How to Connect in Business in 90 seconds or less

Review by William Petryk

BUSINESS IN 90 SECONDS

By: Nicholas Boothman

I am sure that many accountants have been in situations where their technical talent was not recognized. They wondered how someone less capable than themselves has been promoted while they continue to do most of the work for less recognition. It eventually occurs to all professions, and I must include myself, that the soft skills of human interaction are just as important to career success as anything learned from textbooks. Hence my latest resource recommendation is a small text that can help. It is How to Connect in Business in 90 seconds or less by Nicholas Boothman. This book is an easy read of just 250 pages but I must emphasize that reading it alone will not change your life. What you must do is read, learn, and most importantly, act upon its recommendations.

There is much truth to the old adage that you only have one chance to make a first impression. It is also true that this impression is often long lasting and difficult to reverse. Nicholas Boothman offers some simple rules that, if followed, will lead to trust and rapport. Everything in this book is based on common sense. What many of us fail to do is to practice what we know is in our own best interest. Boothman explains this natural tendency to fall back on comfortable ways of doing things, even if they failed in the past. He presents several exercises that will force you make eye contact, smile, and thus form an impression that is positive.

Mr. Boothman also reviews four kinds of personalities that you will find in business and how to respond to each one. For example, if you are dealing with an individual who is a dreamer, it would be a mistake to discuss to much detail. Again, this is obvious, but often overlooked. Several other topics are discussed but it is up to each individual to decide which is most important to them. This is why I am suggesting that one should buy a copy. The book is not expensive, can be read in less that a day, and is worth the investment in time and money.

« Back to Petryk’s Library