J. B. Dale

Dale Carnegie, born in 1888 in Missouri, rose from humble farm beginnings to become a renowned author and educator. He developed courses and wrote extensively on self-improvement, salesmanship, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. His early life involved farm work and a passion for public speaking, which he honed through school debate teams and an interest in Chautauqua assemblies.

After a stint in sales where he achieved national recognition, Carnegie pursued his dream of lecturing. He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later began teaching public speaking at a YMCA. This led to the evolution of the Dale Carnegie Course, which tapped into a desire for self-confidence. His seminal work, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People', published in 1936, became an international bestseller and remains popular. Carnegie's teachings formed the basis of Dale Carnegie Training, an organization founded in 1912 that continues to offer courses worldwide.

Dale Carnegie was born on November 24, 1888, on a farm in Missouri. Growing up in a rural environment, he attended one-room schools and developed an early interest in public speaking, participating in school debate teams. His youth was marked by demanding farm chores, including early morning tasks like feeding livestock. After his family relocated to another farm in Warrensburg, Missouri, in 1904, Carnegie completed his high school education in 1906. He went on to attend the State Teachers College in Warrensburg, graduating in 1908.

Following his college education, Carnegie began his career in sales, initially selling correspondence courses to ranchers and later selling products like bacon and soap for Armour & Company. He achieved significant success in sales, making his territory the national leader for the company. In 1911, with saved earnings, he aimed to become a Chautauqua lecturer. Instead, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, though his acting career was not notably successful. He then began teaching public speaking at a YMCA, developing a method that helped students overcome fear by speaking on subjects that angered them. This approach became the foundation for his influential Dale Carnegie Course.

Carnegie's first published work was 'Public Speaking: a Practical Course for Business Men' in 1926, which saw several re-releases and title changes. His most famous book, 'How to Win Friends and Influence People', was published in 1936 and quickly became a bestseller, selling millions of copies and being translated into numerous languages. He also authored other popular titles such as 'How to Stop Worrying and Start Living' and 'Lincoln the Unknown'. A central idea in his writings is the concept that individuals can alter the behavior of others by modifying their own conduct and approach towards them.