Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Retention Hardcover – September 15, 2016

I highly recommend this book for people who believe in the awesome power of generosity. From the moment I picked up Giftology -- and felt its smooth black cover -- I knew I was in for a memorable experience. The book is packed with fascinating stories and examples highlighting how the author, John Ruhlin, successfully grew his own business -- and the businesses of countless others -- through strategic gifting.Ruhlin sprinkles in Bible quotes -- such as “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” from Proverbs 11:25 -- revealing his deep faith in God as the divine source of his business philosophies. When gifting is done properly, he reminds us, it generates more than goodwill. It increases referrals, revenue, retention and ROI.Giftology shares the proven strategies Ruhlin has developed over a lifetime of gifting for connecting with people in powerful, meaningful ways. He explains exactly how he has formed long-term relationships with well-connected business leaders, going so far as to break down the step-by-step process he uses to make a lasting impression with a new acquaintance.The book provides valuable criteria for strategic gifting. Gifts should be best in class, personalized and visible (something the recipient is likely to use regularly). Gifts that meet these guidelines act as symbols of the relationship and spark conversations with friends and family about you and what you do.I decided to read this book because I know the value of relationships and I’m always looking for new ways to connect with others more deeply. It met my expectations by offering a lot of practical ideas about what to give, when to give, and how to create a budget for giving.Ruhlin recommends tangible luxury items with staying power over consumable gifts, like food, or experiences, like sports events. His reasoning is that he gets better results from gifts the recipient is likely to use every day. That’s why he believes classic Cutco knives engraved with the recipient’s name have been so effective over the years. He says that type of gift serves as a constant reminder of the relationship, while a fancy dinner or front-row seats at a basketball game are fleeting.Generosity definitely opens doors in life and business. I’m excited to use the strategies I learned in Giftology to give more meaningful, memorable, impactful gifts.

Absolutely amazing. John truly captures not only the spirit behind giving, but doing it an artful and caring way.EDIT: After trying to eat and breath the principles in giftology for a few years now, I felt the need to edit my review to expand upon the impact it’s had on me. I firmly believe that everyone can benefit from this book. Whether it’s business relationships (getting a new, better job due years of small, unexpected gifts with colleagues and key contacts), intimate relationships (helping me craft the perfect gift for my fiancée and future bride for our wedding present - it’s going to blow her mind), or friendships and those you interact with daily (getting hundreds of dollars worth of free training from instructors at my gym after gifting small, inexpensive, but impactful gifts to each of them. These people have turned in to some of my greatest friends and will even be at my wedding), giftology holds the key to completely change your life.I truly believe that heartfelt, thoughtful, impactful gifting is the key to making your life better. I have personally used the principles here to help make my good relationships great, turned some bad relationships in to good ones, and made non-existent, potentially life-changing relationships appear out of thin air. I recommend it to almost everyone I meet, and that’s why I’m recommending it to you.Read this book. Apply its principles. Change your life.

I've heard about John and the idea of Giftology for about a year. But until reading the book - about 24 hours cover to cover - I didn't truly grasp the idea. Even now, I'm sure there are subtleties that will evolve as I build my gifting muscle. But I can see how this will set me apart and truly connect with my best clients-even my best potential clients. Handwritten notes, personalized gifts at unexpected times, and just making gifting and generosity a priority feels like the most enjoyable way I could possibly do business.I think the phrase that John used a few times that really hit home was a variation of "What's the most I can afford to do". I already have several things I can put into action this week. Amazing book - unique perspective on relationship marketing that I think works well for those of us who don't like to feel salesy and prefer to focus on service.It's not going to change my bottom line next month. But 1-2 years from now - game changer.