DREIESKIVA​|Roald Kvam

Roald Kvam 2023

People like to talk about themselves and have others be interested in them. The next best thing to talking about themselves is talking about the things that they enjoy.

Whenever Theodore Roosevelt expected a visitor, he would stay up late the night before, reading up on whatever subject he knew particularly interested his guest.

And that is because Roosevelt was aware of the following idea:

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«The royal road to a person’s heart is to talk about the things he or she treasures most.» (Theodore Roosevelt)
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Carnegie describes a story from a man named Edward Chalif, who was planning to ask the president of one of the largest corporations in America to pay for his son to go on a Boy Scout trip.

Before Mr. Chalif went to see him, he had heard that this man had drawn up a check for a million dollars, and that after it was canceled, he had had it framed. Upon meeting the man, he mentioned how much he admired the check and would love to see it.

The man was thrilled!

He talked about the check for some time, until he realized he hadn’t asked why Mr. Chalif was there to see him. When Mr. Chalif mentioned his request, the man agreed without any questions and even offered to fund the trip for several other boys as well.

Mr. Chalif later explained, “If I hadn’t found out what he was interested in, and got him warmed up first, I wouldn’t have found him one-tenth as easy to approach.”

Talking in terms of the other person’s interests benefits both parties.

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Source & Inspiration: «How to Win Friends & Influence People» (Dale Carnegie, Andrew MacMillan, et al.)