Dale Carnegie #13

One of the most influential people that I have read about in my life is Dale Carnegie. Many may recognize this name as the one that accompanies the book "How to Make Friends and Influence People." Carnegie was a self made man. He grew up as an extremely poor farm boy. To get an education he had to make great sacrifices. He made his way to school as a boy after waking up to milk cows at 4:00 in the morning. Can you believe that? I sometimes feel like my 9 o'clock class is too early. His work ethic allowed him to reach the heights of American stardom. He made a name for himself my teaching self-improvement classes and lecturing about public speaking. His work made him a house hold name in the early 20th century. I have learned a great deal from his writings and hope to continue to apply them for the rest of my life.

Before my mission I made an effort to read "How to Make Friends and Influence People." As I read the book I began to make serious changes. I began to say hello to nearly everyone that I saw. (This was very useful for my mission.) I began to treat people better. I began to use first names frequently. I began to apply all the tips that Dale Carnegie recommended in his classic book. I feel like many of the qualities I read about have influenced me in so many ways. I remember also being more willing to work and study after reading about his experiences.

Although we shouldn't worship our influences, I think it is important to have people who we admire. Having someone who has had experiences similar to our own can be a driving force in our progression. I have found that motivation comes from those who have overcome all obstacles to be successful.