Who Influenced You?
All of us have influences. People who have educated, inspired, engaged, supported us. Or maybe just kicked us in the ass when we needed it.
Tell me in the comments who influenced you and why, and you could win a copy of the uber-classic book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.“ It’s the guide from Dale Carnegie, written nearly 75 years ago. While it pre-dates the Internet (and commercial air travel, ATMs, competitive eating, Red Bull and a lot of other stuff we take for granted), its core premise serves as the foundation for social media effectiveness.
A few of Mr. Carnegie’s principles:
- You can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person’s point of view.
- Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.
- Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
Sounds like the playbook for successful brand/customer relationships on the social Web, does it not?
Just leave a comment below about who influenced you and why and you could win. I’ll randomly select 10 winners.
Dale Carnegie Wisdom 2.0
In addition to giving you the opportunity to win this treasure of a book (thanks to the folks at DaleCarnegie.com for supplying the prizes to Convince & Convert readers), you can now experience a freaky combination of timeless wisdom and post-modern gadgetry, as Dale Carnegie now has an app called Secrets of Success. iPhone app for now, Blackberry on the way.
I’m not sure whether Dale would be rolling over in his grave over the prospect of an iPhone app, but the app is incredibly content rich, and worth far more than 99 cents. The app addresses a huge array of business and communication circumstances, including videos and a nifty tip of the day.
If you are a manager of people, or just want to be a better communicator, I highly recommend this app. I’ve been playing with it for a few days, and it’s amazing how much they were able to jam into it. (I also recommend it on the iPad. The larger screen size is great for an information-based app like this one). (See my review of the iPad review here)
This content would also make a fantastic Facebook application. Maybe the folks at DaleCarnegie.com will consider that approach as well.
Alright, your turn. Who influenced you, and why? 10 books are up for grabs.
An excellent idea for a post Jay! Thanks for stimulating my brain cells :).
I already know that this is a going to be a mile long reply so I apologize ahead of time and hope it will be worth reading.
I'm very lucky actually. I've had several mentors and positive influencers in my life thus far. First and foremost - my parents - but there are a few others.
My father: he is the epitome of an honest, ethical, self-made business man. Although he is very much "old school", he has instilled in me the proper values to succeed both on an individual level and a professional one. He taught me that family and education come first and that self-respect and respect towards others are essential elements in life. And every day, in my dealings with people, I see how right he is. He has taught me to take responsibility for my actions and assume the decisions I make. He offered me an education that people dream of and for that I am truly grateful. I could go on and on here, but Im sure you get the idea.
My mother: she is a strong and self-reliant/dependent woman whose all round generosity is beyond compare. She has pushed me to strive for more than what I am and do. She too has supported me in many different ways. My character and social attributes are largely thanks to her. The friendships I have made and the abundant acquaintances and connections I maintain are because of the character I have built throughout the years a character that resembles hers in many aspects; one where a sense of humor prevails but where honesty, transparency, civility and sociability also reign. Again, Ill cut this short since Im sure I could bore you with a novel :).
My college coach Gina: as an NCAA athlete (many years ago), you can imagine the dedication and discipline that I had. This is in large part because of her and how she pushed me to become a better and more confident player both on and off the field. Learning how to be a team player and losing some to win some is something that has stayed with me till now. The support she offered me both as a friend and coach are remarkable and I often tell her to that to this day.
If you dont mind, theres a quote by Tom Landry that Id like to share with you that my old high school counselor and coach told me. To this day, its still one of my favorites and I believe it applies to most things we (I) do and undertake in life.
The quality of performance is in direct proportion to the commitment to excellence.
Like I said, there are quite a few people that I admire and that have acted as wonderful mentors, but for now these 3 should suffice.
Thanks a lot for your time and for giving me the chance to remember never to take these people (and others) and things for granted.
Ingrid A.
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