I read a lot of business books, and so should you. I found something useful in every book or ebook I will recommend here. See below for some of the pieces that I found helpful in each of these. Keep in mind; I’m also in business for profit and have an Amazon Affiliate partnership. If you buy the book from this link, they pay me. I wouldn’t honestly recommend a book if I didn’t read it and find it useful.
If you have not read this book, I urge you to buy it. This is not a request; it is quite literally an order. I learned more life-changing information from this book that is (at the time of this writing) over 80 years old than I have from every other business or self-help book I have read combined.
It is a little dated; I’m not going to lie. When you read this, and Carnegie talks about Al Capone, and Teddy Roosevelt, you know it’s old. The principles that he talks about, even though he may use ancient examples (they weren’t ancient when it was written of course) still ring true to these days and are worth instilling in yourself as a businessperson (and as a human being for that matter).
1. Don’t criticize condemn or complain.
2. Give honest sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people.
5. Smile.
6. Remember that a person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
7. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
9. Make the other person feel important-and do it sincerely.
These are a little less than half of the principles that he puts down in print, and he gives examples and analogies that paint the picture flawlessly.
I can’t recommend another book for business any higher than this one.