Xây dựng mối quan hệ bền vững trong kinh doanh

by Scott Gerber, Ryan Paugh, Keith Ferrazzi (Foreword)

Đây là một cuốn sách về việc xây dựng các mối quan hệ. Những mối quan hệ tồn tại dựa trên những lợi ích chung, và thông qua đó có thể tạo nên những điều tuyệt vời. Cuốn sách cũng dành cho những đối tượng đang tìm kiếm hoặc cần phát triển khả năng tạo mối quan hệ, cả về chuyên môn lẫn cá nhân.

Genres: Business, Leadership, Nonfiction, Communication, Relationships, Self Help, Buisness

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Son Ngo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely Dreadful Read, With A Few Valuable Takeaways.

Where do I even start? Cons:

1) Disorganization: Imagine getting lost in a typical middle-class suburb in which all the houses and streets look the same. You try to navigate and make sense of directions, but every 5 minutes you think "Haven't I crossed this corner already?"

This book is exactly like that, as if the authors just wrote everything down on top of their heads in one go. If you copy a random paragraph and paste it somewhere else, it would likely still make sense since all chapter contents kinda blend in together.


2) Excessive length: Not only disorganized, but this book also has a lot of fillers. A LOT. It could be trimmed by 75% and still retain all of its value. Wondering if the authors have ever written a book before, I went online and discovered that Mr. Gerber has another book, Never Get a Real Job, which suffers from the same problem judging from the reviews. I don't know who said "Great job you should make another book", but the author should probably seek a second opinion.

3) Little original contents: 60% of the book contains anecdotes and interviews from other people, loosely joined together by the authors' commentary. There are little original contents, and even then:

+ Most of them are super obvious stuff (Want to reach out to someone? Make sure you know that person enough)

+ Some are even conflicting. One of the main points of this book is "cultivate a genuine relationship, not a transactional one". Yet it spent a few paragraphs telling the readers that to reach a person on the top (e.g. a CEO), they need to slowly make their way up by befriending the people underneath (e.g. the CEO's assistant). So much for genuine relationships eh?

+ A lot of examples are absurd. I understand that those examples might just be used to illustrate a bigger point, not to be applied directly, but still. I shook my head reading about a case of a college grad making connections by inviting a group of people on a ski trip, paid for by his mom! Wow! Why didn't I think of being born rich?

Jokes aside, such unrealistic examples are littered throughout the book.


4) Bragging. If the authors had changed the book's title from "Superconnectors" to "Look At us, We Are So Awesome Haha", no one would have noticed. A clear example is in the chapter about "smart asks". At one point, the authors spent half a page LISTING the things they have achieved thanks to their network, without detailing HOW they were able to achieve them.

I imagine most readers would be more interested in the latter, but hey, at least now you know they are so rich and successful and so connected! Oh, sorry, you did not catch that? Impossible! In that half-a-page, the authors have graciously reminded the readers that they have made millions of dollars 4 TIMES (honestly, I do not know whether to attribute this to excessive bragging or poor editing)


5) Self-serving purposes: It seems like the book's main reasons for existing are (1) promoting the authors' business, which charges business owners $$$ to make friends; and (2) giving the authors excuses to connect and interview more successful people, thus broadening their network. I have to admit that this is a brilliant tactic though.

That being said, pros:

1) Some useful pieces of advice, such as sending gifts to people at random times instead of holiday periods like New Year's Eve. I did enjoy chapter 14, "Staying on top of your network", as well.

2) Despite all the bad stuff, I can honestly see why some people would like this book, particularly the ones to publish inspirational posts on LinkedIn ending with "Thoughts?". I strongly believe they will like it much, much more than I do.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book for influencers, for business development people--but also for humans in general in the modern age. The secret is that we need to build real relationships, not build a "network".

I've been intuitively doing this and loved hearing their principles and tactics. Those include: be selective (connect with those who share your passions and principles, you can't connect with everyone); be diverse (get to know people outside your industry, geography, and also your personality style); be consistent (this is a lifelong habit, not a one-time project); and many more.

If you want to be an influencer, this is a must read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Keith Ferrazzi's Never Eat Alone, so when he wrote the forward and endorsed this book I thought I was in for some great advice. Instead, I got a bunch of "advanced common sense" that seemed to re-hash Keith's advice. Read Never Eat Alone if you have not already. Overall, it was good but I was hoping for more.

[Carsten Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the master of making valuable connections, this is the superb go-to guide of what to do and what not to do.
It provides plenty of examples of how to go about making the connections, how to create value for those you connect with and how to improve the value you extract from your connections and how to connect with people that are relevant to you and make yourself relevant to others.
I have learned a massive amount from this book and already try to implement many of the suggestions and techniques recommended in the book.

[Boaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some very practical advice about “networking” in this book. Has the potential to be 4+/5 stars, but needs some heavy editing to be a good book. Probably could cut out 50-100 pages of content to make it less repetitive. And some of the chapters seemed like there were really thrown together last minute as a set of 3-4 interviews without much substance. Overall, I’d recommend it, but be aware that it reads like it’s a rough draft.

[Frieda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful read - the key takeaway: "People, not money, are your most important assets; great things in business happen when the right people come together." At the end of the day, it is down to relationships and community building where people work together on common ground or assist each other in reaching their goals. This isn't about superficial transactions but about developing solid working relationships with key people outside your "circle of trust".

[Jake Sylvestre · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vapid

[Jeremy Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really surprised this book doesn't have higher reviews. I really appreciated how open they were with their knowledge.

[Davide Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in the winter of 2020 just after reading Keith Ferrazzi's more popular Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time.
Super connector main concept are based on Never Eat Alone ones, however I found this book to be a bit more practical and an effective read (there are more suggestions about practical actions to take in less pages to read).

Before giving practical advices on how to keep organized when meeting/connecting with people, how to reach very important people in your area, how to introduce two people, ask for favour, etc, this book lays down some basic concept that differentiate a Super-Connector from a simple "Networker".

Among the basic concepts in the book, my three main takeover were:
- A Super Connector, thinks of connecting with people on a deep level (quality and depth of interaction, instead of quantity of interactions); he will rather meet with a handful of people, having meaningful discussion, rather than giving business cards or talking with 100 people on a signle event (that is what a networker does).
- When you interact with someone (new relationship or old relationship), always try to understand what it's their biggest challenge right now or what they are working on at the moment, to see if you can help them now or in the future.
- Relationships are not "transactional". Super connectors, are helpful first and they help for the sake of helping their relationship. With this mindeset in the long term, the results are higher than hoping for something back when helping someone.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Superconnector" had some good tips on how to get away from traditional networking (selfish and selling something) and learn how to become a "superconnector," a relationship-focused connector of like-minded business people. The founders created Young Entrepreneur Council and being superconnectors is what they do.

The book is comprised of maybe 40% of the authors' original content and 60% of interviews they've done with experts in each of the habits they're teaching. Seems like they used even the book itself as an opportunity to connect with some industry greats (John Ruhlin, Adam Grant, etc.).

An example of being a superconnector would be introducing two people who are working on similar projects so they can collaborate. (Be sure to include context when you make the introduction.) Or sending a personalized gift and handwritten card to someone you met at a business event.

[Yara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter Superconnector, a powerful book by Gerber and Paugh - This book shatters old-school views on networking and provides readers with a fresh new perspective on how they should go about building communities of meaningful business relationships.

The book includes applicable anecdotes based on more than 10 years of experience the authors share in building global professional communities and also includes insights from dozens of the top connectors in business.

[Cassidy Chellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting perspective on professional relationship-building. This book presents well-researched and in-depth case studies regarding some of the world's the most well-connected professionals, deconstructing the techniques they used to develop strong and productive social networks. This book provides valuable advice not just for superconnectors, but for anyone seeking to further their professional relationships and networks.

[Christopher Mahussier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughtful, mostly practical for anyone looking to be of better service to their community and meet some people outside your circles. The over-the-top ideas can be scaled back to manageable concepts. The nuggets and frameworks will likely be worth your while.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like being a superconnector is a part of me. I really liked the book though to use as a reference to give to my friends who do not do this naturally.

[Renia Carsillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you spent years programming yourself and others about how "business networking" is done, consider this book a system upgrade and reboot yourself. It's freeing, I promise.

[Chip Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book on relationships and networking. I highly recommend it.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an entrepreneur, I found this invaluable! Buying it!

[Bethany Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every different perspective on how being the connector is HUGE!

[Chris Raastad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superconnector offers a fresh perspective on building business relationships, moving beyond traditional networking to fostering authentic connections. Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh provide valuable strategies for creating meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships, emphasizing quality over quantity.

Key Concepts:

Shift from Networking to Superconnecting: Focus on building fewer, deeper relationships rather than a large number of superficial contacts.

Authenticity and Genuine Interest: Be yourself and show sincere interest in others to build trust.
Reciprocity and Giving First: Offer help without expecting immediate returns, fostering a giving mindset.

Strategic Follow-Up: Maintain consistent and personalized communication with your connections.
Leveraging Technology and Social Media: Use platforms wisely to stay connected and engage effectively.

Creating Opportunities for Connection: Host events and introduce connections within your network.
Building a Diverse Network: Embrace diversity to enhance creativity and innovation.

Sustaining Long-Term Relationships: Invest time and effort in maintaining lasting relationships.

Mindset and Attitude: Approach relationship-building with optimism and patience.

Measuring and Reflecting: Regularly assess and improve your networking strategies.

While Superconnector wasn't the most addictive read for me, taking three months to get through it, the knowledge it imparts on building and maintaining authentic connections is invaluable. It successfully provides a roadmap for moving beyond superficial networking, making it a useful resource for anyone looking to enhance their personal and professional relationships.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't recommend reading this book. It's not saying anything new or particularly helpful in terms of networking. As an introvert, I have made a conscious effort to improve my social skills and have watched videos and read many books and articles on this subject. This book is pretty sub-par. If you want to read it, go get a copy at the library like I did. They also seem to be piggy backing on people who've already written books but the authors are not adding anything new to the discussion. They've referenced other authors such as Adam Grant and Vanessa Van Edwards. Grant wrote a book called Give and Take which I wrote a review on it. I found Grant's book to be basic. Van Edwards has a book on social skills which I have read, but only half of it. I wanted to like her but I just couldn't. In this book Van Edwards calls herself a Reformed Awkward Person. Unfortunately I find her to be annoying. So basically I consider the authors Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh to be sub-par because they are referencing authors who I think are pretty basic.

They also endorse the Power Pose concept by Amy Cuddy, however, the work of this woman is questionable and there does not seem to be consensus among other researchers that doing the Power Pose is good for confidence. They really should have addressed this but don't and frankly I don't think that's acceptable because people keep talking about this concept like it's a fact when it's still being argued. This book was written in 2018 and Cuddy was popular back in 2012 so the authors have no excuse for not outlining this.

[Harshal Patil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realized I’m a super-connector, as described in the book, because - 1 - I host unique events to bring people together, 2 - I always think about how to help someone I meet, and 3 - I try to remember small details about people.

However, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I expected. It was too focused on showcasing the authors’ impressive networks and how others do wrong things. Many of the examples felt superficial or exaggerated. The networking tips shared were things I already knew, though I recognize they’re valuable and relevant for others. The book is good overall, but it didn’t have a big impact on me—I'd rate it 2 out of 5 because I was already familiar with most of its advice. Books I prefer: How to Be a Power Connector, This Sh*t Works by Julie Brown, and How to Host a 2-Hour Cocktail Party by Nick Gray.

One idea I appreciated was the importance of finding a "thought partner." It emphasized that before asking someone for a referral, you should first brainstorm with them on the best ways to meet your goals. I also liked the idea of reconnecting with dormant ties, which is something mentioned in Robin Dunbar’s book Friends. The book also talks about introducing people without asking them first, but I’ve read elsewhere not to do this, so I avoid it.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superconnector offers solid advice on how to network—or more accurately, how to build meaningful business relationships that matter. The authors emphasize moving away from transactional networking and towards authentic, value-driven connections. They provide guidance on cultivating relationships through generosity, selectivity, and long-term thinking.

In a world where many approach networking in a superficial or self-serving manner, this book serves as a useful guide to doing it better. While some concepts may feel familiar, the book reinforces the importance of genuine relationship-building in professional settings.

[stefanddddddd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main way to success in business is to put the needs of the customer first. The book explores what happens when one applies this principle to networking. In other words, instead of asking favours, ask "how may I help?".

It deserves five stars for introducing concepts like: "you can't fake real time".

It deserves 0 stars for the cheap marketing trick of promising the stars and the moon without any details just to fill many pages. You may skip the intro and the first two chapters as they are void of any info.

[Dr. Gerd Ehrhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Gerber and Ryan Paugh take a unique approach with this book, encouraging readers to ditch the typical advice given about networking. They spent months researching the world’s top high achievers, understanding how those individuals were able to leverage their talent, connections and business experience.
If you want an in-depth assessment on how captains of the industry managed to get where they are - Superconnector is a wonderful read!

[Katiana Uyemura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every once in a while something was said that was somewhat valuable, but I don't think the authors fully understand the contexts in which normal people can conduct business. For instance, they repeatedly held up as a model a man who fostered connections by inviting people to all-expenses-paid ski trips. Not feasible for everyone?

[Steven Willmott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a useful kick in the pants to be mindful about professional relationships. Also... it does make the important distinction between a connection and a relationship.

Beyond that though it really doesn't provide much of concrete actionable detail. Another book that could have been 1/2 the length.

[Yongzheng · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read that flips networking advice toward building fewer but stronger relationships. The best parts push you to be generous and authentic, but some tips feel awkward in real life and would need adjusting. Useful if you want a mindset shift, but you’ll still have to figure out how to make it work in your own style.

[nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for networking

I am usually a reserved chap but this book gives a lot of pointers in the direction to bring and gain value in connections. I highly recommend this read if you need to know how to have impact in your networks

[Julius Palmero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main points of the book revolves around YEC (the authors' business) which primarily a networking group for young entrepreneurs. You can feel that they made the book just to market their services. No new ideas here.

[Nitinkumar Gove · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains few new ideas. The book is overly promotional in nature.