Relationship Economics: Transform Your Most Valuable Business Contacts Into Personal and Professional Success

"Networking doesn't work for me." I have heard many people bemoan their lack of satisfaction at what they term "networking." In response, I suggest they read David Nour's book, Relationship Economics. David takes the tired, simplistic actions many call networking and sets them aside by providing a new model for building relationships as an effective means for conducting business. Relationship Economics balances the theory of social capital concepts with anecdotal examples of how the process of building relationships actually works. The book suggests key actions that one can take to make the most of their relationship building activities. Often frustrated with their "networking" efforts, entrepreneurs, consultants, and executives and senior managers in career transition, will find this book especially helpful.

Time is the ultimate commodity. We all wish we had another hour in the day, right? You might be wondering, "Who has the time to read another business book?" Well, this is the only book I have read recently that saved me time. By putting to use David's recommendations, my "time to successful outcome" has been cut in half.

David Nour is an unequaled expert on how to build effective business relationships. Relationship Economics offers insightful tips and robust methodologies for building relationships to strengthen your business. Business is becoming more global and technology is displacing many interactions that formerly took place face to face, yet relationships are more important than ever. Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and David shows us how to build it in the most sincere and mutually beneficial way. Unlike many books that focus on building relationships to "get the sale," Nour has a much broader scope. He looks both at relationships within organizations and those that reach externally. He shows how relationships help you to make better decisions, to be more innovative, and to accomplish more. Drawing from diverse examples, he gives us a road map for making relationships more strategic, fruitful and fulfilling.

This is one of those rare business books that I found myself reading from cover to cover in one sitting. It is filled with thought-provoking ideas as well as practical techniques for building relationships that truly have life-changing potential; and the book is both fun and easy to read. I have already ordered six more copies to give to friends and colleagues.

This book has lots of details and how-to examples to enable you to become a master relationship builder. David Nour has though clearly about concept of value which drives good relationships. I like the fact that he takes an objective viewpoint - basically that there must be a balance between what you give and what you get in relationships, that an imbalance - in either direction - is wrong. I also like the fact that he has chosen to leverage the arcane science behind the study of relationships by bringing it down to simple, desirable steps we all can take. I've been in business - and in the business of relationships - for a long time, and this book still made me re-think and re-tool recent decisions I've made.