The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1902-06-26
THE ART OF WINNING PEOPLES
CONFIDENCE.

CONFIDENCE.
The art of gaining peoples con-
fidence quickly and retaining 1T is
of inestimable value to youth
who would get along in the world.
Very few people possess it. The
majority of us throw barriers in
the way of it's requirement. By
having a disagreeable manner,
lack of tact, or perhaps, an I'M
pleasant personality, we frequent
ly antagonize or repel those whom
we ale anxious to please.
Many people have to work hard
to overcome the prejudice created
by first impressions, while others,
without effort, charm everyone
they meet.
Success is often due more to ell
gaging manners and all attractive
personality than to great ability.
If is not the teacher who knows
most, for instance, who is success
full beyond others, but 1t is the
one VINO pleases and interests by
means of her tact and winning
ways. Neither is it always the
salesman who knows his business
from A. to Il, but whose manner is
repellant, who is most valuable
to his employer, but the one who
has learned the art of pleasing.
We are so constituted that we
are influenced by what pleases us,
even when it warps our Judgment.
One may feel predjudice against a
book agent, for example, who
has managed to gain access to him.
But, if the salesman has all agree
able personality, and succeeds in
making a favorable impression,
he will sell the work he is canvass
ing for, even though the purchaser
does not want it. 81 did not
really want the book" the latter
will be heard to say afterwards,
"but the fellow was so pleasing,
so polite and genial, that l really
could not help doing what he
wanted me to do"
While the art of winning peo-
Iple's favor and confidence is. in
many instances, a natural gift,
like most of the good things in
life, 1t may be acquired by those
who earnestly seek 1t.
The first step to be taken is to
cultivate-if you do not already
possess it,-a uniformity cheerful
disposition. A bright smiling
face will do more to incline a
mans heart toward you, and to
gain his ear, than all the virtue in
the calender, handicapped by
a gloomy visage.
Be generous with your sympa-
thy, and try to be at least as much
interested in the joys and sorrows
of others as you would wish them
to be Ill yours.
When you meet friends or ac-
quaintances, do not "buttonhole"
them and pour into their unwill-
ing ears history of your affairs.
Listen, rather, to what they have
to say, and t~y to enter as cordi-
ally as possible into their feelings
their hopes and fears and plans.
This does not mean, of course.
that you are to be victimized by
every bore who wishes to secure a
listener,-it does not matter who.
but it means to give to hungry
hearts that generous measure of
sympathy which we all crave.
Treat men as brothers, and
though your kindness in some in
stances, may be abused, your gain
will far outweigh your loss, in the
healthy happy atmosphere you
will create, and IN the friendly
sentiments you will attract to
yourself,
Above all things else, be con-
sistent and persistent in your
efforts, or you will accomplish
little. 1t will not do to be kind
and cherry, today, and gruff and
churllsh tomorrow to take pains
to please one day, and to be wholly
Indifferent the next. An even dis
position is indispensable to the
formation of strong, reliable
character. No one will give his
confidence TO man who has the
reputation of being tickle or un-
certain.-June Success.