—Blaise Pascal (1690; Creative Commons)
The ability to persuade, to get a person or group of people to take a specific action or accept a certain belief, is an important trait of a leader. He or she who can persuade will go far in life, and generally live with a higher degree of happiness. Inversely, he or she who cannot effectively persuade will have a more difficult time in life, generally experiencing a lower sense of control, and having a lower level of happiness.
The great news, however, is that this trait can be learned and developed by anyone at any stage of life. Instead of getting frustrated that others won’t take a certain action or accept a certain belief, constantly work to cultivate the soil and plant the seeds in their minds, and let them come to the desired conclusion on their own. If done for the right reasons, this ability to persuade can have a profound impact on one’s life.
—MSH, Penn Wealth
