BOTW: The Power of Who

Networking on it's head...

I’m a bit behind with this Book of the Week entry (long story, but it ends with a wireless router at my in-laws), so let’s just jump right to it, shall we?

You already know everyone you need to know to get where you want to go.

That’s the main thrust of this book that offers a new way of looking at the networking so many of us were told would be our hope of getting anything done in life. The Power of Who, by Bob Beaudine, does a great job of shattering the one myth that most of us have held true our entire lives: if I can just meet that one person, I’ll get my big break. Mr. Beaudine says over and over again that the person you need to meet is more than likely someone you’ve already met, and that one truth should make each of us look at the people in our lives much differently.

The author lays out his strategy for utilizing the “Whos” in your life and calls it the “100/40 Strategy.” Basically you list 100 “Whos” and 40 “Whats” and this allows you to find people already in your life who can help you pursue your dreams (the “whats” of the 40 side).

I loved the premium that he places on relationships, and on valuing and being valued by those around us. Surely too many times we stay in places and relationships that care very little about us because we think the people in those will eventually help us achieve the “what” we’re after. But The Power of Who emphasizes over and over again that the people who are really the most motivated to help us are the people who know us and already believe in us. They want to see us achieve our dreams!

Some of the better snippets from book #6 in my year-long challenge to read a book a week:

When he was a very young man, Winston Churchill had a dream that one day England would come into extreme danger and he would be called upon to save the day. From time to time he would tell some of his friends about the dream but was often told that his dream was childish, something akin to a superhero comic book. The future prime minister would reply, “I believe in destiny, and when destiny calls you must obey.”

Whenever you allow someone else to design your life for you, they’ll always design it way too small.

Go where you’re celebrated, not just tolerated.

Almost everyone likes to start with anything but “Who” because they’re more comfortable with the technical than the relational.

Go deep with your friendships this year—not wide! Be transformational—not transactional.

This book was an easy read, and if it’s powerful enough for Dave Ramsey to require all employees to read it, I figure it’s probably good for you and me, too. It would be worth it just to read the final 3 stories that the author shares at the end about creating and/or recognizing “magic moments” with those around us.

I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

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