself and his interests and his personal life. If he were actually famous, it might be interesting, but at this point none of this belongs in an encyclopedia. If anything here is actually notable, it should be shown by a new article written from scratch by someone with COI.  DGG ( talk ) 04:01, 28 October 2013 (UTC)

I think the combination of borderline notability and promotionalism makes a case for deletion.  DGG ( talk ) 04:01, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Authors-related deletion discussions. Northamerica1000(talk) 10:10, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Visual arts-related deletion discussions. Northamerica1000(talk) 10:10, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of United States of America-related deletion discussions. Northamerica1000(talk) 10:10, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Note: This debate has been included in the list of Businesspeople-related deletion discussions. Northamerica1000(talk) 10:10, 28 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Weak Keep The article reads like a puff piece. The chap is a corporate motivational speaker who speed paints to illustrate the point. The majority of the sources, are comments about gigs, but they are very wide ranging. They seem to detail the fact he is international, but couldn't find any specific examples in any European or UK search engines.  His self help book seems to be fairly popular on Amazon, but if you take a random(ish) 20 self help books, they are all fairly popular, and have a chunk of reviews,  so I don't think the publication proves notable. Apart from that, the middle sections read like advert, which is poison to the creative. I also suspect that some of the sources have helped create themselves via  article content-> newspaper content->created references. Also it seems to be have been created all on one day -13th Oct.  scope_creep talk 23:01  28 October 2013  (UTC)


 * Keep per WP:AUTHOR #3 multitple reviews; and WP:GNG significant coverage in reliable sources.
 * Book reviews
 * "Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius", Publishers Weekly, April 22, 2013
 * "Book Review: Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius", Economic Times (India), August 2, 2013
 * Gwen Moran. "Want more creative and productive employees?", Entrepreneur.com, June 22, 2013
 * Victoria Stern. "MIND Books Roundup: All Fired Up", Scientific American MIND, September 2013
 * Michael Mink. "Unleash Your Creativity TAKE ACTION: Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it", Investor's Business Daily, May 29, 2013
 * "Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius", Enterprise (Salt Lake City), May 24, 2013
 * William R. Johnson. "UnThink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius", Radiology Management, May/Jun2013, Vol. 35 Issue 3
 * Appearances coverage
 * Kassmin Williams. "Speaker part of Sturdy's anniversary celebration", Sun Chronicle, May 28, 2013
 * Matthew McGowan. "Artist appeals to students - Erik Wahl empowers those in AVID program with ‘The Art of Vision’", Odessa American (Texas), October 14, 2009
 * Debra Mayeux. "Master painter, business speaker: Eric Wahl encourages professionals to transcend the traditional with creativity", Daily Times (Farmington, NM), October 13, 2008
 * Kristen Roderick. "Speaker: Creativity is good business", The Hutchinson News (KS), February 12, 2008
 * Mary Spicuzza. "Tap into talent under the suit", St. Petersburg Times (FL), January 24, 2006
 * Carl Orth. "Creative Minds - Frame Seminars - ARTIST TO KICK OFF BUSINESS WEEK", Tampa Tribune (FL), January 21, 2006
 * I have not looked at the sources used in the article. Maybe its salvageable or needs TNT don't know. Agree with nom it should be redone by someone without a connection to the subject. -- Green Cardamom (talk) 03:33, 29 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Delete As per DGG and WP:BLOWITUP . This article is a paid advertisement for the subject and a WP:COATRACK.Pharaoh of the Wizards (talk) 07:37, 3 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Mark Arsten (talk) 01:30, 4 November 2013 (UTC)




 * Weak keep I edited to cut some of the unsourced/promotional stuff (though there's still a quite bit left - anyone feel free to edit or provide suggestions). However, he has received press coverage in the US and UK, including book reviews, so he just about meets WP:GNG. I was trying to balance the article, but aside from the IRS allegedly wasting money hiring him, I couldn't find anything very negative. --Colapeninsula (talk) 11:20, 4 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Where is the source that show's he visited the UK? scope_creep talk 16:42 06 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Delete. Having had a second look at the article, it seems to be be largely promotional. Can't find anything that says he's internationally known, only the self help book, which PR ensures is well reviewed. I really don't think he is notable enough. I think it's all spin. scope_creep talk 22:53 10 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so a clearer consensus may be reached.


 * Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, Mark Arsten (talk) 05:32, 12 November 2013 (UTC)


 * Keep - Per sources presented above by User:Green Cardamom, passes WP:BASIC and WP:AUTHOR criteria #3. Promotional tone can be addressed by copy editing the article. Northamerica1000(talk) 11:18, 12 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.