Networking Kills: Success Through Serving
Original price was: €15.€13Current price is: €13.
Price: $14.99 - $13.20
(as of Sep 24, 2025 18:03:20 UTC – Details)
The key to finding success isn’t about who you know, but how you serve.
“In an industry and culture that encourages us to be more and more self-focused for our own personal gain, Mark’s book is a fresh and necessary perspective that is desperately needed.” ~ TobyMac
College freshmen are lectured about networking on their first day of class. Young professionals race to another boring party so they can be seen and shake hands with someone who might be able to help them-just like the business books and podcasts have instructed. Creatives are chronically obsessed with and depressed by the number of likes, views and followers on their social media. Anyone embarking upon a new path or business venture has heard the key to success lies in networking-who you know, and how they can get you ahead. But, according to Mark H. Maxwell, this is not only untrue, but potentially dangerous to those hoping to succeed.
Networking Kills lays out what the Bible and Jesus say about true success. Weaving scripture with Maxwell’s own stories from his professional career and pop culture illustrations (John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, Kim Kardashian, Johnny Cash), Networking Kills examines the need for cultural change concerning our pursuit and definition of “success” in every area of life, and shows how serving is actually the key.
“Christ taught, ‘If you want to be great, you must become a servant, ‘” Maxwell says. “And, Martin Luther King, Jr., made it clear, ‘Anybody can be great, because anybody can serve.’ Even music business super-manager, Scooter Braun (Justin Bieber) says, ‘Don’t live for yourself…Live for others…that is where you will find true riches in life.’ The heart of networking is rooted in selfishness, taking and using, while the great leaders teach us that true success comes through giving, loving others and serving generously.”
In Networking Kills, Maxwell shows how:
Networking kills creativityNetworking kills authentic relationshipsNetworking kills lifeNetworking kills loveHe then lays out the amazing benefits that can come from living a life that is focused on service:
Serving erases fear of failureServing erases conflictServing creates purposeServing creates valueServing creates provisionServing changes the world
Publisher : Desolation Row Press
Publication date : December 11, 2018
Language : English
Print length : 242 pages
ISBN-10 : 0578419955
ISBN-13 : 978-0578419954
Item Weight : 10.1 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.51 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #2,719,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #806 in Music Business (Books) #2,853 in Christian Business & Professional Growth #17,261 in Personal Finance (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 97 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers find this book to be a must-read, particularly for students, and appreciate its practical advice for faith-focused creatives. Moreover, the book is easy to read and provides inspiration through its honest and educational content, with one customer noting its wide array of interesting life experiences. Additionally, customers value the book’s approach to networking, with one describing it as a helpful tool for navigating social media connections, while others find it challenging and heartwarming.
7 reviews for Networking Kills: Success Through Serving
Add a review
Related Products
Original price was: €15.€13Current price is: €13.
Amanda Lake –
Serve Others and Trust God’s Faithfulness
I recently started a leadership training, coaching, and consulting business, and this book was just the inspiration I needed for this season of my life! Maxwell put into words the discontent I’ve felt with trying to reconcile the idea of trusting the Lord to grow my business, while at the same time feeling pressure to increase my networking “skills” and become more adept at self-promotion. In his book, Maxwell said, “Serving attracts us to and is attractive to others when people can sense you genuinely care…walls come down and true relationships form. And that is more powerful than any business card exchange, forced cocktail hour conversation or Instagram follow” (p. xix). My decision to use my time, gifts, and talents to serve others, rather than attending the endless stream of networking events, has been a part of my faith journey over the last year. And God has been faithful to connect me with the leaders who need my help, and who are ready and willing to learn and grow. As a further testament to the Lord’s faithfulness, several of the pro bono projects I completed in the past year have led to paid contracts. Maxwell’s book was the encouragement I needed to know that it’s not crazy, naive, or irresponsible to adopt a business strategy that is based on serving others and trusting the Lordâs faithfulness. âConsider the lilies of the fieldâ applies to both our personal and professional lives, and this book provides the reassurance needed to build businesses on these kingdom principles.
Scott R Hunter –
Inspiring on So Many Levels
As a fellow attorney working in the music business, Mark’s book provided me with inspiration and practical guidance on many levels. His personal approach, candidness, and excellent storytelling drove home the need for all professionals to serve others first and foremost. Shifting the focus from “what can you do for me?” to “how can I assist you?” makes all the difference when interacting with clients, co-workers and others. His music tales (and playlist!) are very well thought out and insightful. It’s also clear not only from the book but from the tremendous feedback his Belmont students have provided here that Mark “walks the walk” by the sheer amount of time and effort he and his wife pour into these student’s lives and career goals. Finally, as a dad of a recent college grad who is taking a leap of faith and diving into the music business, our discovery of this book came at the perfect time for us to approach the launching of her new career in an entirely different way. Highly recommended!
Joshua Smith –
SUPER helpful book for faith-focused creatives.
Networking Kills is a great read.It’s insightful and well written, and is a book Iâll recommend over and over again. After reading Networking Kills, I immediately purchased another few copies to hand out to people who are struggling with the *very* issues Mark identifies in his own personal story.Networking Kills is an easy read.Iâm not in the music industry but I found myself drawn into the numerous stories that opened up access to people, places and closed-door moments Iâd never have otherwise observed. I loved meeting big-name personalities through his lens on life.Networking Kills is an important read.Itâs relevant to today and gives practical advice for faith-focused creatives. It doesnât make things easier, but it does provide focus and illustrates how choosing to serve really can get you places you may never have dreamed of.Iâm a former workaholic learning to re-train some ingrown tendencies and Networking Skills has become a major stepping-stone to a new, better place.
Mary S –
I really enjoyed this book!
I really enjoyed this book. It helped me to re-focus on what is really important in developing contacts and relationships with others, whether for personal or business purposes. If I am “networking” solely for the purpose of what I can get from others, I am likely to miss what is of utmost importance: the other person. By being “other focused,” I open a gateway into being truly relevant to the lives of other people— not ultimately for my temporal purposes, but for God’s eternal purposes. If my life, in relationship with others, is lived out in this “other focused” way, and if I am then willing to serve the needs of others before my own as God leads, “success” will not be something I will have to try to “achieve”—but it will become the increased “fruit” of my life—and that is true success.
Melody Wilson –
One of the most important books today on biz, life, growth
This book turns everything you think you know about getting ahead completely upside down. It will challenge the voices we all know too well about how to achieve visibility and opportunity and instead offer an authentic and practical way to grow. A way that doesn’t leave you feeling dirty, like you’re using everyone around you. A way that tunes into the needs of others and puts them first. A way forward through serving. A way that suggests the talents and gifts you have are not just for your success, but they are to make the world a better place, and they start with real relationship. Mark endears you immediately, through his wide array of interesting life experiences, his hardcore music geekness and his inspiring vulnerability. You won’t regret taking him up on his invitation into a more meaningful way of impacting the world.
Charmaine –
Very Encouraging and Inspiring.
This is an awesome book. As an attorney going through a transition in my career, it was a great reminder to remember that God is ultimately our source and everything else is a resource. My pastor constantly preaches that to us in church, so it was nice to be reminded of this outside of church.After reading this book, I have made more of a conscious decision to pray for clients before and after meeting with them. Nice reminder that we serve others through the gifts and talents God has given us.I appreciate the author for giving us his perspective and challenging us to find ways to serve others through our career journey.A.M.
B&B Owner –
The author’s Ted Talk is great and has the pertinent information.