GET to the TOP — Key Takeaways
This was the very first book which was given to me as a gift on day 1 at my workplace (SAP Labs India).
Back then I had no habit of reading books (apart from college textbooks :P ), hence it was just catching dust for a few years until I caught on this fever of non-stop reading!
I regret not reading this book much earlier!
This blog is an attempt to summarize my key takeaways from this book and can be treated a quick reference for people who might not have time to read the full book.
Chapters
- The Self-Development Rule
- The Impact Rule
- The Popularity Rule
- The Trust Rule
- The Conversation Rule
- The Networking Rule
- The Work Rule
- The Consolidation Rule
- The RSVP Rule
- The Summing Up Rule
1. The Self-Development rule
Be interested and Interesting.
Be interested as many things you can. Read as wide as you can. Read as if there’s no tomorrow. Reading can help you in having a great conversation and be engaging with people.
Make books your best friends. Your friend list may not be the same as 5 years ago nor will be it same in 5 years from now. But knowledge is recession proof.
Sub-rule 1: Get a mentor.
Sub-rule 2: Say thank you often. #Gratitude
2. The Impact Rule
Have an opinion
The key to social success is to have an “opinion”.
It is not important as to “what your opinion is”.
What matters is that you do not come across someone who has nothing to say!
You have to be sharp enough to have an opinion of your own and magnanimous to accept a completely different from someone else.
Sub-rule 1: Make sure your opinion doesn’t arise from any hidden motivation. Be fair.
Sub-rule 2: Curb your opinion on touchy topics like religion, politics, etc.
Sub-rule 3: After hours only. Don’t mix professional and personal aspects.
Sub-rule 4: Change is okay. It’s okay to accept and say ‘I was wrong’.
Delivery of your opinions is key. Make sure you have opinions don’t offend. You should make more friends not enemies! Don’t be an ‘Opinion Terrorist’!
3. The Popularity Rule
Don’t judge people.
Be interested in people, not because of how wealthy or intelligent they are, but because of what they are like.
Especially, don’t judge people who dislike you!
4. The Trust Rule
Never pass on the bitching.
Sub-rule 1: Always defend your friends publicly and privately.
Sub-rule 2: Bitch with conviction.
Sub-rule 3: Karma works like a boomerang!
5. The Conversation Rule
Don’t try to impress people
People never need to be impressed, if you are smart and worthy it will eventually happen!
You may never impress a person in the short term, but can wow them in the long run by being consistently intelligent, thoughtful and by holding on to your values and opinions.
Sub-rule 1: Stay away from no-no topics. Never talk about religion, politics, money,…
Sub-rule 2: Never take sides in a battle between your friends/loved ones.
6. The Networking Rule
Don’t try to make important friends.
Look for accomplished people, not important people. Sounds similar?
If you look for accomplished people, you are a talent seeker; if you look for important people you are a designation seeker.
Aim to make friends, not just adding to contact list.
7. The Work Rule
Make friends out of clients, not clients out if friends.
Never take friends for granted, equally important, never take their business for granted. These two are mutually exclusive as they should be.
8. The Consolidation Rule
- Always help if you can.
- Introduce friends to each other.
- Be fiercely loyal.
- Start traditions of meeting often on certain occasions. Make it a ritual!
9. RSVP
Never take the better option, stick to your commitments.
In case of a clash, attend the invite you accepted first. Once you give your word, stick to your commitments.
Be grateful to people who made the effort to invite you!
10. The Summing Up Rule
It’s all about values, not valuations!
- Judge people for who they are
- Look at people’s wealth from the human quotient perspective
- Keep in touch with your childhood friends
- Invite people to your home who will laugh and be happy irrespective of material consideration like which car you have or etc…
