6 Ways To Make People Like You

#3 - Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

There once was a man named Jim Farley. When he was 10, his father died in a tragic accident, leaving little Jim as the man of the house. Jim went to work at a brickyard, and never had a chance for education. Naturally Jim, was a likable person, and made his way into politics. As the years went by he developed an uncanny ability for remembering people's names. He never saw the inside of a high school, but by the age of 46, four colleges had honored him with degrees, and he became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Postmaster General for the United States. Jim said he could remember 50,000 individuals by their first name. This ability is what helped put Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House (he managed Roosevelt's campaign).

Jim's system for remembering names was actually pretty simple. What made it work however, was that he actually DID it. His system was that whenever he met a new acquaintance, he found out his or her complete name, and some facts about his or her family, business and political opinions. All of this created a "picture" in his brain, and the next time he came across them again, he was able to ask about the family and how the garden was keeping up this year. No wonder he developed a following!

Sometimes it is hard to remember someone's name especially if it is a rather difficult one. So what do we do? We don't remember it, and that makes for a rather awkward situation for the next time we have to address that person. Here are just a few experiences of how important remembering names can be.

Andrew Carnegie, a very successful gentleman in the steel industry had a great idea while just a mere boy. He came across a momma rabbit, and in no time he had a whole nest of baby rabbits, but had nothing to feed them. He told all the neighbor kids that if they would go out and pull enough clover and dandelions to feed them, that he would name the rabbits in their honor. The idea worked brilliantly!

Another experience, later on in life, came when Andrew and a fellow businessman George Pullman were battling each other in the railroad sleeping-car business. They met up one day and had a conversation. Pullman asked Andrew what was on his mind, and Andrew told him he thought they should merge their companies together. He thought it would be much more efficient if they worked together rather than against each other. Well, Pullman wasn't buying it. He asked Andrew what he would name the company, and Andrew replied, " Why, the Pullman Palace Car Company, of course." Pullman's face brightened. He told Andrew to step into his office to talk it over. That talk made industrial history.

Remember - the name sets the individual apart, it makes him or her unique among all others. From the waitress to the senior executive, the name will work magic as we deal with others.

This is principle 3.