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Reach Out: The Simple Strategy You Need to Expand Your Network and Increase Your Influence
A practical guide to building valuable career connections―through tools you already have and people you already know Success in life is more than having goals and skills. You need connections. And to get connections, you need to Reach Out ― fearlessly, strategically, and every day of the work week. For many, this is a daunting and confusing task. Reach Out shows readers how to use social media and simple digital tools to begin building and expanding the number of people they know. Author Molly Beck explains how •Establish and strengthen your digital presence •Develop career goals that Reaching Out can help you obtain •Think strategically about who you have already met, who you could strengthen a relationship with, and who your current connections know •Determine who to Reach Out to and push past common networking fears to do it • Apply step-by-step instructions on how to craft email and social media messages to those you want to connect with •Optimize your efforts by managing both your time and your inbox The book features personal stories on networking from some of today’s top thought leaders. Studies, statistics, and real world examples illustrate the key concepts of Reaching Out. Whether you’re just starting out, changing jobs, or well-established and just eager to know more people, Reaching Out will help you turn career dreams into professional success by helping you connect with others who can put you on the fast track.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 28, 2017
65 people are currently reading
754 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 24, 2019
3.5 stars or so. I really like this book and the concept a lot. But it was very simplistic in its approach. I would have loved deeper tips for networking beyond how to write an email and how to find someone’s contact information.
It would be great for someone just starting out in their career - it would be a 5! But for me, it felt a little too basic. Overall though I enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it. I’m passing it to hubby to ready next!
It would be great for someone just starting out in their career - it would be a 5! But for me, it felt a little too basic. Overall though I enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it. I’m passing it to hubby to ready next!
August 31, 2017
The More People You Know, The More Stuff You Can Get Done
In REACH OUT, author Molly Beck provides a plan for drastically improving your network. Early in her career, the author realized the important of networking. Since then, she makes it a point to add a new contact every day: “I’ve been Reaching Out daily for years now, and this strategy alone has single-handedly changed my professional career trajectory”
The essence of the Reach-Out plan is to identify your “targets” and launch a plan to winningly connect with each target. Molly calls this the “Reach Out Strategy Plan.” The idea is simple--You schedule a time each day to contact a “target.” Here’s the key: You offer at least two “gifts,” then perhaps ask a favor. The idea is to offer something genuinely helpful, and not just try to freeload off people.
The author lists different possibilities for gifts. A gift can be a lead, some special information, an introduction, or perhaps a free copy of your book. Something simple, but genuinely useful.
The author suggests first doing a simple “Love/Don’t Love Career Test.” On a piece of paper, list “Love” on one side, and “Don’t Love” on the other. Think of your regular activities and sort them to either side. Then, list some ways to do more of the “Love” things and less of the bad stuff. Finally, “brainstorm all the different people who could help you reach your goals.” These folks are your potential Targets.
There is one really important point in this book that would be easy to miss. Here it is: The contacts that are on the edge of your network will likely yield more fruit than your base. What—how can that be? Molly explains this paradox: “Strong ties tend to give us redundant knowledge.” That is, your close friends and colleagues tend to just repeat ideas that you already know about. It’s the many distant contacts that yield new information and ideas.
The author does a few things that make this book a LOT easier to read: First, she has simple bullet points at the end of each chapter, covering the main points. Secondly, she provides, in Appendix B, a summary of each action item, chapter by chapter. She calls this, “Your Reach Out Strategy Plan.”
So all in all, I found REACH OUT to be a useful, practical book, with a few really golden nuggets. I especially liked her explanation of the importance of peripheral contacts. If you get nothing else from this book, don’t miss that point.
Advance Review Copy courtesy of the publisher.
For another good book on the subject, I really like Keith Ferrazzi’s “Never Eat Alone.”
In REACH OUT, author Molly Beck provides a plan for drastically improving your network. Early in her career, the author realized the important of networking. Since then, she makes it a point to add a new contact every day: “I’ve been Reaching Out daily for years now, and this strategy alone has single-handedly changed my professional career trajectory”
The essence of the Reach-Out plan is to identify your “targets” and launch a plan to winningly connect with each target. Molly calls this the “Reach Out Strategy Plan.” The idea is simple--You schedule a time each day to contact a “target.” Here’s the key: You offer at least two “gifts,” then perhaps ask a favor. The idea is to offer something genuinely helpful, and not just try to freeload off people.
The author lists different possibilities for gifts. A gift can be a lead, some special information, an introduction, or perhaps a free copy of your book. Something simple, but genuinely useful.
The author suggests first doing a simple “Love/Don’t Love Career Test.” On a piece of paper, list “Love” on one side, and “Don’t Love” on the other. Think of your regular activities and sort them to either side. Then, list some ways to do more of the “Love” things and less of the bad stuff. Finally, “brainstorm all the different people who could help you reach your goals.” These folks are your potential Targets.
There is one really important point in this book that would be easy to miss. Here it is: The contacts that are on the edge of your network will likely yield more fruit than your base. What—how can that be? Molly explains this paradox: “Strong ties tend to give us redundant knowledge.” That is, your close friends and colleagues tend to just repeat ideas that you already know about. It’s the many distant contacts that yield new information and ideas.
The author does a few things that make this book a LOT easier to read: First, she has simple bullet points at the end of each chapter, covering the main points. Secondly, she provides, in Appendix B, a summary of each action item, chapter by chapter. She calls this, “Your Reach Out Strategy Plan.”
So all in all, I found REACH OUT to be a useful, practical book, with a few really golden nuggets. I especially liked her explanation of the importance of peripheral contacts. If you get nothing else from this book, don’t miss that point.
Advance Review Copy courtesy of the publisher.
For another good book on the subject, I really like Keith Ferrazzi’s “Never Eat Alone.”
September 8, 2017
This book motivated me to take action!
Reach Out was a refreshing read. It's the kind of book where the author is not chucking pieces of advice at you and then expecting you to go off and make magic. No. She walks you through different scenarios, provides many anecdotes and examples, and gives you check points along the way so that you can actively create your own reach out strategy as you read. The book is easy to read, with moments where you'll find yourself smiling and relating the author's journey, and is the type of book you'll keep close by, opening it again and again as you go off and expand your network. I highly recommend this book!
Reach Out was a refreshing read. It's the kind of book where the author is not chucking pieces of advice at you and then expecting you to go off and make magic. No. She walks you through different scenarios, provides many anecdotes and examples, and gives you check points along the way so that you can actively create your own reach out strategy as you read. The book is easy to read, with moments where you'll find yourself smiling and relating the author's journey, and is the type of book you'll keep close by, opening it again and again as you go off and expand your network. I highly recommend this book!
August 5, 2018
This book is a must for anyone in the professional world. As college student I didn't understand the business world and how to connect. Molly does a great a job in explaining the process and practical applicable solutions. I had the opportunity to meet her and she is as genuine as the book is with advice!
January 11, 2026
Probs best career advice I’ve ever gotten
March 16, 2019
As an introvert without white-hot ambition, I found reading this really uncomfortable and almost wanted to dislike it. However, Molly Beck comes across as entirely thoughtful and reasonable, and if there's something you truly want from life that you're not getting, then intuitively her philosophy makes perfect sense. The question, especially for those of us who find approaching others daunting, (including the time implied in actually following up on all these contacts!) is whether you want "it" badly enough to push through your discomfort.
If you do, then I can't fault the book on structure, thoroughness, examples and encouragement. I also appreciated the length is just right to get the message & info across, without being overly padded like some self-help tomes.
Personally, I'll probably aim for a softer version of the Beck approach, by reaching out to existing / lapsed contacts simply to reconnect, and not seek favors in my messages. Nonetheless, the book was a great reminder for me to come out of my writer's nook from time to time and engage with others.
If you do, then I can't fault the book on structure, thoroughness, examples and encouragement. I also appreciated the length is just right to get the message & info across, without being overly padded like some self-help tomes.
Personally, I'll probably aim for a softer version of the Beck approach, by reaching out to existing / lapsed contacts simply to reconnect, and not seek favors in my messages. Nonetheless, the book was a great reminder for me to come out of my writer's nook from time to time and engage with others.
October 23, 2017
"The more people you know, the more stuff you get done. It's as simple as that. Stealth is not helpful when it comes to growing your career"
Wow - What a great little book, and I say "little" as a huge, oversized compliment. Author Molly Beck has crammed a decade's worth of social network building experience into a small, manageable, millennial-friendly, easy to read 190 page masterclass. I read it over a weekend and learned a huge amount, even though I'm not an absolute beginner in this area.
That's one of the things Molly has done so well here - she has achieved what so many business authors dream of - writing a book that is as accessible and practical to the absolute beginner at the start of their career as it is valuable and full of gold for the person who already is further on their journey.
The book explains that it is contacts on the edge of your existing network that can often be the most valuable. Molly explains hoot overcome your inertia and reach out and say hello, building your network in an honest, human way that is useful and rewarding for both sides. There are chapters focussing on building a network for sales contacts, building a network for career development, for mentorship and a hugely valuable chapter on reaching out to members of the press and journalists.
I loved the warmth, humour and honesty throughout. Early on, Molly tackles the root causes of why we don't reach out and build connections with people we don't know - our fear of rejection. She discusses openly how it feels when we get rejected or ignored, reminding me a little of Brene Brown who taught us that you can't have innovation if you don't talk about how it feels when your innovations fail or get turned down.
It's hugely practical - during the few hours it takes to read the book you get to build your own Reach Out Strategy and Molly constantly brings us back to that, building on what we've learned earlier. Chapter summaries titled "TL;DR" cater for busy millennials and the occasional fun quiz checks for key understandings.
There is a high amount of useful detail with mini case studies called "Peek into the inbox of..." which helps you to apply techniques and there are templates and fragments you can borrow. Overall, though, by the end of the book, Molly makes you feel so much more able and equipped to go do this. Its a book full of practical, pragmatic help from a practitioner who knows what she is talking about and it left me hungry to get to my keyboard and get on with the new techniques that I'd learned.
Reach Out is one of my absolute top business books of the year.
Wow - What a great little book, and I say "little" as a huge, oversized compliment. Author Molly Beck has crammed a decade's worth of social network building experience into a small, manageable, millennial-friendly, easy to read 190 page masterclass. I read it over a weekend and learned a huge amount, even though I'm not an absolute beginner in this area.
That's one of the things Molly has done so well here - she has achieved what so many business authors dream of - writing a book that is as accessible and practical to the absolute beginner at the start of their career as it is valuable and full of gold for the person who already is further on their journey.
The book explains that it is contacts on the edge of your existing network that can often be the most valuable. Molly explains hoot overcome your inertia and reach out and say hello, building your network in an honest, human way that is useful and rewarding for both sides. There are chapters focussing on building a network for sales contacts, building a network for career development, for mentorship and a hugely valuable chapter on reaching out to members of the press and journalists.
I loved the warmth, humour and honesty throughout. Early on, Molly tackles the root causes of why we don't reach out and build connections with people we don't know - our fear of rejection. She discusses openly how it feels when we get rejected or ignored, reminding me a little of Brene Brown who taught us that you can't have innovation if you don't talk about how it feels when your innovations fail or get turned down.
It's hugely practical - during the few hours it takes to read the book you get to build your own Reach Out Strategy and Molly constantly brings us back to that, building on what we've learned earlier. Chapter summaries titled "TL;DR" cater for busy millennials and the occasional fun quiz checks for key understandings.
There is a high amount of useful detail with mini case studies called "Peek into the inbox of..." which helps you to apply techniques and there are templates and fragments you can borrow. Overall, though, by the end of the book, Molly makes you feel so much more able and equipped to go do this. Its a book full of practical, pragmatic help from a practitioner who knows what she is talking about and it left me hungry to get to my keyboard and get on with the new techniques that I'd learned.
Reach Out is one of my absolute top business books of the year.
October 5, 2017
Who doesn’t want or need a helping hand from time-to-time, whether in business or one’s private life? This book professes to offer a simple strategy that will help expand your network — getting you the help (physical) or influence (virtual) that you may desire. In any case, it cannot help to give it a try, can it?
Of course, this book is aimed more at building up your professional side, whether it is to help get a new job, satisfy a career goal or to just make your day-to-day activities a bit easier (such as reaching a sales target or gathering that bit of information). It all evolves around connections — valuable connections — rather than just collecting ‘contacts’ on social media services. Making connections may sound easy but the reality can be a lot different. For many it is a horrible, daunting task.
The author has done a good job in writing this book. It is quite free from hyperbole and doesn’t give false promise to your potential. You have a lot of work to do in any case, but the advice given in this practically orientated guide can be advantageous in many ways. At the heart of the process is using social media and other online tools — a quite expected step when you consider the digital society we find ourselves in — but it is quite expected that these online interactions may lead to some positive offline connections too. It will be, in any case, a lot more than just a ‘like’ here or there, or a long-forgotten endorsement. For those who need it there are step-by-step instructions, whilst for others it might be sufficient to skim read and implement. In any case, even if you consider yourself a bit of a networking pro, it does not hurt to check it out in case you can learn a new tip or trick along the way.
In fact, if anything, the book was a little too modest about its potential. If it must be that, it is better than being too hype-filled and fake. It turned out to be a lot better than I expected or feared, as I have seen a lot of books that promise the earth and deliver a small muddy patch in comparison. With this, the author shows that you can teach old dogs new tricks! I particularly liked the relatively short chapters, meaning that you can easily pick it up and put it down, and can’t have the excuse about ‘not having time’. Even a few pages every day will soon add up and help you make a connection.
Overall, a very good book to help you make more impactful connections and guide you to maximising your inward contacts and ongoing relationships too.
Of course, this book is aimed more at building up your professional side, whether it is to help get a new job, satisfy a career goal or to just make your day-to-day activities a bit easier (such as reaching a sales target or gathering that bit of information). It all evolves around connections — valuable connections — rather than just collecting ‘contacts’ on social media services. Making connections may sound easy but the reality can be a lot different. For many it is a horrible, daunting task.
The author has done a good job in writing this book. It is quite free from hyperbole and doesn’t give false promise to your potential. You have a lot of work to do in any case, but the advice given in this practically orientated guide can be advantageous in many ways. At the heart of the process is using social media and other online tools — a quite expected step when you consider the digital society we find ourselves in — but it is quite expected that these online interactions may lead to some positive offline connections too. It will be, in any case, a lot more than just a ‘like’ here or there, or a long-forgotten endorsement. For those who need it there are step-by-step instructions, whilst for others it might be sufficient to skim read and implement. In any case, even if you consider yourself a bit of a networking pro, it does not hurt to check it out in case you can learn a new tip or trick along the way.
In fact, if anything, the book was a little too modest about its potential. If it must be that, it is better than being too hype-filled and fake. It turned out to be a lot better than I expected or feared, as I have seen a lot of books that promise the earth and deliver a small muddy patch in comparison. With this, the author shows that you can teach old dogs new tricks! I particularly liked the relatively short chapters, meaning that you can easily pick it up and put it down, and can’t have the excuse about ‘not having time’. Even a few pages every day will soon add up and help you make a connection.
Overall, a very good book to help you make more impactful connections and guide you to maximising your inward contacts and ongoing relationships too.
September 8, 2018
I read this book thanks to Blinkist.
The key message in these blinks:
When it comes to furthering your career or landing a job that makes you leap out of bed in the morning, it’s all about knowing the right people. And do you get to know the right people? By Reaching Out. That is, knowing exactly how and when and with whom to network. With the right etiquette, know-how, and discipline, Reaching Out can help you shape your ideal career.
Actionable advice:
Establish your presence on LinkedIn and other suitable social media platform to raise your visibility.
Ending your emails with a link to your blog or LinkedIn page is always a good idea, but make sure that your online presence is up to scratch first. Update your chosen social media platforms regularly, taking care to highlight the activities related to the field you’re interested in – this will definitely grab the attention of your targets!
Suggested further reading:
Communicate to Influence by Ben Decker & Kelly Decker
Communicate to Influence (2015) is a detailed guide to being an effective communicator. This covers everything from choosing the right voice to knowing how to structure and deliver your message. Gain a better understanding of the pitfalls of public speaking so that you know what to avoid, and discover some fantastic tools that will help turn your information dump into an inspiring call to action.
The key message in these blinks:
When it comes to furthering your career or landing a job that makes you leap out of bed in the morning, it’s all about knowing the right people. And do you get to know the right people? By Reaching Out. That is, knowing exactly how and when and with whom to network. With the right etiquette, know-how, and discipline, Reaching Out can help you shape your ideal career.
Actionable advice:
Establish your presence on LinkedIn and other suitable social media platform to raise your visibility.
Ending your emails with a link to your blog or LinkedIn page is always a good idea, but make sure that your online presence is up to scratch first. Update your chosen social media platforms regularly, taking care to highlight the activities related to the field you’re interested in – this will definitely grab the attention of your targets!
Suggested further reading:
Communicate to Influence by Ben Decker & Kelly Decker
Communicate to Influence (2015) is a detailed guide to being an effective communicator. This covers everything from choosing the right voice to knowing how to structure and deliver your message. Gain a better understanding of the pitfalls of public speaking so that you know what to avoid, and discover some fantastic tools that will help turn your information dump into an inspiring call to action.
August 17, 2018
If I was in a different stage of my life or career, I likely would have rated this higher.
It’s written for college graduates just entering the workspace or starting their career and is a bit pedantic in the level of detail (how to write an email, the appropriate way to address someone, etc).
However, I love the idea of the Reach Out plan, and I’m excited to incorporate this into my outreach strategy for my current role.
This is another one that probably could have been summarized in a blog post, but I found it interesting enough to keep reading, and I think the strategy is sound.
3.5 stars
It’s written for college graduates just entering the workspace or starting their career and is a bit pedantic in the level of detail (how to write an email, the appropriate way to address someone, etc).
However, I love the idea of the Reach Out plan, and I’m excited to incorporate this into my outreach strategy for my current role.
This is another one that probably could have been summarized in a blog post, but I found it interesting enough to keep reading, and I think the strategy is sound.
3.5 stars
August 28, 2020
Even though we all know that reaching out to new and old contacts is a valuable, productive tool to get ahead in life, not many honestly know how to do it or, on the flip side, have a fear of being shot down by receiving the meanest words imaginable or even worse: radio silence. Molly is a genuine master at giving ACTIONABLE tips that you can apply tomorrow after you read this book and begin this practice. She lends a firm, but very kind, guiding hand as she playfully motivates readers to better themselves day after day. Do yourself a favor and read this book!
October 7, 2021
Rule of thumb:
find reasons to reach out regardless of physical locations
Be the first one to offer
Some useful tips:
Keep contact with prior interviewer and follow up a couple of month later to still show interest of the company and if any other job openings
Reach out by offering:
compliment/appreciation, relative book/article recommendations, professional service, exclusive experience, other relative help
Reach out by asking:
Specific insider advice, book/conference etc recommendation,
find reasons to reach out regardless of physical locations
Be the first one to offer
Some useful tips:
Keep contact with prior interviewer and follow up a couple of month later to still show interest of the company and if any other job openings
Reach out by offering:
compliment/appreciation, relative book/article recommendations, professional service, exclusive experience, other relative help
Reach out by asking:
Specific insider advice, book/conference etc recommendation,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2017
Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book when attending a conference as a writer.
This book is great! It’s actionable; with specific, practical tips that I actually see myself using. It’s also conversational, which makes it enjoyable to read and also, I predict, more memorable.
Highly recommended for professionals of all ages, but especially millennials or anyone entering or re-entering the workforce
This book is great! It’s actionable; with specific, practical tips that I actually see myself using. It’s also conversational, which makes it enjoyable to read and also, I predict, more memorable.
Highly recommended for professionals of all ages, but especially millennials or anyone entering or re-entering the workforce
September 6, 2018
With the right attitude, Reaching Out can be a life-changing process that will help strengthen your network.
Contrary to what you might think, it’s your weak ties that can have the most transformative effect on your career.
The gift and the favor are two key elements of any Reach Out.
Reach out to give a compliment and recommend a book or article you read and thought of that person.
Stay on track, follow up, and make Reach Outs part of your daily routine.
Contrary to what you might think, it’s your weak ties that can have the most transformative effect on your career.
The gift and the favor are two key elements of any Reach Out.
Reach out to give a compliment and recommend a book or article you read and thought of that person.
Stay on track, follow up, and make Reach Outs part of your daily routine.
May 29, 2019
For a business book on "networking", if you didn't know what to expect, I hope you were pleasantly surprised.
It's about building your network, not going to cocktail parties (although that's one way to do it). Each chapter offered ideas and tips and ACTIONABLE items to go build your network. This book will FOR SURE be added to my short list of must reads for business owners.
Thank you, Molly Beck, for changing the future of my business.
It's about building your network, not going to cocktail parties (although that's one way to do it). Each chapter offered ideas and tips and ACTIONABLE items to go build your network. This book will FOR SURE be added to my short list of must reads for business owners.
Thank you, Molly Beck, for changing the future of my business.
August 10, 2021
Solidly helpful and practical book about building your network. Very granular and step wise, super easy read. I took away a number of useful tidbits, but nothing was overly game changing for me. But I definitely would recommend giving it a read (or reading relevant chapters) for those looking for tips and pointers about how to expand and strengthen your network! It would probably be a home run especially if you were new to thinking about and working on it!
October 31, 2022
If you've ever felt clueless or awkward about networking and want so amazing practical tips by a pro, this is your book. I resonated with this book and Beck's methods of making genuine connections with others to build your network of influence. She shares so many great steps for finding the people in your life and beyond your immediate network to enrich your life and purpose. There are so many gold nuggets in this book and I highly recommend reading it!
November 10, 2020
This was a quick and informative listen. I enjoyed the narration of the audiobook. Molly Beck shows us her strategy for reaching out while teaching us how to develop and enact our own reach out strategy. It’s a little simplistic but I still learned a lot. I took notes on what was valuable to me at this point in my career.
September 1, 2022
This book is incredible, simple, and profoundly inspirational. It provides clear and concise plans for you to grow and thrive from those you know and kind of know. Molly’s writing is so fun and concise- she turns the scary idea of “networking” on its head and makes it an exciting daily practice that anyone can do!!! A must read for literally anyone in any career.
September 6, 2018
Уншиж дуусгаад Linked In профайлаа тордов. Таныг хүсэж буй газарт тань хүргэх хүмүүс ойрын саднууд бус холын танилууд болохыг мэдэж авлаа. Тэдэнтэй хэрхэн холбогдох, харилцаагаа яаж авж явахыг энэ номноос мэдэж аваарай.
September 10, 2020
It's very 'Basic White Girl goes to New York'. Very corporate and very american.
I would have liked to have seen the author use her network to find people who haven't had the priviledge she has to talk about how they made reach out strategies work for them.
I would have liked to have seen the author use her network to find people who haven't had the priviledge she has to talk about how they made reach out strategies work for them.
September 4, 2018
Blinkist summary
September 5, 2018
This is an excellent, step-by-step, introduction into how you can and should reach out to people in your business field.
June 5, 2019
Great practical strategies for modern networking in the digital age.
March 21, 2020
A hidden gem - amazing!
August 21, 2020
This book should rather be a tweet. I liked the initial idea and approach that suggest discipline.
September 8, 2021
Super simple and straight forward with practical step by step tips on building your network. I will definitely be putting this into practice- she sold me! I may need a physical book though.
January 24, 2025
Good practical advice to follow.
December 27, 2020
This is undeniably a book I will be constantly referencing back to for years to come. It is clearly actionable with great examples and activities. Every young adult should read this, especially during or right after college to learn how to truly expand your network and connect with people.
January 22, 2021
I am partly biased because the author is a childhood friend, but the advice on expanding your network included in this book is invaluable. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it breaks the steps down in a way that anyone could follow them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews