Today is the last day of the movie festival I’ve been attending in Bologna for the past week.
Last night, after a too-rich dinner and a few glasses of wine, I finally sat down among a crowd of thousands on the hot stones of the Piazza Maggiore, the main town square.
On show on a huge screen above me, with a live orchestra playing the score, was the first million-dollar movie ever, A Dog’s Life by Charlie Chaplin.
The experience and the movie were really nice.
Then I got home and found a new 1-star review for my 10 Commandments of Con Men etc. book. The 1-star review said:
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10 commandments of Lame
Lame, by the numbers book that gives no insight or real knowledge. It’s like the author took cliff notes from a used car salesman
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Maybe because I’ve been on vacation for a week, or maybe because I feel the review is so off-target, but I felt zero indignation at this.
The fact is, my book is “by the numbers” — that’s the whole “10 Commandments” conceit.
It also is like Cliffs Notes taken from influence professionals such as used car salesmen, though I didn’t include the specific technique I was thinking of including from Joe Girard, the world’s sellingest car salesman.
As for giving no insight or real knowledge, that’s where I feel this review is so off-target to not even bother me.
Of course, you might think, it’s natural I would say my book is insightful or full of knowledge, since it’s my book. So take it from several other horses’, or maybe dogs’, mouths:
#1 [5 stars] “of interest not just to con men!”
“I found quite a few good ideas that can be used in sales & other endeavors and in everyday interactions, as well.”
#2 [4 stars] “Great Advice”
“Great advice on how to influence others. I plan on using some of his above in my presentations. I recommend this book to anyone trying to improve their powers of persuasion.”
#3 [5 stars] “Great as always”
“John Bejakovic always delivers. Very entertaining yet informative. Do yourself a favor an get on his email list if you wanna know about persuasion.”
Since you’re reading this, you’re already on my email list, as that last reviewer advises.
So instead, if you wanna learn more about persuasion, I’d say, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of my by-the-numbers, Cliffs’ Notes of influence techniques, full of insight and real knowledge, waiting for you here: