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The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea (Go-Giver, Book 1 Hardcover – October 6, 2015
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“Most people just laugh when they hear that the secret to success is giving....Then again, most people are nowhere near as successful as they wish they were.”
The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be. Desperate to land a key sale at the end of a bad quarter, he seeks advice from the enigmatic Pindar, a legendary consultant referred to by his many devotees simply as the Chairman.
Over the next week, Pindar introduces Joe to a series of “go-givers”: a restaurateur, a CEO, a financial adviser, a real estate broker, and the “Connector” who brought them all together. Pindar’s friends teach Joe the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success and help him open himself up to the power of giving. Joe learns that changing his focus from getting to giving—putting others’ interests first and continually adding value to their lives—ultimately leads to unexpected returns.
Imparted with wit and grace, The Go-Giver is a classic bestseller that brings to life the old proverb “Give and you shall receive.” Since its original publication, the term “go-giver” has become shorthand for a defining set of values embraced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Today this timeless story continues to help its readers find fulfillment and greater success in business, in their personal lives and in their communities.
- Print length176 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPortfolio
- Publication dateOctober 6, 2015
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-101591848288
- ISBN-13978-1591848288
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Editorial Reviews
Review
—Publishers Weekly
“The powerful business idea referenced in the title is that ‘shifting the focus from getting to giving and putting the other person first is the key to business success and personal fulfillment.’ … Explanations of these concepts and how to employ them are clear and to the point.”
—Booklist
“The world always needs a fresh approach to its most important messages. The Go-Giver is a great way to continue to spread a positive and enriching message.”
—Soundview Executive Book Alert
“Similar to Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie, providing wisdom and insight on how to be more successful.”
—TheStreet.com
“The Go-Giver has created such a buzz CEOs are buying it in bulk for their entire organizations.”
—Huffington Post
“A cross between Jonathan Livingston Seagull and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People … an uplifting, quick read of a book that will appeal to customers who want to bring more heart and a holistic sense of mission to their livelihoods.”
—Retailing Insight
“Deftly written and thoroughly reader-friendly … informed and informative as well as inspired and inspiring.”
—Midwest Book Review
“The most important parable about business—and life—of our time.”
— Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take
“A must-read for anyone who wants to change the world.”
—Glenn Beck, talk show host and founder of TheBlaze
“A small book that packs a huge idea. As Burg and Mann show in their compelling tale, not only do givers prosper, they also change the world.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive
“The Go-Giver is one of my favorite books ever. It has made a huge difference in my life, and it aligns with everything I stand for. If you don’t have this book, you have to get yourself a copy now.”
—Marie Forleo, founder of B-School and MarieTV
“Not since Who Moved My Cheese? have I enjoyed a parable as much as this. You owe it to yourself to read The Go-Giver and share its message with those who matter most to you. It is a beautiful book, one that will touch your soul and inspire your heart.”
—David Bach, author of The Automatic Millionaire
“If you follow the principles in this fantastic little book—if you really strive to be a ‘go-giver’—you’ll find that Zig Ziglar was right: You really Can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what They want.”
—Dave Ramsey, host of the Dave Ramsey Show
“There are very few books that make you want to buy a copy for every single person you know. The Go-Giver is one of those rare books that turn a reader into an evangelist.”
—Lisa Earle McLeod, author of Selling with Noble Purpose
“The Go-Giver is filled with timeless truths practically presented that will positively transform every reader; it’s a brilliant and easily read guide to doing good and doing well.”
—Rabbi Daniel Lapin, author, Business Secrets from the Bible and Thou Shall Prosper
About the Author
JOHN DAVID MANN is an entrepreneur and award-winning coauthor whose titles include the New York Times bestsellers Flash Foresight and The Red Circle and the national bestsellers Among Heroes and The Slight Edge. His Take the Lead (with Betsy Myers) was named by Tom Peters and the Washington Post as Best Leadership Book of 2011.
Both authors also collaborated on Go-Givers Sell More and The Go-Giver Leader. Visit www.thegogiver.com
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
To Mike and Myrna Burg and Alfred and Carolyn Mann, who gave us everything.
Foreword
Giving, touching others’ lives, expanding the circle of our concern to include others, being authentic, and being always open to receiving as well as giving. That’s not just a children’s fairy tale—it’s a good description of many of the most amazing people I’ve encountered.
And while they may live and work in different countries and in different fields, they all share the same core giving philosophy. This book captures that philosophy and shows that it is more than a fable, a parable, or a pipe dream. It’s real—a path that people can follow in their daily lives.
People want to believe that this is the way the world can work: that living with a focus on others isn’t just a nice goal but that it can be a way of life, and can lead to a life that is full, rich and fulfilling. But then, too often, we feel pressured by the voices (both external and internal) of cynicism and resignation, telling us, “It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there—you’ve got to look out for #1.”
Too many people think, “Oh, sure, once you’ve achieved success and financial stability, then you can afford to be a giving person!” But in this book, Bob Burg and John David Mann—who, among other things, have given us the term go-giver—tell us that, in fact, being a giving person is how you achieve success in the first place, however you define success.
Too often people hear “be a giver” and think of charities and writing checks, of “giving back” once we have already done well for ourselves. But that’s only one very specific facet of giving. By “be a giver,” Bob and John mean be a giving person, period: one who gives thought, gives attention, gives care, gives focus, gives time and energy—gives value to others.
Not as a quid pro quo, not as a strategy to get ahead, but because it is, in and of itself, a satisfying and fulfilling way to be.
Arianna Huffington
Introduction to the Revised Edition
Not long after The Go-Giver first appeared, we got a letter from a man named Arlin Sorensen. The CEO of an Iowa IT firm, Arlin had organized a Go-Giver–themed summer retreat for more than two hundred peer-group companies. Inspired by the ideas in the book, several conference participants flew out to another state, on their own dime, to help brainstorm solutions for a colleague whose company was on the verge of closure. The firm pulled back from the brink and saw banner profits the following quarter—and the two men who’d done the consulting were surprised to find that what they learned in the process helped boost growth in their own companies, too.
All of which, Arlin told us, was a result of his reading our “little story about a powerful business idea.”
And Arlin wasn’t the only one sending us reports like this. People in all sorts of businesses started telling us that our story was changing the way they did things. Chambers of Commerce told us they were adopting Go-Giver precepts as part of their professional code and giving copies of the book to their members to help their businesses become more successful. A fitness club challenged its staff to continually come up with creative improvements in the business based on the book’s core principles. A legal firm reported using the book to help more effectively negotiate matrimonial disputes.
The Go-Giver started as a book but soon became a movement. Our hero Joe’s struggle to gain an advantage in his business (some “clout and leverage,” as he put it) and his encounters with his mentor’s counterintuitive principles describing how the world really works (“the more you give, the more you have”) seemed to strike a chord—and not only in the world of business. Before long we were hearing from parents, teachers, pastors and counselors who were using the book in their work, and in their lives, too.
• A high school teacher in Indiana told us he was taking his school’s senior class through the book because he found it “better equipped them to do well in the world.” He has done it with every graduating class since.
• An executive chef at an exclusive Houston country club started using it to train his management team to reach even higher levels of excellence and member satisfaction.
• A Lithuanian expat in London moved back to her homeland and started her own publishing company just so she could share the book with her compatriots in their own language. “Your book will change our country,” she told us.
From book clubs to executive councils, law firms to prayer groups, energy conglomerates to nursing homes, pizza shop managers to graduate school professors, people wrote to tell us how they were using the book. And it wasn’t that they were saying they liked it. They were saying something better than that.
They were saying it worked.
Business owners told us the book helped them make their businesses more successful. In some cases, struggling businesses experienced a complete turnaround after implementing the “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success” Joe learns in these pages. Companies large and small started using it to train their sales and customer service teams to generate both more sales and happier customers. People reported using the Five Laws to great effect in their marriages and approach to parenting.
All of the foregoing might seem to suggest that the “secrets” in The Go-Giver must be startlingly new and original. They aren’t, of course. The ideas here are as old as humanity. One of the messages we hear most often is some variation of “This is how I always thought (or always hoped) things worked. . . . I just never quite knew how to put it into words.” When these readers crack open the pages of Joe’s adventure, they tell us, they discover something they always knew somewhere inside themselves: that while the world may at times appear to be a dog-eat-dog place, there is actually a set of much kinder and vastly more powerful principles operating beneath the surface of casual appearances.
But don’t take our word for it.
After reading what Joe and his mentor Pindar have to say, we invite you to take the next step and explore it for yourself. Follow Pindar’s Condition: test every law you read here and see what happens. “Not by thinking about it,” as Pindar tells Joe in chapter 2, “not by talking about it, but by applying it in your life.”
Enjoy—and our best wishes for your stratospheric success.
Bob Burg and John David Mann
October 2015
1: The Go-Getter
If there was anyone at the Clason-Hill Trust Corporation who was a go-getter, it was Joe. He worked hard, worked fast, and was headed for the top. At least, that was his plan. Joe was an ambitious young man, aiming for the stars.
Still, sometimes it felt as if the harder and faster he worked, the further away his goals appeared. For such a dedicated go-getter, it seemed like he was doing a lot of going but not a lot of getting.
Work being as busy as it was, though, Joe didn’t have much time to think about that. Especially on a day like today—a Friday, with only a week left in the quarter and a critical deadline to meet. A deadline he couldn’t afford not to meet.
• • •
Today, in the waning hours of the afternoon, Joe decided it was time to call in a favor, so he placed a phone call—but the conversation wasn’t going well.
“Carl, tell me you’re not telling me this . . .” Joe took a breath to keep the desperation out of his voice. “Neil Hansen?! Who the heck is Neil Hansen? . . . Well I don’t care what he’s offering, we can meet those specs . . . wait—c’mon, Carl, you owe me one! You know you do! Hey, who saved your bacon on the Hodges account? Carl, hang on . . . Carl!”
Joe clicked off the TALK button on his cordless phone and made himself calmly set down the instrument. He took a deep breath.
Joe was desperately trying to land a large account, an account he felt he richly deserved—one he needed, if he wanted to make his third-quarter quota. Joe had just missed his quota in the first quarter, and again in the second. Two strikes . . . Joe didn’t even want to think about a third.
“Joe? You okay?” a voice asked. Joe looked up into the concerned face of his coworker Melanie Matthews. Melanie was a well-meaning, genuinely nice person. Which was exactly why Joe doubted she would survive long in a competitive environment like the seventh floor, where they both worked.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Was that Carl Kellerman on the phone? About the BK account?”
Joe sighed. “Yeah.”
He didn’t need to explain. Everyone on the floor knew who Carl Kellerman was. He was a corporate broker looking for the right firm to handle an account Joe had nicknamed the Big Kahuna, or BK for short.
According to Carl, the boss at Big Kahuna didn’t think Joe’s firm had the “clout and leverage” to put the deal together. Now some character he’d never heard of had underbid and outperformed him. Carl claimed there was nothing he could do about it.
“I just don’t get it,” Joe said.
“I’m so sorry, Joe,” said Melanie.
“Hey, sometimes you eat the bear . . .” He flashed a confident grin, but all he could think about was what Carl had said. As Melanie walked back to her desk, Joe sat lost in thought. Clout and leverage . . .
Moments later he leaped up and walked over to Melanie’s desk. “Hey, Mel?”
She looked up.
“Do you remember talking with Gus the other day, something about a big wheel consultant giving a talk somewhere next month? You called him the Captain or something?”
Melanie smiled. “Pindar. The Chairman.”
Joe snapped his fingers. “That’s it! That’s the guy. What’s his last name?”
Melanie frowned. “I don’t think . . .” She shrugged. “No, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it mentioned. Everyone calls him the Chairman, or just Pindar. Why? You want to go hear the talk?”
“Yeah . . . maybe.” But Joe was not interested in some lecture happening a month away. He was interested in only one thing—and that one thing needed to happen by the following Friday, when the third quarter came to an end.
“I was thinking, this guy is a real heavy hitter, right? Charges huge consulting fees, works only for the biggest and best firms? Major clout. I know we could handle the BK account, but I’m gonna need some big guns to win the deal back. I need leverage. Any idea how I can get a line to this Chairman guy’s office?”
Melanie looked at Joe as if he were proposing to wrestle a grizzly bear. “You’re just going to call him up?!”
Joe shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”
Melanie shook her head. “I have no idea how to contact him. Why don’t you ask Gus?”
• • •
As Joe headed back to his desk, he wondered how Gus had managed to survive this long at Clason-Hill Trust. He never saw him do any actual work. Yet Gus had an enclosed office, while Joe, Melanie and a dozen others shared the open space of the seventh floor. Some said Gus had gotten his office because of seniority. Others said he’d earned it on merit.
Product details
- Publisher : Portfolio; Reissue,Expanded edition (October 6, 2015)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1591848288
- ISBN-13 : 978-1591848288
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15 in Sales & Selling (Books)
- #87 in Motivational Management & Leadership
- #222 in Success Self-Help
- Customer Reviews:
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About the authors
Bob Burg speaks for corporations and associations internationally, including fortune 500 companies, franchises, and numerous direct sales organizations.
Bob regularly addresses audiences ranging in size from 50 to 16,000 — sharing the platform with notables including today’s top thought leaders, broadcast personalities, Olympic athletes and political leaders including a former United States President.
Although for years he was best known for his book "Endless Referrals" it’s his business parable, "The Go-Giver" (coauthored with John David Mann) that has captured the imagination of his readers.
"The Go-Giver," a The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller, has sold well over one million copies. Since its release it has consistently stayed in the top 25 on 800ceoread’s Business Book Bestsellers List. It has been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of the Most Motivational Books Ever Written, and was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time.
Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over two million copies.
The American Management Association named Bob one of the Top 30 Leaders in Business and he was named one of the Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World by Richtopia.
Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve.
He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic and served on the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption and Clinic in his town of Jupiter, Florida.
John David Mann is an award-winning author whose writings have earned the Nautilus Award, the Axiom Business Book Award (Gold Medal), Taiwan's Golden Book Award for Innovation, and the 2017 Living Now Book Awards “Evergreen Medal” for “contribution to positive global change.” He is coauthor of the worldwide classic THE GO-GIVER with Bob Burg (more than 1 million copies sold) and 4 New York Times bestsellers. His books are published in 38 languages and have sold more than 3 million copies. His first novel, STEEL FEAR (coauthored with Brandon Webb) was released in July 2021; iconic author Lee Child called it “sensationally good—an instant classic, maybe an instant legend,” and it was nominated for a Barry Award. Jeffery Deaver hailed the 2022 sequel, COLD FEAR, as “one of the best crime novels of the year.” You can read John’s thoughts on entering the world of crime fiction at https://bit.ly/36ASxAa
John has been creating careers since he was a teenager. At age 17, he and a few friends started their own high school in Orange, New Jersey called Changes, Inc. In his teens he forged a successful career as a concert cellist and prize-winning composer. At 15 he was recipient of the 1969 BMI Awards to Student Composers, then their youngest award recipient ever; his musical score for Aeschylus’s “Prometheus Bound” (written at age 13) was performed at the amphitheater in Epidaurus, Greece, where the play was originally premiered.
His diverse career has made him a thought leader in several different industries. In 1986 John founded and wrote for Solstice, a journal on health and environmental issues; his series on the climate crisis (yes, he was writing about this back in the eighties) was selected for national reprint in Utne Reader. During the nineties he built a multimillion-dollar sales/distribution organization of over 100,000 people. He was cofounder and senior editor of the legendary journal Upline and editor in chief of Networking Times.
He is married to Ana Gabriel Mann, his coauthor for THE GO-GIVER MARRIAGE, and considers himself the luckiest mann in the world. You can visit him at www.johndavidmann.com.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book easy to read and inspiring. They appreciate the simple yet powerful lessons and thoughts it sparks. The story is described as a great concept embedded in a powerful business idea. The book provides a practical, behavioral approach to getting there. Readers love the reminder to focus on giving rather than taking. The principles are applicable in today's business and are excellent for those in sales.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the simple framework and relatable road map it provides. The story is compelling and entertaining, making it a must-read for readers.
"What an amazing book, the wisdom is both paractical and timeless making it competing for personal amd professional growth...." Read more
"...Simple stories that teach are valuable in that they are easy to remember, to recreate in your mind and then hang the lessons on the appropriate..." Read more
"...This is a must read for anyone who wants to make an impact. A brilliant and a compelling story...." Read more
"...by Joe Berg and John David Mann, is clever, engaging, positive, and profitable. Also, it’s short and to the point. I recommend it highly...." Read more
Customers find the book inspiring and helpful for understanding mindsets, perspectives, and motivation. They appreciate the simple truths that have the greatest impact. The book is described as encouraging, practical, and transformative. Readers say it provides valuable information and has a profound effect right from the start.
"...reminder to focus on giving rather than taking, making it an inspiring annual read for anyone driving for success and fulfillment." Read more
"...Except that is not generally the case. Simple truths carry the most power, are far reaching and have the greatest impact...." Read more
"...depends on an ongoing willingness to receive; (6) a 100% commitment to the good of others (not 50/50 compromise or keeping score) is the key to good..." Read more
"A lot to learn from this book, gives a more value driven approach to your thinking. An excellent read and great story." Read more
Customers find the book's story engaging. They describe it as a relatable business parable that takes a narrative approach to convey its message. The stories are easy for readers to remember and recreate in their minds, keeping them engaged. Overall, customers find the book's message powerful and transcending the realm of business.
"What an amazing book, the wisdom is both paractical and timeless making it competing for personal amd professional growth...." Read more
"...that teach are valuable in that they are easy to remember, to recreate in your mind and then hang the lessons on the appropriate parts of the story...." Read more
"...A brilliant and a compelling story. The lessons learned in this book are priceless and timeless" Read more
"...An excellent read and great story." Read more
Customers find the book effective. They say it explains how life and business work in a practical way, providing a behavioral approach to success. The book is powerful, easy to read, and follow, helping you put giving and success on your radar. It provides a practical application of common sense in an easy-to-understand way.
"...The Go-Giver provides a practical, behavioral approach to getting there." Read more
"...A very insightful, powerful and enjoyable parable/story that reminds us of the basics of success - which start with giving and circle back with..." Read more
"...its message through a story is not for everyone, yet I do think it is effective...." Read more
"...-oriented on your path to business and life satisfaction and success struck a chord...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's message about giving. They find it an inspiring reminder to focus on giving rather than taking. The story teaches them that being generous is always appreciated. Readers appreciate the simple explanation of the characteristics of giving.
"...Serves as a great reminder to focus on giving rather than taking, making it an inspiring annual read for anyone driving for success and fulfillment." Read more
"...The Law of Authenticity The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself. Authenticity - it's who you are...." Read more
"...There is value in kindness, authenticity, and generosity. What do you have to give? How can you add value to your everyday interactions?..." Read more
"...One of the most impactful aspects of this book is its emphasis on the power of generosity, empathy, and genuine connection in business...." Read more
Customers find the principles in the book applicable in today's business and life. They find the rules easy to follow and apply right away. The book reiterates the ancient law of sowing and reaping.
"...I can see through practicality that it can be applied in work and life. I plan on implementing this way of living into my life." Read more
"...believable characters that share a life lesson that can be immediately tried out by the reader because in a way, the writer shows that small steps..." Read more
"...treasures I’ve found in this book are very eye-opening and can be used on a daily basis whether it’s business or generally." Read more
"Based on universal laws such as the Law of Attraction and the Law of Abundance, after reading this fast paced story you'll understand how being a "..." Read more
Customers find the book provides a new perspective on selling. They say it's practical and easy to understand, with ideas about contributing value and being other-oriented. The book is described as an outstanding primer for Ninja Selling and a must-read for entrepreneurs and business people.
"These are principles found throughout the Bible told in a marketplace, friendly and entertaining format...." Read more
"...I consider this to be an essential guide for entrepreneurs, salespeople, leaders, parents, spouses, etc...." Read more
"...The ideas about contributing value and being other-oriented on your path to business and life satisfaction and success struck a chord...." Read more
"...wrote my review about Ninja Selling, and this book is the primer for Ninja Selling...." Read more
Customers enjoy the relatable characters and authentic realities. They root for the characters from the beginning and find them honest, charismatic, and honest people. The authors are described as great people and the book is praised for its sincerity and insightfulness.
"...the heart and gives hope that you can becomes simultaneously an amazing person and amazingly successful...." Read more
"The author uses a relatable character to put over some sound advice...." Read more
"...I also enjoyed the character development in Joe...." Read more
"...The concepts are presented through a series of encounters with believable characters that share a life lesson that can be immediately tried out by..." Read more
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Great book - jacket torn 😕
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2024What an amazing book, the wisdom is both paractical and timeless making it competing for personal amd professional growth. Serves as a great reminder to focus on giving rather than taking, making it an inspiring annual read for anyone driving for success and fulfillment.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2013I get it. If something is complicated and complex, then it must have value. Except that is not generally the case. Simple truths carry the most power, are far reaching and have the greatest impact. Simple stories that teach are valuable in that they are easy to remember, to recreate in your mind and then hang the lessons on the appropriate parts of the story. This is the value of Bob Burg's and John David Mann's "The Go-Giver".
Full disclosure here. I am a coach and speaker with the John Maxwell Team, and as such, I am frequently recommending one of John's 73 books. However, "The Go-Giver" is the book that I recommend most to clients, associates and friends, often giving it as a gift, because it embodies the foundational thoughts behind the cutting edge of business in today's market place. (see Daniel Pink's excellent new book "To Sell Is Human" To Sell Is Human) A simply told story constructed around powerful truths makes a dynamic case.
Some might argue that these "truths" are pie in the sky and while they sound nice, they just don't work in the real world of business. Tell that to Zappos, Caribou Coffee, Apple, Costco Wholesale and a slew of successful companies that operate on principles just like these.
THE FIVE LAWS OF STRATOSPHERIC SUCCESS
The Law of Value
Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment.
The Law of Compensation
Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how you serve them.
The Law of Influence
Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place others people's interests first.
givers attract, they're magnetic
The Law of Authenticity
The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.
Authenticity - it's who you are.
The Law of Receptivity
The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.
GOLDEN RULE OF BUSINESS: All things being equal - people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust.
Also check out Bob Burg's and John David Mann's follow up book "It's Not About You". It's Not About You: A Little Story About What Matters Most in Business
Give me a simple story any day - it's the one I'll remember!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2024This is the first time ever I write a book review! This is a must read for anyone who wants to make an impact. A brilliant and a compelling story. The lessons learned in this book are priceless and timeless
- Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2018The Go Giver, by Joe Berg and John David Mann, is clever, engaging, positive, and profitable. Also, it’s short and to the point. I recommend it highly. What’s more, it is rooted in timeless principles.
The ideas that: (1) nothing is as it seems; (2) success depends on being the right kind of person; (3) a person can and must be transformed by doing what he hears; (4) givers meet needs in ways that add value to whatever they are producing or selling or offering by way of service; (5) giving depends on an ongoing willingness to receive; (6) a 100% commitment to the good of others (not 50/50 compromise or keeping score) is the key to good relationships and influence, that (7) increasing the numbers of people you impact determines compensation, and that (8) success depends on interrelatedness (connection, network, “body life”), are all consistent with the goal of following Christ as described in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7. In summary, the idea that happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction are by-products of serving others—not the result of seeking these things for their own sake—is consistent with Jesus’ teaching that finding one’s life requires the willingness to lose it for Christ’s sake (Luke 9:24).
A major contribution that The Go Giver makes is its practical demonstration that possessing wealth and doing good are meant to go together, not be regarded as antithetical. This is consistent with 1 Timothy 6:17ff.
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
The authors assert that the principles that work for business are applicable for all of life. This is in keeping with the Christian idea that God’s existence means that He and all of reality that He created has a nature, a way of being that works accordingly. So the book, The Go Giver, is either a deliberate application (at worst, a conscious rip off) of biblical principles or, more likely, a pragmatic discovery of what works because of the nature of life and relationships—including business. Either way, two observations follow. One is that all truth is God’s truth whether people recognize Him as its original source or not. The other is that The Go Giver promotes superior principles for inferior (and inadequate) motivations: to be humanly successful in this life. The principle that it fails to recognize is this: “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:25).
The true “bottom line,” according to the Bible, is that life is to realize the meaning, purpose, and success of serving God for His glory. This requires spiritual life not found outside of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That many principles of this service can be profitably reduced to best practices in business, industry, and human relationships is not disputed and should not be surprising or disparaged. But temporary enjoyment of people’s individual kingdoms is not worthy to be compared to the privilege of entering God’s eternal kingdom now, and inheriting it forever.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2024A lot to learn from this book, gives a more value driven approach to your thinking. An excellent read and great story.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2024I appreciate the quick delivery however, the book jacket came torn which is a bummer. This was supposed to be a gift. Better handling when packing is encouraged!
Looking forward to reading!!
I appreciate the quick delivery however, the book jacket came torn which is a bummer. This was supposed to be a gift. Better handling when packing is encouraged!
Looking forward to reading!!
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2024This book was a quick, easy read. I greatly appreciated the essence and lessons brought about by the author. I can see through practicality that it can be applied in work and life. I plan on implementing this way of living into my life.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024These are principles found throughout the Bible told in a marketplace, friendly and entertaining format. My only wish is that the book wouldn’t have ended so soon.
Top reviews from other countries
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Renata CarinhatoReviewed in Brazil on March 14, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Lições para todos os aspectos de nossas vidas
Conduta impecável para sempre criar valor em nossas relações.
Oferecer ajuda, conectar pessoas, transformar a vida dos outros é certamente o caminho que trará a nós tudo o que buscamos.
Indico muito! Livro rápido, inspirador e real.
- MarlynReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 20, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Changing mindset
Valuable small book with lessons as parables. So memorable.
- SmartSellReviewed in Belgium on February 21, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A super-feel good book. Must read.
The world can get more complex everyday. It is still run by people and everything is about human bonds and connections. These 5 laws when well understood, are true levers.
- Hossam AfifiReviewed in the Netherlands on January 21, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
This book is a must-read for any business professional looking to make a positive impact in the world of business. This thought-provoking book tells the story of Joe, a young, ambitious businessman who is struggling to achieve success in his career. Through a series of encounters with a wise mentor named Pindar, Joe learns the five laws of stratospheric success: value, compensation, influence, authenticity, and receptivity.
One of the most compelling aspects of this book is the way it presents these laws in a simple, easy-to-understand format. The authors use a story format to illustrate the concepts, making them relatable and memorable. The book is a quick read, but it packs a powerful punch and leaves a lasting impression.
One of the main themes of the book is the importance of adding value to others. The authors argue that true success comes not from taking, but from giving. By focusing on providing value to others, Joe learns to build strong relationships and gain the trust and respect of his colleagues and clients. This message is an important reminder that in the world of business, it is essential to focus on the needs of others and not just on our own self-interest.
Another key takeaway from the book is the importance of authenticity. Joe learns that in order to be successful, he must be true to himself and his values. The authors argue that authenticity is the key to building trust and respect in business, and that by being true to ourselves, we can create a better world for everyone.
The Go-Giver is a book that is both inspiring and practical. The authors provide a wealth of real-world examples and actionable advice that can be applied to any business situation. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting out, this book will provide valuable insights and inspiration to help you achieve success in your career.
- Ivan MartinReviewed in France on July 16, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most satisfying and inspiring book ever!
If you're seeking for the relational gold that you know is possible in life and in business, this (more than a) book will definitely help you find it! _ One of the few.