Dig your well before you're thirsty, by Harvey Mackay

 

I first read this book back in 1997 when it first came out, and as an introvert, it had a big impact on how I thought about my relationships with friends, colleagues, and other professionals. I recently re-read the book and found that it holds up surprisingly well. Although there are many technology-supported ways of conducting professional and personal networking, the methods suggested by author, businessman, and motivational speaker Harvey Mackay stand the test of time. And this book is still in print, so it's clear that it is still useful to a steady stream of readers. I would recommend this book to anyone from high school age on who is interested in enhancing their chance of success in school, college, the workplace, and life.

Be your own brand, by David McNally & Karl D. Speak

 

This 2002 book shows readers how to identify and grow their own brand in both their personal and work lives. Using branding practices from the marketing world, they apply those concepts to individuals to help them become better at what they do and who they are. They claim that personal brands come down to competencies (one's roles), standards, and style. For example, competencies could include librarian, wife, sister, mother, volunteer. Standards could include efficient, disciplined, flexible, and self-directed. Style could include caring, approachable, enthusiastic, and honest. Exercises in the book help the reader identify their most important values and understand their competencies, standards, and style in a way that improves one's personal and work relationships. I think this book would be useful for anyone trying to improve their work and personal relationships, but it would be particularly helpful for entrepreneurs or others trying to establish a business. A second edition of this book was published in 2012.

Networking magic, by Rick Frishman and Jill Lublin, with Mark Steisel

 

This is a great introduction to the value of networking and how it can help you in your career and personal life. I received this book at a Book Expo America in 2004 (I think) and I used it in my work as a department head in a non-profit organization (higher ed). I also used it to help develop presentations on the topic of networking that I gave at professional conferences and graduate student seminars. I just re-read the book and it still holds up (and it's still in print and available on Amazon). It would be a great gift for a new graduate just entering the working world.