July 2013 Business Book :: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Holy moly, it’s already August 7th!  During the month of July, I read Dale Carnegie’s classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.  It has been on my reading list for years, so I’m pretty pumped to finally cross it off.  I highly recommend it!

There are so many useful passages in this book.  I’d actually like to read it again to make sure I caught everything.  

I found myself nodding “yes” in agreement with so many of Carnegie’s words of wisdom.  One thing in particular was what he says about the significance of making other people feel important.  Maybe it’s from my days working with kids, but I totally agree and see the importance of showing your support and belief in other people.  We all want to feel important and validated.  It’s human nature.  And to do this sincerely, with no hopes of getting anything in return .. that’s where the beauty is.

Here’s my favorite part … Dale (I’m not sure why, but I feel comfortable referring to him by his first name) is telling a story about complimenting a tired post office clerk’s hair, and when he told the story in public someone actually asked him : “What did you want to get out of him?”.

Page 106: “What was I trying to get out of him!!!  What was I trying to get out of him!!!”

I have a slightly excessive use-of-the-exclamation-point-problem, so I got a kick out of Dale’s delightful overuse there.  He goes on to say, “If we are so contemptibly selfish that we can’t radiate a little happiness and pass on a bit of honest appreciation without trying to get something out of the other person in return — if our souls are no bigger than sour crab apples, we shall meet with the failure we so richly deserve” (p. 106).

Well said!!

Dale’s point, which I just so completely and utterly agree with, is that he DID get something out of it.  GOOD VIBES!  It feels good to be able to genuinely say nice things to other people.  Right?!!!!!

I’m already looking forward to next month’s book: Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal.  It came out a couple days ago so it’s a nice contrast to this tried and true classic, which was originally published in 1937. (!!!!)