Love is the Killer App

I just finished reading a book that really captures the heart of business relationships. Love is the Killer App, by Tim Sanders, discusses how the old method of “eat or be eaten” doesn’t work anymore. You just don’t get anywhere by playing cutthroat. Instead, you’ll find it a better use of your time to share and impart knowledge with your coworkers and business acquaintances. It’s like the BNI mantra, “Givers Gain.”

By taking a genuine interest in the well-being of your peers and acquaintances, and making a point of sharing information, you will really gain more respect and presence in your industry. It’s like the old saying goes — you learn material best when you start teaching it to others. By continually increasing your knowledge, you will not only be better equipped to help others, but you will be able to develop new ideas and concepts that will help you on your own path to success.

Tim Sanders’ one line summary of the book? [found on a July 2009 blog post]

If you want to succeed, promote success in others.

Being a bookworm, I really connected with part of Tim’s philosophy, which includes continually increasing your knowledge by reading books. Some of the books at the top of his reading list include:

• The Experience Economy – B. Joseph Pine, James H. Gilmore
• Corporate Religion – Jesper Kunde
• The Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton M. Christensen
• What the CEO Wants You to Know – Ram Charan
• Simplicity – Bill Jensen
• The Tipping Point – Malcom Gladwell
• The Circle of Innovation – Tom Peters
• The Art of Happiness – Dalai Lama, Howard C. Cutler
• Love – Leo Buscaglia
• Leading the Revolution – Gary Hamel

While Tim does emphasize the importance of gaining knowledge, he does also comment that the knowledge you gain should be relevant and applicable. If you struggle to find yourself actually *using* any of the concepts for the books you’ve been reading, or if you can’t think of any real-world applications for your life — then maybe it’s time to start choosing different books to read.

I would add Love is the Killer App to my personal library in a heartbeat. Its concepts are applicable to any industry, the lessons are scalable, and everyone can benefit from reading, knowledge, and compassion.

Did I tell you yet that I enjoyed this book?

Probably. But it bears saying again.

I enjoyed Love is the Killer App; I think you will too.