Winning Through Intimidation [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert J. Ringer (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 12, 1984

If you've ever found yourself coming out on the short end of the stick, you'll appreciate the rewards that can be yours whenyou take the initiative in every area of your life. Written by the bestselling author of MILLION DOLLAR HABITS, this business gem, explains in candid terms what intimidation is, why you become intimidated and how you can avoid the mental lapses that can cause you to fall victim to intimidation.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

If you've ever found yourself coming out on the short end of the stick, you'll appreciate the rewards that can be yours whenyou take the initiative in every area of your life. Written by the bestselling author of MILLION DOLLAR HABITS, this business gem, explains in candid terms what intimidation is, why you become intimidated and how you can avoid the mental lapses that can cause you to fall victim to intimidation.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (November 12, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449207862
• ISBN-13: 978-0449207864
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Insightful April 21, 2004

By The Gooch

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Full confession - I never meant to take Robert J. Ringer's "Winning Through Intimidation" seriously. On a recent visit to my parents house I found a tattered, 30-year-old hardcover edition of this book on a dusty bookshelf in the storage room. The corny title caught my eye, so I grabbed it, thinking it might be fun to read for a laugh.

It wasn't just the age of the book that I figured would make it ripe for comedy (though I do wonder if Ringer's message to women that they too could use his philosophies and strategies - to "sell" themselves as wife material to a man - has been edited out of more recent editions). It is the fact that I find most sales technique books to be hilariously bad. I almost always find myself questioning whether the authors have ever worked a day in sales in their lives, since most such books offer advice that would only work if A) every client you ever dealt with was a complete and total moron and/or B) your clients just happen to follow the hypothetical "scripts" included in most of these books word for word.

Imagine my surprise to find that "Winning Through Intimidation" (which is a misnomer, "Winning Through Not Letting Yourself GET Intimidated" is a more appropriate, if less colorful, title) is filled with great fundamental, common sense advice for anyone in the field of sales.... It is obvious that Ringer has spent a great deal of time in the trenches - he accurately points out many common mistakes made by salespeople (spending WAY too much time on a particular account because it makes you feel busy, as opposed to because the account will realistically ever actually buy anything, not realizing the importance of having all agreements with clients in writing and keeping a paper trail of your communications, believing that your client is ever going to have YOUR best interest at heart, thinking that "closing the deal" is the end-all-be-all goal of sales, when actually *getting paid* is far more important). This would be a great book to give to a person new to the field of sales to insure that he or she only develops good habits. I question how "useful" this book is to the more experienced salesperson, only because if a salesperson hasn't already realized through experience that the philosophies and techniques from this book are valid, then they are probably beyond help. Read more ›

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best business book that tells it like it really is! January 29, 2005

By Rhino

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love reading success books. I have read alot of them in my time, and I have a pile of the very current success books on my night table, ready for me to start reading them as soon as I get to them. Yes, I love reading these books, but I have learned to take the advice these books give with a grain of salt. Most of these books are filled with the "serve the customer" and "give the other guy what he wants and he'll give you everything you want" philosophy. This philosophy sounds good in theory. However, out in the real-world business jungle I have found that by the time the other guy gets what he wants he has forgotton your name!
Then along comes Robert Ringer with this classic book. Unlike all the other success books I have ever read, this book tells it like it is. Ringer points out in this book that whether you and I like it or not, the world of business is not played on a nursery school playground. It is played in a brutal jungle where the name of the game is to finish with the most chips(money) in your lap. You either accept this reality and play the game to win,or get out of the business game altogether.
Ringer also takes on the two cornerstones of most success books--"postitive thinking" and "working hard". Ringer's philosophy demolishes these two traditional theories.
If you're used to positive thinking, new-age, give and give to the other person and hope you're going to be paid in the end kind of book, then Winning Through Intimidation isn't for you. However, if you're tired of losing, buy this book and read it ten times.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book with a misleading title April 1, 2002

By Daryl R. Gibson

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Some potential readers of this excellent book (I first read it in
1976) will, as Ringer says, come away thinking they've just read a book about how to sell real estate. Others will never read the book since they will be turned off by the title.

This book is a book about how to deal with life: rationally, reasonably, and dynamically. It's a book about dealing with life's challenges and problems, and most importantly, about how to find yourself in the business world.

All these years later, I still find myself referring to one of Ringer's theories, and applying them in the everyday business world. They are as true today as they ever were.

Highly recommended.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book; misleading title March 25, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Many people seeing the title of this book would think that it teaches you to succeed by being boorish and overbearing. But that is not what the author means.

Ringer was just getting started in real estate when he discovered that bankers and property owners would not treat him with respect, despite the value of his services, because he was "only a broker." So he set out to present himself and what he did in a different light. He became the "mysterious expert from afar," amazing lenders and principals with his well trained staff, detailed presentations, calm manner, refusal to accept last-minute fee reductions, use of an attorney at closings, and, eventually, his own Lear jet.

He was still the same person, offering the same services. But suddenly, fewer people were attempting to defraud him of the fees he had earned for his services, or otherwise treat him dishonestly.

Ringer realized that these lessons learned in real estate could apply to many business situations and, indeed, to any situation in life where you have to deal with others.

He offered the book to several publishers, most of whom would not touch it, so he finally published it himself, and it became a runaway best seller.

"Winning Through Intimidation" may seem amoral to some, but read closely, it is really an interesting account of a "little guy's" successful effort to make the "big guys" take him seriously and treat him honorably in their dealings with him. It is well worth reading and its lessons should be pondered.