Networking is an important skill for many careers and areas of life. That being said, many people don’t know how to start the process of networking and use these skills to their advantage. In Ron Sukenick and Ken Williams’ book “21 Days to Success Through Networking,” real life situations are used to show readers how to utilize networking in their personal and professional lives.
The book follows fictional character Gnik Rowten, whose clever name is “networking” spelled backwards, through three weeks of his life. Gnik has just moved to a new city and has very few connections and resources. Gnik wants to pursue a new career and start a marketing firm but doesn’t know where to begin. He realizes that this clean slate could be a great chance to reinvent himself.
Each day Gnik learns a new lesson and has an “Aha!” moment of realization. These lessons are the necessary new skills he needs to build confidence and go after his dream. Gnik meets new people, tries new things, and builds upon each day’s lesson with an ever-growing positive attitude.
Social network sites and blogging are mentioned frequently in the book. Gnik initially only uses these to keep in contact with his friends and family back home. After speaking with professionals around the city, though, Gnik realizes that he should do more with social networking.
He creates LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, and a website to attach his blog to. Gnik realizes that he can use these sites to draw in business and spread the word about the company he wants to start.
Social networking can be a key factor to success in today’s world, which thrives around the Internet.
This book is truly unique and helpful to readers because it not only shows steps of how to network, but it teaches readers that they themselves are capable of doing it. The book encourages people who may not think they’re savvy or resourceful enough that they can network and be successful at it.
The lessons Gnik learns in the book apply to daily life as much as they do networking. He realized that giving to others was a gift of happiness to him. Even if all he had to give was time and understanding, people appreciate it. Gnik put away his phone and just listened to people who needed someone to talk to, and his life greatly improved.
Ron Sukenick is the president and founder of The Relationship Strategies Institute, a global company that trains businesses to develop and improve their professional relationships. Currently,
“21 Days to Success Through Networking” is an Amazon Best Seller. His other books include
“Networking Your Way to Success” and “The Power is in the Connection.”
Ken Williams works as a mentor and presenter for a marketing business and has previous experience with sales management and human resources. He and his daughter Allison Williams are coauthors of “Irregardless,” a book about English grammar.
I found it easy and enjoyable to read this book. Some guides or “how-to” books feel too much like homework and my mind wanders. Since this book is written following the story of a man and his life, it reads much more like a novel with a lesson attached than an instructional manual. At times it came across a bit cliché but overall, the message came through and the advice was helpful.