There are so many business books I have read that have benefited our publishing company or my author platform. Over the next few months, I will highlight some of my favorite business books with a brief synopsis of the book as well as my top ten take aways or quotes.

Book Title: How to Talk to Anyone

Author: Leil Lowndes

Book Synopsis:

What is that magic quality makes some people instantly loved and respected? Everyone wants to be their friend (or, if single, their lover!) In business, they rise swiftly to the top of the corporate ladder. What is their “Midas touch?”

What it boils down to is a more skillful way of dealing with people.

The author has spent her career teaching people how to communicate for success. In her book How to Talk to Anyone (Contemporary Books, October 2003) Lowndes offers 92 easy and effective sure-fire success techniques– she takes the reader from first meeting all the way up to sophisticated techniques used by the big winners in life. In this information-packed book you’ll find:

• 9 ways to make a dynamite first impression
• 14 ways to master small talk, “big talk,” and body language
• 14 ways to walk and talk like a VIP or celebrity
• 6 ways to sound like an insider in any crowd
• 7 ways to establish deep subliminal rapport with anyone
• 9 ways to feed someone’s ego (and know when NOT to!)
• 11 ways to make your phone a powerful communications tool
• 15 ways to work a party like a politician works a room
• 7 ways to talk with tigers and not get eaten alive

My Review:

You know when you attend an event and you know it would be in your best interest to meet people but you are JUST NOT in the mood for small talk? This book has given me some ways around that!

Top Ten Quotes:

1. “NEVER THE NAKED CITY
   Whenever someone asks you the inevitable, “And where are you from?” never, ever, unfairly challenge their powers of imagination with a one-word answer.
   Learn some engaging facts about your hometown that conversational partners can comment on. Then, when they say something clever in response to your bait, they think you’re a great conversationalist.”
2. “THE SWIVELING SPOTLIGHT
   When you meet someone, imagine a giant revolving spotlight between you. When you’re talking, the spotlight is on you. When the new person is speaking, it’s shining on him or her. If you shine it brightly enough, the stranger will be blinded to the fact that you have hardly said a word about yourself. The longer you keep it shining away from you, the more interesting he or she finds you.”
3. “PARROTING Never be left speechless again. Like a parrot, simply repeat the last few words your conversation partner says. That puts the ball right back in his or her court, and then all you need to do is listen.”
4. WHAT DO YOU DO – NOT!
   A sure sign you’re a Somebody is the conspicuous absence of the question, “What do you do?” (You determine this, of course, but not with those four dirty words that label you as either a ruthless networker , a social climber, a gold-digging husband or wife hunter, or someone who’s never strolled along Easy Street.)”
5. “COMM-YOU-NICATION
   Start every appropriate sentence with you. It gets a more positive response because it pushes the pride button and saves them having to translate it into “me” terms.
   When you sprinkle you as liberally as salt and pepper throughout your conversation, your listeners find it an irresistible spice.”
6. “USE JAWSMITH’S JIVE
   Whether you’re standing behind a podium facing thousands or behind the barbeque grill facing your family, you’ll move, amuse, and motivate with the same skills.
   Read speaker’s books to cull quotations, pull pearls of wisdom, and get gems to tickle their funny bones. Find a few bon mots to let casually slide off your tongue on chosen occasions. If you want to be notable, dream up a crazy quotable.
   Make ’em rhyme, make ’em clever, or make ’em funny. Above all, make ’em relevant.”
7. “THE BROKEN RECORD
   Whenever someone persists in questioning you on an unwelcome subject, simply repeat your original response. Use precisely the same words in precisely the same tone of voice. Hearing it again usually quiets them down. If your rude interrogator hangs on like a leech, your next repetition never fails to flick them off.”
8. “NEVER THE NAKED THANK YOU
   Never let the phrase ‘thank you” stand alone. From A to Z, always follow it with for: from “Thank you for asking” to “Thank you for zipping me up.”
9. “ECHOING
   Echoing is a simple linguistic technique that packs a powerful wallop. Listen to the speaker’s arbitrary choice of nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives–and echo them back . Hearing their words come out of your mouth creates subliminal rapport. It makes them feel you share their values, their attitudes, their interests, their experiences.”
10. “EMPLOY EMPATHIZERS
    Don’t be an unconscious ummer. Vocalize complete sentences to show your understanding. Dust your dialogue with phrases like I see what you mean.” Sprinkle it with sentimental sparklers like “That’s a lovely thing to say.” Your empathy impresses your listeners and encourages them to continue.”
11. “INSTANT HISTORY
    When you meet a stranger you’d like to make less a stranger, search for some special moment you shared during your first encounter. Then find a few words that reprieve the laugh, the warm smile, the good feelings the two of you felt. Now, just like old friends, you have a history together, an Instant History.
    With anyone you’d like to make part of your personal or professional future, look for special moments together. Then make them a refrain.”

Did you know you can get our latest updates sent RIGHT to your inbox? Sign up here.

My name is Maria Dismondy. I am a children’s book author who also founded the publishing company, Cardinal Rule Press. Finding ways to market my messages is a passion of mine. I want to help you gain greater recognition of your brand, to generate new readers and improve your sales. Why? Because I love to GIVE and CONNECT and I truly believe we are all in this together!