I sat down with DAVE KERPEN author of The Art of People: 11 Simple People Skills That Will Get You Everything You Want
His career started as the Crunch N Munch man at ballgames in Boston, becoming a finalist on ‘Paradise Hotel’ (a reality show filled with models and sex symbols…. and Dave….) and since then he has founded two successful companies. One thing he’s proven along the way, it’s that those with the best people skills win the day.
Kerpen’s new book,which just released this week THE ART OF PEOPLE: 11 SIMPLE PEOPLE SKILLS THAT WILL GET YOU
EVERYTHING YOU WANT . In his book,Kerpen offers 53 bite-size, easy-to-execute and often counterintuitive tips, to help build connections, gain influence, and…. help others. Some of his tips include:
- Always accept the glass of water. Why? Two reasons: first it puts you at ease and allows you to relax, cool off, warm up, and get ready for the meeting; second and more important it puts the other person at ease, makes them feel like a good host, and primes you to be able to ream him well.
-
- One little word that draws people in, makes them smile, and gets them excited to be around you. When asked, how are you? Respond, “Fantastic!” and watch the change in people. Add the word “imagine” into your daily vocabulary and watch people as they stop and process it.
-
- Who you are online should be who you are in real life and vice versa. “Business you” and “personal you” are the exact same person. As you develop your online persona, be sure to convey your real-life self in your digital presence. Rather than trying to create boundaries between personal and professional and online and offline—harmonize them. You’ll find your authentic voice—HINT, Dave would hire the candidate with a drunk photo on social media over the candidate with hidden profiles.
After just a few questions I now know why Dave Kerpen is so likable.
How are you?
I’m fantastic! Very excited about the recent launch of my newest book, The Art of People.
What makes you so likeable?
Well, I can’t say I’m likeable- only my friends, family, and hopefully staff can 🙂
I do my best to live out all of the philosophies that I write about in my books. These include being as authentic as possible, both online and off, being as grateful as possible, and really listening to people to truly understand where they are coming from.
What can other people do to become more likeable?
Being Likeable is really all about doing a lot of simple things that add up over time. You aren’t going to wake up one day and magically be a more Likeable person. Work on incrementally becoming better at important skills like honesty, listening, and gratitude.
How do you divide your time between your work family and your wife and two adorable girls?
Don’t forget my son Seth too! It has been tough running two startup companies since 2007, but family obviously comes first. I am also fortunate enough to be able to see my wife Carrie, who is now the CEO of Likeable Media, at the office everyday! And I bring my kids with me whenever possible- they were at my Art of People launch party this week in NYC, and they came to my last management retreat in Fort Lauderdale, for instance.
What is your guilty pleasure when it comes to social media?
I love to check out my endless Twitter feed. But I never feel guilty about that! Posting food pics on Instagram maybe?
Who is your favorite social media icon?
Mark Zuckerberg. The most brilliant business leader of our time.
Who are your 5 favorite people to follow on Instagram?
@CarrieKerpen, @CharlotteKerpen, @PrincessKateKerpen, @SethKerpen, and @ChiquitaTheCat
Blab or Periscope?
Periscope, we actually live-streamed The Art of People launch party in New York using the platform.
How often do you tweet?
Maybe too often! At least a few times an hour.
What’s the last song you listened to?
Hamilton soundtrack, over and over!
What’s the last book you read?
Originals, Adam Grant.
Dogs or cats?
I had a very bad experience with a dog when I was younger so definitely cats. I actually have a spanish-speaking cat named, Chiquita. Yes, like the bananas.
What was the best money you spent to increase your business?
Hiring senior leaders. Expensive but well worth it.
What’s the most important people skill need to grow business?
There are so many skills that work in conjunction with each other, but if I had to pick one specific skill that helps the most, it would be listening. The root of business is being able to solve a need or problem and listening to your customers is crucial in being able to better understand their pain points.
I almost always wear something orange! It’s my favorite color and the color of my website. Why do you always wear orange?
There’s actually a chapter in my new book called “Wear Orange Shoes,” that dives into the importance of personal branding. It doesn’t have to be anything too obnoxious or flashy, but maintaining a distinct personal brand can definitely help you stand out from a crowd. As it turns out, orange is the most positive persuasive color (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130402095211-15077789-things-i-carry-it-s-all-about-orange)
DAVE KERPEN is an entrepreneur, speaker, and bestselling author. He is the founder and CEO of Likeable Local, a social media software company, and the chairman and cofounder of Likeable Media, an award-winning content marketing firm for brands. He is among the most popular writers in LinkedIn’s Influencer program, is one of the most read contributors for Inc.com, and has been featured by CNBC, BBC, ABC World News Tonight, CBS’s The Early Show, the New York Times, and more. Dave has keynoted conferences and webinars across the globe. He is father to three beautiful children, husband to one amazing business partner, and trusted friend, colleague, and mentor to thousands.
His previous books are Likeable Business: Why Today’s Consumer Demand More and How Leaders Can Deliver and Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Amazing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and More.
