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The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
 
 
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The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea [Hardcover]

Bob Burg (Author), John David Mann (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (226 customer reviews)

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Book Description

December 27, 2007
The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be. And so one day, desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter, he seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar, a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees simply as the Chairman.

Over the next week, Pindar introduces Joe to a series of “go-givers:” a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial adviser, a real estate broker, and the “Connector,” who brought them all together. Pindar’s friends share with Joe the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and teach him how to open himself up to the power of giving.

Joe learns that changing his focus from getting to giving—putting others’ interests first and continually adding value to their lives—ultimately leads to unexpected returns.

Imparted with wit and grace, The Go-Giver is a heartwarming and inspiring tale that brings new relevance to the old proverb “Give and you shall receive.”

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This modern-day business parable, a quick read in the spirit of The Greatest Salesman in the World and The One Minute Manager, should do well with eager corporate-ladder climbers, who may at first be confused by its focus: on putting the other guy first-be it a colleague, competitor, customer, friend or family member. Told through the fictitious story of an ambitious young salesman named Joe, Burg and Mann communicate their points through the advice of an enigmatic (and highly likeable) mentor character known as Pindar. Rather than help Joe snag a fast sale, the consultant introduces him to series of "go-givers" who personify the "Five Laws of Stratospheric Success." Over the course of five days, a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial advisor, a real-estate broker and the mysterious "Connector" teach Joe about the laws of value, compensation, influence, authenticity and receptivity-concepts that make more immediate sense in this fictional context than they would in a formal business book. Burg (Endless Referrals: Network Your Everyday Contacts Into Sales) and Mann (You Call the Shots) write with a simple, informal style that offers a working-person's interpretation of the old adage "give, and you shall receive."
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

The Go-Giver is one of those rare books that entertains with a great storyline while simultaneously delivering an uplifting, life-affirming message that we can apply immediately.”
-- Darren Richardson, Science of Mind

“This modern-day business parable, a quick read in the spirit of The Greatest Salesman in the World and The One Minute Manager, should do well with eager corporate-ladder climbers … Over the course of five days, a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial advisor, a real-estate broker and the mysterious “Connector” teach Joe about the laws of value, compensation, influence, authenticity and receptivity—concepts that make more immediate sense in this fictional context than they would in a formal business book.”
Publishers Weekly

“The powerful business idea referenced in the title is that ‘shifting the focus from getting to giving and putting the other person first is the key to business success and personal fulfillment.’ … Explanations of these concepts and how to employ them are clear and to the point, and as with all successfully written business books, it will provoke thought and probably action as well.”
Booklist

"Burg and Mann have crafted a business parable that is drawing comparisons with Dr. Spencer Johnson's wildly popular 1998 book Who Moved My Cheese?... How one receives this message may vary, but learning and understanding it is essential ... the world always needs a fresh approach to its most important messages. For this purpose The Go-Giver is a great way to continue to spread a positive and enriching message."
Soundview Executive Book Alert

“Not since Who Moved My Cheese? have I enjoyed a parable as much as this. You owe it to yourself to read The Go-Giver and share its message with those who matter most to you. It is a beautiful book that will touch your soul and inspire your heart.”
—David Bach, #1 New York Times bestselling author, The Automatic Millionaire

The Go-Giver does everything I would wish a good book to do. Read it to the very end.”
—Michael E. Gerber, author, The E-Myth

“This terrific book wonderfully illuminates [the] principles of contribution, abundance, service, and success.”
—Stephen M. R. Covey, author, The Speed of Trust

“A lovely reminder to us all that the world is abundant and rewards those who act with a generosity of spirit.”
—Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., author, See Jane Lead and Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office

“Most people don’t have the guts to buy this book, never mind the will to follow through and actually use it. But you do. And I’m certain that you’ll be glad you did.”
—Seth Godin, author, The Dip

The Go-Giver is the best business parable since The Greatest Salesman in the World and The One Minute Manager.”
—Pat Williams, author, Souls of Steel, and senior vice president, Orlando Magic

“Burg and Mann have demonstrated that adding value to people’s lives is the way to climb the ladder of financial success.”
—Fran Tarkenton, Hall of Fame quarterback and founder and CEO , GoSmallBiz.com

“These five simple principles will help you achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams!”
—Brian Tracy, author, The Psychology of Achievement

“This book is exactly what is meant by the phrase ‘Great things come in small packages.’”
—Tom Hopkins, author, How to Master the Art of Selling

"A cross between Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The Go-Giver is a tale of transformation...For those who've stalled out on The Secret's emphasis on what we want, want, want, the Chairman offers another secret--his trade secret: giving...Bob Burg, who travels the world sharing the principles of The Go- Giver, and John David Mann, author of The Zen of MLM, collaborate on this uplifting, quick-read of a book that will appeal to customers who want to bring more heart and a holistic sense of mission to their livelihoods."
--Connie Mears, New Age Retailer

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  • Hardcover: 144 pages
  • Publisher: Portfolio Hardcover; 1 edition (December 27, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159184200X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1591842002
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (226 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
73 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
OK. You know what a go-getter is. Maybe you are one. What is a go-giver? This book is one of those business parables that presents its ideas in the guise of a story. Business stories usually have a protagonist who is in real trouble, meets a wildly successful but mysterious guru who will share the Secret of the Universe with our hero. The hero will at first reject the simplicity of the idea, but will try it out and find that the idea works. The guru will them reveal the rest of the mystery and the hero solves his problem, finds great success, and the story ends happily. Why they all have to be along these lines, I do not know and this one only differs in the details. I mean, it is a pleasant story, but it is fiction. For me, business principles are always more convincing when presented with actual business case studies and even then they tend to be qualified in their applicability.

In any case, this book has five key principles based on the notion that your success comes from working with other folks and rather than trying to and take from the world and get all you can while giving as little back as you can, the truth is just the opposite. You give as much as you can and you will get more back. Remember the story of casting your bread upon the water?

Here are the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success (which are restated at the back of the book):

1) The Law of Value: Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
2) The Law of Compensation: Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.
3) The Law of Influence: Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people's interests first.
4) The Law of Authenticity: The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
5) The Law of Receptivity: The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

The story nicely demonstrates what is meant by these principles and fleshes out the ideas in an attractive way. I think the principles are sound and if they interest you then you should get a copy of the book and dig into it.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
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41 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When I received a copy of The Go-Giver, I set aside the last forty-five minutes of the day to start reading the book. Good plan, right?

However, my intent to quit reading at a reasonable hour and get to bed at my usual time disappeared. Within a few minutes, I knew that The Go-Giver had all the suspense of a top-line mystery novel. I couldn't stop until I had read the entire book.

Thanks to Bob Burg and John David Mann for this stimulating parable, filled with enriching thoughts. Everyone who reads this book will re-examine his or her approach to business and customers.That alone will be a "powerful business idea," as the subtitle says.

The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-change Your Life!
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
While I'm not usually a business parable kind of guy I found myself connecting with this one more than any I have read. In fact, it may be the FIRST one I have completed through to the end. Page-by-page I was touched by the story.

Books that cause a paradigm shift are far and few between but Burg and Mann have given the world just such a book. In a hectic, crazy, get it all done as fast as you can kind of world it delivers just the right message for solid, sustainable success. Not monetary success, although that may be the result, but human being success. The kind of success that has been written about in many other parables through history. This parable will take its place among the rest of them. Read it, experience it, practice it and touch the world in ways that are uncommon in all the craziness.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Go Giver - Bob Burg
A must have book for every entrepreneur or anyone into self development. As a mentor/coach I order by the dozens to deliver to my clients as gifts. Read more
Published 4 days ago by renegade
Inspiring
I was given this book four years ago. I read on a flight from Houston to New York. I thought it was an amazing story about life and the importance of putting other people's... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Chris
Great Little Book, Easy Read
Great stories used to show the power of giving and the reciprocity that will be received through giving. Read more
Published 29 days ago by cwbrit
Blown Away
I was blown away by the power of this little book and its capacity to change the prism through which we see the art and science of business. Read more
Published 1 month ago by DAVID LAPIN (2)
The Go Giver - quick read, must read!
Upon hire, my boss gave me a copy of this book. In fact, he's given out more of these books, not only to employees but to customers and other people he's met in both his personal... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Summer Foster
Nailed It!!!!!!
John and Bob have nailed it!!!! By focusing on serving and not on receiving, anyone is destined for success. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Scott Hoffman
Receive And You Shall Give Versus Give And You Shall Receive
"Give And You Shall Receive."

Most people have heard about it, but only few "buy it". It explains why most people believe it is more urgent and important to receive than... Read more
Published 2 months ago by beatcoach
Lightweight, enjoyable read for an interesting perspective on success
There are very few books that involve me so much that I end up finish reading them in a single sitting - and this is one of them! Read more
Published 2 months ago by gaurav@wintoolzone.com
Life Principles
This book was recommended reading for one starting a new business. It is superb! Additionally, the principles in this book can be applied to augment one's everyday life. Read more
Published 2 months ago by N. Butterworth
Best in Class
As one who relies on working with professionals from many disciplines, I have conducted my business life as a giver for many years. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Michael Raspallo
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
five laws, stratospheric success, famous coffee
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Debra Davenport, Nicole Martin, Neil Hansen, Trade Secret, Friday Guest, Big Kahuna, Carl Kellerman, Sam Rosen, Old Man, The Condition, Jim Galloway
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Surprise Me!
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