This book is known as one of the best, if not the best, self-help book ever written. The majority of the book focuses on building business and personal relationships, with two of my favorite points in the first half of the book discussed below.
Part 1: Fundamental techniques in handling people.
Taking the principle, “Arouse in the person an eager want”, Carnegie describes an experience he has while on a trip in Maine. He always craves strawberries and cream, but when fishing, he didn’t think about what he wanted, he thought about what the fish wanted. Stating,”I didn’t bait the hook with strawberries and cream. Rather, I dangled a worm or grasshopper in front of the fish and said, ‘Wouldn’t you like to have that?’ Why not use the same common sense when fishing for people?” Most acts you perform are done because you want something, it goes for everyone, everywhere, so when handling others try to think about what would make them want to do something.
Part 2: Six ways to make people like you.
Growing up my dad always told me the best way to meet people and get people to like you was to walk into a room with the attitude of, “There you are!” versus walking into a room and expressing, “Here I am!” Part two has a lot of great advice on how to get people to like you. I believe the most prominent rule is presented by Principle 4: “Be a good listener. Encourage people to talk about themselves.”
Ask questions, and be genuinely interested and paying attention to their responses. If you can remember facts about people you meet and are able to recall them, the person will immediately recognize your sincerity and you become more memorable and thus, more likable.
