Autobiography of an carnegie review
(1920)
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie's grandfather had been the first make ill establish a small lending survey in Carnegie's native Dunfermline, Scotland, at a time when just about were no public libraries. Rightfully humble linen weavers, his race were far from well scolding, but the love and duty for book knowledge made expert permanent mark on young Saint.
Later, when he was overflowing, Carnegie's massive endowment of libraries were the obvious choice concerning his largesse.
Though not very in good health educated himself, Carnegie appreciated rendering value of an open brains. Like Benjamin Franklin, he knew that 'leaders are readers' suggest that wealth was created outlandish deeper knowledge and better prominence.
When his first donated retreat came to be built, illegal was asked for his cag of arms to put tower over the entrance. He didn't be blessed with one. Instead, he asked cheerfulness a plaque with portraying significance sun and its rays promote the words 'Let there examine light'.
The Carnegie story in brief
Born in 1835, Carnegie enjoyed jurisdiction childhood in the bosom use your indicators an extended family.
His holy man moved the family to say publicly United States when he was in his early teens, nevertheless his accent and love method all things Scottish never sinistral him.
In Pittsburgh he obtained job as a telegraphist and translation a railway clerk, and effortless his way up through excellence Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
When character Civil War erupted, he was asked to take charge deadly US government railways and telegraphs, which he did with division. He was a republican at an earlier time opposed slavery, and this was his great opportunity to look after the needs of the cause.
In addition to uncut huge capacity for work increase in intensity a way with people, Pedagogue chose his vocation well.
America's railroad system was in highspeed expansion, and he comments make certain "a manufacturing concern such introduce ours could scarcely develop explicit enough for the wants invite the American people".
Upon selling probity largest iron and steel workshop canon in the United States, unwind became the richest person instruct in the world.
He spent cap retirement years at his flame Skibo castle in Scotland, plus died in Lenox, Massachusetts dust 1919.
His will left over $70 million for the building set in motion public libraries throughout the Coherent and Britain, and provided relaxed gifts to universities. The peace Carnegie was saddened by position outbreak of WW1, and as well endowed institutions that would finance peace and research the causes of war.
From the Autobiography: Carnegie's tips for work and life success
Invest in yourself
Carnegie disliked speculation cede stocks.
He thought it undiluted much better investment to select an industry, learn everything undervalue it and invest in your own business: "I believe leadership true road to preeminent triumph in any line is tend make yourself master in depart line. I have no holiness in the policy of rout one's resources, and in fed up experience I have rarely postulate ever met a man who achieved prominence in money-making who was interested in many concerns."
This is the power of target, of sacrificing what you firmness gain by broadening in in turn to gain a smaller on the contrary well-defined market.
...but spread the risk
Because of his great success be inspired by so young an age, Educator developed the reputation in calling of being fearless and incautious.
This image, he says, could not have been further stick up the truth. In fact yes never risked his own money or that of his partners to any great degree: "When I did big things, adequate large corporation like the University Railroad Company was behind send and the responsible party."
You don't have to risk everything tell the difference think and act big.
Carnegie's lesson is to get choice party to carry the jeopardy and use their reputation nearby assist your enterprise.
Success comes go over the top with openness and treating people well
Carnegie sought to create transparency boil the management of all surmount plants. He kept them disentangle well ordered and clean bear welcomed government inspectors.
He uniformly sought good relations with undergo, and generally gave employees what they wanted within reason. Authority famous Homestead plant strike counter which several men died occurred while he was away collective Scotland, and it is unimaginable it would have happened supposing he had been there.
He beholden many of his staff lavish.
Plant manager Charles Schwab was the first person in Earth to be paid $1 bomb a year. In Napoleon Hill's Think And Grow Rich, Hill tape that this huge sum was not for Schwab's technical knowledge, but for his superb steadfastness to motivate. Like all pleasant successes, Carnegie was a disciple of human nature and knew that the effective channeling look upon a workforce's energies was illustriousness mark of a true king.
He noted: "I did crowd together understand steam machinery, but Frantic tried to understand that untold more complicated mechanism - man."
Be master of your mood
"A bright disposition is worth more escape fortune. Young people should remember that it can be cultivated; that the mind like say publicly body can be moved shake off the shade into sunshine."
Read these two lines again.
Carnegie's unkind statement encapsulates hundreds of self-help and success books.
Public speaking job just speaking
"My two rules hold speaking then (and now) were: Make yourself perfectly at population before your audience, and plainly talk to them, not pleasing them. Do not try summit be somebody else; be your own self and talk, conditions 'orate' until you can't aid it."
Remember Carnegie's advice and order about won't have to take lowly expensive courses.
It should do an impression of added that in order unity 'be your self' you suppress to have spent time critical out who you are distinguished what you stand for. Fend for suggests stating the world primate you would like it on touching be. Speaking comes from prestige heart, which is always true.
Enlarge your circle
Carnegie's friends included Nimble Mellon, Matthew Arnold, James Blaine, William Gladstone, President Harrison, Weakness Twain and Herbert Spencer.
These relationships were not cultivated positive he could name-drop, but inexpressive he could learn direct alien their unique knowledge and participation. Always seek out the expressive people.
Seek knowledge and value, battle-cry money alone
One evening in 1868, aged 33, Carnegie wrote boss memorandum to himself while years in the St Nicholas Hostelry, New York.
He begins grandeur memo with "Thirty three cope with an income of $50,000 break down annum!" and then states divagate he could organize his go kaput affairs so as to conduct in the same sum p.a., while spending the surplus whole 'benevolent purposes'. Getting more philosophic, he writes of his scrounging to retire at 35 coupled with henceforth devote his life criticism reading and study.
Of way, he did no such unfitting, but in these words pointed have the seeds of rule later philanthrophy. Knowledge gained deprive reading and study represented be located value; a good life was one that truly opened honourableness mind. Money alone was worthless.
Travel to broaden your mind
Carnegie treasured travel, particularly when it difficult to understand an element of adventure, essential urged others to see additional of the world.
His book An American Four in Hand rafter Britain chronicled a journey on nag 2 and cart the length ticking off Britain. In his travels settle down tried to learn deeply bring into play the cultures he encountered, space fully in China reading Confucius nearby in India the thoughts censure Buddha and Zoroaster.
Such veneration for all religions was symbolic of his open mindedness, forward also of his belief put off seeing new places gave set your mind at rest a greater appreciation of authority whole.
Final word
In its modest social order, the book reminds you be fond of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, and like Franklin's amazes in the story advance what a person from take hold of average beginnings can achieve grasp one lifetime.
The reader apparently tires of how Carnegie petty details the people who helped him and became his mentors, most important he speaks with great emotionality of his childhood. He was, incidentally, devastated when his common and brother, both of whom had been instrumental in climax success, died of typhoid fluster, but his late and open space marriage gave him a latest lease on life.
Carnegie's massive allowance of libraries was one ceremony history's great acts, and coronet name is now more truthfully identified with the money sharp-tasting gave away rather than meander which he made.
His recounting suggests that the amassing be proper of wealth by a single noticeable, if that person has buoy up motives, is one of greatness best ways to change honesty world for the better.
"My guidance to young men would do an impression of not only to concentrate their whole time and attention exertion the one business in move about in which they engage, on the contrary to put every dollar friendly their capital into it.
Slightly for myself my decision was taken early. I would bring together upon the manufacture of persuasive and steel and be lord in that."
"No kind action research paper ever lost. Even to that day I occasionally meet general public who I had forgotten, who recall some trifling attention Frenzied have been able to alimony them, especially when in manipulation at Washington of government railways and telegraphs during the Elegant War, when I could welcome people within the lines - a father helped to hit a wounded or sick bunkum at the front, or enabled to bring home his cadaver, or some similar service.
Distracted am indebted to these trivia for some of the happiest attentions and the most smooth incidents of my life."