SkyQuestCom's Personal Development Blog

What do the rich and famous have in common that we don’t have? Dr. Denis Waitley, bestselling author of "The Psychology of Winning" and "The Seeds of Greatness" shares the secret behind the successes of famous names such as Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, and even William Shakespeare.

Swim with the Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive) is the New York Times' #1 bestseller that teaches its readers to stay competitive in the cut-throat world of business. Harvey Mackay, author of the book, talks to SkyQuestCom about Networking, Web Education and actionable strategies to stay ahead of your competition in the fast-moving digital age.

SQC: SkyQuestCom

HM: Harvey Mackay

SQC: It is our privilege to welcome a good friend, Harvey Mackay. He wrote one of the most famous business books ever written, Swim with the Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive) and is one of the world's best motivational speakers. He is also the founder, Chairman and CEO of Mackay Envelope Corporation, whose story he tells in anecdotes sprinkled throughout his books. Harvey, thank you so much for joining us tonight. Peter Drucker (legendary management consultant) says that online education is the next great growth opportunity, what is your take on that?

HM: He is the final thought when it comes to business and business transition, and I agree with him 100%. In the last several hundred years, not a lot of concepts have changed. But what has changed is the way they are delivered and received.

SQC: We heard a speech recently that said that every college graduate would have between 12-14 jobs and 3-5 career changes. How should we respond to these changes?

HM: This means the age of specialisation might be coming to an end, at least in the near future. If you are in sales, you had better be knowledgeable on the computer. If you are in computers, you had better be knowledgeable in sales. And if you are in human resources, you had better be knowledgeable in public speaking and in communications.

SQC: In the area of business, how would you build a network of contacts?

HM: Individually and by industry, you need to find a creative way to keep in touch with your network and know what is going on in your associations and your industry.

SQC: We couldn’t agree more, so how do you stay close to your customers?

HM: By routine conversation and observation. This means we find out what our customers are like as human beings. In Swim with the Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive), I have a 66-question customer profile. I’d recommend that. We also take the information we get and we humanise our selling strategy by building long term relationships with our customers. Of course, if you perform and build a long term relationship with your customers, that’s the best of all possible worlds!

SQC: The environment is constantly changing, how do you keep on becoming more creative?

HM: Think outside the box. Push the envelop and find a new or better way to do anything.

SQC: You said that the one thing all successful people have in common is a mentor. Would you elaborate on that?

HM: You have to study successful people. Read every self-help and self-development book you can get and yes, I highly recommend getting a mentor. You need to have a mentor and do exactly what that mentor says and that will help you avoid the traps on the road of business and in life. You also need to have somebody whom you can talk to all the time. You need to have training and you need know what strategies work in every economy.

SQC: How will the computer change the work environment?

HM: Everyone has to become knowledgeable about the computer regardless of their age. It will help people to conduct businesses globally. Moreover, websites can present an image of a company without anyone ever having to see that company. It will help the small business sector immensely.

SQC: What are your best tips for networking?

HM: Become a volunteer and always go for the quality, not the quantity of your contacts.

SQC: Contacts. How do you maintain friendships and communicate effectively with people when you have developed and moved on?

HM: Help them. Teach them what you have been taught.

SQC: And you have taught us so much tonight! Harvey, we wish you all the very best. Thank you so much for joining us.

HM: I’ve had a wonderful time tonight with all of you who have been on our broadcast tonight, I wish to thank SkyQuestCom and the whole team for making this possible.

SQC: Harvey Mackay, bestselling author of Swim with the Sharks (Without Being Eaten Alive). If you’d like to learn more from Harvey to stay competitive in the often cut-throat world of business, be sure to visit http://www.skyquestcom.com/learning to watch a video seminar of the man they call “Mr. Make-Things-Happen”.

Labels: Business, Harvey Mackay, Information Technology, Interviews, Success, Swim With the Sharks, The Psychology of Winning, The Seeds of Greatness

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