Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie was a famous lecturer and writer as well as the developer of very popular courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, interpersonal skills, and public speaking.
Dale wrote the first book I ever read (that I wasn’t required to read). The book was titled “How to Win Friends & Influence People.” I read the book when I was about 11 years old; this book was an incredible bestseller, and an amazing read.

Although born in poverty on a farm in Missouri, Dale Carnegie managed to become quite successful.

Dale authored popular books such as “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living,” and “Lincoln the Unknown,” as well as several other books.

One of my favorite principles that he taught was that it’s possible to change other people’s behavior towards you by changing your reaction towards them. Give that some deep thought , apply it, and it alone can change your life. But there's more to consider.

With that, let’s look at seven success lessons from Dale Carnegie.

1. Inaction Breeds Fear
   

   "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”

   
   Get busy today! If you have a good idea, put it to the test. Inaction breeds further inaction, and action breeds further action. One thing is sure: if you’re going to succeed, you’re going to have to take massive action, so get busy today!


2. Make Good Use of Your Time
   

   "Instead of worrying about what people say of you; why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire.”

   
   Spending time thinking about how people perceive you is a vast waste of valuable time. Concentrate your time in making a difference, and people will surely admire you.


3. Failure is the Stepping Stone to Success
   

   “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.”

   
   Often those with the greatest defeats also have the greatest victories. You must use discouragement and failure as tools to move you from the pit to the palace.


4. We Determine Our Happiness
   

   "Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions; it is governed by our mental attitude.”

   
   Happiness is a decision; it is not based on what’s going on around us. It’s based solely on what’s going on inside of us. Our happiness is based on the thoughts that we choose to give our attention to; the thoughts that we choose to harbor. Dale Carnegie said, “It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about.”


5. Remember That Everything You Do Sends a Message
   

   "There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts: what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.”

   
   Everything you do sends a message. The way you dress sends a message, the way you comb your hair sends a message.
   
   Determine the message you want to send to the world, and then package yourself to ensure that message is being sent. Send a message of success and the world will receive it.


6. Do What You Enjoy
   

   "People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.”

   
   If you want to succeed, don’t do it for the money. Money is not a sufficient enough motivation to pull you over the many hurdles that are requisite for you to achieve success. If you want to succeed, spend your time doing what you enjoy. This way, when you succeed, you will enjoy your success.


7. Take a Chance
   

   "The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.”

   
   You have to take chances! You have to sometimes risk being embarrassed or risk failure in order to succeed.
   
   Success requires everything that you are; you have to put it all out there. Dare to be different, dare to succeed. Carnegie said, “We all have possibilities we don't know about. We can do things we don't even dream we can do.” But if you never dare, you will never know your potential.