《绝不独自吃饭》(Never Eat Alone) 这本书的作者是肯‧费拉热（Keith Ferrazzi）。第一次听说这本书是在公司的女子俱乐部的一次活动上。那天，肯来到我们公司做演讲，并签售这本书。
肯的演讲很吸引人。他是一位很好的演说家。想想看，从一个父亲是钢铁工人、母亲给人家做清洁卫生的贫穷家庭里走出来的穷小子，能够上耶鲁大学，接着又上哈佛商学院，做过数个大公司的 CEO，后来又自创一片天地，没有一番过五关斩六将的本事是不可能的。
肯对自己的家庭很骄傲，他在自己的网站上写道：
Family: My mom was a cleaning lady, my dad was a steelworker.
Philosophy: Suspend prejudice and project the positive. Strive for deeper intimacy to the point of vulnerability. Be generous and find ways to help others when you see they need it. Hold yourselves and those around you to the highest level of accountability; greatness comes at no less a commitment.
我觉得这是那种对人生已经看得很透的人才会有的心态与胸怀。
公司买了约一百本他的这本书，做为抽奖发给与会的员工。我刚好抽到了一本，也随大流请他签名。
书拿回来后，和我许多其它书的命运一样，被我束之高阁，再未打开过。然而，我参加了他的Mailing List。每周定期收到他的关于人际关系的Tips。
虽然没有读他的这本书，然而仅这本书的名字“Never Eat Alone” 就让我获益非浅，对我来说，几乎有醍醐灌顶的功效。从此，我时时想起这几个字。从来不知如何与人交往的我似乎开了窍。
我觉得这本书里所讲的道理尤其是对中国人或者说亚洲人十分有帮助。因为，我们多半喜欢自成一寓，自己和自己玩，不懂得Networking其实是非常重要的。
在公司里，经常看见一些中国人自己带一个盒饭，午休时，自己吃，或者是一帮中国人自己吃。节俭是美德。然而，节俭到不懂得如何与人交往，不懂得自己身处的国家的文化就不可取了。
肯今年又推出了一本新书“Who’s Got Your Back？ ”也登上了纽约时报、华尔街时报、Amazon.com的畅销书行列。
知道自己不太可能坐下来完整地读他的书。然而，自己经常有开长途车的机会。在车上是可以听CD的，时不时的听听一定会学到些什么，所以，我就买了一套 CD。
这本书一共有十二张CD。至今我已听完了第四片CD，很是喜欢。
肯是个实在(down to the earth)的人。他给许多大公司的高级主管们开Relationship Masters Academy课。每一期办一年。他的服务宗旨是一定要看到实效。正因为如此，他的教学口碑极好。这里是一些反馈：
Private Wealth Management
“Keith has a phenomenal message, tremendous business insights and a wonderful understanding of the human condition.”
– Chairman & CEO
Electronic Systems Contractor
“Keith’s presentation [at the World Business Forum] was more powerful and helpful to me in my business than that of any other speaker. The message was concise and 100% relevant.”
– CEO & Chairman
Leading Global Reinsurance Intermediary, Boston
“The program gave me a solid framework from which I can develop a real plan to move forward with not only my personal sales goals, but the office’s as well. Not only is it a framework from which to move forward with my existing goals, but more importantly to create lasting new sales.”
– Resident Managing Director
Leading Global Reinsurance Intermediary, Cincinnati
“The program took many of the sales activities that I am presently using but put a structure and process around it. Provided many ideas and tools that can be used in our every day sales process. Relationships and relationship selling are extremely important to our new business goals and our account retention.”
– Resident Managing Director
Private Wealth Management
“Keith pushed us to think outside of the box and added more to our wallets’!”
– Executive Director
Insurance Sales
“I’ve been in the business for over 30 years and have finally found the course that explains the real key to sales — relationships. Now I have a whole new approach to differentiating myself from competitors.”
– Managing Director
他这门课的收费是一人一年约九千五百美金。我对孩子们说：哪一天，我们全家都去参加一次他的这门课。其实，我最喜欢的是孩子们去修这门课。 @*
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