Dale Carnegie - Building generational wealth

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When he was young

Dale Harbison Carnagey born into poverty in 1888 in Maryville, Missouri. Dale was the son of a farmer family who moved out of Maryville to Warrensburg when he was still in middle school. 

During his high school years, Dale attended the school debate team and frequently went to “Chautauqua” assemblies. 

This educational and social movement was extremely popular at that time. They brought entertainment together with culture through speakers, teachers, musicians, and preachers. 

It was at these gatherings that Dale showed his first exquisite talent for public speaking. 

The talent was quickly noted, as his fellow students started paying him to teach it to them.

After Dale’s high school graduation in 1906, he attended the State Teachers College in Warrensburg. 

Because his family was still too poor to afford the boarding costs, Dale lived at home and went to school on horseback. 

During his ride home, Dale took the time to recite his speeches for the next day. 

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After graduation in 1908 Dale decided he would need to make his talent for speaking and convincing to work in order to escape poverty. Dale applied and got a job International Correspondence Schools. 

Sequentially, Dale took on another sales job for the meatpacking business Armour and Company. 

Dale worked until 1911 and could save up $500 making him able to quit his job, leave Warrensburg and move to New York. 

During his time in New York, Dale started his short acting career. He briefly studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and here he could land a leading role in a traveling production called “Polly of the Circus”.

This didn't end up being a great success, Dale also hated the feeling and so realized that acting wasn't something for him. 

Dale tried a career switch once more and got hired as a business manager for the traveling lecturer Lowell Thomas. 

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It wasn't until later that Dale remembered that people were paying for his skills when he was still in high school. This inspired Dale to teach public speaking, and so he managed to successfully claim a spot to speak for the YMCA. 

The classes on public speaking were a great success. 

Within two years, Dale was able to found his own Institute. 

In 1915 he published his first book, The Art of Public Speaking, still under the name of Carnagey. 

It wasn't until his second book, published in 1920, that he cleverly changed his last name to Carnegie. 

Dale changed his last name so that his books would be associated with the success of the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. Some sources report that he changed his name after conducting a sold-out lecture at Carnegie Hall, which inspired him to alternate the spelling of his name.

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How to win friends and influence people

After years of intensely researching hundreds of the world's greatest leaders and how they achieved their success, Dale published the book How to Win Friends and Influence People. 

Dale realised while teaching his students that they also needed to learn people skills and not only effective public speaking. 

There wasn't any textbook available on the subject so he decided to write it himself. 

This resulted in his best-selling book of all time. Though the initial print run was rather modest, with around 5000 copies, it grew out to be one of the most read books in the niche.  

During his lifetime, the book sold nearly 5 million copies and was translated into every major language. 

Because of the success Dale had with his book in 1936, the Dale Carnegie Institute exploded in popularity. His company expanded to 750 American cities and is now a well-known phenomenon worldwide. 

By the time of his death, an estimated 450.000 people had attended the institute. 

Unfortunately, Dale Carnegie died of Hodgkin lymphoma on November 1, 1955. His wife, Dorothy, ran the Carnegie institute after his death. The institute is still active today, and the legendary books are still being printed.

Closing Remarks

Dale Carnegie is a prime example of how to create generational wealth. 

Dale achieved his success by following what was really important to him. In Dale’s case, this was to publicly speak and teach his skills to other people.

May the story of Dale Carnegie inspire you to search for and attain greatness in all your endeavours, so that you can build a generational legacy for yourself and your family.

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