By Keith Ferrazzi
Gross. I’m sure the advice is useful if you want to win the status competition at all costs, but I do not. There were occasional mentions of how it’s not about being the slimy networking guy and how it’s about providing value to other people, but the rest of the content contradicted that. It was all about climbing. Stalk people on line. Relentlessly try to make new connections. Befriend the network of famous people and power brokers so that you can eventually be friends with the famous people and power brokers. The whole premise was based on a plan for self advancement so the occasional note that it’s about helping others feels entirely fraudulent. He name drops the people he’s met. He bragged about turning video games from an entertainment product to a tool for surveillance capitalism. He praised the strong brand of Donald Trump, which enabled Trump to get significant breaks while going through bankruptcy. Ferrazzi is a sleazy marketer. Anything that makes money is winning. Anything that puts him nearer to high status people is winning. The book is a pre-Youtube Influencer version of that vapid vision of living. To be rich and famous is the point. Promote yourself until you get it. He attributed a quote to his father that he said was the most impactful thing his dad taught him: rub up against people with money so that money will rub off on you. I don’t want to be Keith Ferrazzi. I don’t want to talk to Keith Ferrazzi. Society is worse for people devoting their existence to this status game.
Human connections matter. Relationships and community are hugely important. Using people as rungs on your climb to the top is lame. I really enjoyed TALK when I read that earlier this year. I was hoping there would be more content along those lines; more humanity, less business.