Convincing Them in 90 Seconds or Less: Make Instant Connections That Pay Off in Business and in Life

Nicholas Boothman
Workman Publishing, New York
£8.99

PM Rating: 4/5

This is a handy-sized pocketbook, written by a master neuro-linguistic programming practitioner. It aims to change your self-image and help you to connect – quickly, simply and easily. Starting with those crucial 90 seconds, the book is divided into four parts – the basics; the new rules: connecting with human nature; connecting with personality; and building relationships. Each chapter has exercises and a 90 second summary. It is an easy read but it has no index.

If you are not in the habit of winning people over in the first 90 seconds, then this book will help you understand how to do so and how to achieve that success. It depends on convincing people – and that depends on constructive connections.

What you say needs to give the same message as how you appear and that also includes careful use of language. As well as looking at people and smiling, you need to listen to them. You will find it easier to convince them if you care about your subject. If you follow the good advice then you should be able to maximise every business opportunity – and probably be the centre of attention at parties. A reviewer in the New York Times said that “Boothman is Dale Carnegie for a rushed era”. That is one way of putting it.