How Books Helped Me Succeed In Business

What A Difference A Book Makes

Nine years ago I was introduced to what would eventually become TEAM and began my journey as a student of leadership. This was a real stretch to even think about because the term leader means you have to have something to do with people. I had been an introvert for 39 years and nobody would have pegged me as being able to wield influence. My shyness was so bad that I would go out of my way to avoid a conversation with someone I didn’t know well. This was very painful because I wanted very badly to have friends and be liked but I didn’t know how. So after 39 years I just came to the conclusion that I was not a people person and would never be a people person and I might as well accept that I was an island to myself.
Now I had another problem, after 8 years of student loans, a mortgage, 2 vehicle loans credit card debt and a business loan to pay off I had to start thinking outside the box. So when George Guzzardo talked to me about a business idea that involved people I got started. If there would have been any other financial alternative I probably would have chickened out. I had to try and thank goodness I did.
So the first year or so was interesting, me and people, didn’t seem funny at the time but now I can look back and laugh. I was desperate to make it work but had no people skills whatsoever. My results after a year were a big goose egg . After explaining to George and Orrin that it wasn’t working they asked, Are you meeting with people? Yes. Are you listening to Cds? Yes. Are you attending all seminars and events? Yes. Are you reading the books? Well I am on book of the month. Have you read them? Not exactly. They recommended “How To Have Confidence and Power In Dealing With People”. Obviously they new I struggled in the people skills department.
I devoured that book, read it, studied it and took notes on it. All of the concepts it talked about made sense. Smile at people, listen to people, accept people where their at, find something you approve of in a person, appreciate a person by lifting them up to others. Some might say that these concepts are nothing new so why read a book about them. They are right, pure common sense. But if you notice hardly anyone practices this common knowledge. I could not put the book down and wondered where this book had been all my life. If I had read this in high school I might have actually gotten a date.
That book lead me to other books and the next thing I new I was reading 5 or 6 books a month. Result, no consumer debt, no financial stress, my wife and I have a better marriage, better relationship with my children, hundreds of friends and not afraid of people any more. Here are a few of my favorite books that helped and continue to help me with my people skills.

1. How To Win Friends And Influence people
2. Personality Plus
3. The Great Connection
4. How I raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling
5. Becoming A Person Of Influence