BUSINESS LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13435, 13 March 1907, Page 9

BUSINESS LIFE.

DREAMS SPELL FAILURE. Abe you ambitious? Of course you are. Everybody is, more or less. But all do not make ■efforts in connection with their ambition. There's the fault with the majority. And yet ambition without effort is about as much use as faith without good workin fact, no use at all. Seo to it, then, that day by day you do something to help yourself on in the- direction of realising your ambition. Don't let it lie stagnant; a mere wish or desire is absolutely useless. Always keep your ambition in front of you. Let it be a kind of loadstone to draw you on. Fill your mind with it. Let it so possess you that the utilisation of every possible opportunity to advance it almost becomes a mania. Whatever you do in connection with it do it with all your might. An ambition is really no ambition, and is certainly not likely to bo realised, unless thero is a living force behind it—a force which will galvanise you into action and so help you to eventually set the hall-mark of success on the consummation. Mere dreaming will spell failure. CORRESPONDENCE. No outward expressions of any business is of greater importance, or of more vital consequence to a business house, than the correspondence that daily goes forth from its various departments. The spirit of the business clearly shows in what is said and the manner in which it is said. There should never be any falling into grooves, and never any stereotyped phrases or machine-like work. Constant self-discipline is necessary on the part of anyone handling a large correspondence, in order to give to Ins dictation life and interest. One must needs be familiar not only with the business itself in all of its ramifications, but must possess knowledge of men and the everyday affairs of the world—must exercise a nice intelligence, with tact and courtesy, in a manner that will prove his fitness to perform the responsible work of a correspondent. KEEP TOUR SITUATION. To retain a situation you need to mind your p's and q's. Here are some bints: Your sheet anchor should be integrity. Minus that, your abilities will avail you nothing. . ~, ~ ,■ , Unwearied industry carries with it a high recommendation. It is a merit which soon discovers itself. Assiduity generally springs from a conscientious motive. There is nothing so healthful for mind and body as well-regulated labour. ' Punctuality always pays. Cultivate the habit early. Nelson used to say that he owed all his success in life to always being five minutes before his time. Punctuality gives you a feeling of self-respect. Excellence should be your constant aim and ambition, in all that you undertake. No small detail of duty should bo beneath your consideration. , Promptitude is the life and soul of business, and your motto should be never, to defer till to-morrow what you can do today- , . A man should always keep learning sonic- , .thing.—Arnold.