Why Nobody Wants You to Get to the Top... and How I Made it Anyway

by Martin Limbeck, Mark Sanborn (Foreword)

In this book, bestselling author Martin Limbeck offers us a behind-the-scenes glimpse: Through numerous biographical
episodes he chronicles his rise from an average guy to an exceptional sales professional, from a loser to a millionaire, from a nobody on the campground in coal country to a star on the international speaking scene.
Why Nobody Wants You to Get to the Top … Candid like no other, he tells of the envy, conficts, competition, self-sabotage, selfshness, false friends and challenges he had to overcome. A tenacious approach to obstacles in his path is his success formula for a fulflling life—a heartening example urging readers to forge their own path and never give in.

»By choosing this book, you've joined the ranks of those who aim higher, work harder and live fuller lives. I commend you for your decision.«
Mark Sanborn, author of The Encore Effect and You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader

»An entertaining and motivating read. An inspiration for anyone on their way to success, whether in sales or other disciplines of the business world.«
Frederic Lanz, Vice President Marketing & Sales, Kemppi Oy, Finland

»This book will help you to understand the principles that lead to success and significance and encourage you to achieve important things in your life.«
Nido R. Qubein, President, High Point University

»This book will inspire you to overcome every obstacle on your way to success--no matter where you are today.«
Brian Tracy, author of The Power of Self-Confidence

»An inspiring book with great tips and advice for real life. I very much enjoyed reading it. It's Martin Limbeck at his best--straightforward, focused, with ambition and drive.«
Markus Zimmermann, International Managing Director, Softub International,
Switzerland

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2014

About the author

Martin Limbeck is an exceptional personality: the entrepreneur has not only been one of Europe's most successful sales experts, but also author of numerous bestsellers, as well as founder and managing partner of the LIMBECK® GROUP. With his sales specialists, he supports companies and groups such as Stadtsparkasse München, KSB and Ergo in increasing their B2B sales performance and was honored as "Best Employer NRW 2019".

Martin Limbeck has made it his mission to share his knowledge and experience. On social media, he has a total of about 180,000 followers who pursue his expertise. In his lectures, seminars, coachings and with his excellent Online Academy for Blended-Learning he motivates every single one to love his profession as a sales agent. Martin Limbeck is one of the few top speakers and sales trainers who really lives what he teaches. Discipline, ambition and the absolute will to succeed have brought him to where he is today.

Reviews

[Sergey Lenkevich]

It seems like I don't want to reach any success in my life.
Yes, I!!!! want to be successful, but the inner me hates any achievements.
I can learn new scopes of activity and try to do something, but he says "Stop, don't make it in the proper way, find an easier and funnier way.... Oops, does the 'stupid' way not work for the first 10 times? Do it another 20 times.... Waste your time, money and reputation, but do it in a funny way"

[Mike Gorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring but also very truthful. Limbeck is very brutal in. How he tells how life is and what you will have to do to accomplish your dreams. I am excited now to read what else he has to say.

[MindOverMatter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is the biography of the author with a few lessons (the most important being to first put in the work and only afterwards take the reward/remuneration). The language is very rough, especially at the beginning, and simple. It probably is supposed to also let us hear his development and shows where he is from. Mostly, however, this probably is who he is and it is his way of talking.

I personally bought the book because of the question in the title: "why no one wants you to be successful and how to be it anyway". I am interested in reading about how to deal with the evil and destructive competition, i.e. those that steal from you or make fun of you while you just try to do your best. This is not what the book is about. It really is mainly the biography of the author with a few of his personal lessons learned.

So, I have not really learned a lot, but I got a glimpse into the community of cocky salespersons without a university education of the 80s. I thought that was interesting. Overall, I enjoyed listening to the audiobook (read by the author) largely as it provided me with some insights of some part of society and also some motivation to achieve my personal goals. Especially in the end, the author became also likeable. I liked how he read his book and how he used his voice to emphasize the important parts.

The negatives:
The book itself unfortunately is too much about cool men (he often unnecessarily has to add an explanation to his experiences and feelings as a being a "mens thing" which I found annoying and sexistic), fast money, lots of money, competition and fighting.
The book is too much of an autobiography and focused on career steps (and personal milestones such as marriage, etc) of the author, not so much lessons learned are mentioned, except at the end.

I will probably not listen to it again, as I think there are better books out there on career management with the lessons he gives (without his biography and the sexism and the cocky men stuff), but altogether it is a nice read with some valueable lessons, especially at the end. Altogether I do find Limbeck inspiring though and I assume he teaches greatly and gives good speeches. Not sure whether this comes across that well in the book, except at the end a bit.

[Silverbullet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe das Hörbuch auf dem Arbeitsweg angehört und fand es kurzweilig, unterhaltsam und stellenweise sehr inspirierend.

Klar, Martin Limbeck polarisiert mit seiner Ausdrucksweise und seinen Lebensweisheiten, aber genau das hat mir an dem Buch auch so gut gefallen. In manchen Dingen stimme ich ganz klar zu und da, wo ich es nicht tue, wurde ich zum Nachdenken angeregt und konnte meine eigene Meinung überdenken oder festigen.

Ein toller Motivationsboost, gut und unterhaltsam vorgelesen, hat Spaß gemacht!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an inspiration for me, I liked this book. Now I want to get to the top and don't care of people who told me I can't.