Always be yourself

Author: Lan Feng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: On November 24, 1880, Dale Carnegie was born in a small town near Maryville, Missouri. His father ran a small farm. The family was very poor, often going hungry and lacking adequate clothing. Due to malnutrition, young Carnegie was very thin but had a pair of large ears that seemed out of proportion to his head. The primary school he attended was named Rose Garden, a very rustic place with only one classroom. He was far from a well-behaved student. Due to his mischievous behavior and pranks, he was nearly expelled from school several times. His wide, large ears became a target of ridicule among his classmates. Once, a classmate named Sam White, a tall boy, had an argument with Carnegie. Carnegie made some sharp remarks, and White was provoked, threatening, "One day, I will cut off your annoying big ears." He was terrified and couldn’t sleep for several nights, fearing that White would cut off his ears while he was asleep. Even after Carnegie became famous, he never forgot Sam White. He summarized a life philosophy: "To be treated kindly by others, to get along harmoniously with colleagues, and to handle relationships between superiors and subordinates—then you must never touch the scars in others' hearts." Carnegie also discovered that he had an innate melancholic personality. He once confided in a friend: "Worry has accompanied me my entire life. I’ve always wanted to understand where my anxieties come from." One day, while helping his mother collect cherry blossom seeds, he suddenly burst into tears. His mother asked, "Why are you crying?" He replied tearfully, "I’m worried that I might end up buried in the soil like these seeds." In his childhood, he had many fears: worrying about being struck by lightning during thunderstorms, fearing there wouldn’t be enough food to eat during bad harvests, and even worrying about going to hell after death. The personal success philosophy pioneered and advocated by Carnegie has become a stepping stone for ambitious young people in this era. Through his teachings and influence, countless individuals have understood the meaning of living positively and have thereby changed their destinies. What Carnegie left us is not just a few books and schools; his true value lies in teaching the techniques of personal success to every person who aspires to achieve it. In America, I think, aside from Lady Liberty, Carnegie might be our nation’s symbol! The compiler has gathered the most important and richest experiences in Carnegie’s life regarding self-expression, self-development, relying on oneself, and achieving self-success in this book, "Always Be Yourself."