Joshua (24) from Chicago, USA has a degree in Electrical Engineering and is currently working towards his MBA in Entrepreneurship. He has successfully started and run several businesses and currently is involved in a new internet start-up. His primary interests are in small business, business development, entrepreneurship, non-profits, and networking. When he is not reading or talking about business, Josh loves to travel, cook, and is a big microbrew beer enthusiast. Never Eat Alone
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…And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, is an absolute must-read for young professionals everywhere looking for advice or motivation to help their career. Author Keith Farrazzi, the youngest partner in Deloitte Consulting’s history and founder of Farrazzi Greenlight, shares his inside tips and offers you the best advice you have ever been given on how to network effectively. If you listen to the powerful information in this book, you are sure to have a leg up over your competition and have an increased chance of knowing the right people at the right time.
The book is co-authored by Tal Raz, who first interviewed Keith Farrazzi for an article in Inc. magazine several years ago. Tal was amazed by Farrazzi’s networking ability and the two paired to write this powerfully informative book to teach others. If you think you know how to network with others because you hand out dozens of business cards at networking events, you are far off the mark. Farrazzi talks in detail about different situations and his networking methods, such as what Ferrazzi calls the “deep bump” at conferences as a quick and effective way to form an emotional connection with someone you want to meet. Other topics include how to get past the gatekeeper (aka administrative assistants), small talk, following up with contacts, warming the cold call, having great dinner parties (which Farrazzi considers critical and incredibly fun), and pinging contacts. Although there are a few key points that Ferrazzi and Raj try to drive home, the major ones include avoiding secrecy/holding all the information to yourself and helping others in your network, not because they can give you something in return, but because you truly want to help.
The message in the book is surprisingly entertaining and the book is a very easy read. Many interesting analogies are put into the book, such as the Dalai Lama being one of the best networkers of all time (and rightfully so). Keith Farrazzi’s humble beginnings and success make him extremely credible. This book literally is the handbook of how to network effectively and I guantee that it will have a positive impact on helping your career at some point if you take their advice.