Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition [Paperback]

Harvey Mackay (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 27, 1996

A super salesman, a sportsman, a popular public speaker and motivator, Harvey Mackay has evolved some of the most dynamic techniques for soliciting and closing a sale ever devised. In this book he reviews the secrets of his success.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

First-time author Mackay has produced a "how-to" book that is different. Offering a series of lessons with titles like, "If You Don't Have a Destination, You'll Never Get There," or "Make Decisions with Your Heart and What You'll End Up with Is Heart Disease," he tells parables that make the point more by example than by just giving advice. How Mackay got Morrow to print 100,000 copies of his book and give himan unknown writera six-figure advance and a $150,000 promotion budget is as interesting as how he outflanked Calvin Griffith to keep the Twins in Minnesota. Highly recommended for most public and academic libraries. Michael D. Kathman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Collegeville, Minn.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“Swim With The Sharks is an extraordinary treasure chest of information.” --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 27, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449911489
• ISBN-13: 978-0449911488
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #627,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harvey Mackay is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt, both books are among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time, according to the New York Times. His books have sold more than ten million copies worldwide. His newest book Use Your Head To Get Your Foot In The Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You, was released on February 18, 2010. When Larry King interviewed Harvey in late February 2010, Larry said, "I really believe this is the most important book right now." The book is already in its 4th printing as of March 1, 2010. It immediately climbed the bestseller list at Amazon.com and hit #1 in four categories: Job Hunting, Counseling, Vocational Guidance and Education. It can also be found on the Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller list.

Harvey writes a nationally syndicated newspaper column and is one of America's most popular and entertaining business speakers. he is also the founder and chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Company. He has been married to Carol Ann for forty-nine years. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Sales Primer July 29, 1999

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

Anyone interested in making sales (Any type of sales) their career, would benefit from reading this book. Much of the text borders on the obvious, however it's strange how often we neglect the obvious. I first read this book (9) years ago. I continue to pick it up to this date as a refresher. Harvey Mackey does an excellent job of making this a "I can't put it down book" Non-avid readers will breese through the pages. Must read!

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Harvey's Take On Things July 14, 2004

By K. Johnson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Some worthy information about particular business issues are raised and noted, and for the most part this is an off-the-cuff soliloquy talk about how Harvey views business, and the world. There is nothing more amusing than some wealthy person in business who thinks they have the answers and the remedies for the rest of us. Written in the late 1980s, some of the attitudes presented towards hiring potential employees will become evident. All in all, this is an easy and quick-read.

I read "Swim With The Sharks" front-to-back, however each chapter concerns a different topic, so one does not have to read this book straight through from page 1 to the end.

One thing I found a bit quirky were the consistent references to allegedly "successful" collegiate and professional sports coaches. I don't feel it's an appropriate analogy to commonly equate coaches with the situations outside of the sports world. The sports culture is often not applicable to making a business deal, dealing with corporate culture, and/or avoiding mistakes with people socially. The sports in itself is a microcosm of society, but a separate world within its own. Time and time again I would chuckle to myself as I would read a quote made by Vince Lambardi, some NBA coach, or read a personal anecdote from the now disgraced coach Lou Holtz. Having to read Yogi Berra's lobotomy-like quotes and philosophy was quite dull, and not very informative.

Some helpful and practical information is the "66 question customer profile," as well as the "12P Competitor profile." I liked his noting (book written 1988) of how people who usually don't have money go out and buy a brand new "prestigious" car that depreciates....

Mackay also reminds us (or me atleast) of the importance of writing small yet important things down on paper and/or notepads.

One of his tips on how to save time is to drive near the front of a grocery store you plan on shopping in. Then look for how many people are in line. If its too crowded don't go in. Thanks Harvey. You've changed my life with your insights.

He also tried to break an attempt by his employees to form a union, which he lost. He openly stated how he conned very employee into thinking they were "special" and "important" with his one-to-one meetings with them. It didn't work. They didn't buy it.

He does understand (see "Dig You Well Before Your Thirsty") the art of the schmooze in talking with celebrities such as O.J. and world figures such as Castro about things that they do, and interest them in their free time and NOT about what they do for work.

All in all, useful things can be gleaned from "Swim With The Sharks," and it's a very quick read. Read more ›

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Despite some dating, a true classic for business and life August 18, 2003

By John Grabowski

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great book, whether you're an MBA or just someone trying to get an advantage in everyday life. Harvey Mackay's lessons are to be treasured--he was way ahead of the curve in the mid-1980s. It may be hard to appreciate this today because some of the advice isn't fresh anymore: we all have phones in our cars and we all use answering machines to screen calls and we all take notes on the run on little portable recorders. --Well, many of us do, at any rate. Hardly revolutionary advice anymore, but that's only because we listened to Harvey in the first place.

Some of the chapters contain gold that will always be valuable, however. One of my favorites involves the phrase "Dusseldorf passes." I won't spoil it for the unread, but I will say the lesson from that chapter is one everyone should take with them through life. It will save you a lot of money and regret.

And the Mackay hiring process. So thorough it seems to border on the obsurd, but the more I work at various companies the more I wish all businesses were as picky about acquiring workers. Harvey shows you that even "lowly" positions such as the receptionist or secretary are among your company's most critical, for 99% of your customers will get their first impression of your company--and in some cases the *only* impression of your company--through this crucial individual. Yet many companies get some 18-year-old part-timer to answer the phones and file valuable company documents--*and they're proud of this cost-cutting maneuver!* They consider this smart management. Harvey explains why this is actually a very dumb move.

He also shows you how to get "impossible" tickets to the big game and how to get a reservation at virtually any hotel, even ones that are "completely booked...." And no, these are not devious ways. They're just common sense, actually.

Whether you're an ambitious manager at a Fortune 500 company or an owner of a small businesses on the corner, this book has nuggets. So grab it. And then read the other books Harvey Mackay has written. While they didn't have the freshness or the impact of this first one (is that possible?) they are still well worth your time. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Super Quick, Super Stuff March 9, 2000

By Karl E. Walinskas

Format:Paperback

Excellent popular manual for quick rules of thumb to operate in business today. As a speaker I know the value of providing information that is immediately digestible with take-away value. Primary to this work is the Mackay 66, a list of questions/statistics that you should gather about all your prospects and customers in order to really Wow `em.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read September 27, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Are you are serious about getting ahead? You have to read this book. Don't listen to the "thubs up" guy if he would have listened to Harvey he would not be in the position he is now "2 years latter". Harvey gives the reader real life examples of how to get ahead in your life. If your looking to get ahead in your job read "Sharkproof" by MacKay. Harvey's writing style is great, you can't put the book down.... I have read all of Harvey's books and have went out and bought more to give to people I have met who want to get more out of their life and their job.... in fact I applied one of Harvey's story's to my own personal life and got a job starting out at 40K per year. I highly, highly recommend ALL of Harvey's books.