How An Hour's Reading Led to a $7,500 Job By GEORGE RAYMOND "Have you heard the news about Frank Jordan?" This question quickly brought me to the little group which had gathered in the center of the office. Jordan and I had started with the Great Eastern Machinery Co., within a month of each other, four years ago. A year ago Jordan was taken into the accounting division and I was sent out as salesman. Neither of us was blessed with an unusual degree of brilliancy, but we "got by" in our new jobs well enough to hold them. Imagine my amazement, then, when I heard: "Jordan's just been made Treasurer of the Company!" I could hardly believe my ears. But "seeing is believing," and there was the "Notice to Employes" on the bulletin board telling about Jordan's good fortune. The first chance I had I walked into Jordan's new office, and after congratulating him warmly, I asked him to let me "in" on the details of how he jumped ahead so quickly. His story is so intensely interesting that I am going to repeat it as closely as I remember: "I will tell you just how it hap pened, George, because you may pick up a pointer or two that will help you. "You remember how scared I used to be whenever I had to talk to the chief. You remember how you used to tell me that every time I opened my mouth I put my foot into it, meaning, of course, that every time I spoke I got into trouble. "Well, it never occurred to me at the time that I was a poor talker. I thought I was about as good as the average and it never bothered me one way or the other. "Some time ago I decided to become a four minute man and make talks in various places to show people why we went to War, and to stir them up to support the Liberty Loan and all other Government activities. My first assignment was to speak at a little moving picture theatre, and, while I had memorized every word of what I was going to say, and had rehearsed it time and again, I made a complete fizzle of that talk. When I got up before those people I was actually petrified with fear. I rambled on, saying nothing and repealing it. Well, that ended my four minute speaking tour. When I got home that night it was as clear as crystal that I was a poor talker. It was then that I recalled all the blunders I had made, because I couldn't say what I wanted to say when I wanted to say it; and I determined that if there was any possible chance to learn how to talk I was going to do it. "A few weeks later I read an announcement stating that Dr. Fred erick Houck Law of the New York University had just completed a new course in business talking and public speaking. The course was offered on approval, without money in advance, so, since I had nothing whatever to lose by examining the lessons, I sent for them, and in a few days they arrived. I glanced through the entire 10 lessons, reading the headings and a few paragraphs here and there, and in about an hour the whole secret of effective speaking was opened up to me. For example, I learned why I had always lacked confidence, why talking had always seemed something to be dreaded, whereas, it was really the simplest thing in the world to 'get up and talk.' I learned how to secure complete attention to what I was saying and how to make everything I said interesting, forceful and convincing. learned the art of listening, the value of silence, and the power of brevity. Instead of being funny. at the wrong time, I learned just how and when to use humor with telling effect. I "Of course, I couldn't read all the lessons the first evening, but I went through them all hastily and I got enough pointers the very first hour to give me an entirely new slant on the value and necessity of learning how to talk. I slipped one of the lessons into my pocket every morning and read it on my way down to work. As soon as I got to the office I began to put_some of the things into practice, and I was astounded at how effective they were. Day after day I applied more of the principles and found that my words were beginning to have an almost magical effect upon everybody to whom I spoke. I was given the job of answering complaints, and I made good.. From that I was given the job of making collections. When Mr. Buckley joined the Officers' Training Camp, I was made Treasurer. Between you and me, George, my salary is now $7,500 a year and I expect it will be more from the first of the year. "And I want to tell you sincerely, George, that I attribute my success solely to the fact that I learned how to talk to people." When Jordan, finished I asked him for the address of the publishers of Prof. Law's Course and he gave it to me, I sent for it and found it to be exactly as he had stated. In my position of salesman it seemed to me that the ability to talk was even more important than it was to Jordan, and if it meant so much to him, it surely would mean a great deal more to me. To make a long story short, after LEARN HOW TO Cultivate a pleasant voice. studying the 10 simple lessons I began to sell to people who had previously refused to listen to me at all. After four months of record breaking sales. during the dullest season of the year, I received a wire from the chief asking me to return to the home office. We had quite a long talk, in which I explained how I was able to break sales records, and I was appointed Sales Manager at almost twice my former salary, and I know that there was nothing in me that had changed except that I had acquired the ability to talk, where formerly I simply used "words without reason. I can never thank Jordan enough for telling me about the Course in Business Talking and Public Speaking. Jordan and I are both spending all our spare time making speeches on war subjects and Jordan is being talked about now as Mayor of our little town. So confident is the Independent Corporation, publishers of Dr. Law's Course in Business Talking and Public Speaking, that once you have an opportunity to see in your own home how you can, in one hour learn the secret of speaking and how you can apply the principles of effective speech under all conditions, they are willing to send you the course on free examination. Don't send any money. Merely mail the coupon or write a letter and the complete course will be sent, all charges prepaid, at once. If you are not entirely satisfied send it back any time within five days after you receive it and you will owe nothing. On the other hand, if you are pleased as are the thousands of other men and women who have used the course, send only $5 in full payment. You take no risk and you have everything to gain, so mail the coupon now, before this remarkable offer is withdrawn. FREE EXAMINATION COUPON. Independent Corporation Division of Business Education, 119 W. 40th Street, N. Y. Publishers of the Independent (and Harper's Weekly). Please send me Dr. Frederick Houck Law's Course in Business Talking and Public Speaking of 10 lessons. I will either remail the Course to you within five days after its receipt or send you $5. |