Chapter 47 When there is reason to persuade, it is natural to be confident

In the process of persuading others, the most persuasive method is to emphasize the biggest and most critical reason. Years ago, Napoleon Hill was invited to speak to the inmates of the Ohio State Penitentiary.As soon as he stood on the podium, he immediately saw that one of the audience in front of him was a friend he had known 10 years ago—Mr. D. Mr. D was previously a successful businessman. After Napoleon finished his speech, he met and talked with Mr. D, and found out that he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for forging documents.After hearing his story, Napoleon said: "I will get you out of here within 60 days."

With a bitter smile on his face, Mr. D replied: "Hill, I admire your spirit, but I deeply doubt your judgment. Do you know that at least 20 influential people have used their I tried every means I knew to get me released. But it never worked. It's impossible." It was probably because of his last sentence—"It is impossible"—that he challenged Napoleon, and he decided to prove to Mr. D. that it could be done. Returning to New York City, Napoleon begged his wife to pack her bags for an indeterminate stay in Columbus, home of the Ohio State Penitentiary. Napoleon had a "definite goal" in mind, and that goal was to get Mr. D out of the Ohio State Penitentiary.He never doubted whether Mr. D could be released.He and his wife came to Columbus and bought a high-end residence, as if they were going to live permanently.

The next day, Napoleon went to visit the governor of Ohio and made clear to him the purpose of his visit. Napoleon put it this way: "Mr. Governor, I have come to ask you to order the release of Mr. D from the Ohio State Penitentiary. I have every reason to ask you to release him. I want you to set him free immediately, and for that I am here to stay, Waiting for his release, however long it takes. While serving his sentence, Mr. D has introduced a correspondence course in the Ohio State Penitentiary, and you know this: He has influenced 2,518 inmates in the Ohio State Penitentiary. 1,728 of the 1,728 inmates enrolled in the correspondence course. He has managed to obtain enough textbooks and course materials to enable the prisoners to follow their lessons. Amazingly, he has done so without costing the state a penny Money. The warden and administrator of the prison told me that he has been careful to follow the rules of the prison. Of course, a person who can influence more than 1,700 prisoners to study hard is definitely not a bad guy. I am here I ask you to release Mr. D, because I hope you can appoint him as the principal of a prison school, which will give the 160,000 prisoners in other prisons in the United States a good opportunity to learn good things. I am ready to take on his responsibility after he is released from prison. Full responsibility. That's what I'm asking, but before you give me an answer, I want you to know that I don't understand that if you release him and you decide to run for re-election, it could cost you Lots of votes."

Mr. Vic Dunahy, Governor of Ohio, clenched his fists and his broad jaw showed determination.He said: "If that's what you're asking of Mr. D, I'll release him, even if it costs me 5,000 votes..." This persuasion work was easily completed, and the whole process took no more than 5 minutes. Three days later, the governor signed the pardon, and Mr. D walked out of the prison gate, and he was free again. The reason why Napoleon was able to successfully persuade the governor was inseparable from his careful consideration and careful arrangements.Napoleon learned in advance that Mr. D behaved well in prison and provided good services to 1,728 prisoners.When he founded the world's first prison correspondence school, he also forged himself a key to the prison gates.That being the case, why were the other big men who requested Mr. D's release on bail not successful in getting Mr. D released?They failed mainly because they asked the governor for insufficient reasons.When they asked the governor to pardon Mr. D, the reason they used was that his parents were famous people, or that he was a college graduate, and he was not a bad person.They failed to provide the governor of Ohio with sufficient motivation to feel that he had sufficient reason to sign the pardon.

Before meeting the governor, Napoleon studied all the facts, and imagined himself as the governor himself, and figured out, if he really was the governor, what kind of rhetoric would most impress the governor .In the name of 160,000 male and female prisoners in prisons throughout the United States, Napoleon petitioned for the release of Mr. D.Because these prisoners can enjoy the benefits of the correspondence school founded by Mr. D.He never mentioned that he had famous parents, nor did he mention his previous friendship with him, nor did he mention that he was someone worthy of our help.All of these things can be used as the best reasons for asking him to be released on bail, but they don't make much sense when compared with the larger and more meaningful reasons below.The larger and more meaningful reason was that his release would be of great help to another 160,000 prisoners, since his release would give them the benefits of the correspondence school he had founded.Therefore, Napoleon succeeded by relying on this biggest and most crucial reason.

Reasons have intangible persuasive power. Only by persuading with reasons can we stand firm, be confident, open-minded, and take the initiative.If you want to persuade the other party, you must give the other party sufficient reasons.