Review of Who’s Got Your Back

Keith Ferrazzi’s book, Never Eat Alone, was a terrific guide for all professionals that explained how to find and connect with mentors and how not to keep score in networking, among other terrific tips. As a big proponent of networking as a tool for job seekers, entepreneurs and just about everyone, I was excited to receive a copy of Keith’s most recent book, Who’s Got Your Back.

Billed as a “step-by-step guide to the powerful principles behind personal growth and change,” this useful guide reminds readers that everyone needs someone to lean on! Keith advocates identifying three “lifelines,” or people who are willing and able to advise and hold you accountable to your goals and dreams.

He describes the four reasons why he believes lifeline relationships are key (p. 27):

1. To help us identify what success truly means for us, including our long-term career plans.

2. To help us figure our the most robust plan possible to get there, through short-term goals and strategies that would tie us into knots if we tried to go it alone.

3. To help us identify what we need to stop doing to move forward in our lives.

4. To have people around us committed to ensuring we don’t fail – so we can transform our lives from good to great.

Keith reminds his readers that people like to give advice, and he peppers the book with a myriad of personal stories demonstrating the power of connecting, the value of being vulnerable and the importance of being yourself.

Useful tips about discovering your “personal currency” (what you can offer in a mutually beneficial relationship) and the importance of recognizing that “the pinnacle of generosity isn’t just helping others, but allowing them to help us” (p. 64), make this book another valuable networking “bible” with tips on everything from how to build intimacy to specific tools to assist professionals who hope to succeed at what may seem to be “wild” dreams.

I hope you will be inspired by Who’s Got Your Back to recognize that you DO drive your own career bus. Take the wheel and find the resources you need to encourage, support and promote your own success. You deserve it!

Sometimes, it pays to hire a coach who has your back! Need some help getting your job search jump started? Not sure you can put all of the great tools at your disposal to good use? Need a great resume? Learn how I can help you propel your job hunt forward.

In Atlanta? GA is expecting 10.1% unemployment. Get ahead of the game so you will be prepared to search for your next opportunity with local job search interventions: http://youneedajob.org/.

Did you miss these?

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk, a review Why NOW is the time to CRUSH IT! Cash In...
Review of Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel Wouldn't it be nice if, instead of applying for jobs,...
Book Review: Smart Networking by Liz Lynch Liz Lynch's book, Smart Networking, is a terrific resource for...
30-Day Job Promotion – a review. Win a copy! Don't forget that it is up to you to drive...
Seven Days to Online Networking – a review If you want to stay competitive in today's job market,...

Comments

July 26th, 2009: Joe Lavelle Says:

Hi Miriam – Keith’s new book is as great and as thought provoking as his last, Never Eat Alone. I could not put it down once I started reading. I have always felt that networking and mentoring was important and even mentioned WGYB in a recent post on the topics http://actasifblog.com/?p=69 , however, I have really bought into Keith’s new concept of “lifeline relationships” and am already benefiting from pursuing them.
Great review! Best wishes! Joe
Joe Lavelle´s last blog ..A Sense of Professional Entitlement Will Never Lead to Success

July 26th, 2009: Miriam Salpeter Says:

Joe – I’m glad you agree that WGYB was another hit for Keith! I think it is a simple concept that most people don’t actualize or think about, but an energizing approach with real positive consequences. Thanks for stopping by!