Winning without Intimidation by Bob Burg

Title: Winning without Intimidation

Author: Bob Burg

Format: book (also available as an audio book)

Source: www.burg.com

Price: $12 new ($4 used on Amazon)

Rating: Good

When you talk to people who know nothing about hypnosis, they often assume that you can use your amazing hypnotic decoder-ring superpowers to make strangers instantly do whatever you want. And even though most hypnotists won't admit it, when we started studying hypnosis, quite a few of us were hoping that would turn out to be the case.

Well, of course, we know that's not the case. People don't turn into zombies when we snap our fingers, and they don't scurry about doing our bidding. Nonetheless, good application of hypnotic, neurolinguistic, and psychological principles can make you so good at getting strangers to help you that your friends might believe you have superpowers.

On that note, Bob Burg's Winning without Intimidation is a gem of a book for anyone who wants to get things done. The basic premise of Burg's works is that "nice people really do finish first," or perhaps we could phrase it as "the best way to get people to do things for you is to set up a win-win situation." Put succinctly, be kind to others.

Now, that's a pretty basic idea. Be kind and respectful to others, and they're more likely to do what you need or want them to. That idea shouldn't be revolutionary (though the behavior of some people makes me think it might be).

What makes Bob Burg's books so special is that he takes that basic idea—treat others well—and shows his readers how to be extremely good at it.

He also makes it clear that being nice does not mean being a pushover. He explains how he's taken the book's principal ideas—politeness, patience, and persistence—and used them to win even in win-lose situations, such as legal proceedings. In fact, he beautifully illustrates the idea that strength is the ability to turn an enemy into a friend.

Winning without Intimidation is a slender book, ideal for throwing in a backpack, pocket, or briefcase; and it's divided into short, bite-sized chunks, making it the ideal book to read on a bus, subway, or plane, or just in those few minutes when you're waiting for a client to arrive.

Each section details some inventive way to apply the idea that you can get people to do what you need without intimidating them. I've applied many of the ideas in a vast range of situations, but one story about this book is worth repeating.

I was warming up my truck before heading out to see a play in the nearby town of Smithville, Texas; and to pass the time I was reading a few pages of Winning without Intimidation. As I finished the section I was reading, I glanced at the next section's title before putting in the bookmark and driving off: "How to Talk your Way out of a Traffic Ticket."

Well, you can guess what happened. As I pulled into Smithville, flashing lights filled my rearview mirror; the officer informed me I had a headlight out and claimed I'd failed to stop at a stop sign. (It was a Texas rolling stop.)

Anyway, as the officer went back to his car to run my license number, I grabbed Winning without Intimidation off the passenger seat and read the next section at breakneck speed. When the officer returned, I applied what I'd just learned, disarmed the officer with calm politeness, and drove off with a warning instead of a ticket.

I figure that covered the price of the book as well as a number of copies I've bought to give away. Heck, if you buy it used on Amazon, it's practically free, so you might as well grab a few copies to give to clients.

P.S. For a daily dose of Bob Burg philosophy, you can sign up for his blog at www.burg.com.

P.P.S. Newer editions of the book are called The Art of Persuasion: Winning without Intimidation.

Final note: Stay tuned--there are some great products in the review pipeline, including Richard Nongard's Smoking Cessation Webinar Series, vintage recordings of Dave Elman, and a whole series on gadgets in the hypnosis business. Tell your friends!