Posts by Bob Burg
A Lesson From Abe Lincoln on ‘Disarming’ Your Adversaries
The 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln was one of the best when it came to mastering the art of positive persuasion – what I often refer to as, Winning Without Intimidation. He knew how to make friends out of enemies, and keep conflict to a minimum. I believe the following story is an excellent example…
Read MoreA Time for Giving Leadership
We’re in the silly season, the time of U.S. presidential primaries, and one effect of the media assault is that it makes us examine this thing, this force in our lives, called “leadership.” It’s easy to think of leadership as something that relates only to the elite few: the CEO, the president, the general, the…
Read MoreWhy I Call Kat Cole…”The Advancing Woman”
In his classic, The Science of Getting Rich, written way back in 1910, Wallace D. Wattles explained a key principle for advancement in business, regardless of where one starts or how little money or connections they begin with. One advances… by advancing (providing value to) others: “And, in so far as your business consists in dealing…
Read MoreWisdom from an Exceptional Leader
Would the principles that make one an effective, successful and happy individual create those same results for a company, and for society as a whole? In this absolutely terrific book on leadership, the author says yes, indeed they would. The following is from John A. Allison’s introduction to, The Leadership Crisis And The Free Market Cure:…
Read MoreSelf-Delusion, The Great Disorder: Words of Wisdom from Adam Smith & Russ Roberts
“Self-deception can be more comforting than self-knowledge. We like to fool ourselves.” – Russ Roberts It’s his “other classic”… the one that few in our modern times have ever read, or even heard of. After all, how could Adam Smith, the “Patron Saint of Capitalism” have written a book dealing not with economics but with…self-help!? Yet, the…
Read MoreHow to Effectively Communicate Great Ideas
Having once again watched the DVD version of the two Atlas Shrugged movies released thus far (it’s a trilogy rounded out by the September 13, 2014 opening of its final installment), I think about how effective communication is such a hugely important aspect of selling. Selling – in this case – not just a product or a…
Read MoreJust One More Call!
It sounds a bit cliché to say that you remember something… “like it was just yesterday” when that something actually happened nearly 25 years ago. But I really do. Not necessarily because it was so surprising (though indeed it was) but because it showed me still once again that when you follow a proven principle…
Read MoreOne Big Lesson From A Book… Can Make a Huge Difference in Your Life
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” –Charles William Eliot As an avid reader and learner, many books provide me with a number of immediately-applicable lessons. As evidenced by the dog-eared pages, highlighting, written comments, and yellow sticky-notes…
Read MoreThe Best – And Most Profitable – Policy
“Honesty is not a self-denying virtue. It’s one of the greatest assets a salesperson can have.” ~Harry Browne, The Secret of Selling Anything One fine, sunny Florida morning, while I was deeply engaged in writing my latest book, I missed a phone call from a gentleman saying that the talk show host (very well-known) whose…
Read MoreA Lesson in People Skills from Dr. Franklin
“If some people are so hungry for a feeling of importance that they actually go insane to get it, imagine what miracle you and I can achieve by giving people honest appreciation this side of insanity.” – Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People Have you ever noticed that those who have mastered…
Read MorePositive Speech – Not A Resolution. A Decision
“Gossip is like a fired bullet. Once you hear the sound, you can’t take it back.” – Paul Myers Each of us is born with – and develops over time – a set of traits that make up our character. Some of these traits make us more effective; others not so much. Fortunately, as human…
Read MoreGiving Thanks – A Post-Thanksgiving Thought
The Sages asked, “Who is rich?” then answered, “That person who rejoices in their lot.” So, it’s a week or so after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.). On that special day, we are constantly reminded to feel gratitude and express gratitude for how much we have to be thankful for. Indeed, with all of life’s hurriedness…
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