Truth or Delusion: Busting Networks Biggest Myths

by Ivan R. Misner

Many books teach the "who / what / where / why / how" of professional networking. Truth or Delusion separates the reality from the fantasy by presenting Truths and Delusions about networking and then shows why they are either real or fakes. For Delusion : The best way to ensure referral success is to treat your referral sources by the "Golden Rule." Treat them the way you would want to be treated. Truth : The best way is to treat your referral sources the way THEY want to be treated. The referral process is more about emotion than facts. Find out how your referral sources want to be treated and how they would like you to treat their referrals.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization has over 5,800 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world. Last year alone, BNI generated 6.5 million referrals resulting in $2.8 billion dollars worth of business for its members.

Dr. Misner's Ph.D. is from the University of Southern California. He is a New York Times Bestselling author who has written twelve books including his latest #1 bestseller, "Networking Like a Pro".

He is a monthly columnist for Entrepreneur.com and is the Senior Partner for the Referral Institute - a referral training company with trainers around the world. In addition, he has taught business management and social capital courses at several universities throughout the United States.

Called the "Father of Modern Networking" by CNN and the "Networking Guru" by Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Misner is considered one of the world's leading experts on business networking and has been a keynote speaker for major corporations and associations throughout the world. He has been featured in the L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times, as well as numerous TV and radio shows including CNN, CNBC, and the BBC in London.

Dr. Misner is on the Board of Trustees for the University of La Verne. He is also the Founder of the BNI-Misner Foundation and was recently named "Humanitarian of the Year" by a Southern California newspaper. He is married and lives with his wife Elisabeth and their three children in Claremont, CA. In his spare time!!! he is also an amateur magician and a black belt in karate.

Reviews

[Daryle Tibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book goes through approximately 48 statements and discusses whether those statements are True or false. Most of these are common sense; however, some of these discussions are helpful. Sometimes you can tell by the way the statement is worded. Absolute wording usually signifies that the statement is a delusion. The most helpful discussions for me personally were about center of influence and where to get the best referrals. The general advice given in this book is that the obvious choice is not always the best referral source. This book talks about the difference between visibility, credibility and profitability and how to focus the visibility and credibility to result in profitability. The number one trait of master networkers is that they follow up on referrals given. Also, the most important concept to remember is that you should treat referrals the way they want to be treated, not the way you want to be treated. This is something that I need to work on personally. The key to this advice is figuring out how someone wants to be treated. The only way to find this out is by getting to know the referral source and asking key questions that will provide insight into their values. Because I felt this book offered me little that I did not already know or that wasn't common sense, I give this book 3 stars.

[Joel Ungar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in BNI until recently, and sold tickets to see Dr. Misner when he came to Detroit in December 2006 to promote this book. He's a great speaker too.

This is my 2nd favorite book by Dr. Misner. Very quick to read and full of good ideas.

My favorite: Yes you can network at funeral. Just respect the occasion.

By the way, I did once and it worked.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about business networking you will find. It brings forth a bunch of ideas about networking and either solidifies them with ways to better utilize them or dispels them as myths.

A great exercise to improve what works in business networking and stop doing what does not work...while explaining why it is a myth.

[David Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most confusing book I've read. It sorts of puts a spanner in the works as it highlights the possibilities of failure. Negativity is now becoming positivity. Hard to believe but sometimes failure works. How is baffling.

[Robin]

page 10. Read it about networking!

[Geoff Kirkwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good reference book for ideas that are misconceptions about networking - a little amateurish in the story telling.

[Stuart Mackey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading this slowly. The chapters are short and they are a good periodic read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read. Inspired me to really learn how to ask for referrals.