March 2023 Topic: What is your favorite (business) book? And why?
By Cheryl Clark with Clark Strategies
This question is not an easy one to answer.
My first thought is boy there are so many, but the truth is – there are so many pieces and parts of a multitude of books. I don’t recall a whole book and the learning it provided, but I absolutely do retain a bit from here and there and can bring it forward when my brain needs to reflect on it.
With that being said, let me share two books. Book #1 – I have read several times and I use what I learned in this book DAILY. Book #2 – I have read maybe twice and can not directly recall quotes and sayings from the book, but the overall principal and thought process I try my best to follow, and love the energy behind it all.
Book #1 – The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. If you KNOW me – this will not be a surprise.
Book #2 – The Go-Giver by Bob Burg.
Have you ever had that one client that just seems to always be asking for something ‘more’? Or how about a client that seems so unsure of themselves and is needing reassurance that they are making the best decisions for their business? Maybe you have a client that always seems to want just a ‘few minutes’ of your time for a chat? I am telling you, my friends, the book The Five Love Languages ROCKS for understanding people! People in general – partners, friends, and clients!
This book is a game changer in allowing us to understand how others receive and feel ‘loved’. Let’s change that ‘love’ word to validated, cared for, acknowledged, important, valued, and seen. All our clients want to feel and believe they are validated, cared for, acknowledged, important, valued, and seen – right? I mean think about it – you want that business-wise and personally, as well.
When we know how others receive and feel – we can speak to them in a way they can understand and get what ‘they need’ from our interactions!
That person needing reassurance of their decisions – positive affirmations is their love language.
That person needing a quick meeting here and there – quality time is their love language.
The one soul who is always asking for something more – gifts and or acts of service may be their love language.
Understanding the person – meeting their needs and talking their language – will take your business to a whole new level, and I don’t just mean monetarily.
Which brings me to book #2 – The Go-Giver!
Fourminutebooks.com summarizes The Go-Giver with these words, “The Go-Giver teaches a pattern for becoming a better person and seeing more success in business and work by focusing on being authentic and giving as much value as possible.” See how this all ties in now! I promise I didn’t do this intentionally but as I started to write this blog I thought wow. Give value – be authentic, be a better person – see success.
People are the root of our success – without people, we will never achieve it.
My two favorite business books!
Love people how they need to be loved, give them the love, and the ripple returns right back to each of us in so many ways, not the least of which is through us being a better person and our business seeing success.
For the record – my love languages are physical touch and quality time – oh, there’s nothing like hugs and time together. They feed my soul.
Grateful for this blog prompt! The reflection on these books did my soul good!
You know how I feel about Chapman’s contribution to society, but would you believe me if I told you I have yet to read Burg’s book? Looking forward to it even more now that I read this post!