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Winning Through Intimidation
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If you've ever found yourself coming out on the short end of the stick, you'll appreciate the rewards that can be yours when you take the initiative in every area of your life. Written by the bestselling author of MILLION DOLLAR HABITS, this business gem, explains in candid terms what intimidation is, why you become intimidated and how you can avoid the mental lapses that
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Paperback, 304 pages
Published
November 12th 1984
by Fawcett Books
(first published 1974)
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I have to say, I learned a lot from this book, especially about that intangible yet highly relevant person-to-person tactic known as intimidation.
I don't agree with every single little thing he said, but he is on the money in this: people (with very few exceptions) are out to get you. They may be up front about it (Type Number One), they may try to be very nice about it and act so sorry once it's over (Type Number Three), or -- most commonly -- they'll assure you of their honesty and virtue and ...more
I don't agree with every single little thing he said, but he is on the money in this: people (with very few exceptions) are out to get you. They may be up front about it (Type Number One), they may try to be very nice about it and act so sorry once it's over (Type Number Three), or -- most commonly -- they'll assure you of their honesty and virtue and ...more

This is a great book if you want to learn about the dynamics behind business negotiations.
The author starts out as a nobody selling real estate, but quickly hops to the big leagues. (This is actually one of the principles in the book - you don't need to "climb the ladder" to get to the top of most fields. Just act as if you have already reached the top and most can't tell the difference.)
One of the ideas that made the biggest impression on me is positioning. In the beginning of the book the auth ...more
The author starts out as a nobody selling real estate, but quickly hops to the big leagues. (This is actually one of the principles in the book - you don't need to "climb the ladder" to get to the top of most fields. Just act as if you have already reached the top and most can't tell the difference.)
One of the ideas that made the biggest impression on me is positioning. In the beginning of the book the auth ...more

This book is about the theory of intimidation, and the measures one can take to avoid being intimidated in negotiations. I didn't realize Ringer's book focalized on real estate negotiating, but his methods are cross functional to other situations. Ringer contends that the results a person obtains are inversely proportionate to the degree to which he is intimidated. This book is about the methods Ringer administers to essentially trade places with the principal. Instead of being the middle school
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A must-read for any business professional.
The title is accurate, but it could also have been "Winning Through NOT Being Intimidated."
To be candid, I was intimidated myself by the title. By nature, I am a congenial guy. My approach with new clients in my business is to establish a personal rapport while earning their respect for my experience and expertise as a business book ghostwriter.
But I've lost thousands of dollars and incurred far too much stress because of what I've allowed some of my pas ...more
The title is accurate, but it could also have been "Winning Through NOT Being Intimidated."
To be candid, I was intimidated myself by the title. By nature, I am a congenial guy. My approach with new clients in my business is to establish a personal rapport while earning their respect for my experience and expertise as a business book ghostwriter.
But I've lost thousands of dollars and incurred far too much stress because of what I've allowed some of my pas ...more

I learned a couple of things from this book about the rules of the jungle.
It is a bit sad that it is the nature of the business world that the author had to come to direct contact with the "reality" and adapt to the brutality.
But my own real-world experience confirms that everyone is after their chips.
So we'd better face it and defend ourselves!
The author says it is often what people say or do but the posture that is a dealbreaker in many business situations. It is a game of being intimidated ...more
It is a bit sad that it is the nature of the business world that the author had to come to direct contact with the "reality" and adapt to the brutality.
But my own real-world experience confirms that everyone is after their chips.
So we'd better face it and defend ourselves!
The author says it is often what people say or do but the posture that is a dealbreaker in many business situations. It is a game of being intimidated ...more

I read this at a young age, before I really got started in my business career. It helped tremendously. Don't be fooled by the title. It all about being prepared - not intimidation. Here's a review I wrote early on when I first started blogging:
One of my favorite books from the seventies is Winning Through Intimidation by Robert J Ringer. I also liked his other bestseller, Looking Out for #1. If you have read the books you know that they do not endorse selfishness or thoughtlessness towards other ...more
One of my favorite books from the seventies is Winning Through Intimidation by Robert J Ringer. I also liked his other bestseller, Looking Out for #1. If you have read the books you know that they do not endorse selfishness or thoughtlessness towards other ...more

Very good book!!!! It is original and it is one of the books that I will have to read again becuase I have currenly read as a way to improve my english skills.
I hope that I will have enough self-discipline to prepare me and understand the rules of my work which let me leapfrog to another level.
I have seen that I have been intinimated during my life by "problems" that they were not really problems.
I never finish to learn but I just hope that in my time living in UK I get to be enough mature to so ...more
I hope that I will have enough self-discipline to prepare me and understand the rules of my work which let me leapfrog to another level.
I have seen that I have been intinimated during my life by "problems" that they were not really problems.
I never finish to learn but I just hope that in my time living in UK I get to be enough mature to so ...more

Despite what Ringer told me to think about this book, I don't really think it had too much to say about "life in general." Sure, the theories apply, but almost the entire book is composed of personal anecdotes, which, though, interesting, are not as illustrative as they are claimed to be. It would have been better if there were more than 2 chapters or so on the theory. A few of the 20 chapters about specific things that he encountered could have been better spent. Not a bad book though.
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Even though business (and life) is a game, people will try to screw you. With his No BS reality-formed philosophy, Ringer shows you how to succeed without being intimidated.

Winning Through Intimidation is Ringer’s first “self-help” book. I put “self-help” in quotes because it’s not the typical self-help book peddled by people like Norman Vincent Peale or Dale Carnegie. In fact, it’s different in that in contrast with the “general” selling techniques with Carnegie’s books, Ringer provides both his thought process and specific examples to show the reader that selling something in the real world is closer to Glengarry Glen Ross rather than a walk in the park.
I rank t ...more
I rank t ...more

The original title of this book, A Brutal Experiment in Business Reality, was actually more descriptive of its contents. Author Robert J. Ringer published this book during the early 1970s when American society was undergoing a period of chronic introspection, and Ringer chose to shatter the typical success myths about "hard work" and "determination." He writes about a rogues' gallery of characters who are determined to use all manner of tricks to cheat him out of his hard-earned commission for b
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By far the funniest book on business and the Commercial Real Estate industry, and one of the snappiest, most cynical, pragmatic, unvarnished looks at success, ever.
Ringer pulls off an incredible task by stripping away all pretense, anything remotely smelling of academic theory, and produces a roller coaster of a ride, a cautionary tale of those who would "steal your hard earned chips," and an amazing understanding of human nature as petty, cruel, weak, viciously duplicitous, and above all greedy ...more
Ringer pulls off an incredible task by stripping away all pretense, anything remotely smelling of academic theory, and produces a roller coaster of a ride, a cautionary tale of those who would "steal your hard earned chips," and an amazing understanding of human nature as petty, cruel, weak, viciously duplicitous, and above all greedy ...more

No, this isn't a book about how to use intimidation to your advantage. Well, not in the way you think. Rather, this book teaches you how to be successful despite the use of intimidation against you at every turn.
The author started out in the real estate business several decades ago. Like most of us, he was naive to the motivations and politics behind the people he worked with. Once he started to recognize the underlying motivations of his clients and coworkers, he could more easily identify tac ...more
The author started out in the real estate business several decades ago. Like most of us, he was naive to the motivations and politics behind the people he worked with. Once he started to recognize the underlying motivations of his clients and coworkers, he could more easily identify tac ...more

Probably one of the best book for Early Stage Managers, It has helped me immensely ever since i got my hands on this book in 2002, The Strategies mentioned inthe book around 15 years back are too much relevant today, or i would rather say, the book was meant for 2017 .
A Profound experience from someone who has seen life from close quarters , A must read for every student out of the college...
A Profound experience from someone who has seen life from close quarters , A must read for every student out of the college...

Bought the 1973 paperback from a Library sale box after noting it was 9 months #1 NYT Bestseller.
Ok. So i read many reviews from folks who take the business view that what he describes and recommends is mandatory knowledge for engaging in the business world. I totally agree, but for diametrically different reasons. I also learned to hard way, thinking i should be as THEIR schools teach us to be: ethical, honest and cooperative with people in life. But the truth of the business world is as Ringer ...more
Ok. So i read many reviews from folks who take the business view that what he describes and recommends is mandatory knowledge for engaging in the business world. I totally agree, but for diametrically different reasons. I also learned to hard way, thinking i should be as THEIR schools teach us to be: ethical, honest and cooperative with people in life. But the truth of the business world is as Ringer ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5, is because I've found a little boring, too much history - but far as I know based on REAL LIFE author's experience, not a "pink happy flower self help book".
Beside that, this book IS THE REAL DEAL. Not a happy colorful fluffy self-help book.
I love Robert Ringer another books because I've found the other ones much more direct and pratical advice. I've found Winning Through Intimidation a more autobiographical book with real solid advice, but for me, t ...more
Beside that, this book IS THE REAL DEAL. Not a happy colorful fluffy self-help book.
I love Robert Ringer another books because I've found the other ones much more direct and pratical advice. I've found Winning Through Intimidation a more autobiographical book with real solid advice, but for me, t ...more

This book is unlike any book on success I've ever read. Don't let the title fool you, it's not about bullying or lying your way to the top. It's about posture. The examples are entertaining and the illustrations made me literally LOL (and I never LOL).
If you are a free-market capitalist like me, then you'll appreciate the premise of this book, which is that all good things come from the inherent human selfishness of the individual's desire to better his position. ...more
If you are a free-market capitalist like me, then you'll appreciate the premise of this book, which is that all good things come from the inherent human selfishness of the individual's desire to better his position. ...more

As a new REALTOR I found this book completely worthwhile and valuable. I especially enjoyed the last section of the book where the theories described in section 1/2 were shown in live-action through deals the author actually worked.
If I were in sales outside of the real estate world, I’m not sure I would’ve taken a ton away from reading this book. However pretty sure I was the exact audience this book was written for therefore I loved it. 5 stars.
If I were in sales outside of the real estate world, I’m not sure I would’ve taken a ton away from reading this book. However pretty sure I was the exact audience this book was written for therefore I loved it. 5 stars.

My 18 year old son is reading this book with the fraternity that he is pledging for. It has some good truths, but the author incorrectly generalizes his cut throat experience in commercial real estate to apply to all of business. He is too cynical, but I do appreciate the thesis that you have to recognize and adapt to the reality that you work in even if it doesn't match how you would like things to be. I took lots of notes and am looking forward to discussing the ideas with my son.
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Amazing!
I can't wait to read his other books!! He lays out a very simple yet practical way to identify people who will screw you over in getting YOUR money after you've earned it. It's mind. Losing to see how he went used the Leap Frog Method to bounce himself to almost one million dollars in commissions in just two years. ...more
I can't wait to read his other books!! He lays out a very simple yet practical way to identify people who will screw you over in getting YOUR money after you've earned it. It's mind. Losing to see how he went used the Leap Frog Method to bounce himself to almost one million dollars in commissions in just two years. ...more

Excellent book. Unlike what the title suggests, this is not a book about bullying others to win in business. It's about standing your ground and getting paid what you deserve. Read this if you have your own business or plan on starting one.
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Incredibly thought-provoking. Ringer makes excellent, solid arguments for managing your "posture." It is not about how to bully; it's about how to stay two steps ahead of bullies. This is the best real estate business book I have ever read. Highly recommended!
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I might sum it up as..."keep on your opponents with a full court press"
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What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Business self help. [s] | 4 | 14 | Mar 13, 2018 09:30PM |
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