Keith FerrazziCritiques

Focuses on principles of "co-elevation" (a philosophy or approach to win-win collaboration). There are elements of communication, motivation, team-building and being a "bigger person". You'll learn:
• What's co-elevation, and how it can generate positive outcomes for everyone involved;
• The 8 rules of co-elevation, with specific practices to: redefine who's on your team, take ownership for results, earn the right to invite others to join you, make collaboration the new norm, take charge of your team's development, spread positive energy, leverage other members to co-elevate the tribe, and become a part of a wider social movement.

Book summary at: https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-leading-without-authority/

Definitely a good read for those wanting to enhance their network of contacts and maintain them. The author goes through his methods which may seem extreme, but gives you insight on how to use your network of contacts effectively in order to benefit both yourself and your contacts. Especially enjoyed the attempts made to make contacts that were extremely successful, and at times, were not at all successful but at least provided a lesson that was learned for next time. The author also pushes the mentee/mentor relationship as he has been both, and has learned from both experiences. Recommended reading for anyone in business looking to be move ahead or simply make their own work easier by knowing the right people.

I read this book somewhat diagonally, and it is designed to do so. Meaningful sub headers and check lists make it possible to find the key points while illustrative stories provide evidence of the strategies’ success. And, yes, the main lesson is to be generous sharing your connections to create networks of people who can help others. Be vulnerable, accountable, and honest, and people will trust you and work with you.

His first book was better.

Ugh, don't bother. After about twenty pages (fifty if you are feeling generous) reading this becomes pointless. That is, unless you want to hear all about how awesome the author thinks he is (I don't know about his success, but his self esteem seems to be doing fine).
Move along, nothing to see here.

Swarmed around me at a cocktail reception stand men dressed up in suits, clean shaven, giving firm handshakes to their associates as they smirk maliciously ready to go in for the kill. After a warm welcome and a playful laugh, I see one man continue schmoozing in order to seal the deal before he walks away, smiling with success. However, in my eyes, this is not a success. I feel overcome with a sense of being demeaned, used, and just another name he gets to check off his list of target contacts. This is how I envisioned the concept of networking—before I read the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi.

The #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Keith Ferrazzi, completely altered my perspective on networking, changing it from having an unwelcoming, negative connotation to a positive one associated with creativity and self-determination. It is an engaging read that targets young adults looking to expand their connections and build relationships. Throughout the book, he stresses how important this concept of networking is, however this brings up an interesting point in regards to his lingo. Notice how Ferrazzi titles his book Never Eat Alone, with the subtitle And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time. He strategically does not use the word ‘networking’ due to its infamous way of bringing up shifty feelings that turn a potential reader off. Rather, both the title and the content of the novel offer a humane approach, which sets this book apart from many others as a guide to build socially healthy and mutually beneficial relationships in the business world.

Throughout the novel, Ferrazzi emphasizes the importance of relationship building, rather than just making acquaintances. In my opinion, the main idea of this novel can be summed up in a single sentence from one of the first few pages where he states, “I've come to believe that connecting is one of the most important business—and life—skill sets you'll ever learn. Why? Because, flat out, people do business with people they know and like" (6). He brings up an interesting point in this statement because it seems so simple and obvious, yet escapes your mind when actually interacting with people. This is one of Ferazzi’s strong suits; he writes bluntly and to the point, allowing his readers to process the information and relate it to themselves.

One of the most influential points that benefited me after reading this novel is that this process is about making friends and establishing relationships. Ferrazzi exclaims “Those who are best at it don't network - they make friends” (60). Notice how again he avoids using ‘networking’ as the primary objective. From an outsider perspective, this makes me feel more important and cherished, knowing that my time is not going to waste, but rather will be the foundation of a friendship for years to come. At this point, Ferrazzi notes that in choosing people to befriend, usefulness and diversity are necessities. He is very persuasive in this manner. He writes, “It’s not about mass, it’s about a real connection” (63). This means that your actual network will start small, and stay small for a while, which is a new idea to me. The goal is to find people he refers to as ‘connectors’, or people who have a lot of connections. This is the most efficient way to gain contacts effectively and can be further read about in the novel The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell.

In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi writes that the focus in building relationships should be on what you can do for people, not what they can do for you. This strengthens a relationship and also ties into the idea that a network should remain small for some time in order to properly cater to others’ needs.

Another point Ferrazzi writes about is the timing of when these relationships should be established. It is important to befriend others before you actually need the connection. People are more willing to do things when they feel important and can mutually benefit, rather than just feeling used. Therefore, these connections take time and hard work to develop. They should also be sincere and genuine, and that "Contrary to popular business wisdom, there does not have to be a rigid line between our private and public lives" (103). Ferrazzi continues to explain that you cannot have a boring personality, but you still should stay true to yourself. This contradictory concept confuses me. He states that you should be yourself, but if yourself is not good enough, then change. Ferrazzi offers examples such as getting interested in higher class events and functions such as golf or politics, however I remain skeptical of this idea as he labels himself as an elitist in doing so.

This brings me to the major flaw that gets progressively worse throughout the novel. By the end of the book, Keith Ferrazzi comes across as an elitist, using the novel as an autobiography. He takes every opportunity to brag about his connections and achievements, which irritates me as the reader trying to merely learn about business. Extracting his bragging sections, the 379-page novel could probably be about 150 pages. If it were not for the content being so interesting, I would have stopped reading half way in.

Still, I learned a lot from the novel, and if you can get through the egotistical nature, so will you. I plan on actively using what I have learned from it not only in the business world, but in my daily life in creating and strengthening relationships with strangers and my friends alike. Ferrazzi stressed how connections take work and time, making me recognize the value in communication and relationships. Therefore, if you are interested in expanding your friendships and growing your network, this book is an effective tool to aid you, and I definitely recommend reading it.

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi was one of the most interesting reads I’ve ever had. He goes into great depth on how to properly network and build relationships to get to the top. Ferrazzi does a fantastic job on breaking down each and every step of the networking process, from as small as setting goals to as big as going to conferences to get closer to people with decision making power. The most fascinating part of this book was the author’s take on branding. I found it interesting how he was talking about the person doesn’t have to brand a product to be successful but rather brand him/herself. One can accomplish this by getting their word out there and let people know what they want to accomplish and how can they separate themselves from the rest. Basically telling others what you have to bring to the table. The most important part of this process is making your behavior match your values and building a positive reputation to create trust. Ferrazzi’s main focus though is networking and making strong connections. One of his beginning points is very important. He talks about how you should want to help others because it also makes you more valuable. Most people do things for others to have someone “owe” them but the author emphasizes how one should naturally help others to build strong relationships and make both people more valuable. The first major step of networking is to set goals that match your passion and then connecting with people already in that field. Ferrazzi talks about how once you make these connections it’s vital to be up front and let them know what you’re there for and what you want to get out of it. After this you have to show why you’re different from a typical net worker. Some of the examples the author gives to demonstrate this is, making few strong connections rather than many weak, ignoring gossip, be willing to give something up and offer potential such as bloggers giving their readers content, don’t look down upon people (I agree with this one immensely because we’ve all had the self-centered boss that thinks they’re above everyone), be transparent and let people know if you want to meet with them and lastly make genuine connections such as handwriting thank yous instead of sending one mass email. Furthermore, Keith mentions if you don’t know someone that well do your homework or try to find one mutual friend. I believe this is very important because this information can be used as a conversation starter and make it more comfortable to talk to a person you’re not familiar with. Another point the author made that I thought was important was to stay on the positive side of the Administrative assistance. This is valuable because they’re the ones that will be able to give you connections to higher up people. Chapter 11 talks about how important eating with others is because it’s a nice way of building relationships which is smart because when you eat a meal with other people it’s only natural to have conversation with them. Another smart way of making connections is inviting someone you’re both passionate in whether it’s a concert, baseball game, or playing golf way. This a great way to get to know others because you’ll be spending hours with them so I strongly agree with Ferrazzi on this approach. The most important part of networking from this book is after making a connection, follow it up. These higher up people are talking with hundreds of others trying to connect with them, so it’s necessary to follow it up and show them that you actually care especially if it’s a personal thank you rather than something electronically. The next step to getting further up is building strong relationships with good connectors. Some examples of these type of people are restaurateurs, head hunters, people related to politics, and journalists. These are ones that are going to help you communicate with people who have a huge amount of power. Another good strategy Ferrazzi mentions is to merge your connections with someone else. This is a very smart idea because it only benefits you because now you have more contacts and this what the author was talking about when he was talking about how important it is to have a wide variety of connections because it makes you more knowledgeable about different type of people. The main point the writer made on character aspect is the fact that you’re never at the top and son’t change your attitude when you get there because it’s going to make you lose good connections once they see you lose control of your act. This goes off the chapter that talks about always keeping in touch with your contacts occasionally because it’s rude to lose connection and creates a poor reputation. The last major point Ferrazzi makes on the point of networking is it might be a good idea to throw a successful dinner party to build even better relationships and this also shows people you care be inviting them into your home. In conclusion Keith Ferrazzi provides a very thorough process on how to properly connect with people and get your name out that to become successful, definitely worth the read.

Many months ago, I received a free copy of Never Eat Alone through the Goodreads First Reads program. I took the book to work with me, reading a page or section or chapter each day with my co-workers, sharing the valuable insights I was gaining by reading Mr. Ferrazzi's advice.

The very beginning of the book was helpful. The very end off the book was helpful. The middle 200 or so pages? Not so much.

I honestly hope that I never have to work with someone who thinks that what Mr. Ferrazzi promotes in this book is acceptable behavior. It is not. Much of what he discusses is creepy, annoying, rude, or just downright inappropriate.

He suggests thoroughly researching the person you're looking to meet with, so that you can discuss your shared interests. I'm sorry, but if I've just met you three seconds ago, please do not let on that you know where I went to high school, the names of my pets, and that I enjoy reading and reviewing young adult novels, despite being in my mid-twenties. I will politely excuse myself from this potential stalker before things get out of hand.

He suggests throwing dinner parties with two waves of friends - one wave which is only invited to come after dinner, but that wouldn't be offended by not being good enough to attend your actual event. If you don't want them there for the full event, why are you bothering inviting them at all?

He suggests ranking your friends and contacts from 1-3, signifying how often you need to contact them. What if they films out that they're a 3 for you (meaning you contact them once a year), but to them, you're a 1 (frequent contact)? Feelings are bound to get hurt, and then that relationship you've spent so long curating goes right out the window.

There is some good advice in here, don't get me wrong. I particularly liked the advice on building your brand. But overall, the advice is questionable - I think only very specific personality types in very specific industries could pull off everything that's been suggested here - and a lot of the chapters seem to solely consist of Mr. Ferrazzi patting himself on the back for being successful, or firing off a string of people he considers friends.

Never Eat Alone isn't exactly a waste of time, but I wouldn't suggest running out to immediately buy a copy, either.

[see more of my reviews at The Bibliophagist]

A rather good intro to personability.

A rather good intro to personability.

This book offers advice on how to form meaningfull relationships and establish a solid network, and also how to maintain them.

Loved this book. Had my doubts .. but it was recommended by so many people I had to read it. Keith believes the classic quote that your network is your networth, and I agree with him. The more people you hep and the more you're willing to accept help will move you towards your goals. This book is filled with tactical advice to help expand your network and I'll be coming back to this book a few more times. 5 stars.

Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz is both a business book and a self-help book. It focuses on how to create relationships that are mutually beneficial – providing a framework of useful skills and strategies. This updated edition incorporates the impact of the digital age and especially of social media.

Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2014/09/never-eat-alone-expanded-and-updated.ht...

Reviewed based on a publisher’s galley received through Edelweiss

A guide to authentic networking turning professional on personal connections and vice versa

The 2005 version of this bestselling business classic Never Eat Alone, on networking and the power of human relationships, was updated and extended to stay in sync with modern technology and changed circumstances in Keith Ferrazzi's own network. The author is a true example of power connector, the one that really understands the impact of weak ties, the art of giving (David Grant's Give & Take is referred to now), and other practices to build and maintain relationships. From 5,000 contacts on Rolodex, tools like Plaxo (up and coming in 2005), to modern ubiquitous LinkedIN, Twitter and Facebook.
Ferrazzi shares his own personal life story. Born as son of a small-town steelworker and a cleaning lady, paved his way to Yale University, and a Harvard MBA by connecting to people. A series of Chief Marketing Officer posts continued the need for pitches, public speaking, and attending conferences, dinners and fundraising events. Ferrazzi's well known to politicians, C-suite executives, got himself listed in Crain’s 40 Under 40 and was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the Davos World Economic Forum.
He proves every now and then that the 6 degrees of separation are a maximum to reach to anyone. The author shares tips on cold calling, follow-up to conferences, how to network at events, overcome fear of public speaking and categorize and prioritize your contacts. Reaching our and maintaining relationships are key. Being King of Content by sharing, helping and referring. An information hub in a niche with an expertise. Serving others, and understanding interdependence. Others can and will help you with your interests and goals. Next to his own stories several interviews and side stories from Winston Churchill to Bill Clinton, Vernon Jordan to the Dalai Lama are illustrations of the principles. Ferrazzi shows that you don't have to be rich, famous or wizz kid to become a power connector, providing tools within everyone's reach.

Never Eat Alone was interesting. A little overwhelming for someone who doesn't need to network big-time. But I liked Ferrazzi's approach.

I really enjoyed the book. Networking is one of my strengths and I'm pretty excited about some of the knowledge I was able to gather from this book. I've already started implementing some of the ideas and feel like I'll be able to streamline my workflow quite a bit. Plus there were tons of ideas that I hadn't thought about before and can't wait to expand my network of peers and friends.

Enjoyable to see Keith's successes and struggles in his rise to where he is today. Many of his methods would have been excellent to utilize when I was in college and just starting up, but his sections on mentoring and connecting are worth every second to read and take away from.

Enjoyable to see Keith's successes and struggles in his rise to where he is today. Many of his methods would have been excellent to utilize when I was in college and just starting up, but his sections on mentoring and connecting are worth every second to read and take away from.

This was an interesting look at lots of ideas on how to network with other people. Sometimes it seemed like the author was doing a job interview, talking about his accomplishments and people he knows (through networking, of course!). I think that if the book had been a little shorter (maybe by a CD or two on this audiobook), it wouldn't have felt that way. Still, I learned some good tips from it.

A very self-impressed author tell stories of how he developed his network. But it has some useful tips.

Ferrazzi is known as a relationship guru, and this book is like his doctoral thesis. He outlines why it is important to have 2-3 key people in your life who can act as your sounding board when you need someone who will tell it like it is.

I agree with the theory. I’m just not sure that it is as easy as he makes it sound to find 2-3 people who you can count on for advice. If you already have a network of people to choose from, then you’ve got a fighting chance. But, if you don’t, you’ve got a much longer runway to get down before you can take off.
That said, you should start making your way down the runway.

Just because something is hard doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

I picked up this book on the recommendation of a very successful businessman. The book is full of great ideas, however the tone of the book seemed to be one of "everyone must be able to do what I can". I plugged through this book, mostly because I assumed that I couldn't have been led that astray by the recommendation. Sadly by the time I got to the last chapters I was finished with hearing what Ferrazzi had to say.

I'm not going to argue with what he has to say, as I agree with a great deal of it. Of course, I've read basically the same thing in "Think & Grow Rich" and "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" so frankly what Ferrazzi is saying is pretty old hat. If you're looking for some advice, yeah you could work your way through this, but frankly I'd just go back to the original and read "Think & Grow Rich".

I agree with the previous reviews. Ferrazzi annoyed the sh*t out of me-- did he write this book to really help others out, or was it just an excuse to toot his own horn? As a middle-class minority woman in the education field, I really couldn't stomach anything he wrote at first. Let's get serious here. Minus the "I pulled my own boot-straps" stories, what's the likelihood that the average American can get even relatively close to sitting, much less conversing with any of these big-shots Ferrazzi claims he knows on a personal level?

At first, I thought that this book has no relevance to anyone unless they're majoring in business and marketing. After awhile though, I came back to reading the book and I have to admit that there were a few pieces of advice worth paying attention to. For one thing, I learned the hard way not to piss off an "administrative professional". Take the whole thing with a grain of salt-- don't get too upset at the snobbery, and write down the advice when it comes to social and communication skills. I may not have the same lists of celebs and CEOs on my cell-phone, but at least I can improve my people skills which is a must for every type of job anyway.

The author is full of himself. (that's not to say there aren't good ideas here, but it wasn't my personal style)