The 27th president of the United States was William Taft.

His predecessor, the 26th, was Theodore Roosevelt, which may sound more familiar, but it doesn’t matter.

The story is different and, even if it is from 1912, it will be familiar to you.

That Taft succeeded Roosevelt as president was no accident. During the term, with Taft as a cabinet advisor, they struck up a good friendship.

They became close friends and would go hunting while talking about amends and cowboys.

So good was their relationship that Roosevelt named Taft as his successor at the end of his term.

The press accused Taft of being a puppet, saying that if he won, Roosevelt would be the shadow president.

Taft won the election, but the reality was different.

When everyone expected a continuist policy, Taft took measures that moved away from Roosevelt’s ideals.

The fact that he was independent did not please Roosevelt, who began to criticize Taft publicly.

The rift split the Republican Party in two, and Roosevelt ended up outside the party creating his own, which he called the Progressive Party.

The 1912 elections produced an unprecedented situation with three candidates with a chance of winning. Taft for the Republican party, Roosevelt with his new Progressive Party, and the Democratic candidate Woodrow Wilson.

The former friends were no longer going hunting together now. They were going to hunt each other.

Out of their fight came a winner, but it was neither of them.

The split divided the Republican vote and handed victory on a platter to Wilson, who became the 28th president.

In the press conference that followed, Roosevelt criticized Taft and blamed him for the debacle.

Taft, for his part, when asked about his dispute with Roosevelt in tears, said a mythical phrase:

“I dont see how I could have done any differently from what I have.”

Whose fault was it? Roosevelt? Taft?

There are so many factors and details that it is impossible to say for sure, yet one thing is clear, neither felt the fault was theirs.

“Ninety-nine times out of a hundred no man criticizes himself for anything, however great his mistakes may be.” — John Wanamaker.

If you get kicked out of the company, it’s the crisis that’s to blame.

If your business doesn’t work, people don’t know how to value it.

If you make a mistake when it comes to investing, it is because Covid was unpredictable.

If you argue with your partner, it is because he/she is toxic.

The number 1 rule to follow if your goal is to change someone’s behavior and generate enthusiasm around you naturally is just the opposite:

Never criticize.

So easy to say, so hard to do.

• Criticism is useless because it puts the other person on the defensive and causes them to try to justify themselves.
• Criticism is useless because it hurts the desire to be importantly recognized.

It is easy to implement, and most people don’t know how to do it. In fact, they don’t even know how to recognize it.

I encourage you that the next time you are going to criticize, even if you are clear that it is the other person’s fault, don’t do it.

These simple techniques are very applicable to the business and sales world. Most people don’t take them into account and that’s why their businesses are not profitable. 

We are facing a unique opportunity with the internet and how to monetize products online, but as in any industry you need the necessary tools. In my subscription I tell you:

• How poker can change your life and influence your decision making.
• Applicable sales tricks for non-sales people.