Customer Reviews

Dig Your Well before You're Thirsty: The only networking book you'll ever need

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you want to read more self-help books but you're tired of the same old put-on-a-happy-face drivel, this may be the book for you. The main theme of the book is this: keep a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of people you meet and stay in touch with them. Moreover, do occasional favors for them because you might someday need favors FROM them.

The book is interesting. It is liberally dosed with anecdotes and second-person pronouns--two factors which help greatly in making a book interesting.

However, I'm ashamed that I haven't put the book into better practice. In response to the book, I made an e-mail mailing list of people whom I know and sent them an annual newsletter--except that I skipped last year because I didn't have anything to say.

I hope you read this book, and I hope you put it into practice better than I have.

Before reading DIG YOUR WELL BEFORE YOUR'RE THIRSTY I first of all found the title catchy. It lets you know the book is basically geared toward career or business use of networking. It also places much emphasis on the planning aspects of networking.

The author takes great pains in giving examples of testimonials to the power of networking. Lou Holtz's Networking Story is a good example of how networking paid off big time. He talks about the basics of what a network is and is not. He explains that networking is a two-way activity. Today you help someone who is networking and tomorrow that same person may help you or others to network for ideas.

The author goes to great length to encourage those who might be a bit timmed about approaching another person in a networking situation to go for it. He uses humor to make his point by saying "Come on in, No shark sighting today."

The only minor criticism I have of the work is that it is limited to focusing on networking only in the career transition and business area. There are many more areas that networking principles can be applied.

Overall I would give it a four star rating.

John C. Durkin
author of NETLIVING 101, Networking Life's Journey
Cleveland, Ohio

I have been a fan of Harvey MacKay since I read Swim with the Sharks. With so many business books out there, it's great to see one written by someone who has actually been and is in the trenches and thereby speaks from experience.Add this one to your library. It's outstanding.

I couldn't put this book down!! The most effective personal networking book ever written hands down!! I loved it!

Mr. McKay's book is full of good practical advice on how to use networking to get ahead. I have read other networking how to books, and his is the best by far. Much of what he talks about is just plain commonsense, but I was surprised by the other techniques he mentioned.

The author suggests that we are all well educated , well read or perhaps we are not well educated or well read. In any case to survive in this world , we need friends , we need contacts , we need a network. We have to keep building this as we meander along in life. Serendipity is not the way to this , rather a systematic approach can be adopted. One should not be out on a limb without friends when one is out of a job, or sick or lonely. One should know or know of the best doctor in town for cancer , paediatric problems,heart diesease - this should not hit us when we need it and have no time to find out. This is how the author sees the world and in his very simple and effective manner , rich with real world examples he shows why this is necessary and how to do it. Harvey Mackay did not get where he did without having a deep well to draw from , from envelope manufacturer to a respected US celebrity , he has scaled the Mt Everest of achievement and in this book this absolutely delightful and generous person shares his insights. I cannot tell how empowered one feels after reading this book , but can definitely say that I wish I had read it a lot earlier.

Are you ready to lose your job? How long would it take for you to get a new job? If you had an emergency, how many people would loan you the cash, and how long would it take them to get it to you? How is your network?

Mackay teaches you the importance of network and how to build your own network of people. Before reading this book I was of the opinion that if you work hard, people will notice and you will get places. Silly me. I had just started graduate school (Masters of Information Systems) when I read this book. What an eye opener. I was also just starting some work at a start-up dot-com company. I was doing software testing and at the bottom of the rung of a 15 person company. The founders of the company were big into computer games (one of my fortes). I took Mackay's advice and decided to form a friendship with the big-wigs of an up-and-coming company. I bought the game and formed a friendship with them. These bonds are still strong to this day and have helped me climb the ladder as the company has grown to over 200 employees.

Don't think this is a cure-all. Many of the ideas presented in the book are common sense. He gives you the principles and some examples and then you must devise your own way to build your network. Mackay made me a believer in the "who you know" theory. There are a hundred other guys with my same qualifications, but people will turn first to the people they like or admire. Mackay teaches you to be first in line.

My review makes the driving force behind this sound selfish. And, to an extent, networking is in part, selfish. Mackay teaches you how networks should be used to help others as well as yourself. If your heart is in the right place, the network will not crumble. People know your true intentions (if not now, they will know later).

This is the first book I ever read on networking and if I never read another one, I'll be successful for years to come. Harvey really opens up your eyes to what is possible when you do your best to get to know others and extend them a hand. What's more, Harvey writes in short sections that makes it easy for those of us who don't have a lot of time to read.

This is an easy read, great travel book. Very different view of relationships in a down to earth, very realistic manner. Recommended for sales and marketing professionals, great info to share with your sales associates.

Harvey's ideas and strategy for networking are right on the mark. Easy reading, as is all his books. For someone who is tired of cold calling this is a must.