Dale Carnegie - His Influence On My Life

I was doing my form two at Hamilton High School when I can across Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." I found this book interesting and I devoured it like a hungry man. As I came to the close of the book, I could feel that I have found a man who was doing what I wanted to do with my life. He was helping people face their challenges, tame their fears and overcome their worries. Later, I found a tattered copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People." I meticulously restored, rebound and covered the book. It inspired me to be more relational. It underlined that the art of leadership is influence. I never knew that one could find a new book by Dale Carnegie. I was wrong, Innov8 Bookshop just got some new copies and I am considering auctioning my dated copies that I have had for decades, read several times and underlined. Perhaps they will one day be worthy collections.  

Work does not kill

Looking back, it would sound like child abuse that I had to contribute to the family income through trading at such a tender age.  Yes, I had to stand at places I would today consider dangerous and unfit for children. However, then we thought little about it. While some people could have felt pity for me, I never felt I was a victim, of what? Selling was fun  it infused some adrenalin rush into my blood system. I still feel this pulsating feeling whenever I am in the retail store. It is a feeling that cannot be equated to anything. Only retailers would relate to what I am saying. 

Work is only drudgery when you have not connected with your passion and you do not see meaning in your work. I knew that after school, I would remove my uniform and get on with the business. I never thought I was being forced or abused. Work does not kill but laziness does. Work is not abuse but development regardless of income. Work is fun and anyone who has not discovered the thrill in his work is a glorified slave and is not likely to make a success of his career. Work is pure love in action and to take my work away from me would be to kill me. 

Take Relentless Action!

It is easy to take action when it suits us and when it is comfortable to do so. Easy convenience is not a cousin of greatness. True greatness is revealed when the stakes are high and you dare take action relentlessly when you would rather quit. Quitting is easy and most people do. Giving up is easy, and most people do. The true hero is one who can stick to the knitting against all odds. Who can take action despite the sting of opposition. The key to greatness is action, relentless action, undying action. Without action there is nothing else. Behold the mighty tortoise who makes progress when he sticks out his head out of his shell. 

Calvin Coolidge was full of insights into the anatomy of heroism when he wrote: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” 

There is no silver bullet to heroism except persistence: stick-to-itivenss. Certificates, impressions, history, pedigree and anything else we may dare parade can never take the place of persistence and relentless action.