Whether writing under my pen name Kate Somerset, or showing up as Ann Louden in real life, I've always believed in the enriching value of making memorable connections. As a consultant to nonprofits, I emphasize it’s not the number of donors that guarantees philanthropic support. It’s the quality of relationships with the organization. The deeper the connections, the more likely that donors will significantly invest and re-invest. As a breast cancer survivor/spokesperson, I know the importance of having a support team. And as an author and relationship coach, I emphasize establishing trust in relationships. The books on this list describe how you can be a connector, each with uniquely valuable content. I hope you find them all meaningful!
This book speaks to a core belief of mine–that we are all connected to each other by just a slight degree of separation. I appreciated how Burkus describes how networks of friends can be powerful even when we don’t know someone directly.
Reading the book provided an “ah-ha” moment as I realized that even old ties (dormant relationships) can provide key introductions. When I was leaving Texas to move to New York City, I wrote on the inside jacket of the book’s cover a list of people I once knew in New York who could help me start over in a brand new place. That list—and those contacts—proved invaluable in building my new life.
Everybody knows that in order to expand your business opportunities, it's essential to reach out and build your network. But did you know that it's your secondary, or dormant, contacts who will be the most helpful to you? Or that too many of us inadvertently run the risk of isolating ourselves into corporate silos? And what do the very best networkers do that most of us do not?
Business school professor David Burkus digs deep to find the unexpected networking secrets that provide both a unique and science-based explanation on how best to grow your universe.
I have told countless people about this book; it is one of the most life-changing books I’ve ever read. Bob Beaudine offers a dramatic idea: that each of us is given 15 “who”—people who can profoundly change the course of our lives.
Our “who” consists of 12 friends, 3 close friends, and one best friend who help us achieve our goals and dreams. Each of these people has a sphere of influence and can introduce us to them. Since reading this book, I have paid much closer attention to my “who” and how to stay actively involved with them.
Whenever I need to focus on what’s most important, I remind myself to prioritize the time I devote to interacting with my “who”.
Bob Beaudine believes Networking is Not working for Americans any longer. This highly respected head hunter shares his philosophy on what really works in not only identifying what your dream in life is but how to get it. Using his unique principle Beaudine takes the networking concept, shakes it up and rebuilds it, explaining that we already know everyone we need to know. Bob Beaudine explains this new way for us to achieve our dreams clearly, in a step-by step fashion using his well-tested knowledge to break it down and help us tap into the Power of Who.
Social Security for Future Generations
by
John A. Turner,
This book provides new options for reform of the Social Security (OASI) program. Some options are inspired by the U.S. pension system, while others are inspired by the literature on financial literacy or the social security systems in other countries.
An example of our proposals inspired by the U.S. pension…
When I read this book, the lightbulb went off. I have been in so many situations where I didn’t feel heard, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.
Sorenson explains that truly being connected happens only when we are validated. I never realized that almost every conversation we have is a bid for validation. We are asking others not just to hear us but also to “say something.”
The response can either be positive or engaged—a turning towards us—OR negative or passive—a turning away from us. I couldn’t have put it into these exact words, but I now know that being understood is one of the greatest of human needs and is often unmet. The book underscores that connections happen best through validation.
What if making one tweak to your day-to-day conversations could immediately improve every relationship in your life?
In this 3-hour, conversational read, you’ll discover the whats, whys, and hows of one of the most valuable (yet surprisingly little-known) communication skills available—validation.
Whether you’re looking to improve your relationship with your spouse, navigate difficult conversations at work, or connect on a deeper level with friends and family, this book delivers simple, practical, proven techniques for improving any relationship in your life.
Mastery of this simple skill will enable you to:
Calm (and sometimes even eliminate) the concerns, fears, and uncertainties of…
“Help, I don’t know anyone” was the refrain that played over and over in my head when I moved to New York City after 30 years in Texas. Susan McPherson’s book came to my rescue. Challenging me to think about the experience and expertise I have, the book encouraged me to make connections based on how I could help others. “Make it about them,” McPherson emphasizes. “Understand their world and their circumstances and what you can offer.”
While it took soul searching, I did find ways to benefit others, from initiating introductions, to understanding challenges and finding a means to help, and taking responsibility for keeping relationships moving forward. McPherson is 100% right that connecting is a learned skill. Her book is the perfect primer.
Uncover a new way to network and build relationships that last!
Networking is often considered a necessary evil for all working professionals. With social media platforms like Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at our disposal, reaching potential investors or employers is much easier. Yet, these connections often feel transactional, agenda-driven, and dehumanizing, leaving professionals feeling burnt out and stressed out.
Instead, we should connect on a human level and build authentic relationships beyond securing a new job or a new investor for your next big idea. To build real and meaningful networking contacts, we need to go back to basics,…
Gifts from a Challenging Childhood
by
Jan Bergstrom,
Learn to understand and work with your childhood wounds. Do you feel like old wounds or trauma from your childhood keep showing up today? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed with what to do about it and where to start? If so, this book will help you travel down a path…
As a formerly shy person, I always dreaded walking into a room of people I didn’t know. Even after I became more comfortable in my own skin with age, I still psych myself up to enter a gathering of strangers. Michelle Lederman’s book offered me many practical and tactical skills for not only overcoming those natural fears but also thriving in social situations.
She describes being a connector as a way of thinking. All that’s required, Lederman emphasizes, is being open to new experiences. This approach has helped transform my dread and reduce my anxiety when meeting new people. The rewards of being a connector are many, according to Lederman, including fast-tracking the fulfillment of your goals. I completely agree that the first step is to believe in yourself.
With a record-breaking number of people either out of work or transitioning to remote work, connections-particularly diverse and inclusive connections-are more important than ever. Expanding your connections and being an inclusive Connector is critical to attaining faster, easier, and better results, especially when job hunting, reentering the workforce, or reimagining your current role in the wake of the pandemic.
And even if you are already a Connector, this book will help you take it up a level.
Connectors think and act a certain way that makes things happen faster, easier, and often with a better result. This book will explain:…
Written for anyone apprehensive about entering the dating world in mid-life, my book is a funny, charming, and honest accounting of my experiences in New York City. A lifelong Texan, I moved to Manhattan at the end of a 25-year marriage, never considering I'd date. But once I did, I went big! 15 men, 15 true stories, and 15 very memorable connections are the backdrop for the lessons I share about valuing others.
My pen name Kate Somerset introduces top ten rules to #DateLikeKate. Examples include being approachable, adopting an attitude of respect and gratitude, avoiding pre-judging before knowing, and embracing dating as an adventure. My continuing friendship with many of the men in the book validates my lifelong belief in the value and importance of being an authentic connector.
