It’s Not About You
A Little Story About What
Matters Most in Business
By Bob Burg and John David Mann
Click here for the book’s official web site.
After The Go-Giver came out in early 2008, our publisher contracted us to write two more in the series. The second book would be a set of meditations or brief essays on the themes of the original book. That became Go-Givers Sell More, published in early 2010.
The third would be another parable.
When we started writing this one, in the fall of 2010, we didn’t know what it would be called. We knew it would be set in the same fictional city where The Go-Giver took place, and that several of the first book’s characters would show up again, either directly or indirectly. (In fact, if you read the new book carefully, you’ll note that some of the city’s landmarks even put in cameo appearances.)
We also knew it would be a new story, not simply a sequel, and that most of the key characters would be people none of us had met yet.
Just as with The Go-Giver, we started pulling on the story thread without having a specific set of laws or principles laid out ahead of time, trusting that they would reveal themselves in the course of letting the tale emerge. And so they did. (This time, instead of being Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, they showed up as Five Keys to Legendary Leadership.)
In a sense, It’s Not About You is an exploration of the Law of Influence (Law #3 in the first book). Its lessons touch on business and family, leadership and parenting, vision and humility, character and competence, life and death.
We have to admit, we’re growing pretty fond of this little town and the people who live there. We hope you enjoy it too.
“This book captures the essence of life and leadership. I recommend it!”
— John C. Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
“At Zappos, part of my role is about helping to create an environment where employees feel empowered to come up with their own ideas for fulfilling our vision and growing our culture. It’s Not About You reveals this same philosophy: Get out of the way, so your employees can lead the way.”
— Tony Hsieh, New York Times bestselling author of Delivering Happiness and CEO of Zappos.com, Inc.
“Burg and Mann have, once again, masterfully employed common sense and good judgment to show that success happens when you have an egalitarian spirit, practice Golden Rule behavior every day, and empower your people to make decisions from their hearts and souls. I LUV this book.”
— Colleen Barrett, President Emerita, Southwest Airlines
“A manifesto for twenty-first-century leadership packaged in a fun and engaging story. Buy this book and get it in the hands of everyone in your company!”
— Darren Hardy, publisher, Success magazine and bestselling author of The Compound Effect
“Bob Burg and John David Mann are wonderful storytellers, particularly when it concerns what matters most in business. It’s Not About You is about anyone who wants to be successful and respected. This story has a lesson for everyone.”
— Harvey Mackay, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Swim With the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive
“I’m not typically a fan of business books written in fictional formats, but I love this book. It explains leadership principles I care about deeply, principles that truly matter. Read this book. You’ll enjoy the journey and become a better leader and a better person in the process.”
— Mark Sanborn, New York Times bestselling author, The Fred Factor
“It’s Not About You reveals the secret that all truly great leaders know: genuine influence is about putting other people first.”
— David Bach, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire
“Bob Burg and John David Mann have broken new ground in management literature. In the current global context, where the trust gap is widening in every aspect of business leadership, It’s Not About You raises our consciousness to a new level, poignantly delivering the essence of leadership through an engaging story. On a personal note, I happened to read the manuscript during at a critical juncture in my life, and I felt as if the book held me. It is now essential leadership reading for everyone at MindTree.”
— Subroto Bagchi, Vice Chairman, MindTree Ltd.
“Genuine influence—not manipulation or power politics—is what makes the world go round, and this little book captures it beautifully, heart and soul.”
— Maddy Dychtwald, cofounder, Age Wave, author of Influence: How Women’s Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World for the Better
“A thoroughly enjoyable and educational exploration of the most powerful way to work successfully with others! I highly recommend it.”
— Tom Hopkins, author of How to Master the Art of Selling and Selling in Tough Times
“Burg and Mann have done it again! It’s Not About You beautifully illustrates that the best way to have more in your life is to want more for others.”
— John Jantsch, author of Duct Tape Marketing and The Referral Engine
“Burg and Mann are not just great storytellers, they are also men of heart and soul. It’s Not About You is a gem of insight that reveals one of the true secrets to lasting business success.”
— Gary Keller, New York Times bestselling author of The Millionaire Real Estate Agent and SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times
“This book reveals the simplest and most powerful secret you will discover in your lifetime. Digest its message and be the best leader you’ve ever known!”
— Donna Krech, founder, Thin & Healthy Fitness Centers
“Another winner from Burg and Mann! It’s Not About You communicates relevant and timely lessons on leadership and influence in an engaging story. You’ll want to give this to your boss, your spouse, and every businessperson you know. They will thank you for the gift of a powerful lesson on empowering leadership.”
— Michael J. Maher, author of (7L) The Seven Levels of Communication
“It’s Not About You touches the heart and shapes the mind. This powerful story of leadership will stay with you long after you turn the last page.”
— Mollie W. Marti, PhD, JD, coauthor of The 12 Factors of Business Success
“It’s Not About You will share space with The Go-Giver on a special bookshelf in my office labeled Must Read Twice—and there are fewer than ten books on that shelf. Bob and John have captured the very essence of what leads to generational or legacy success: sit in the other guy’s chair first, care about their desires, and display personal integrity at all times.”
— Frank McKinney, bestselling author of The Tap
“It’s Not About You clearly conveys the crucial keys to business success through ‘legendary leadership’ and delivers them in a masterfully written, truly captivating story that you won’t want to stop reading. Whether you’re new to business or have been in business for years, this is likely to become the most valued, most utilized addition to your library of business books.”
— Ivan Misner, New York Times bestselling author of Masters of Networking and founder, BNI® and Referral Institute®
“This entertaining and enlightening parable will give you the courage to succeed on your terms while supporting and inspiring the people around you. Highly recommended.”
— Michael Port, New York Times bestselling author of The Think Big Manifesto
“It’s Not About You is a beautiful meditation on the foundations of business and leadership. Enjoy the story—and then go apply its plentiful nuggets of wisdom in your work and life.”
— Nido Qubein, president, High Point University and chairman, Great Harvest Bread
“This book gets to the heart of what really counts in business: character, caring, and a focus on others. I hope you enjoy this important ‘little story’ as much as I did!”
— Scott Root, President and CEO, Astra Tech, Inc.
“A captivating book, packed with Aha! moments. As with The Go-Giver, Burg and Mann draw you in and hold you with a powerful story that works on many levels at once. It’s Not About You will delight you, surprise you, and move you. More than that, it will change you.”
— Dondi Scumaci, author Designed for Success and Career Moves
“The best in business get that it’s not about them—it’s about being useful to others. Read, study, and apply the ideas in this superb little gem of a book.”
— Robin Sharma, international bestselling author of The Leader Who Had No Title
“The message from this decade is that corporate leadership is broken. The message from this book is that business excellence cannot be achieved without ethics, humility, and trust. Read it, digest it, apply it, and watch your company flourish.”
— Pamela Slim, author of Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur
“A breath of fresh air in the world of competing business books today.”
— Susan Wilson Solovic, author of The Girls’ Guide to Building a Million-Dollar Business
“It’s Not About You captures the true essence of leadership in a delightful parable that provides insight and encouragement throughout. The story’s Five Keys to Legendary Leadership contain nuggets that will help anyone improve their effectiveness in managing and influencing people. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone willing to learn that it’s not about you, but about those you lead.”
— Arlin Sorensen, CEO, Heartland Technology Solutions
“Burg and Mann have once again crafted a powerful story that touches our soul and encourages us all to grow. It’s Not About You goes straight to the heart. It will change you forever.”
— Stefan Swanepoel, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Your Serengeti: 7 Skills to Master Business and Life
“This little gem is a cornucopia of big, life lessons. Should be required reading for all college graduates!”
— Denis Waitley, bestselling author of The Seeds of Greatness
“They’ve done it again! As someone who recommends The Go Giver to every business owner I meet, I didn’t think there would ever be a title to compare. I was wrong. Now, I’m suggesting two must-reads! I read It’s Not About You from cover to cover, captivated by Ben and Aunt Elle. If you are in business, or even hope to have an ounce of influence in your life’s work, get this book, read it and then live it.”
— Carrie Wilkerson, author of The Barefoot Executive
“In today’s leadership desert of self-centered actions, people yearn for the oasis of principle-based servant leadership, a model masterfully portrayed by Bob Burg and John David Mann in their new book, It’s Not About You. Don’t just read this book: more importantly, learn it, live it, and share it!”
— Orrin Woodward, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Launching a Leadership Revolution
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