Who's Got Your Back by Keith Ferrazzi was one of the books that didn't make the cut for travel to Spain, but that was only because I had to make a "No Hardbacks" rule in order to cut down on the number of books I was bringing.
I was knee deep in this baby before I left for a reason: it has great advice, especially for people who work alone.
We all know we need contact with others to spur new ideas. When sitting at home in pajamas at three in the afternoon in front of the computer and having forgotten to eat lunch for the third day in a row, most of us at-home entrepreneurs have an a-ha moment:
"It might be useful for me to have someone to talk to and keep me on track," we think. "Hmmm."
Ferrazzi steps in with his book to help you find the best possible people to connect with at these moments. Here's how and why, according to the book...
I put Ferrazzi's picture in here because he seems like the sort of guy that has good advice. Also because he has much longer hair on the book jacket picture and I am so astounded at how different he looks. Buy the book, look at the jacket and then look at this pic and you'll see what I mean.
Anyway, I digress.
The thing about this book that will be useful is that it explains exactly how to approach making good business colleagues and gives you step-by-step instructions on how to build rapport with the connections you do make.
If you are the sort of person for whom networking strikes fear in your heart and conjures images of horror and misery surrounding awkward and useless conversation, run to get this book.
Ferrazzi not only talks about the importance of building honest and constructive business relationships, which is not entirely new news to any of us, he spells out the mindsets that will allow these connections to happen. His articulation of generosity, vulnerability, candor and accountability, are extremely helpful, as are the clear stories and strategies he shares to flesh out these ideas. He even handles the tricky TMI (Too Much Information) concept in a business context, something that is essential to consider even beyond one-on-one relationsips in these days of instant gratification emails and social media.
I recommend this book not only because I agree with the basic principle of connecting with others and sharing with them- one of the most valuable uses of my time each week, but also because I think the underlying message- taking the pressure of yourself to know it all and never ask for help, is especially important for entrepreneurs, who often feel they do need to know it all.
As one-man or one-woman shows, we need this support even more than those who work for large organizations. Ferrazzi talks about both, but I am telling you that if you try to learn and do it all yourself, your business will never thrive in the way you want it to. Period.
Learn early to ask for help and to ask questions about what others know. This will become your greatest resource. I am so grateful to have others to bounce ideas off of that I trust and value and whose businesses I love supporting as well.
As Ferazzi says, there is nothing like having connections with people who are 100% invested in not letting you fail.
Try it out for your business read this week, and let me know what you think in the comments below. Also, please do share stories of those you have great support relationships with. There is nothing like the positive example of a peer to get others who read the site to go out and take a risk that will benefit them.
Have a wonderful Tuesday, and happy reading!
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