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Do These Three Things to Make More Friends
Also: Fixing airplane ear without any tools
Welcome back to another edition of Idle Impact where we share a few insights each day in hopes of helping rise higher in the game of life!
Today, we're diving into some timeless wisdom from Dale Carnegie and sharing a simple trick to help you deal with 'airplane ear'.
Let's get started!
RELATIONSHIPS | COMMUNICATION | SOCIAL SKILLS
Timeless advice for winning friends and influencing people
Dale Carnegie’s book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is a self-help classic with over 30 million copies sold to date, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already picked this one up.
Even so, it doesn’t hurt to refresh yourself on a couple of the classical wisdom espoused in this frequently recommended book:
Remember and use people’s names when talking with them - This reminds me of a high school classmate we used to always tease by saying, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” - a line from Romeo and Juliet. Her name was Rose.
Maybe that’s not entirely related… but the ‘sweetest-sounding‘ word to a normal person is usually their own name.
So bring up their name often in conversation and they’ll probably like you more.
Just don’t overuse it to the point that it becomes weird 😅
"A person's name is the core of their identity. So when you remember and use someone's name, it conveys that you have a genuine interest in and connection with that person."
Smile more - This one sounds pretty basic but if you’re like me and could do better when it comes to socializing, you might also forget to smile from time to time especially when meeting new people.
Smiling is so powerful because it is universal across cultures, instantly understood, and enables you to come across as courteous, approachable, and attentive, all with one gesture.
Smiling can also put you and others around you more at ease.
To Carnegie, a smile is a simple act that costs nothing but has the potential to create a lasting positive impact. So smile more 😄.
Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, 'I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you.
Be genuinely interested in other people - You can’t really pretend with this last one, and people will know if you are faking interest in them.
After all, nobody likes a fake or a person who only talks about themselves. In fact, Carnegie warned against gaining a reputation for being interested in others only when you want or need something.
Instead, if you show genuine interest in others, they are likely to reciprocate. This can lead to stronger relationships, both personal and professional.
"You can make more friends in two months by being interested in them, than in two years by making them interested in you."
Pretty basic stuff right? Just remember to say people’s names, and smile more, while also being genuinely interested in the people you are speaking with. Remember to do these things and you will score more friends than ever!
What are your favorite tips for making friends and influencing people?
TRAVEL | HEALTH | LIFE HACKS
Unclog your ears without any tools
Do you ever get that feeling of your ears being clogged like when you’re in an airplane, riding an elevator, or even driving up a mountain?
This phenomenon, sometimes called ‘airplane ear’, occurs when there's a quick change in pressure between the inside and outside of your ear.
Well, here’s a simple trick that can help to unblock your ears when this happens:
Pinch your nostrils and close your mouth
Blow gently - The key is to do it gently as if you were blowing your nose. If you blow too hard, you could injure yourself.
Repeat several times as necessary - You might feel your ears unclog right away or you might have to repeat this a few times.
Note: I’ve been using this trick from a young age, but I never knew there was an official term for it - Valsalva Maneuver - which interestingly, can also be used as a tool to regulate heart rhythm, but we won’t go into that here…
I hope these tips can help you to make more friends and up your social skills, as well as offer you some relief the next time you encounter airplane ear!
As a note, I know that it’s easy to miss some of the nuances of more complex subjects, especially in the limited space we have allotted. That’s why we usually provide links to additional resources at the end and we encourage you to dive deeper into the topics that interest you!
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See you next time!
- Kevin and the Idle Impact Team
Dive Deeper with recommended reads:
Making Friends
The classic book by Dale Carnegie - How to Win Friends and Influence People
Unclog your ears
A great video explainer about relieving ear pain on a plane including the Valsalva Maneuver.
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