Customer Reviews

Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends

5 star:		(97)
4 star:		(46)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Somewhere along the line, I decided I didn't want to be a big shot. I didn't want to bulldoze coworkers and employees. I didn't want to climb the corporate ladder at the expense of others. I didn't want to abuse people the way I'd been ill-treated by certain employers. Human values seemed more important. I wanted to treat my customers, employees, coworkers and bosses with respect and--dare I say it?--love.

I'll forever be grateful to whoever steered me in this direction--for I soon found that work was much more fulfilling and fruitful when I cared for those with whom I worked.

According to Tim Sanders, author of Love is the Kller App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends, that makes me a "lovecat." And you can be one too.

That's the thrust of this delightful little book by Sanders, Chief Solutions officer at Yahoo!. Pointing to the great social changes of our time, Sanders sees love as the killer way to add value to our business and personal lives.

Happily for his readers, Sanders sees "business love" in clear, behaviorial terms. No fuzzy-wuzzy, feel-good exhortations here. Sanders gets right down to business: Bizlove, he says, is "the act of intelligently and sensibly sharing your intangibles with your bizpartners."

And what are those intangibles? I'm glad you asked, my friend:

Our KNOWLEDGE, everything we've learned and everything we continue to learn. Sanders says we learn most from books--and he advocates reading as many as possible. (Amazon must love him!) But it's not just reading. We're encouraged to mark up our books in ways that help us grab their "Big Thoughts" so we can add value to our work and that of others. To Sanders, information is meant to be shared with as many people as possible.

Our NETWORK, our incredible web of relationships, biz and personal. It's not just what we know that adds value to our lives and the lives of others, it's who we know. And, like information, relationships bring value to everyone when they are shared. Sanders boldly advocates being something like a flesh-and-blood "home page" with links to all kinds of value-adding relationships.

Our COMPASSION, the ability to reach out to others with warmth and regard--to go beyond the safety of biz-as-usual interactions.

By sharing these three things with our bizpartners, says Sanders we not only add value to the lives of others but to our own.

What's best about Love is the Killer App? First, it's Sanders' unabashed enthusiasm and energy. His excitement at learning how love can transform biz life is infectious and genuine. The text bubbles with his desire for us to experience its power for ourselves. I found it endearing and sincere when taken in small doses. This is not a book to rush through! It's exercise more for the heart than the head.

Second, Sanders is eminently practical throughout the book. He doesn't leave us with "teddy bear" admonitions to love. Nope--his focus is on application. Here's HOW you share your knowledge, here's HOW you build and share your network, here's HOW you show compassion to others. You'll find yourself nodding in agreement every time--"Yep, I can do that." Or something like that, for Sanders readily admits that, say, the way he "cliffs-and-tags" books may not work for everyone.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I must admit that I was primed for this book because of my own experience and perspective. And Sanders and I have conversed by e-mail a few times. (The guy practices what he preaches!) So this may not be the most objective review you'll find!

If you're interested in more on the subject of love in the bizworld, I can suggest these outstanding books, all available here at Amazon: Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Robert Greenleaf (a classic), Leadership Is an Art, movingly written by the legendary Max Depree of Herman Miller and Love and Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership by James Autry.

Like the author, I feel that having meaningful relationships built on trust and respect are critical to business today. But I've found that widening my circle at work was difficult.

I picked this book up on a business trip, and finished it in one sitting. Immediately, I had a strategy for a new approach to building my own skills, and using those new skills to build my influence at work.

This book changed how I look at gathering knowledge, and more importantly, sharing it. Since purchasing the book several months ago, I've bought 15 copies of the book and given it to family, friends, and co-workers. And for a few of them, it's had the same impact.

Shortly stated, Sanders explains a strategy of becoming a "lovecat" thorough studying books like you're still in college, finding ways to share what you know with co-workers and partners, and expanding your networks by being open and sharing your contacts with those that could benefit.

While the title attracted me to the book, it doesn't do it justice. It's not a touchy-feely book, extoling the virtues of open communication or emotional attachment. Instead, it gives a solid strategy for "how" to get started, and goes from there.

Highly recommended. If you read one business book on how to build your personal networks, this is the one!

A great book full of practical wisdom, and a strange title. So, what is a "killer app" anyway? According to Tim, it is defined as "an excellent new idea that either supersedes an existing idea or establishes a new category in its field". (Page 11). This is an important definition, because taken in the context above, Tim is saying that "love" applied in a business setting can essentially transform your work, your success, and most importantly you, and in that way supersedes the current ego-centric world of business.

Tim uses countless examples to show that tomorrow's value in the business world will be about "fuzzy intangibles" that add value to your customers and company. In fact, when reading this book there are so many examples about "how to" do things that will increase your success, it would be easy to think it's just another self help book. For example, he discusses the importance of Knowledge, Network, and Compassion in our relationships, as his main themes. As good these ideas are, they miss the point if taken as self help guidelines.

The main point here is that love is not selfish. The thread he weaves throughout the book is a message about caring for others, not with the expectation of getting something in return, but because it is the right thing to do and will make a difference to them. It is the "pay it forward" philosophy in action. Now, there is no doubt that often the impact comes back in a positive way through a network contact or returned favor, and he cites many examples of how his own success was based on these. But even when there is nothing in it for you, care for others anyway. When others are in no position to do anything for you, care for them and give to them anyway.

That is how radical this book is. It flies against the corporate gravity which pulls us into a place of self focus and measuring everything in terms of its personal ROI. In that way, love is truly a killer app. I recommend this book. Read it, and then go make a difference for someone.

Yahoo's Tim Sanders describes in Love is the Killer App how he stumbled on a very successful philosophy. Sanders advocates taking a true interest in someone's career or business and trying to help them through introductions and advice with no specific expectation of remuneration. He says that first, you will be perceived as an expert of sorts (for knowing what or who you know) and second that the person will feel somewhat endeared to you for thinking of them. The benefits, he suggests, in the long run will reward you.

Sanders also suggests that you read as much as possible, so that you have a little bit of knowledge about any subject that could come up. He stresses that books are far more useful than newspapers/magazines/etc. as they extrapolate on their subject and are able to provide an abundant source of additional information should the need arise (though he does point out that magazines do have particular value in some instances).

All-in-all the book does have some valuable suggestions and is definitely worth reading. Some of his suggestions are very specific to sales people for service industries and may be difficult to implement if you work for a product-centric company or are not in sales. Most suggestions, though, are universal. If you want a way to be happier, have more professional acquaintances, and go further in life, this book should be a definite addition to your reading list.

In "Love is the Killer App" Tim Sanders, high tech new economist, marketer, and author, evangelizes his big thought (term from the book for a one sentence summary; see also "elevator speech") that nice guys and gals can finish first if they effectively and enthusiastically use their intangibles: Knowledge, Network, and Compassion. His key points include: studying books vs. just reading them, and making notes so that a book's insights are readily available later (Notes on the front inside cover; Quotes on the back). Sanders' also explains that every person we meet is a potential node in our network, and successful folks seek beneficial connections for the people within their network just for the sake of helping as opposed to personal gain. Sanders also explains that compassion can and should be extended to business relationships. Encouraging others, listening and demonstrating you care for those you come in contact with is an end in itself, and you will soon find the encouragement and caring coming back to you.

I rated this book 4 instead of 5 stars because being super-nice in a business context taken to an extreme can get you creamed. What could possibly be nicer than giving your goods and services away? Sound ridiculous? It does, but just check out the feedback from your customer contact folks when you announce a necessary price increase. Sander's addresses the doormat syndrome by saying that Lovecats (the title Sander's confers on those who maximize their intangibles) are not Dumbcats. He encourages us to be nice and smart, but I found his explanation in this area vague. Where does nice stop and smart start? I suppose somewhere near the dividing line between cost and profit. I wish the author had given us a little more here.

Also, Sanders stresses touch in expressing our compassion. While among techie's, like Sanders, there seems to enough room to hug your customers and coworkers, there remains a few pockets of the old school here and there (I'm a Commercial Banker and we still wear ties most days) where I remain doubtful that physical affection is right tool for the job.

This book caries a positive message and got me thinking and doing. In fact, I decided to write this review based on Sanders' recommendation in the knowledge section of the book. I am now writing notes in books I read, rethinking my network and it's possibilities, and I feel encouraged in my belief that respect for others and good business are not mutually exclusive.

I left this book with the notion that Sanders' is an excellent marketer, and that his excellence in this area may slightly exceed his ability to generate content. But I intend to test his ideas anyway, and I already have. Just the other day, and even before I got to the "evangelize new ideas you gain from books" section, I was at lunch with 4 coworkers, one of whom was quite senior. This fella was describing his desire to see more mutual concern and respect (Sanders' Bizlove) in our extended work group. The ideas sounded so familiar that I assumed he had read Sanders' book or one similar, and I just had to blurt out "Love is the Killer App". My ill-timed insertion stopped the, till then lively, lunch conversation cold, and I found 3 strange looks staring back at me. None of the 3 had ever heard the slang term "Killer App" much less about the book. Needless to say this book has an audience but it is not all encompassing, and applying Sanders' insights requires that you know your audience.

GG

I have grown wary of any new hip biz term that every new business book seems to want to pump at us as if it should become part of our daily lives. That said, yes this book does have a set of it's own hip biz words that it uses with 'Lovecats' leading the pack.

The book is a fast read, took me 4-5 hours, and is filled with a solid set of content revolving around being a lovecat.

The "Big Idea" of the book is to succeed in business you have to be a lovecat. A lovecat is someone who fosters the human connection more than the cold facts of business. And to be a lovecat you must give three things:
1) Your knowledge
2) Your network
3) Your Compassion

I like the book and gained a lot of new thoughts from it and will recommend it to others. It is also filled with lots of practical, use it now, kind of stuff. To be that is always an added bonus.

To add to the philosophy of it all; I feel it is a difference between being successful in the short term verses the long term. In the ST you can get by not connecting with people and being ruthless about the numbers, but to be successful in the LT you have to show compassion and as Tim Sanders says, "Be a lovecat"

I saw this guy speak at a sales conference and he killed. He walks into the room dressed with a hipster haircut and long thin sideburns and bangs down to his eyes. He had a hipster suit on as well. When I saw him I heard some grumbling from the midwest reps etc. and I thought "this guy better be good or he's going to get eaten alive". He was hands down the best speak I have ever seen (and I've seen hundreds). He had the room of 1400 people in the palm of his hands. He made grown men get tears in their eyes (I'm not kidding). His bottom line is if you can show your love and receive love from your prospects or co-workers you will kick ass. It's all about likeability folks!

Killer App - A new application, system, program or device that completely destroys an old paradigm or way of doing things.

Love - Using your human qualities with compassion to assist others to thrive in their business.

Tim Sandler - Chief Solutions Officer at Yahoo!

Tim has written what amounts to a bible of person to person networking and for a member of openBC, this book is what openBC is all about assisting you to do, it is the very reason you are here!!!

The Book is breathtakingly original and provides real practical advice from someone who obviously succeeds at life using the tools he describes.

Some thoughts paraphrased from the book;

Ask yourself whenever you are about to enter into something - Is the value with you inside a situation is greater than the value without you there?

Further thoughts on being a Love Cat rather than a Mad Dog - The love business is the act of intelligently and sensibly sharing your intangibles with you bizpartners.

Compassion is the personal quality that machines can never possess - the human ability to reach out with warmth, whether through eye contact, physical touch or words.

If you just take on these insights from the first pages you will be ahead in you professional life and I recommend the whole book as it is also a complete justification for the power of knowing people. It is also a how too manual for getting the most from openBC.

Do not be scared by the quirky title just read it and prosper! This is the book you hope and pray your competition is not reading first.

This and all the other business books I recommend are available on the Open Business club.

Tim Sanders' book comes through like a breath of fresh air. The reason is very simple. You can feel that Tim only `preaches what he practices'.

What Tim describes is really a way of living and not some formula for success. The essence of the book is all about how to make a difference to some one else's life and in the process your own.

Tim talks about 3 big things. Knowledge. Networking & Compassion. What is exciting about the book is that Tim clearly demonstrates how to gain knowledge, how to build a relationship based network and finally how to use both with kindness & compassion in helping others. And the best part is that it is a business book!

In some ways he echoes people like David Maister (author of True Professionalism) who said "Clients don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care". And Peter Block who wrote "Stewardship" - Service over self interest.
Incidentally the book is full of quotable quotes. Great for speeches, presentations & conversations.

What is also heartening is that Tim himself applies the reality check because he recognises the difficulties in being a "Lovecat" (Any body who acquires knowledge, builds a robust and active network and shares both with generosity is a Lovecat according to Tim).

The evangelistic zeal in his book is inspiring. That's what got me to write this review. (Tim recommends that you read at least 2 books and also review it to ensure that you have digested it!!).

The timing of this book could not have been more appropriate. There are many experienced people across several countries who might be without jobs and are trying to be independent practitioners. "Love.." will be a great way to start.

This is not a book for those looking for quick fix solutions or for lazy people. Tim has given the big idea. You will reap the benefit only if you practise it. That isn't easy.

This book espouses the practice of giving as a way of "making it" in the professional life. There are examples sourced from the author's experience of using his self-described "lovecat" ways to succeed in business.

After reading this book I felt pretty mediocre about putting this into action for my own self-growth. There are pieces I strongly agreed with - specifically that the more you give, the more you receive. But the method of pushing content out as described in the book just isn't my style. It seems overly aggressive and self-promoting. I find it hard to imagine following it to the letter.

I'm sure I got some good ideas from this book, but I'm just not sure it's for everyone to follow the path the author suggests.