Principle 4: Become Genuinely Interested in Other People

We are interested in others when they are interested in us. We tend to like people if they admire us. Greet others with enthusiasm shows you are pleased to see and talk to them, genuinely care about them and their interests, and take time and energy to do thoughtful, selfless things that matter to them.

• You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.
• One can win the attention and time and cooperation of even the most sought-after people by becoming genuinely interested in them.
• To make friends one must invest time, energy, unselfishness, and thoughtfulness to do things for other people.
• How to get birthdays subtly: ask "do you think birthdays provide any indication of one's personality?" Then ask for the person's birthday and secretly write it down later.

Alfred Adler: "It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring."