Building a business? If so, you’re undoubtedly aware of how important self-education is. You’re likely reading many different self-help and business books. The new material is great, but don’t forget the classics!
There is always something new to learn, even if the material is relatively old!
Which is why I include the classics in my reading material.
One of these is Dale Carnegie’s “How To Win Friends And Influence People”.
The content is rich and just as valuable today as when it was first published in 1936.
Section headings include:
Fundamental Techniques in Handling People,
Six Ways to Make People Like You,
Twelve Ways to Win People to Your Way of Thinking,
Nine Ways to Change People Without Giving Offense or Arousing Resentment,
Letters That Produce Miraculous Results, and
Seven Rules For Making Your Home Life Happier.
To give you an example, here is a brief segment from the section “A Sure Way of Making Enemies — and How to Avoid It”:
“You can tell a man he is wrong by a look or an intonation or a gesture just as eloquently as you can in words — and if you tell him he is wrong, do you make him want to agree with you? Never! For you have struck a direct blow at his intelligence, his judgment, his pride, his self-respect. That will make him want to strike back. But it will never make him want to change his mind. You may then hurl at him all the logic of Plato or an Immanuel Kant, but you will not alter his opinion, for you have hurt his feelings.”
Part II closes with “Six Ways to Make People Like You”
Rule 1: Become genuinely interested in other people
Rule 2: Smile
Rule 3: Remember that a man’s name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
Rule 4: Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
Rule 5: Talk in terms of the other man’s interest.
Rule 6: Make the other person feel important — and do it sincerely.
The writing may seem a little quaint at times and it’s not “politically correct” by today’s standards, so just take into account when it was written and ignore that.
1888 saw the birth of Dale Carnegie to poor Missouri farmers. He struggled to get an education, then was moderately successful in sales. After attending the American Academy of Dramatic Art he tried acting, but had limited success.
He developed a course called simply The Dale Carnegie Course, which many consider to be his greatest achievement. More than 50 years after his death it’s still popular. And his book How to Win Friends and Influence People is his most famous, having sold more than 15 million copies around the globe.
If you’re new to this classic, get a copy and read it. If it’s been a long time since you read it, dig it out and read it again. You’ll be glad you did!
Want to find out more business building tips? Visit Kim Thornton’s blog Surge To Success.
