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Who’s got your back?

By | August 20, 2009, 3:00 AM PDT

That’s a question many are asking themselves these days. We all know the right relationships can make all the difference but how do we develop them? Keith Ferrazzi has made it his mission to help.

Having mastered the art of networking and shared his vision in his blockbuster business book, Never Eat Alone, and speeches around the globe Keith is moving deeper down the relationship path. His latest bestseller is “WHO’S GOT YOUR BACK: The Breakthrough Program to Build Deep, Trusting Relationships That Create Success – and Won’t Let You Fail”. Today we’re please to have Keith for a visit.

Can you tell us about how Never Eat Alone connects with Who’s Got Your Back?

Never Eat Alone was about how to create a broad circle of relationships without becoming a ‘networking jerk’ – by approaching people with authentic generosity.

Where NEA went wide, Who’s Got Your Back goes deep, focusing on a select few relationships with a certain level of connection that has a disproportionate effect on who you are, who you become, and what kind of life and success you create for yourself and your community. These are what I call “lifeline relationships” – an inner circle of deep, trusting friends and colleagues who will do everything imaginable so that you won’t fail. Who’s Got Your Back is a guide to learning how to apply the power of peer-to-peer support to your personal and professional development.


What have you learned about transitions and change?

That change isn’t easy – and in particular, sustaining change over time. But also that there’s an incredibly effective tool to do it that’s largely untapped in the day-to-day business setting. It is, however, at work all around us in high-powered executive forums and in behavioral change groups like Weight Watchers and 12 step programs. That tool is peer support, and I believe it’s essential not just in times of transition, but to encourage a cycle of constant learning and evolution in organizations and for individuals.

You talk about the idea of the three people who can change your life, can you share more?

Three people is where it all started for me – I tell the story in the book of how three people really pulled me out of my backside when I was spinning, professionally speaking, in the time immediately following the success of Never Eat Alone. But also, a peer group of three is big enough to keep itself going, even if the motivation of any one person flags. At the same time, it’s not so many people that the work to develop the relationships is overwhelming. Three could be considered a starting place – over time I hope we have many, many more lifelines than that.

How do you find them, how do you know if they’re the right ones?

Potential lifelines are all around us. Of course there’s a filtering process, but it all starts with making a choice to recognize that you’re surrounded by insightful people who you could care about—and who could care about you. You just have to open yourself to the reality that they’re there to help. You know they’re the right ones when you’re able to explore the Four Mindsets  together – Generosity, Vulnerability, Candor, and Accountability – in a dynamic and engaging way that pushes you forward.

How important is attitude and mindset?

Extremely. The foundation of deep relationships is recognizing that they are a CHOICE. Every day that goes by, you’re either choosing to deepen your relationships, or you’re not.

How can someone who’s either out of work or just plain fed up with their situation benefit fast?

Turning to a lifeline relationship (or someone close to them) that they trust and being vulnerable enough to ask them for support. First and foremost, that should include a solid dose of candor: What should I be doing to improve my situation? What behaviors do I need to change? There’s nothing better than caring feedback from someone you expect to change your trajectory quickly.

Who inspires you?

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan Chase. He turned the bank on a dime in the financial crisis and knows the value of relationships and of candor. He lets his employees tell him straight out when he has a dumb idea, and it’s that kind of leadership that makes for continuous growth in a company.  Jean Nidetch, the founder of Weight Watchers, which has harnessed peer support to help millions of customers get healthier, inspired me enough to start Who’s Got Your Back with her story.

How do you stay smart?

I spend a solid week or two every year catching up on my reading. I also have a circle of brilliant, engaged people on my team who send me the most interesting articles, books, websites, etc that they come across.

What can we expect from Keith Ferrazzi in the days ahead?

More online activity than ever. I’ve finally gotten bitten by the Twitter bug and I’ve been ramping up my blog since the start of the book tour – keithferrazzi.com/blog. My company Ferrazzi Greenlight will soon be launching some exciting new initiatives, to give individuals powerful tools to accelerate relationship development for more success and joy across all their endeavors.

To Follow Keith on Twitter, Click Here

To Visit Keith’s Company, Ferrazzi Greenlight, Click Here

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Vince Thompson

About Vince Thompson

Vince Thompson was a contributing editor for SmartPlanet from 2009 to 2010.

Vince Thompson

Vince Thompson

Contributing Editor, People

Vince Thompson is a digital revenue consultant, author, speaker and host of the popular BNET show Dog and Pony. His firm Middleshift LLC helps Internet companies build revenue by creating advertising solutions and scaling sales efforts. He is based in Los Angeles.

Follow him on Twitter.

Vince Thompson

Vince Thompson

Vince Thompson is the managing partner of Middleshift LLC, a digital revenue consultancy specializing in helping media companies sell online advertising.

Within the scope of his consultancy Vince works with a number or startups as well as major media companies and in many cases holds stock in those companies as well.

Vince is also the founder of Media2Watch LLC, parent company of Girl2Watch.com, a consumer content company that profiles up and coming actors and the shows they are going to be in and them connects them with audiences.

If at the time he writes an article or post he has a business relationship or investment related to the company or person featured, Vince will disclose his involvement. He writes for SmartPlanet and is not an employee of CBS.

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RE: Who?s got your back?
To
Executive Director/Chairman
_______________________

Sub: Request to the membership of your site for technical and programmatically support.
Sir/Madam,
Greetings from MAHILA KALYAN SAMITI DHORI, BOKARO
A registered non Government, non profitable and non religious society active since last 20 years registered under India Society Registration Act XXI, 1860, 12A, 80G, FCRA by Ministry of Home affair, 1023 C, named Mahila Kayan Samiti Dhori is a Non Government Organization functioning on grass root located in Bokaro district of Jharkhand state of India.
The society involved in specific nature of grass rooted interventions as Primary education, woman empowerment, Self Help Group promotion, Micro finance, Reproductive & child Health among the beneficiaries under Below poverty limit, child labours, Deprived children, orphan, physically challenged person and Tribal community with the technical & financial assistance of some reputed national and international agencies CAPART, National Book Trust of India, PCRA, NMDFC, (All four are the part of Government of India) Sarva Sikcha Abhiya, JEPC, DRDA Bokaro (All three are the part of Government of Jharkhand state), TMN Lucknow, BISWA Orissa, RGVN Patna, (All three working on Micro finance), BFW Germany.
Society also covering the networking and membership of some national level reputed organizations SADHAN, INAFI, NBJK, ATSEC, BHAJ, SWACHIK MANCH, CREDIABILITY ALLAINCE, etc.
Society having a sound expert team of different sectors as Management, Accounting, Planning, implementation, coordination, liosioning, field interventions, Training & Research, Documentation, monitoring , Evaluation skilled.
Mahila Kalyan Samiti Dhori requested to you that please send your guideline with prescribed format for the membership and Partnership of your site for the afore said subject.

Thanks with regards

(Dr Shyam Kunwar Bharti)
General Secretary

Ph: +91-94311-26563
+91-6549-222117
E mail: mksdbharti@rediffnail.com
Posted by Dr.Shyam Kunvar Bharti
21st Aug 2009
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RE: Who?s got your back?
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Posted by klfd
23rd Aug 2009
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