Chapter 26 Learn about caring from President Roosevelt

The good popularity of President Theodore Roosevelt is also recognized by the world.One of the secrets of his extraordinary love was his concern for others.His black servant James Amerson once wrote a book about him called "President Theodore Roosevelt Through the Eyes of a Servant".In this book, Amerson writes about such a thing: At one point my wife asked what the President's quail looked like because she had never seen one.The President took the trouble to describe her in detail.Not long after, the phone rang in my house (Ammerson and his wife lived in a White House cabin).My wife went to answer the phone and it turned out to be from the President.

He told her that there happened to be a pair of quail outside my window, which she might be able to see if she looked out the window.So many little things like this all reflect the characteristics of his concern for others.Whenever he passed our house, whether he saw us or not, he always greeted us warmly and gently.As a servant, how could you not like such a person?Who doesn't like him? One day, the outgoing Roosevelt went to the White House to visit President Taft, and it happened that President Taft and his wife were out.So, he went to see the former staff of the White House, and he could even remember the names of the maids who did chores, and greeted them.

When he saw Alice, the kitchen maid, he asked her if she was still making cornbread.Ellis told him that she sometimes cooked it for the servants, but the people upstairs stopped eating it. "It's their bad luck," Roosevelt exclaimed. "When I see the President, I'll tell him." Ellis took a piece of cornbread and put it on the tray and handed it to him.He ate as he walked, making his way to the office.On the way, he met some gardeners and servants, and greeted them.He treats everyone as he is used to.Everyone was excited and whispered about it to each other. A servant named Ike Hoover said with tears in his eyes: "This is the happiest we've been in the past two years. We think it's something money can't buy."

Dr. Charles W. Iliad was able to successfully manage Harvard University and become its president precisely because of his deep concern for others.From the fourth year after the American Civil War until the first five years before the First World War, he served as the president of Harvard University.Here is a simple example of what he is like: One day, a first-year freshman, Clanton, came to the principal's office and wanted to apply for a $50 loan.Clanton later recalled: "The loan was approved, I expressed my great gratitude, and then I was about to withdraw, when Principal Iliad said: Please sit a little longer. I was taken aback. I saw him solemnly Say: 'I heard you cook your own food, is that right? I don't think there's anything wrong with that, if you're not partial to food and don't waste food. I did that when I was in college. Have you ever made carrot soup? ?The veal tastes good when it’s well-cooked. And it’s economical and affordable.’ Then he told me how to cut the meat, how to cook it slowly, when to add seasoning, etc.”

According to my experience over the years, if we sincerely care about others, no matter how busy they are, they will spare some time to help you. Here is a very convincing example: Years ago, I was about to teach a workshop on fiction writing at the Brooklyn Academy of Arts and Sciences.We would all like to hear valuable writing lessons from some of the leading writers of the time, such as Catherine Norris, Vannie Hurst, Aida Tarbell, Albert Dern Robert Hughes.Therefore, we united 150 students to sign and write letters to them, expressing our admiration for their works, and sincerely hope to obtain their guidance and learn the secret of success from them.

Of course we knew they were busy and didn't have time to prepare their speeches.So we attached a questionnaire at the end of the letter, introducing themselves and their working methods.It worked.Who wouldn't love that we've done it so thoughtfully?They all came to Brooklyn from home to help us. Later, we used the same method to invite Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw in the cabinet of President Theodore Roosevelt, Attorney General George Vicasa in the cabinet of President William H. Taft, and William Byron , Franklin Roosevelt and other famous people came to give speeches to the students in my class.

It is not difficult to make a confidant, the key is that we should serve others and spend time and energy for others without hesitation, even to the point of selflessness.For example, when Edward, Duke of Windsor was still the Crown Prince of the United Kingdom, he planned a trip to South America.He spent months learning Spanish before leaving, and when he arrived in South America he was greeted with unprecedented enthusiasm. Therefore, if managers can learn from President Roosevelt, Principal Iliad, and the Duke of Windsor, and truly care about their employees, they will definitely be supported and loved by them.