Never Eat Alone is a welcome addition to the networking books available since it presents concrete advice on the building of mutually beneficial relationships to assist you in all aspects of your life. In Never Eat Alone, marketing and sales consultant Keith Ferrazzi lays out the specific steps, and inner mind-set, that he uses to connect with thousands of colleagues, friends and associates.
The secret to accomplishing personal career objectives, Ferrazzi tells us, can be found in reaching out to other people. What distinguishes highly successful people from everyone else is the way they use the power of relationships so that everyone wins.
Each of the thirty-one chapters of this book stands on its own, presenting guidance on the building of your personal network and social circle. There are general parameters about the building of relationships such as not keeping score and making a consistent commitment to building and nurturing your relationships even (and especially) when you do not need them. The overriding goal is to have solid relationships in place well in advance of the time you have a need for them. Ferrazzi also provides a primer on the appropriate etiquette for gaining access to the people you want to bring into your network, and he explores ways you can position yourself to be on the receiving end of phone calls seeking advice and insight. This dynamic will better position you for the time when you develop a need for some professional or personal guidance of your own.
Some good points from the book:
- Don’t Keep Score – The key to success can be summed up in one word – Generosity. Asking for favors strengthens relationships; it doesn’t put you into debt. The metaphor of a relationship bank account where every favor asked is a withdrawal is nonsense. Instead ask for favors and be more than willing to help.
- People as Part of Goals - Ferrazzi uses what he calls a Relationship Action Plan, by including the people he will need to know or strengthen relationships with in order to achieve his goals. Too often getting the right people on board is an afterthought instead of a priority.
- Your Weaknesses are Your Strengths - Ferrazzi asserts that your vulnerabilities are your strengths in relationships. They make you more human, more approachable and foster bonds.
- Getting Press - There are a few chapters in the book devoted to how to romance journalists to get yourself some press and build a personal brand.
- Guide to Small Talk - There is also a chapter on improving your small talk. I have often found balancing casual conversation with the desire to delve deeper into an interaction tricky. Ferrazzi offers some great insights here.
- Pinging - Meeting people is easy, sustaining relationships is hard. Especially if circumstances mean you aren’t normally in natural contact with each other. Pinging, the practice of sending out small nods and pings to distant friends, is an idea I try to practice and it can be necessary to keep hold of weaker ties.
This book shows you how to add to your personal bottom line with better networking and bigger relationships. What a solid but easy read!
Comments