Featured Interview With Elaina Zuker
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Montreal; in my early twenties I moved to
New York City and lived there for 25 years, where I built my business
Success Strategies Inc., a consulting and training company. Then I moved
to the Bay Area, worked with clients in Silicon Valley. I have lived in India,
Jerusalem, and various other places.
I returned to my home town, Montreal, about 15 years ago and am delighted to
be back in Canada and with family and friends, travelling and working from here.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I was fascinated with books ever since my parents read stories to me every
night, starting at about age 2. I started writing early in elementary school,
and edited the school newspaper all through high school.
I wrote copy for advertising and publicity in my first career, and continue to
use those marketing skills to promote my books now.
My first book, “How to Assert Yourself” was published by American Management
Association. I love being an author, and enjoy hearing from readers.
My best-known book, “Seven Secrets of Influence” was first published in the 90’s,
and is still going strong. It’s been a bestseller (150,000 copies sold) has been
translated into 5 languages, and is now an e-book, as well as an audio-book.
The CD is called “How to Influence People and Win Over Anyone”.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
TC Boyle, Joan Didion, Carl Hiassen, Calvin Trillin, John Grisham.
I love essays, beautiful prose (TC Boyle – Tortilla Curtain), art mystery
(Sixteen Pleasures) legal thrillers
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The road to Success (in any endeavor) need not be a lonely or isolated one.
Packed with simple and practical ideas, this is a “must read” if you want to “up” your game in today’s world.
This new book offers a unique system of support which combines the practices of barter, sharing and mentoring.
“A Swift Kick in the Can’ts” is a 21st Century version of age-old customs and practices.
Peer-Mentoring is a powerful method for achieving Success in a focused, targeted and accelerated way, by providing support via a “Success Buddy” system, which anyone can create either in person, by phone, Skype or email.
Beginning with clearly defined goals, two individuals with complementary skills and resources form a mutual “support for success” contract to achieve real results in any category of Life (Career, Health, Personal)
The book describes the historical and anthropological foundation for these idea and practices, beginning with the reciprocity customs of various tribes and clans (in a chapter contributed by anthropologist, Dr. Gabriella Djerrahian); the custom and history of barter and the Zeitgeist of the current “Sharing Economy”.
The practical “how-to” sections include a detailed section on Goals – how to identify and overcome resistance to setting goals, and how to set meaningful, specific goals in all categories of Life. (Career, Health, Personal)
Having set goals, the next steps are to identify what Skills
and Resources are required. Here is where the heart of the book – the section on Peer Mentoring comes in. Readers are given a detailed description of the elements of the process, as well as a comprehensive Inventory of Skills and Resources from which to draw, before creating the Peer-Mentor Contract.
In addition, there is information on “Where and How to Find a Peer Mentor”, the criteria for choosing one, and “How to Communicate with your Peer Mentor” to coach and advise the reader on how to make this relationship a successful one.
If you want to increase your productivity, enhance your earning power, achieve your goals, and reach more overall success in your life (whether measured in money, expertise, or relationships), then read on. Peer Mentoring™ is a system in which two people agree to support each other based on complementary skills and needs, and the partners create a ‘contract.’ The purpose of this process is to create a productively paired ‘buddy system’ to help both of you achieve your individual goals.
PRAISE FOR” A SWIFT KICK IN THE CAN’TS”
“A Swift Kick in The Cants” by Elaina Zuker takes the old notion of mentoring and places it squarely within the context of today’s cultural norms and values. This is what sets this book apart: it’s real recommendations provide honest, practical methods of addressing today’s reality – for persons at every level, in any kind of work.
This book is long overdue. I will be recommending it to my students, my colleagues, my readers and my friends.
Raymond Nadeau, CEO Living Brands Living Media Communications,
“Elaina Zuker has written a clear, concise and helpful book on moving out of stagnation to setting and reaching your goals. She has some smart ideas on peer mentoring and easy to use suggestions for identifying skills and goal setting. The book is written in accessible and easily understandable language – as exemplified by the title itself.”
—Dr. Leslie Faerstein
A great read for goal-oriented success!
This is “it” if you are looking for a well-focused and concisely defined quick and lively read. You will easily connect to your own personal needs and goals as you strive for the success you deserve. Go for it!!!!!”
—Emily Rosen
“This informative business book provides the reader with some unique ideas for increasing your business success through the sharing of skills
Elaina’s research and the input of colleagues and scholars offers the reader some great ideas on how to leverage your skills in order to gain others you don’t have. Any business owner will find this approach worth the read and possibly worth exploring to improve outcomes and even bottom lines!”
—Sandy Chernoff
“I recommend this book to anyone wants to advance their career and build lasting relationships with smart and interesting people.”
—Molly Sutherland
“Elaina has written another practical and powerful book to help get better results in the business world. As an owner/operator business, I sometimes wish I could have a coach or a mentor by my side to guide me, offer me the skills I don’t have and motivate me to get going on my next project or make that difficult phone call. A Swift Kick in the Can’ts does just that – and a lot more. I especially liked the exercises and the “how to” details she provides. I’ve already started on my search for a Peer Mentor.”
—Marcia
“I read it from cover to cover and just loved it. It was interesting, factual and easy to grasp. Honestly it gave ME a kick in the can’ts. In my over thirty-year real estate career I have worked in partnerships and “mentoring” relationships with many other professionals and to mutual benefit. For some of them it would have been useful to have had Elaina’s model and “contract” ideas to clarify those relationships!”
—Janet Gifford
“I read A Swift Kick in the Can’ts after hearing Elaina Zuker speak at a workshop in New York City. The idea of peer mentoring was new to me. This book is a breeze with a thought provoking premise . Elaina points out that as we intuitively and organically move more and more towards a sharing economy, the individualistic “by my bootstraps” ideology/myth has run its course and we are starting to be more honest and explicit about the fact that we rely on a network of friends and contacts for our successes…”
—Shindy Johnson
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