Keisha Blair
What does it take to win success and influence? Some people think that in today’s hyper-competitive world, it’s the tough, take-no-prisoners type who comes out on top. But in reality, argues New York Times bestselling author Dave Kerpen, it’s actually those with the best people skills who win the day.
Dave is the founder and CEO of Likeable Local, a social media software company serving thousands of small businesses, as well as the chairman and cofounder of Likeable Media, an award-winning social media and word-of-mouth marketing agency. Likeable Media was named to both the 2011 and 2012 Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies in the United States. In 2012 Likeable Media was named one of Crain’s Best Places to Work in New York City. His clients include Verizon, 1-800 Flowers.com, Neutrogena, and Logitech. He’s spoken about social media to a variety of audiences including SXSW, WOMMA, and TEDx.
Dave is also the #1 LinkedIn Influencer of all time in page views, ahead of Bill Gates, Jack Welch, Mark Cuban, and President Barack Obama. Dave is also a mentor at Aspire-Canada and his people skills are truly extraordinary – so I was truly delighted to hear about his latest book and sharing with you some insights as well as his creative process.
The book provides a delightfully honest view into the challenges and situations that Dave has encountered in his personal journey, as well as in dealing with employees, colleagues
and investors throughout his business career. From learning to listen to his client at a sales meeting, to appointing his daughter as the “President of Table Clearing,” Dave’s stories will make you laugh, cry and, more importantly, learn how to finesse your people skills. Applying the 53 actionable skills will allow you to connect better and cultivate more meaningful relationships.
Q&A With Dave Kerpen
Keisha Blair: What was the real inspiration behind the book?
Dave Kerpen: After writing Likeable Social Media and Likeable Business, I realized that the skills and focus areas I wrote and spoke about so often didn’t just apply to social media or business, they applied to every aspect of getting what you want from people in life. The inspiration behind The Art of People then was to help more people get what they want our of relationships at work and at home.
Keisha Blair: The book advocates that its those of us with the best people skills who win the day – those who build the right relationships? Can you tell us how and why?
Dave Kerpen: Everything you want in life, you can get (or not get) from the people in your life. So those who develop the right relationships with the right people will be most successful. As for the how and why, you’ll have to read the book for those answers!
Keisha Blair: Dave, you’ve been a mentor on Aspire-Canada from the very beginning. How does the power of networking factor in the book?
Dave Kerpen: Networking is awesomely powerful! The key difference though, in the way most people network versus the way you should network, is: The best networkers look to figure how how they can help the people in the room, and add the most value, NOT how the people in the room can help them.
Keisha Blair: What was your creative process like? Given your vast business experience in this area, was it an enjoyable process?
Dave Kerpen: I have a love-hate relationship with writing. Even having done 2 books already, honestly, it was very difficult. One interesting difference in the creative process this time around was I live-streamed the writing of over half of the book. Having an audience of people watching me write actually helped keep me focused and accountable!
Keisha Blair: Any other insights from the book? Can you reveal any details?
Dave Kerpen: There are actually 53 people skills, taught through 53 chapters across 11 categories of skills. Listening is an important category. And while I can’t reveal details, I’ll offer your readers a money-back guarantee: Buy the book, and if you’re not happy with it, just tweet me @davekerpen, and I’d be happy to send you a check for the whatever you paid for the book, no questions asked and you don’t even need to return it!