TITTLE-TATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 April 1934, Page 3

TITTLE-TATTLE

BY “TATLER” SUCCESS IN LIFE The ill-luck which has dogged the footsteps of one of my friends, who, at the ago of fifty or more, finds himself minus occupation and means, prompts me to submit to myself this question: “How is it that, of two men equally equipped with brains and vitality, one man will succeed and one will not?” * * * * Wlmt is the secret of success? . Is there a secret? These are questions which have bean asked again and again, and, so far as I know, there has not been, and cannot be, answers which can have any general application. “ ’Tis not in mortals to command success,” wrote Addison. The inference is that success is inborn in man, that the man in whom it is not inborn is handicapped at the start of life and will remain handicapped throughout life, and that if lie does happen to achieve a measure of success, lie lias been favoured by that which is known as “luck.” * * * * It is, of course, true that success cannot be commanded, that it cannot be summoned by anyone as a “spirit is summoned from the vasty deep by the wav 0 of a magician's wand. But who will deny that the man who hitches his waggon to a star will not climb higher and achieve more than lie who, because, he accepts the dictum of a dramatist, believes that it is not in him to command because it was Hot inborn in him, and thus becomes an adherent of the sect known as Fatalists? * * * * Whilst the destinj r of no man is in bis own bands, as a free agent he can in large measure be the moulder of his life, and the' builder of his fortune. Writing generally, it may be written that success in the battle of life is won only by those who determine to command success, and the meaning of “command” in this connection is influence, or control. If a man does not command success —if, in other words, he does not will himself to success — be does not deserve tlic rewards of success, for,' in truth, lie lias not done anything to ensure success. ' * * * *

If ;i young man exclaims to himself: “I will succeed,” and to that end devotes his mind and bis body, lie. is naturally more likely to achieve success than the young man who “takes life easily.” wlio lacks ambition, and who is content, as have heard young men phrase it,'to"“take things as they find them.” The young liiaii who is content to live year after year on the same plane, satisfied with a salary which suffices to house him, fed him, clothe hint, ‘and t.O provide such recreation as “pictures” and football and such “etceteras” as “smokes,” is unlikely to succeed, because he does not will,' does not command, success.

Success is complicated, elusive. Its elements. are*thoughts, words, actions; and they must rule all day, and every day, year ,in, year out. I commend this quotation fpr the consideration of young men:

Ceaseless perseverance in keeping oneself master of every detail of one’s work is one of the secrets of success. Work lias an unpleasant way of getting the upper hand of a man and of weighing him down be-

neath its load. Give it an hour’s start and tile chances arc that it will not only keep its lead, lmt .increase it. And tho man who is trailing after his work ill this fashion stands a very poor chance indeed of attaining success.

And here are observations by Dr Reich: Success in life is not at all a matter of luck.

Many a man thinks that success is made by character, and exaggerating the great, but partial, truth implied in this statement, he attributes everything to character. Life is a duty rather than a pleasure. The point is, to live, not to die. Single persons, by tlieir own exertions make much money. Big money can ho mado only through others. •It is with-success as-with a battle. On the, eve of the. battle,' although every soldier is aware of the necessity of great losses in men on the following day, personally; he thinks arid hopes that ho will survive.

There- may ho readers- who regard as 'successful the mail who achieves riches. The art of money-getting, ac-' cording to P. T. Barnum, the famous American showman, may be summarised thus: “Don’t drink; don’t he above your business; don’t mistake your vocation; avoid debt; persevere, whatever you do, with all your might; depend upon your own personal exertions; don’t scatter your powers; be polite and kind to your customers; be charitable; don’t tell what you are going to do; preserve your integrity.”

But, surely, there is a success which is not the success of money-making. Personally, I do not admire or respect the man who lives only to “make.” The man who has no aim, no motive, no ambition other than to" make money, shames his Maker.

When success is, as a rule, achieved only by men of matured mind and developed power, it is more than- passing strange to hear and read the argument that at forty a man is too old. and that lie ought to “shunt” or be “shunted” in favour of a younger man. Air W. B. Pitkin,-. a Columbia University professor, has, not any patience with decriers of men of forty and over. Machines, lie declares, are ousting brawn, which youth can supply, in favour of brain, which youth has to develop.- The professor writes: Nobody knows much about this complex world until he is close, to forty. A hundred years ago, a youth might learn his world in a few intense years; and a man of thirty - five could master it, as far as anybody could; But to-day that is impossible. Broad arid deep perspective is needed to grasp even, your lieigli-

liourliood affairs. Never before lias a. little knowledge been such a dangerous tiling as now. ■** * *

The brain continues to grow to about the age of forty, when it reaches its- maximum weight and power. It lines not follow, however, (hat the limit of man’s 'power, is reached at- forty, and that then his sun begins to set. As Professor Pitkin asserts, men who fail to live abundantly after attaining- the age of forty have, only themselves to blame; It is the expei'ient-e of life insurance experts that men and women of strong

and active minds tend to live. long. In other words, they live by living! # * * *

In his book, “The Brain from Ape to Mail,” Mr F. Tilney declares that tlic average brain is “never more than half developed and usually not even onefifth used,” and ho deduces that I'.ealthy people who fail to live abundantly .after they have reached tlie ago of forty have only themselves to blame. “The man wlio emulates tlie worm must accept- the worm’s brief career.”