Dale Carnegie is one of history’s most prolific public speakers. He started his public speaking career in 1911, and by 1914, he was making roughly $500 a week (the equivalent of $12K today.)
Here is the inspiring story of how he went from an out-of-work actor to a world-renowned expert on public speaking:
It was 1911, a young Dale Carnegie quit his job as a salesman to pursue a lifelong dream of becoming a public speaker.
Carnegie instead found himself attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Landing his only role as Dr. Hartley in the road show “Polly of the Circus.”
Carnegie found little success as an actor.
After the production closed. Carnegie, unemployed, nearly broke, and living at the YMCA came up with an idea.
He pitched the YMCA’s manager the idea; A class on public speaking that he would instruct, and they would then share the proceedings made from the sessions.
The manager agreed.
In his first session Carnegie found himself running out of material and began improvising, he suggested the students speak about “things that made them angry.”
Carnegie discovered his students felt empowered and were unafraid to speak to a public audience. From this experience Carnegie began developing his course.
By 1914, Carnegie was making roughly $500 a week, speaking to thousands. That is the equivalent of $12K today - each week!
Perfecting his craft and taking advantage of every opportunity.
Carnegie went from an out-of-work actor to a man widely regarded as an international expert on public speaking and communication.
He spoke to thousands of people around the world, and his book has not only been published in 31 languages and sold over 30 million times, but is considered to be one of the most influential books of all time.
In 1916, only 5 years after starting, Dale rented out Carnegie Hall itself to speak to a packed house.
He had finally reached his dream of becoming a world famous public speaker and helped thousands of people along the way.
“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
-Dale Carnegie
Popular Categories