The Best Seller: A Novel About Access, Relationships, and Harnessing the Power of a Paceline to Propel You Forward in Life and in Business

So what the heck is a “business novel”? It’s a book that teaches business principles through a fictional narrative (such as The Go-Giver) rather than through an autobiography (Art of the Deal), case studies (Purple Cow), or a guide (How to Win Friends and Influence People). The Best Seller is an easy read with a ton of value and some concepts I haven’t really heard anywhere else.This book has three things that set it apart from many other sales books I’ve read:1. It’s actionable AND philosophical. Most business books contain lots of nice aphorisms (“your network is your net worth”) but don’t tell you specifically how to put the principles to work in any specific way. Other books offer well-defined selling systems (such as SPIN Selling) but don’t provide the higher level of meaning and purpose necessary for you to believe they will really change your life. The Best Seller walks this line really well and gives you both. It’s a complete system.2. It’s based on actual business success (particularly Bill Reichardt’s retail company), not on the theories of business/life coaches whose only business is selling you more books. The authors’ family has used the principles they teach to create multi-generational sales success.3. It’s written from the perspective of a woman in her 20s just starting to climb the ladder. The book has an optimistic and realistic spirit— complete with the periodic lack of self-confidence we all feel sometimes—without veering at all into feminist rah-rah politics. I am neither a woman nor in my 20s but I found it very accessible and relatable.Downsides: not many really. It’s a bit longer than most business novels, due to stronger character development and emotions. I think this makes it more enjoyable for actual reading, not just skimming, but it’s a different experience than typical nonfiction business writing. And the book applies a major concept—the demand-pull theory of macroeconomics—to regular selling. This is very innovative and would be worth a whole book by itself. This book introduces it well doesn’t go fully down the rabbit hole. I’d like to know more.Overall, this is an excellent book for anyone in sales or business in general, especially career climbers. Highly recommended.

An easy read bringing to life basic relationship building tactics that are applicable to any aspect of your personal, volunteer or career world. The characters are real and intriguing and the story is captivating. I learned along with the main character who is on her own journey aspiring to better herself, as she seeks advice from successful mentors who have already paved the path. The lessons taught are extremely simple and easy to begin applying immediately. I am not "in sales" as part of my job description, yet I found the concepts useful in my existing relationships and as I build new ones. The pace-line analogy is easy to understand... we're in this as a team, and we each take turns pulling one another along. The ideas of favorable-access... demand-pull... using a meeting to build trust first and foremost... these are all such basic common-sense concepts, yet I had never heard them captured in this way before. I've been applying the lessons and have noticed the difference. Definitely a book to read once, and then reference again and again!

Katie, I was able to begin reading your book yesterday and couldn't put it down...I read half of it and can't wait to get back to reading. I love how you all had a story line with the applications. It makes it so relatable. In addition, I love how it's a book for not only those starting out, but those that may need a kick in the pants or a reminder of not taking relationships and concepts for granted or placing the cart in front of the horse (rushing the process). Truly inspirational! I will read it through and then go back to make my notes to apply it to my life and business. I was so excited about it that I told my colleagues about the book in this mornings meeting and that it's a must read. Thanks to you and your dad for taking the time to write it and to share your grandfather's successful strategies. Thanks again, Kristin for the recommendation...#TheBestSeller is a must read! I Love It!

Looking for inspiration or to read more "work-ish" books? The "novel" format makes The Best Seller a refreshing change-of-pace compared to most other professional development books I have read (or tried to read) in recent years.If your job title doesn’t formally contain “salesperson,” don’t let that deter you. There is a little something in this for everyone:- The coaching and mentoring that occur throughout the book serve as a model for what successful mentoring relationships can look like and how everyone can benefit from them.- Part of the story follow the main character through her day-to-day job and provide tactical tips, including how to leading meaningful meetings and work with resistant/difficult individuals.- Other portions take place outside of work with cycling group with lessons learned there--and they can be applied to work, too.Also, the fact that most of the story is about real people and their experiences is an added bonus!

This book is a different format than most business and sales books I’ve read. One member on my sales team asked for a non-technical book she could understand, and I’m glad I found this book.The format makes it an easy read, especially for sales teams who don’t want heavy reading. That doesn’t mean the book doesn’t delve into the bigger concepts needed to be successful in sales or business development.I saw how this book adds some narratives that address becoming a better all around person, and lead the reader to develop as a whole person, not just as a sales person. This feature is probably the most powerful aspect of Best Seller.