Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time | Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz | An Incredibly Useful Book

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Never Eat Alone: A...

	Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz Broadway Books, 2005 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 217 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The playbook for building powerful relationships

This book presents an insightful guide on how relationships can craft one's life and career. But importantly, it starts with identifying our true goals and passions and extends to cultivating a personal brand for ourselves.

Keith not only tells his story in a direct and easy-to-read style, but shares the specific techniques he has learned and are so much a part of the way he operates. This stems from the fundamental idea that human connectivity is not only unavoidable, but essential in finding self-actualization.

It's easy to cast off a book such as this as superficial. In fact, the title made me shy away until I had the chance to see Keith present a seminar early this year. He does drop names, and he does risk sounding like compete ego-maniac, but seeing him in person was powerful because he truly checked his vanity at the door. Readers should do the same if they want to get the most value out of this book, both in theory and later in practice.

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An Incredibly Useful Book

This is one of the few books I've read that actually contains advice and tips that I use every day. I once heard "Never Eat Alone" referred to as "How To Win Friends And Influence People", but updated for the 21st century. I'd say that's pretty accurate. Here are some of the things I liked about it.

*Keith Focuses on the mindset behind building relationships before he gets into the how-to. Namely, that you should focus your relationship building on helping other people succeed, instead of seeing them as stepping stones in your own success. AFTER you've helped other people get what they want, they'll be more open to helping you.

*He explains who the "Connectors" are, and the immense value that they can have to you in building your social network.

*He gives examples of things you can do to get close to powerful figures and how you can leverage their knowlede, expertise and contacts to help support you in your cause, while you support them in theirs.

Like some of the other reviewers, I found the constant references to Ferazzi-Greenlight a little annoying, but you know what? For the immense practical value and usability of the information Keith Ferazzi shares in this book (if you actually apply it), I think a little..okay, a LOT of self-promotion is overlook-able, lol.

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One relationship at a time

The point is to bring people together, as described in the book Never Eat Alone.

Keith Ferrazzi describes his secrets of success, building it one relationship at a time. While some build their careers through Networking, Keith Ferrazzi has built his career AS a Networker. He is known as the guy who knows everyone, able to pool the right resources with the right people.

How did he achieve this?

Years ago, a bit younger and a lot less successful, Keith came to his boss and said, "I want to make it to the top. I want to be a great leader. I have what it takes. How do I make it happen?"

Keith's boss asked him to describe why he thought he had what it takes. So, Keith described all of his accomplishments. His boss listened, then gave the response that changed Keith's life.

"You've described to me all the things YOU have done. That makes you a great worker. But if you want to be a great leader, you need to build teams. You need to bring people together."

Keith took the advice to heart in what may be a controversial act, blurring the lines between friendships and business relationships. Everyone became a potential asset to gain from, offer to, or bridge a connection between.

Some of his ideas seem counter-intuitive, such as Pinging, a process that builds relationships one small email or phone call at a time instead of one long meeting at a time, or Managing the Gatekeeper, where he insists a secretary may be the most important person you meet.

His style, like the chapters in this book, is short and to the point, but all the more effective because of it. Thanks in part to his coauthor, Fortune Small Business editor Raz, Ferrazzi's book becomes an example of Networking in action, a well-written, anecdotal account of a style anyone can employ.

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Tips for Expanding Your Network

Ferrazzi has some good ideas in this book regarding networking, meeting people and using relationships as a way to achieve success and contentment in this life. While a few examples from the lives of great networkers appear throughout the book, he mainly focuses on himself - which is both good and bad. The good is that he has tried many methods of trying to meet people and staying in touch with them once you do. The result is insightful advice and suggestions. The bad is that you get a sense that this guy likes to talk about himself and his accomplishments, which gets annoying over the course of the book. Not all of his ideas are practical for most people either, like hosting dinner parties once a month and having them catered. But all in all, this is a worthwhile book and goes further in creativity than most networking books. Like the author, I too believe that much of life comes down to who you know and the give and take in relationships and was glad to gleam some wisdom from someone who has literally tried it all within the world of real networking.

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