How to Win Friends And Influence People

Dale Carnegie says dealing with people is probably the biggest problem people face, especially in business. How do you expect to be a leader of people if you can't communicate effectively?

I should know. I'm a quiet(almost mute) introvert myself.

I've been this way since I can remember.  I don't mind it.

Honestly, I quite enjoy it, except when I'm out and about

and faced with a situation where I'm compelled to interact

with other people.

It's not that I have trouble formulating words, I just find that

the things I'm interested in are not the same things other people

are interested in. And consequently, my conversations end

in 2 minutes or less.

Funny enough, I enjoy the company of books more than I enjoy

the company of humans, which is why I started writing these reviews, because I've read a lot of books and learned a lot of things which I think are impressive and would benefit a lot of people out there who just don't have the time to read themselves - or just need an accountability partner to help them implement

what they learned in the books they've read themselves.

And so I'm hoping this book will help me have conversations

that go on for more than 2 minutes. I don't want to be out here feeling like a noodle.

Communication is important in every facet of a person's life

and career. Not just in business. How do you expect to have

a harmonious home if you can't communicate effectively?

How do you expect to relate with your children and neighbors

if you can't communicate effectively?

In your job, for example, technical expertise is not the thing

that will determine your success.  He says, "One can hire mere technical ability in engineering, accountancy, architecture or any other profession at nominal salaries. But the person who has technical knowledge plus the ability to express ideas , to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people,

that person is headed for higher earning power."

He also quotes John D. Rockefeller who said,

"The ability to deal with people is as purchasable

a commodity as sugar or coffee. And I will pay more for that

ability than for any other under the sun."

As you can see, making friends and influencing people 

is very lucrative. Let's dive right in and start learning

this extremely valuable skill.

According to Carnegie, the ability to make people like you and win them over to your way of thinking is a subject people are most interested in learning, second only to health. 

Carnegie reminds us that the great aim of education

is not knowledge, but action. So we must apply what we learn

from this book.

Carnegie gives us nine suggestions to get the most out of this book, or any other book for that matter.  These are incredibly powerful and they will help you retain more of what you read longer,

and put you in a better position to apply the lessons

you learn from the book.

Practical exercise.

Make time each week to review your activities of the past week.
What mistakes did you make?
What did you do right?

What can you learn from this so you improve going forward?

"Keep a log of your application of these principles.

Be specific, give names, dates, actions taken, and results.