"Never Eat Alone, and Other Secrets of Success"

Yes, it's a little bit of a detour from the total wellness kick I MEANT to be on this week, but I really had to share my latest discover. I love to read. Absolutely love it. And my need to devour every written thing in site has led to some great discoveries-just like this one.

I just found the best book for all of you out there looking for fabulous networking secrets. Everyone knows that when it comes to getting ahead in the industry it's all about who you know. Okay, maybe that's not entirely true, but good networking skills are an essential part of realizing your dreams of prosperity. That's why I'm recommending all of you consider going out and picking up a copy of "Never Eat Alone, and Other Secrets of Success" by Keith Ferrazzi.

"Ferrazzi grew up in rural Pennsylvania, the son of a steelworker and a cleaning lady, yet his ability to connect with others led to a scholarship at Yale, a Harvard MBA, and a prestigious partnership at Deloitte Consulting. His skills at creating and maintaining a network of contacts are nothing short of those of a serious presidential contender. All business hopefuls seek to enter a sphere of players more powerful than themselves, and Ferrazzi says that sometimes all it takes is asking. The book is dense with suggestions. Seek out mentors to guide you and introduce you to the people you need to know and then become a mentor yourself. Use your initial conversation to show the other person what you have to offer them, and never keep score. Make others feel important by remembering their names and birthdays. And don't be afraid to open up and show vulnerability--it's a great icebreaker. Ferrazzi presents a whirlwind of ideas to widen your circle of contacts that goes way beyond the usual stale concepts of 'networking.'"

David Siegfried Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved