Values Quotes – Dale Carnegie on Influence

Welcome to Values Quotes. I’m Robert Ferguson.

Today’s quote is from Dale Carnegie, the developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.

From his bestselling book “How to Win Friends & Influence People” Carnegie states:

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” 

Carnegie learned first hand the value of influence.

As a differentiating value, Influence means a power to affect persons or events; or determine and shape events and outcomes.

Carnegie’s understanding of influence can be traced back to when he began teaching public speaking in 1912. When he discovered the technique that would help speakers become unafraid to address an audience, Carnegie had found his lever of influence.

He not only had a positive impact on others, he changed lives. And he did that by being more interested in them than getting them interested in him.

If you want to influence others, I encourage you to embrace Carnegie’s statement. When you show real, honest interest in others, then the door will be opened to affect them and change lives.

But remember, influence is power. It should only be used for good!

 

Today’s value was selected from the “Effectiveness-Influence” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Value.