Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Smart Networking is "Smarter" than you may think, November 15, 2008
I bought and read Liz's book (in one sitting) and, while I am not in a networking mode now nor expect to be for some time, if ever, I did find some utility in the work for myself and can certainly recommend it to others without reservation.
First it was short and to the point. Secondly, the wrap up and implementation in the last chapter would be very useful for those who wish to follow the guidelines in the former chapters. This last chapter should be used as a model for all of the self-help books genre.
Too many of such books "leave you hanging" in the end as to how to implement the advice contained therein.
What I personally found useful were the sections on electronic networking and am expanding, modifying and improving my online profiles following Liz's guidelines. Again, I am doing so without specific goals in mind, but it is very important to gain control of your online presence and Liz is an expert in that area.
In summary, Deborah Gibson has a song entitled "Can't Do It Alone" (off of the "Think with Your Heart" album , 1995, EMI Records) and a case can be made that networking is, for many people, a lifetime pursuit. For those who follow this philosophy or for who don't but are in need of networking now, this work is an essential read. How much you get out of it depends both on the level your personal networking needs and how much effort you put into following Liz's excellent and very usable advice and methodologies.
Professor John W. Kercheval, III
Washington, DC
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect if you aren't all that excited about "networking" in the first place, November 10, 2008
I liked the fact that this book starts with a notion that networking is a natural thing to do, not some game to play, and that you will be most successful it from a standpoint of "authenticity". It combines a combination of practical things that you think we'd all know, but don't, combined with what I thought are some very useful new ideas about using the internet in all it's forms. It's not a great book to kick back with on the beach (unless it's time to be looking for a new job), but is an excellent read if you are feeling like you've been consumed by your job and not very connected with the broader professional world. I thought it was an easy and perfect read for a three hour plane ride. Glad someone took the time to put this all in one easy to read place.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
How To Get A Business Network & How To Work It, October 13, 2009
The book's subject matter certainly appeared aggressive promising "Networking results 24/7" and how to "attract a following in person and online."
A couple of warning flags go up right away. The book's presentation seemed gimmicky right off the bat with its proclamations in bold letters or the promise to "Access FREE reader resources" on the author's website. Having come across the same thing in several other, perhaps coincidentally weak, books the presence of quotations at the top of each chapter from famous characters also added to the misgiving. The most discouraging however, was the back cover proclaiming the author to not only be a writer, but also a developer of networking products, career accelerator, consultant, keynote speaker and founder of the "Center For Networking Excellence." Author Liz Lynch will justify the omni-directionally and exponentially growing universe soon enough and incorporate these activities, in what she deems, as a necessity in her concise book, but as a general comment could the whole `life-style' and `branding' imagery be a turn-off? Who isn't tired of actors who record albums, CEOs who run for office, crooners who get parts in movies, rappers who design clothing and have fashion shows and talk show hosts with magazines? Indeed, Gwyneth Paltrow was just on TV reviewing gourmet food in Spain. It is de rigueur but by now also so corny and cheesy, yet as mentioned Liz Lynch goes on to insist it is all part of the plan she advocates. Indeed, the author advertises for herself and her website often and the book is full of self-references, but that could be taken in two ways. She justifies much of it in Chapter 9, Head For The Limelight.
Smart Networking quickly earns its stripes by doing a couple of things correctly. Firstly, the book is systematic. Liz Lynch consistently outlines the steps needed in sequence. Secondly, she provides specific examples of what she means. She provides these in quotation marks. Here is an example of a sentence one can use as a template: "I work with many different types of clients, but most of my work lately has been with professional service firms." These two features establish that Liz Lynch is knowledgeable in her subject matter and is serious about imparting the knowledge to her readers in a way that would help.
Her system splits the book into sections about:
1- Connecting with one's self (how to develop the right mindset)
2- Connecting One-to-one (having the skills to take advantage of interactions and bringing value)
3- Connecting One-to-many (by leveraging the tools and means) and finally
4- to do what is right and putting it all into action.
In the course of the book, one learns how to be smarter in networking, how to use the concept of leverage to generate revenue and how skill plus will yield success. She also seeks to comfort and reassure the readers by recalling how she was nervous and ruffled when she began networking, something that surely should relieve many. There is some repetition here, but there are several solid ideas as well. The author expounds on her suggestions to draw people in using one's expertise, ideas (for example, as relates to the many laws and regulations in place), going to where like-minded people are (including co-workers), raising one's profile (leveraging blogs, e-newsletters, Facebook, Linkedin and others as well as giving speeches or volunteering, working at sign-in or as a guide depending on one's level of shyness) and also to introduce people to resources and others and to assist where possible. Much to her credit, she similarly advocates returning favours, giving and helping others whenever it is possible to do so. Not much of it is revolutionary of course, indeed much of it is elementary, but the specifics only add to Lynch's insistence that networking is a process and should be progressive. The book does mention that MySpace is bigger than Facebook, which is no longer true, but later in the book the author does admit that things are dynamic and change all the time in the Internet sphere.
One side issue is the persistent misuse of grammar. Perhaps it wouldn't be an issue if the phrase `network smart' weren't such a core mantra for the author. Has her copy editor not heard of adverbs? Or is accuracy and language subservient to catchiness? It might be a personal qualm, but grammatical mistakes always detract from identifying the writer as an expert.
She devotes a special chapter (and more) to the Internet and strongly encourages one to leverage it as much as possible. Aside from signing up for the aforementioned websites and interacting, Lunch suggests one's blog be cross-pollinated with one's website. The blog is to include regular updates, surveys, and questions for readers, ideas from other posts and blogs, photos/videos, guest authors, interviews and links. Blogging is not only a pro-actively positive tool, but is also indispensable given how the competition is doing it. She supports contributing to ezinearticles dot c om and signing up for Google Alerts as a means of gaining ideas to write about. She also details tips for the e-zine/e-newsletter she suggests successful networkers need to set up.
The Internet's transformation into a marketing tool or the inevitability of the need to network "24/7" aside then Smart Networking succeeds because it is systematic, specific, provides an actual worksheet and is up-to-date.
So, I am off to get my `personal' cards...
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