Simplistically stated. Stuff we all know. Stuff we all know we all know. And yet, reading it from the perspective of the writer puts a totally different spin on the topic of dealing with other people - a task we're faced with in absolutely all facets of our lives.
Under the Part 1: The Fundamental Techniques of Handling People, Dale Carnegie (the author), said to always view things from the other person's perspective. What does he mean? When Mr. Carnegie had rented a ball room to host his series on leadership, the hotel raised his usual rate by 300%. Did he storm into the managers office telling him what an idiot the hotel chain was? That now, because of their stupidity they'd lose his business all together?! No. Not even. He sat down across from the man and said he completely understood why the hotel would do this - to maximize profits. And had the manager not done his job, Mr. Carnegie would have expected him to be rightfully fired. And then he reasons with the man from the man's perspective. No yelling, no pointing fingers, no storming out. The Result? Mr. Carnegie's rate was dropped 250%. Amazing.
So what if Dale had walked in yelling and screaming and throwing things? He would have gotten his point across, yes. But do you think that hotel manager would have bent over backwards to decrease the cost to Mr. Carnegie? No way in hell.
This would pose a HUGE challenge to me. I mean, I've got to look out for numero uno, right? WRONG. Look out for others, and they'll do the same for you. It's a proven fact that I think we as individuals so often forget in this narcisistic society of the 21st century. I know I have.
Part 2 of the book - 6 ways to make people like you - recommends taking a deeper interest in others. Like really act interested in them, what makes them tick, what they did today. Never talk about yourself. No one cares about yourself. They care about the "me, mine, my, I". Harsh words, but the truth hurts.
Example: Recently a woman started working at my office. She was only a temp so no one has paid her much attention. The other day, she'd stopped in to ask me about the location of some recruiter in the buidling. I said the person was probably located on seventh floor and left it at that. I ran into the temp lady yesterday... the thought looming in my mind "Heather. take a deeper interest. Ask her about her day...ask her about "her" So I asked if she'd been able to locate the recruiter. Of course she hadn't! This building is an ant hill! I smiled and offered to take her upstairs to find the person.... testing to see if this book was legit. You know what happened?
It turns out that her children go to the same small private school as my little sister - the same one I'd graduated from years ago! By some luck of the draw, we'd ended up not only in the same building but on the same team! I'm pretty sure we'll definitely be hitting up some lunch spots together soon.
I'm amazed. I wish I had read this book years ago. If you have sat through my boring story and are still reading this, PLEASE go pick up this book. I'm pretty sure, if you're open to it, it'll revolutionize your life. No joke.
To once and for all end the question of what "hanging out" in the 21st century entails, I turn to the trusted "urban dictionary" http://hanging-out.urbanup.com/2576729 Check it out, peeps... this stuff is hard-core irrefutable.
Why is the phrase "Would you like to go out on a date?" so unheard of in the 21st century? Am I the only one caught/trapped in this impenetrable bubble of "hanging out"? Feel with me, bloggers!
There's a few others in there, but I honestly don't think they really even deserve a line item on my "budget of men" list. *wow i sound like a player... but like they say "Don't hate the playa, hate the game, son.* heehee
So back to this guy... he's 30, shorter than me (in heels), but honestly, I don't think I've met anyone more hilarious in my life. Hey, might as well enjoy the ride! I'm going out with him tomorrow. He has this whole day planned - car drive in his dodge viper, racing go-karts, adult arcade/dinner scene, some comedy club and/or some high-end lounge. A little intense for my 10 o'clock bed time, I'll admit... but should be fun.
Yeah, he's not my type - but do we really have a "type"? Can i go out with one guy and find out he's a tool then automatically lable any similar beings as "tools" as well? My thoughts - you don't know yourself well enough to know someone else before you meet them. ... a rewording of the golden phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover"
I'll follow-up next week with how it went lol. ENJOY your weekend, folks... afterall, we've waited a whole freaking 4 days for it!
