Let's Have Lunch Together: How to Reach Out and Build More Powerful Relationships

by Marshall Howard

Buy this groundbreaking book... Then follow the steps and never eat lunch alone again! Dr. Tim Seiler, Dir., Public Service/The Fundraising School, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana Univ. This learning novel reveals the secrets and how-to's that turn boards and supporters into legions of powerful mission partners. Imagine having more influential, well-connected volunteers on your fundraising team. Imagine generating millions without spending a ton of extra time, money or making big changes. Follow the story of Oscar, an Exec. Dir. who tries everything to move his organization to the next level. Oscar could easily raise a lot more money and get more of what he wants. He's smart, works hard and is deeply ommitted. There's one thing stopping Oscar can't build strong relationships with enough of the right people He thought he knew all about relationships - until things took a downturn. He needed answers quickly and discovered the secrets to more powerful partnerships. Now, his organization and his life are on the upswing. Reviewers say This little book is full of golden nuggets that make a big difference, exceptionally beneficial for the seasoned veteran and the novice fundraiser. In a few hours, read this fast-paced story and learn the how-to's of power relationships. Most fun I have ever had being trained, captured my heart, then my mind. Tim Reese, Exec. Dir., Cal-Nev Community Action Partnership Made me re-think the way I do things, gave me the how-to's. It is required reading in our fundraising courses. Dr. Matthew Jendian, Ph.D., Amer. Humanics, CSU Fresno I found this a transforming book. Highly recommended. Gary B. Grant, Dir. Major Gifts, National Alzheimers Association Food for the Gods. Kudos for removing the mystique. DeNelle Ellison, Dir. Fund Development, Sacramento Urban League If you don't have the chance to hear Marshall speak, make this your relationship-building Bible. Bob Olson, VP, Medical Foundation

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

183 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times when I felt a little silly reading this book simply because the narrative, solely used as a vehicle to apply the lessons in a possible life scenario, was a bit corny. Nevertheless, the lessons were highly applicable to the work I do and to non-profit management in general and the narrative made it digestible and memorable. I actually identified with the main character, ED Oscar, who often looks for shortcuts and feels VERY nervous about asking people for money or making people feel like they are just another step on your networking ladder.

Howard explains through the character of Victoria, Board Chair, that forming real relationships with stakeholders in your community and asking them to give back is the opposite of treating these stakeholders as a rung on your ladder. The strategies utilized by Oscar to create and develop these relationships were something anyone with a true will to improve their organization and leadership style could embrace. I am really glad I read it and plan to recommend it to my board members, as well as purchase organizational copies for members of the Executive Board. Whether you work in non-profit management or just want to work smarter, I highly recommend taking the short time to read this book. But now I will stop writing this review before I sound too much like a motivational speaker and start selling tickets...

[Kyler Battles · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Let’s Have Lunch Together” was given to me by a coworker actually, I’m assuming to send a message about the importance of breaking bread together in the workplace. Overall, this is an impactful parable about a non-profit director (Oscar) seeking to cure the illness plaguing his struggling non-profit by listening to the Chairman of his Board teach him about the importance of strong relationships in business.

I wasn’t expecting much from the book after learning it is a story but I was honestly shocked about how much forethought I could tell had been put into every lesson. Many of the objections that Oscar has to doing business the way that Victoria wants him to are honestly objections that I have had as well. The narrative asserts that, as executives, owners, bosses, or even employees in most workspaces, our performance, relationships, leadership, and success are ultimately far more dependent on our ability to connect personally with others than we think.

I’m not sure how strongly I would recommend this read to others based solely on not being a huge ‘fiction parable’ guy myself but anyone looking to understand more about how non-profit directors can build a “relationship strategy” in their business should definitely give this book a read.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Let's Have Lunch Together" is another book that breaks down an easy-to-understand yet hard to implement practice and expresses it in a clear-language quick-read way. What I feel it misses is a clearer explanation of the Partnership Committee and how to engage the individuals with which you're working to build stronger relationships. Overall, a great book that can be a quick re-read to brush up on skills and be reminded to put the people first.

[Jordyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheesy storyline, but it got the point across. It helped give good examples on building business partnerships & relationships.

[Lorene Kelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why do all suggested books for work have font size of 30? Did not take much from this book

[Jack The Heathen Castellano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its fine; good ideas wrapped in a sub par narrative. Of course once the protagonist adopts change every of his wildest dreams comes true without barriers.

[Derek Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the weak title, lousy layout, and large font, this is a book packed with great ideas.

Howard puts it in the context of a novel, but this is no literary masterpiece (nor was this his intent). Instead he puts his ideas in a large case study format and we can see how things would work out. The book is written to help with fund raising, but the focus is on relationships. Howard's refrain is "chase the relationship, not the money." While this may not seem incredibly insightful, Howard does well to remind us that success comes from our relationships. People truly need to trust us and we need to trust them if we want to move forward.

I went through a day long workshop with Howard last week and it was noted that this methods could also be used by a good con artist. Which of course is true -- con artists know that relationships are essential. But because evil may use it does not make it wrong. We can fall into our cynical selves and give up on treating people as they should be. The difference is motivation and the idea is that strong relationships will bring about good things. But if you build the relationships for monetary or power reasons, the relationship will never be strong because it is built on a weak base (all biblically-minded can think stone vs sand here).

Howard's emphasis on relationships makes this work for people in all areas of business. While not a fundraiser myself, it did remind me of how I take for granted some people's support when I should be seeking to find out why support my endeavors to begin with. I have nothing more "to gain" from them, but certainly strengthening those relationships will not only make the business side of things stronger, they may also impact my life. What a concept.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the perspective of a nonprofit organization leader building and keeping his team together. I was handed this book in one of our BSA meetings, and it applies so well to them as well as any LDS or other organization leader. Easy to read and inspirational.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for detailing the importance of relationships in generating the necessary support for a nonprofit. Very quick read.

[Laura]

Very quick read, which is a good thing.
Some new ideas and insights on building lastly professional relationships.