For me the word ‘enchantment’ conjures up images of scenes straight out of a fairy tale; beautiful princesses, handsome princes, mysterious breadcrumb trails, charmed forests and magic spells.
Guy Kawasakis latest book ‘Enchantment’ explains all the tactics you need to enchant in real life.
‘Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale’ Hans Christian Andersen
Guy defines enchantment as the process of delighting people with a product, service, organisation or idea. Enchantment is also about inspiring action and changing hearts and minds. Guys’ theory is that if we enchant, we will be more successful at ‘getting things done’ and as a result we can make more of a difference.
So to me enchantment sounds like it could be another word for fundraising.
Enchantment is a quick read and a checklist full of practical tips and stories that will help you to become an enchanter; from realising your passions and goals, use of positive language, building rapport, telling stories, tactics to nudge people to choose a preferred solution, overcoming fear and resistance, practicing your genuine smile and a formula for the perfect handshake (yes a formula!).
Key to the philosophy of Enchantment is building relationships and always considering, in any interaction, how you can help others. I love Guy’s analogy that people fall into two camps; you are either an eater or a baker.
- Eaters want a bigger slice of an existing pie.
- Bakers want to make a bigger pie.
- Eaters think that if they win, you lose, and if you win, they lose.
- Bakers think that everyone can win with a bigger pie.
- True enchanters are bakers
Twitter, where anyone can provide news and updates and Google making advertising accessible to small businesses are examples of organisations with a bigger pie philosophy.
So team, are you an eater or a baker? I dare you to take some action, get baking, and make your life, and the lives of others more enchanting.
If you like the sound of enchantment you may also like the following;
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard – Chip and Dan
Heath Delivering Happiness – Tony Hsieh
Nudge – Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness Richard H Thaler, Cass R Sunstein
Whoever Tells The Best Story Wins – Annette Simmons
The Book of Awesome – Neil Pasricha
Confessions of a Public Speaker – Scott Berkun
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