November 2008 From Kevin Knebl

Hello again to my friends, family, colleagues, and clients. Many of you know me personally through work, networking or through one of my speaking engagements related to sales skills, effective networking and personal development; and some of you may know me only by email and telephone. Welcome to everyone that’s new to this distribution list.

There are a lot of very smart and interesting people that I am fortunate to network with. We share books, movies, music and ideas that stimulate us. I'm always interested to learn what other people that I respect are reading, watching and listening to. This is my monthly email newsletter with books I’ve recently read, movies seen, music devoured, ideas and other things that may be of interest to you. If you find this interesting and would like to pass it on, please feel free to do so. If you’d like to be removed from this list just let me know. If someone forwarded this newsletter to you and you would like to be added to this distribution list or if you’d like to view previous newsletters, please email me and let me know.

Thank you for all the great feedback on this newsletter. I always respond to all comments and am pleased to say that this newsletter goes out to readers all over the US, Canada, China, Singapore, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Finland, England, Spain and even New Jersey (Joizy….what exit?).

I use LinkedIn.com for business networking, Facebook.com for social networking and Plaxo.com for keeping track of contact information. Through LinkedIn, I have been able to refer a tremendous amount of business and connect many people for business purposes. If we are not already connected on LinkedIn, please contact me to connect and if I’m able to refer business your way, I’ll be happy to do so. Please also consider connecting to me through Facebook as it is a fantastic way to keep up to date with your friends all over the globe (and a lot of fun).

A number of people have asked that I insert an announcement indicating whether I have any upcoming speaking engagements that are open to the public. I do have a few public speaking engagements this month. If you have an interest in dates, times and speaking topics, please let me know.

Well, it’s started snowing here in beautiful Colorado. This is such an amazing time of year. The leaves have turned yellow and are dropping and the mountains are all snow-capped. We’ll get snow and a cold but sunny day and then the next day will be 65 degrees. It’s never boring and almost always sunny- heaven on earth.

A BOOK TO PUT ON YOUR MUST READ LIST
Endless Referrals (Third Edition)- Bob Burg
This is the true networker’s “what it is and how-to” bible….period. I first read this masterpiece back in 1994 when Bob wrote it. I applied what he taught and have turned thousands of everyday contacts into friendships and also into many profitable business relationships. I cannot speak highly enough of this book. It literally saved me when we picked up and moved from New Jersey to Colorado five years ago. We moved 2000 miles and I didn’t know a soul in Colorado except my brother. I used Bob’s methods and abided by his principles (just as I had done in NJ for years) and in less than a year I had a healthy network of business and personal relationships. Within two years I was being asked to teach networking seminars to groups in Colorado Springs and Denver (and I’m a few chapters away from finishing my first book…on, you guessed it, networking from a business and social perspective). I am no rocket scientist (and if you know me well, you know this), so these techniques and approaches to building and cultivating a large network definitely work.
Bob dispels all the old clichés about networking. Effective networking is not about “schmoozing” or “working the room” or going to Chamber events and throwing business cards at people; it’s about taking a sincere interest in others and helping them accomplish their goals. It’s about understanding that when you help enough other people succeed you automatically succeed. This is not motivational drivel, this is fact.
Bob lays out his “Endless Referrals System” in simple, easy to follow steps. Like most truths, they are simple, but don’t mistake simple for naïve or pedantic. Many people don’t succeed in sales or in developing a network because they overlook the simple yet extremely effective little things. His “10 Feel-Good Questions” are gold and are really the secret behind almost all the sales I’ve ever made, regardless of industry. God is in the details.
Here are some great quotes from Burg’s book:
· The best way to get business and get referrals is to give business and give referrals. Continually look for opportunities to refer business whenever you can. Position yourself as a referral source.
· Give someone more in use value than what you take from them. This simply means, always do your best to add to the other person’s life and success, without concern-especially at the beginning-for what you are receiving from the relationship.
· This is the grand paradox of giving and receiving: When you give purely out of the love of giving, you cannot help but receive. Yet when you give only in order to receive, it doesn’t work out nearly as well!!
· Superstar networkers, those whose businesses are extremely profitable and whose personal lives are filled with friends and loving relationships, share two powerful traits in common. Number one, they are givers. Number two, they are “connectors.”
· The moment we start to talk about the internet and its uses in the world of building your businesses through networking, I always caution people to understand that while it is a powerful tool, it is just that: a tool, not a panacea. It won’t work for you any more than will any other great tool. You must be its master-not its servant. This might sound a little dramatic, but the reason I say this is that people often get caught up in this great technology and forget that people don’t do business with or refer business to computers. They do business with, and refer business to, people-specifically, those people they know, like, and trust!
When he wrote the book in 1994, the internet was still in its infancy. The third edition of this great book explores some of the ways that networking regarding the internet has evolved. This is an especially important part of the book that alone would be worth the time to read.
I know Bob and consider him a friend and a mentor although my mentoring has come through his books, appearances and his great ezine (you can sign up for it at www.burg.com). I’ve been able to refer Bob and his speaking engagements to friends here in Colorado and am very happy that in a small way our relationship has come full-circle. The things that I’ve learned over the years from him have become the means by which I have been able to repay him for some of the wisdom and success he’s allowed me to obtain. This book is mandatory reading for anyone wanting to succeed in an ever connected world!
www.burg.com

GREAT MUSIC FOR A RELAXING EVENING
Half the Perfect World- Madeleine Peyroux
Madeleine is often compared to a modern Billie Holiday. She is either an old soul or was “born with it” (depending on one’s theory about the flashpoint of artistry). She was born in Georgia but lived in Paris from age 13 to 22. Peyroux covers songs by Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Fred Neil, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Chaplin and Joni Mitchell and also has four originals on this CD.
Madeleine has three previous CD’s and has really come into a reputation of being one of the timeless interpreters of classic American music. Her 2004 CD, “Careless Love”, won rave reviews and has sold over a million copies. This CD consists of love songs and Madeleine delivers them in her own way. She has a very unpretentious style of singing and you can almost see yourself in a smoke-filled bar in Paris or New Orleans as she croons these classics. The arrangements are understated and simple with most of her singing backed only by guitar, keys, drums and a sax. This is great music for chilling out with a glass of wine after a long day.
www.madeleinepeyroux.com

FREE BOOK OFFER
Last month I reviewed Christine Comaford’s great book, “Rules For Renegades”. Since then I have spoken with Christine and she has made me aware of a great offer. She is giving away 5000 free copies of her book and two free teleclasses explaining how to utilize her life-changing principles as a way to move toward your own financial freedom. This is her very generous way of helping to stimulate the economy. Please look at the link below for details. Thanks, Christine!
http://www.rulesforrenegades.com/

MYSTERY CANDIDATE
My friend, Randy Williams, sent this to me some time ago. Considering that it’s election time, I couldn’t think of a better time to confirm the rumors and to tell the world about this. Enjoy.
http://www.inews3.com/topstory.php?id=4b6576696e7c4b6e65626c

HILARIOUS POLITICAL SKIT
This is one of the best political pieces I’ve ever seen. Only in America would it take a Presidential election to bring back Opie, Andy, Richie and The Fonz. We haven’t seen these people together in 40 years. Regardless of your political persuasion, you have to admit that this is brilliant!
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d

BIG DOG
Here’s one for you science faction people (“faction”, because this is not fiction). It’s almost scary how sophisticated robots and computers are getting. This couldn’t have been realized even ten years ago. And remember, DARPA, brought this to us. DARPA is the same group that started the internet. Think of all the money you’ll save on dog food and litter.
http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

TWO GREAT MUSIC VIDEOS
I recently came across the band, “The Hoosiers”. What a great group. Here’s a couple of guys from England and a guy from Sweden who gave themselves an American name. They write clever songs that have catchy melodies. The lead singer’s voice can hit notes that I couldn’t hit even if I got nailed by a Titleist at 50 yards. I actually like their version of “We Didn’t Start The Fire” more than Billy Joel’s and I used to play piano for a living (that’s saying something).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSRusuCD6b4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVDDK8yzIYY&feature=related

To your success,
Kevin