Two thumbs up, a gold star and a smiley face.

I open any book on networking with a highly skeptical eye and a “tell me something new” attitude. Ok, maybe that sounds a little obnoxious, but these days, it’s difficult to find publications that really shine a new light on the field of business networking. (At this point, it would make sense for me to gush over the achievements and content of TNNW, but if you’re reading this, you already know TNNW is one publication that’s well worth your time.)

So, Tales from the Networking Community, by Dan Williams arrived at my door about 3 weeks after I ordered it online. I cracked it open expecting the worst.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Mr. Williams has succeeded where many others have not. Tales … is just the right mix of humor and information (both old and new).

For me, there are a lot of plusses about Tales … Below are my seven top plusses:

1. An easy read – just over one hundred pages. For me, that’s very important. I don’t have a lot of time to set aside for reading, and the time I do have, it seems I end up sawing logs instead. With Tales … I grabbed my coffee, plopped myself down on my sofa, and an hour or so later I had read the entire book.
2. Loads of good information spun in a new way – I was raised in a home where books were sacred cows. You didn’t mark them, lay them open face down, fold page corners … a pox upon you! The second time reading through the book I spent more time and was armed with a highlighter, a pen and a notepad. Yes, there’s information worth highlighting and noting, so be prepared. Just a hint without giving too much away – you can build a small list of recommended reading based on the authors and books to which he refers in practically every chapter.
3. Motivational – If I’m going to spend my precious few reading hours with a book on networking, it had better make me want to jump up and improve my business. Tales … did just that. I laughed, I gave pause for thought, I took notes, and at times I stopped reading mid-chapter to plunge with new enthusiasm into my own business and networking efforts. Now that’s motivation!
4. Stick to what you know – I am not a big fan of business people who write in an anecdotal tone. If you’re not a novelist, don’t sell yourself as one (yes, I’m a book snob). Mr. Williams uses anecdotes refreshingly well; he tells personal tales from the heart. He relates back to favorite childhood stories, peppers his anecdotes with quotes and paraphrases of well known personalities, references business books and authors, and all the while never clouds the true purpose of the chapter – How to improve your networking results.
5. Keeping it real – Mr. Williams doesn’t hold any punches. He let’s you know, starting on the cover page “Networking, like life, is a process not an event.” Yes, that’s right. If you’re looking for a quick fix, get rich quick, infomercial type solution, this is not it. Networking takes time, it takes work, it takes perseverance; a good system and philosophy can only help. We all know these facts to be true, but Tales … drives it home, page after page, chapter after chapter. Sound boring? Maybe militaristic? In Tales … it’s not. You’ll find yourself nodding your head in agreement and turning the page for more.
6. Practicality – Ok, thanks for the info, but is it applicable? Tales … doesn’t just throw networking information and little stories at you; there are also solid, applicable tools and practices which can be applied to any business and all lifestyles. Processes are broken down into steps. Each step is detailed, explained more than once, and related to real experience. And (here’s the kicker), the practical application isn’t just about networking, there are some good basic business tips in Tales … as well.
7. What’s in it for you – You could read this phrase in a couple of different ways. Along with the phrase, “Networking, like life, is a process not an event.” Mr. Williams reinforces the concept that networking should focus more on “What can I do for you?” and less on “What can you do for me?” I like that. I think it’s a philosophy the entire world should adopt. I’m a big fan of BNI, so the “Givers Gain” philosophy is already a part of my life and business culture. It works, and the strong reminders in Tales … just help to drive the point home.

In terms of the book itself, I highly recommend purchasing a copy of Tales from the Networking Community. This is the kind of book to keep in your networking reference library.

Do you want to know more? Next month look for an interview with The Networking Community’s founder, Dan Williams.

Email Ruth.  

Sign up for our newsleter;
Email a friend.

Go to: Site Map