How to Win Friends & Influence People
Section One Principle: “Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.” Certainly, criticizing others is something that every person has been guilty of at some point or another. Why go through the time and effort to understand another person’s perspective when one can simply point out perceived flaws in that perspective? Dale Carnegie asserts, “Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do” (Carnegie, 16). Harsh criticism does nothing in terms of helping another person move closer to attaining his or her goals. More often than not, severe rebuke can result in feelings of resentment, inadequacy, and a diminished sense of self-worth. Meanwhile, the original problem remains unsolved. Rather than reprimand someone for his or her perspective, one should find the praiseworthy aspects of another’s efforts and gently nudge him/her in the right direction. As a result, the original problem is rectified at no expense to the other person’s self-worth. Therefore, refraining from criticism can be much more …show more content…
To many people, a name is significant. It is part of a person’s unique identity and can never be taken away. Dale Carnegie notes, “The name sets the individual apart; it makes him or her unique among all others” (Carnegie, 78). If an individual takes pride in anything, he/she will certainly take pride in his/her name. If one hopes to win another’s heart, a simple and effective place to start would be to know the other individual’s name. By knowing the other person’s name, a sense of respect and interest for the other individual is conveyed. Moreover, the other individual does not feel like he/she is one of countless faces jammed into memory. Rather, the individual feels special for being remembered. Simply put, a name is the bridge between one and another
Section One Principle: “Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.” Certainly, criticizing others is something that every person has been guilty of at some point or another. Why go through the time and effort to understand another person’s perspective when one can simply point out perceived flaws in that perspective? Dale Carnegie asserts, “Instead of condemning people, let’s try to understand them. Let’s try to figure out why they do what they do” (Carnegie, 16). Harsh criticism does nothing in terms of helping another person move closer to attaining his or her goals. More often than not, severe rebuke can result in feelings of resentment, inadequacy, and a diminished sense of self-worth. Meanwhile, the original problem remains unsolved. Rather than reprimand someone for his or her perspective, one should find the praiseworthy aspects of another’s efforts and gently nudge him/her in the right direction. As a result, the original problem is rectified at no expense to the other person’s self-worth. Therefore, refraining from criticism can be much more …show more content…
To many people, a name is significant. It is part of a person’s unique identity and can never be taken away. Dale Carnegie notes, “The name sets the individual apart; it makes him or her unique among all others” (Carnegie, 78). If an individual takes pride in anything, he/she will certainly take pride in his/her name. If one hopes to win another’s heart, a simple and effective place to start would be to know the other individual’s name. By knowing the other person’s name, a sense of respect and interest for the other individual is conveyed. Moreover, the other individual does not feel like he/she is one of countless faces jammed into memory. Rather, the individual feels special for being remembered. Simply put, a name is the bridge between one and another