How I love SERENDIPITY!
For the second time this year, I was researching for a presentation, when I came across my subject unexpectedly. It seemed like good material to share here. The subject was Andrew Carnegie, and I came across his name in a newsletter I receive from Gort Coaching. I have made a quick translation into English. There is a link to the original article in Dutch at the end.
Andrew Carnegie, was, like me, born in Dunfermline, Scotland, but unlike me became the richest man in the world during his lifetime. Unusually he gave all his wealth away. In his autobiography he shared his tips for success.
How do you achieve success in your work and life?
Countless books have been written about it, but one of the most special is the autobiography of Andrew Carnegie. The book is written so lightly that you would almost forget how authoritative the author was. The Scottish entrepreneur became the richest person in the world after selling the largest iron and steel mills in America. What can we learn from him in terms of success? These are Carnegie's tips for success in work and life.
Make having a good attitude your priority
It may sound a bit crazy, to become successful by striving for a good humour. But it really works that way. In Carnegie's words: "a sunny mood is worth much more than a fortune." It is possible to "cultivate" your mind; to make your thoughts not negative but positive. In other words: control your state of mind. Then you get a lot more done and take a step in the direction of a successful life.
Don't be afraid to speak in public
According to Carnegie, there were two rules for speaking: "talk to people, not at them" and "be yourself and don’t try to be an orator." The first is about having a conversation instead of just telling your story. A small shift, but it has a lot of influence on the way you come across. Consider how you currently communicate and how you can improve that. The second point is a bit more difficult, because you have to know who you are and what you stand for. An orator is someone who loves to speak, but according to Carnegie it is more important to dare to be yourself than to pretend that you like to speak in public. Furthermore, Carnegie says that public speaking is just speaking, so you don't have to be afraid of anything, as long as you keep the two rules for speaking in mind. The rules may seem contradictory: not pretending to like speaking, but accepting that you don't have to be afraid of anything? The difference is slight, but the point is that you still speak in public even if you find it a bit stressful. And when you do, it's important that you stay true to yourself.
Network!
Gather people around you who add value to you and the other people in your network. Maintain relationships because you can learn directly from those people - from both their knowledge and their experience. So always try to find interesting people. Easier said than done, but with this attitude, Carnegie became friends with President Harrison, William Gladstone and Herbert Spencer, among others.
Travel!
Carnegie loved travelling, because seeing new lands made him appreciate life more. During his travels, he immersed himself in the cultures he encountered. According to him, travelling was eye-opening, especially when it involved a bit of adventure. He therefore advises everyone to explore the world and calls it an essential part of success. If a trip around the world is not feasible, then exploring Europe or even just the Netherlands is not a bad alternative; even here, you can leave your comfort zone to broaden your horizons and have the opportunity to delve into other cultures.
Original in Dutch here: https://gortcoaching.nl/hoe-bereik-je-succes-in-je-werk-en-het-leven?
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