Book ~ "Fired Up! : How the Best of the Best Survived and Thrived After Getting the Boot" - Harvey MacKay (2005)

From Amazon.com ~ Everyone loves a comeback and sometimes failure is the best education. That is the theme of this collection of interviews with 28 successful and famous people from all walks of life who, at one time or another, have been fired. Career and business writer, Mackay, shows a remarkable ability to get highly visible people to open up and reveal their dark past. He begins with a conversation with Donald "You're Fired!" Trump, who never actually lost a job per se but came back from being billions in debt for perhaps the greatest personal rebound in financial history. Bernie Marcus was fired from a job as manager of the Handy Dan Home Improvement Center, a chain of 66 stores, but he ultimately extracted sweet revenge by founding Home Depot. Mackay gets an interview with Muhammad Ali, who lost his title when he chose to become a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. It is surprising to learn the difficult beginnings of such notables as Robert Redford, Larry King, Billie Jean King, and Michael Bloomberg.

Most of the stories are interesting.

Book ~ "Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty : The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need" - Harvey MacKay (2005)

From Amazon.com ~ Bestselling author, Harvey Mackay, reveals his techniques for the most essential tool in business--networking, the indispensable art of building contacts. It's his last word on how to get what you want from the world through networking. For everyone from the sales rep facing a career-making deal to the entrepreneur in search of capital, Dig Your Well explains how meeting these needs should be no more than a few calls away. This practical book distills Mackay's wisdom gleaned from years of "swimming with sharks," including:

• What kinds of networks exist
• How to start a network and how to wring the most from it
• The smart way to downsize your list--who to keep, who to dump
• How to keep track of favors done and favors owed--Is it my lunch or yours?
• What you can do if you are not good at small talk

Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty is a must for anyone who wants to get ahead by reaching out.

Good book to read on networking.

Book ~ "Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition" - Harvey MacKay (2005)

From Amazon.com ~ Envelope magnate Mackay exhorts listeners to work harder and smarter, weaving personal anecdotes into a creed of success through persistence, instinct, and planning. Hard-boiled business advice like this benefits managers, salespeople, and entrepreneurs of every stripe. Not without humor, not without a dash of humility, Mackay offers nuggets of advice that may help listeners excel.

Interesting principles told in a quick and snappy style. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by him.