BUSINESS SUCCESS

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1925, Page 9

BUSINESS SUCCESS

HOW TO ATTAIN IT.

] .fohu Hay a Hammond, President of ( the American Institute of Minino- k„. j gn:eers, defined "success" before the ; twelfth annual National Business Conterence. He said that, of all standards by which success j s measured l •none is so meritorious as that of but he did not agree with : the View that a narrow limit should be imposed as to the amount of money ; a man should be allowed to acq»i,' e through ability, honest effort and frugality. I I should say in contradistinction to . tne question, How much have you/" _ said Mr Hammond, "in determining' ; tho limit, of a man's wealth, that we : sh ° uh] , ( :,sk thp questions, How did you go . it. What are yon doing with it? I Did you acquire it honestly and, in do- : doing so, did you render a service to j your leHow-man? j In tho essentials for a successful ( career, Mr Hammond phicd first, the possession of a character. Tic found "o real success unless if. carried the ; high esteem of one's associates and , one's own self-respect. ; LUCK NOT A FACTOR. ; One of the first things Mr Ham- ; mond advised his hearers to o- c t out i of their minds was that luck ' is tho determining element of a successful career. "It is -welcomed, but is not dependable," he said. "The real crop must be sown and reaped <by the sweat of. one's brow." Mr Hammond advised reading tho lives of Lincoln and Franklin for inspiration; the careers of Edison, Graham 8011, Vail, Burbank, Ford Schwab and Frick for the courago needed by those who are not born with golden spoons in their mouths. "-Sons of rich men are denied the privilege of being compelled to develop their character early," ] 1C and thus they are prevented from acquiring the inestimable traits of initiative, resourcefulness and industry. They become enfeebled through enervating environment., and therfore, are not so well equipped to fight the ■battle of life as are the sons of poorer parents." | After describing tho success of engineers he had shown personally, obtained after physical and mental hardships, Mr Hammond continued: "There are many adventitious aids to success. For example, a jileasinjy address; this may seem a small con* sideiation, but often, it is a most important aid. To jlittle attention is given by parents to touching their children, what we call good manners. GOOD MIXERS NEEDED. "It is likewise of advantage to be by j»aturo a good mixer, not, however, of an artificial kind of 'glad-hand i artist, who endeavours to win popularity by selfish purposes and at the sacrifice of principle and self-respect. Popularity of the latter kind is of short duration. The born good mixer is ono a\ho has tact, and tact conies fro,m a kindly nature. "What is inelegantly, .but aptly, termed a 'grouch' is a very unfortunate obsession. Do not undermine vour resolution, nor waste your energv in proclaiming that the 'time is out of joint' and that the world is going to the-<7ogs. On the contrary, it is getting better and better every day. You may rely upon it that the demeanour of the successful mail is the absolute index of his mind and character. The really great man who achieves genuine success is of all men most modest as to his accomplishment. He has, of course, some proper and desirable sclf-respect and also pride of his achievement, but he is not the least conscious that his success has been due to any greatness oil his part, ascribing it rather to that kind of genius that is synonymous with honesty of purpose and indefatigable endeavour." Mr Hammond urged young men to extend their knowledge by the reading of books which are not confined to their own line of work, since if they climb up the ladder of success and are ■brought into contact with men of largo affairs a comprehensive knowledge is of inestimable value. He condemned lack of interest on the part of the business man in the country's political a.f£air§. "Politics has .been regarded by some as merely af academic interest," he said, and by others an unclean vocation. But the plain unvarnished, reason for the failure of many business men to discharge their political duties is the unwillingness on their part to make the requisite sacrifice of social pleasure, of money, or of present business opportunities. Such, men are shirking their civic responsibilities and should lie so stigmatised bv their fellow-citizens."