Dale Carnegie Course - Any Opinions? - Page 2

Like any genre - especially those dealing with issues so qualitative - there are plenty of shysters out there spouting ego-masturbating crap to make a buck. However, some self-help stuff is worthwhile - some people need a "manual for life" and they'd do a lot worse than Carnegie.

I'm a fairly typical introverted computer nerd and had few role models growing up to learn "normal" social communication from. Reading a few books on how to make small-talk with people (rec: Leil Lowndes) and how relationships are supposed to function helped me a great deal.

So does that mean its not working?

^^ LOL, well played. In response to V0rtex and Checks... I suppose that yes, if you're someone who basically just doesn't "get it" and have had trouble being "successful" in life then sure, some help is needed, but I think that thinking one course will change your life and suddenly everything will work is not realistic. I definately KNOW that there is some value in many of the courses around, as well as many courses that are junk. IMO it's more about the committment to yourself (time, effort, $, etc) and the decision that you're actually taking your life into your hands and want to make it better that starts the ball rolling. The content itself, sure, some of it's good. Carnegie, like any of these guys (eg Tony Robbins) who've been around for THIS long clearly do provide some sort of value. Anyway, so what I'm saying is, I think it's a good start, is his course and is any course woth $2K, that I don't know. I'd start by getting a few of the usual self-help books and reading... I've dabbled even a bit in the Pick Up Artist stuff which actually really is about self-help. It's applied to dating/sex but it's all the same principles and can be used in all facets of one's life. As with all of these things, the world is full of diverse people and so there's always some good and some bad. i'd read a book or two first (as suggested above) and if you like Carnegie's overall style and main messages, then sure, maybe go see him in person if you think it's worth it. It's like listening to a CD before going to a concert.

The Carnegie technique --at least as it is outlined in "How to Win Friends..."-- strikes me as terribly blunt and unnatural. I think I would know instantly if someone was using that stuff on me. What's more, the book was really hard for me to read because the anecdotes were so corny and self-congratulatory. I got the impression that I would have thought DC was a complete tool.

For those with shit for social skills already, yes, it is very obvious. A guy I used to work with was recommended the book... then a week later he was asking people about their life goals, complementing their work habits and congratulating shit that didn't deserve any praise at all. It was embarrassing cause everyone noticed.

But if someone has already got a decent understanding of how to not be a douche bag then I think it can be pretty decent. Everything in the book is, IMO, obvious and easily connected to human nature. But at the same time, its not something we think of constantly. I've read the "how to win friends..." book a few times and every time I reread it I find something new that makes me feel stupid...

Bottom line, book for 6 bucks = decent value. Course for 2k = laughable.

Trust me, I listened to you... I also didn't necessarily say you were 'wrong'. My eye contact could have been better.

I'd be very wary of paying much money for most of this stuff, as a lot of the information is very basic and ultimately pretty obvious. I suppose that it may be worth paying for some courses just to see how the info is presented as different courses obviously put information together in different ways. However, do your research beforehand and be very wary of becoming involved with any "training" organisation that wants you to not only pay large sums of money but to also recruit others to the cause. Landmark Education and Scientology are, of course, different but both try to get you to persuade others to join and to part with their hard-earned cash. I have no direct experience with Scientology but I know two people who are heavily involved with Landmark Education. They both call me once a month or so to try to persuade me to come along to seminars with them. To be quite frank, rather than improving their lives, both of their situations have worsened over the past couple of years so I have little faith in the practical advantages of whatever it is that Landmark purports to teach.

Given that he's been dead since 1955, seeing him in person seems to present kind of a problem.

I think you can get a better experience by reading some books on the subject and then applying the information every day, I basically did that and I have been having a lot of success ever since. Didn't need to spend money on the actual course.

I also like someone's idea of joining your local Toastmasters, that would be a really valuable experience. Look them up if you don't know about them.

QFT

Teaches you how to manipulate people effectively