Six Great Books on Networking

Posted by Erik on December 21, 2009 in At The Top Networking, Events

Experts say we’re the sum of the books we read, podcasts we listen to, and the 5 people we spend the most time with. While I can’t recommend who you should hang out with, I can recommend a few books you should read. Here are my favorites, with links to their Amazon page.

Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty: The Last Networking Book You’ll Ever Need, Harvey MacKay: Anyone who listens to Harvey MacKay knows that the man knows what he’s talking about. The envelope salesman turned power networker will regale people with useful stories and examples of how he turned networking into a successful business empire, and how you can too. You may be thrown by some of his references to pulling our your “Rolodex,” but the ideas are still sound. Based on the idea that networkers shouldn’t wait until they need a job before they start, MacKay shows you how and why you need to be networking now, while you’re still employed.

The Networking Survival Guide: Get the Success You Want By Tapping Into the People You know, Diane Darling: Job seekers take note: the best way to find a job is NOT to visit the job boards. In fact, only 10% of the jobs available are on those boards; the other 90% are found through networking. Diane Darling’s book can show you the way to tap into your existing network to find your next position.

Guerrilla Networking: A Proven Battle Plan to Attract the Very People You Want to Meet, Jay Levinson and Monroe Mann: Anyone who’s a fan of Guerilla Marketing will recognize Jay Levinson’s name. And Monroe Mann is no slouch either, having originated the idea of Guerilla Networking. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, even says this is one book he recommends to all the members of his organization.

Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships, Jeffrey Gitomer: Jeffrey Gitomer has a no-BS approach to selling, persuading, and now networking. Just get off your butt and do it is Gitomer’s philosophy for everything, and each of his books — including this one — are jam-packed with advice and Gitomer’s typical sledgehammer delivery.

Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, Keith Ferrazzi: From the Amazon.com writeup: “Each of 31 short chapters highlights a specific technique or concept, from “Warming the Cold Call” and “Managing the Gatekeeper” to following up, making small talk, “pinging” (or sending “quick, casual” greetings) and defining oneself to the point where one’s missives become ‘the e-mail you always read because of who it’s from.’” Now who doesn’t want to learn from a guy like that?

The 29% Solution: 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies, Ivan Misner and Michelle Donovan: The aforementioned Ivan Misner is one of the networking world’s experts in connecting with people. And while I could have chosen from any of his other books, this book is one of the better ones because they’re small lessons anyone can practice at any time. Rather than just hitting you with a firehose of advice, Misner gives you bits and pieces you can try and discard or keep as you need them.

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