Win Friends and Krav Maga
By Moshe Katz
CEO
Israeli Krav International

May 28, 2015

What defines a great book? For me one of the key factors is impact and change. There are books that change the way you think about something. I try to do that with my book, "Israel: A Nation of Warriors" and from what I have heard I have succeeded.

There are several books, from the hundreds that I have read, that really impacted my life. One is a book that almost never ways, the classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.

Most of you have probably heard of this book, pretty amazing considering it was published in 1936. I would advise you to read the original and not the recently released politically correct version. Truth is truth. Time does not change the truth.

The new version contains new anecdotes, (what was wrong with the old ones) and deleted the section on marital happiness, (presumably because the old ideas about marriage no longer apply and people today are so much happier than in his day and marriages last so much longer and yes I know this is a run-on sentence but that is just me).

Dale Carnegie was born in 1888 and was a "poor farmers' boy". He changed himself, he changed his life and he changed so many of us.

What is the book about?

Many people pick up the book with the aim of gaining power over others. They will be dissapointed. This book is genuine. The man is genuine. And yes you are already seeing the connection with IKI Krav Maga.

Carnegie makes it clear that this book, this very little book, is not about leaning tricks and gimmicks to take people's money away. It is not about "separating a fool and his money"; it is about changing the way others treat you by changing your own behavior.

The trick is on you. The goal is to change YOU first. Once you change you will find that this world is a very different place, a place full of great opportunities.You will walk through life happier. People will treat you differently.

You cannot demand change of others, you can riot and expect good things to come of that, you cannot be a grown man acting like a child with a tantrum. You cannot destroy all around you and expect someone else to pay for it. And no, this book does not need to be "updated". It is society that needs to return to decent values.

We all want change but very few of us are willing to work towards change. And even fewer of us realize that in order to create change the first person we have to work on is ourselves.

We cannot change others until we change ourselves. 

Who wants change? Who wants To change?

This book had such a great impact when I read it, over 30 years ago, that I can still remember the great anecdotes (now replaced), the stories, the examples and many many details. More than that my way of dealing with people (on my better days) has been greatly affected by this book.

The idea of this book is not to find ways to trick people in doing what you want them to do but to become the kind of person who brings out the best in others. I recall the example of giving the dog a good name, i.e. give someone a good reputation to live up to and he will be more likely to do so. Do not knock him down, do not destroy his confidence and self-image.

The book is filled with many great lessons.

This book actually embodies the very essence of the IKI Krav Maga philosophy. When I meet with other martial arts groups, other Krav Maga businessmen, the question is always: How to gain more students, increase profits, control more of the market. It is rarely about how to save more lives. For example, many shy away from making DVDs, they involve a lot of work and money and do not really offer great returns, so why bother?

This is a true tragedy.

Of course they will tell you otherwise, no one will publicly admit what is discussed with the professionals behind closed doors. Lines like "Americans are Gods' gift to the world, they are so gullible, they will buy anything" will never appear on a website, but I have heard them spoken. Or, "We will take over every profitable school in Europe, no matter what it takes".

At IKI we have no marketing gimmicks, any of our instructors can testify to that. Our "marketing strategy" is to offer a better product, to offer more effective training. Simply put we give you more of what you need at a price that you can afford. Guaranteed! There is no gimmick.

Some members have left us for more business oriented organizations. One member in the USA complained that his family is suffering, so he choose another organization that promised greater profits.

How sad is that.

As Dale Carnegie says, the idea is not to find ways to trick people, no, this book is about real change.

I think that line affected me more than anything else in the book. Once I read that line I reread the book from the start, absorbing every word. This man was speaking the truth. And he never even intended to write it as a book.

The idea with IKI Krav Maga is not to find an "angle" or a "niche" that others have missed but rather to offer genuine self protection.

Carnegie gives an example. He is at the post office, the clerk is having a tough day, annoying customers. The customer perhaps wants a happy clerk and good service. What does he do, he finds a great quality in the man and offers a sincere compliment. Sincere!

My, you have such a glorious head of hair, what I would give to have such wonderful hair.

This is not a trick, we are advised to find something genuine to say about someone, something real. Make the man feel good about himself. Give him something to go home and tell his wife about. And guess what? you will be treated differently.

My father always did this. Until today people talk about him, at the post office, at the coffee shop, at the auto repair. He noticed people and treated them kindly. And they treated him like a prince.

At IKI Krav Maga we are not looking for gimmicks or "marketing tools", our approach is simple: offer more at a lower price. Give great service in a timely manner. Show respect to your students and clients.

Our Krav On Line program is designed just for that, to keep you totally up to date and allow you to ask any questions you want and to critique any technique and get a reply.

Perhaps we should call ourselves "Carnegie Krav Maga". (Just a joke, please stick to IKI, proud to see our logo on your websites and Facebook pages).

Changing Krav Maga
Our On Line Program, never be caught in the past.

Krav Maga changes, new situations arise, and we must deal with that. We are constantly seeking to improve in every way.

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