THE BUSINESS GIRL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8776, 4 July 1914, Page 12

THE BUSINESS GIRL

[All Rights Reserved.]

HOW SHE CAN “ MAKE GOOD ” FACTORS OX WHICH SUCCESS DEPENDS. Whether a girl moans to stick to her business career as long as sho can, or thinks longingly of the day when she may have a husband and home, it is certain that, unless she is unusually lazy and apathetic, she wants to “make good," as our American friends say so expressively, as soon as possible. Indeed, no girl without this desire should ho in business at all, for in the modern world of labour the listless girl worker is nob wanted, and must inevitably be a failure. Even the girl of moderate ambitions often, feels vaguely that a woman cannot do so well as a man in business,. and that, therefore, it is no use . over-exerting herself. This, of course, is a huge mistake. Certainly, if a girl begins her career sure that she starts with unequal advantages, sho will never get on so well as her male colleagues, bm if she makes up her mind to acquire efficiency, never to trade on her sex, and to conserve her health, sho is bound to do well. Those three points are those which most need emphasising, and which the vast majority of business girls ignore. THE HEART IN THE WORK. First, as to efficiency. Do not, whatever else you do, take it for granted that you will marry. If you are happy in winning the love of ia good man, you will make idl the better wife for having put your whole heart into your work. The girl who is a “slacker” in business will be a slacke.r in her own homo. The typist who takes no prido in her work, who is not ashamed to bring to her employer for signature badly-typed, unvidy letters, is just that type of girl who becomes slovenly and untidy in her own home, and who worries and even disgusts her husband with her careless household management. A business career may not bo tho ideal preparation for marriage and motherhood, but If it is adopted Seriously and enthusiastically it will develop all thoso good characteristics which are useful and admirable in home or office. Besides, so long as one is obliged to work, whatever the sphere of activity may be, one does one’s work bettor if one enjoys it, and it is impossible to enjoy one’s work if it is not well done. Office rcutine is often wearisome and, depressing, and many a busy little typist feels at times that she positively hates her machine. But if you learn to take a real pride in your work you will be astonished at the ease with wliich you. can accomplish it. Even when your fingers ache your heart will still be merry. It does not matter what your work is, w'hether you labour in office, or home, or. shop, or factory, or school, the very knowledge that you are trying your best to be a perfect work-woman will exhilarate you and help you through your - darkest- and dreariest hours.

ENTHUSIASM AND AMBITION. To succeed in business, however, something more than conscientiousness is essential. You 7 .must have enthusiasm and limitless 7 ambition, and in jour early stages 1 you must bo prepared to make some sacrifice in order to improve your qualifications. . ISoc many girls are luckjr enough to be given a thorough •business training at some school or college before accepting their first paid position. . Dike their brothers, most young women have to work their way up. Supposing that' you arc employed as a shorthand typ Ist in a big office where you see the knowledge of French or German would' increase your value. If you arc wist, you anil give up picture halls and theatres in tho evening and master either, or both, of these languages. 11 you know . nothing of book-keeping you will join an evening class and _bo initiated into its mysteries. If there is any way" in, which you can _ add to your tjualifications, do so. You wit not regret it. Very soon the day of the girl who can typo a business lot ter and write a little shorthand and nothing more will soon be over. Employers are crying out for really capable, self-reliant, well-educated wo men of all-round efficiency. TRADING ON SEN. Trading on sex is a very common fault of tho business girl, and one which employers and fellow-workers most object to. •An excellent ana safe rule is never to ask <1 favour or some special indulgence because you. aro a woman. Hundreds of girls absent themselves from duty on 'the slightest pretext. An approaching headache, the beginning of a cold, ana the business girl takes a day off. The employer does not caro to soold, but when ho inakes out his yearly promo tion list he will omit the name of tho worker who is constantly taking days off from insufficient reasons of illness. Many girls, too, ask for brief holidays on tiie least provocation. Tho unex-

parted visit of an aunt, a sick friend, a special excursion to London oi the 1 s.'aside —these are the reasons that no man would advance in favour of a resuite from work. . An employer hates to feel that an attempt is being made to coax him into doing something lie does not wish to do. An employee wao goes to him with tearful eyes and asks prettily for some special favour is distinctly trading on her sex, and, though her employer may grant her request, ho will not respect the girl who tries to take a mean advantage of his unwillingness to seem hard and unchivalrous. Even the most logical and practical of business men do not like to see a woman cry and look upset. Tho feeling is absurd, perhaps, but it is very deeply implanted in the masculine heart. Business girls who try to use this instinct for their own benefit do themselves infinite harm in the long run. TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. The care of the health is too frequently dismissed by the business girl as a minor consideration. Yet good health is absolutely essential if she is to make a success of her career. And good health does not mean merely absence of disease —it means a face glowing with fitness, a clear complexion, bright eyes, shining hair. It means activity and energy, not listlcssness and sleepiness. Other things being equal, the girl who looks well will always get tho preference over delicate girls when applying for a post. Every girl who has to work hard for her living should allow herself eight hours’ sleep in a bedroom with tho window open. She should take a smart walk every day, preferably in the evening, when during the summer at least sho can enjoy at leisure Nature’s beauties in park or countryside. It is bettor to oar to and from business and to limit one’s walks through crowded streets to the demands of necessity, and so conserve one’s energy for an evening walk away from tho turmoil and stuffy atmosphere of tho town- Girls who can arrange to take their principal meal of the day in tho evening are wise to do so. Many digestions are ruined by hurried midday meals; a girl can enjoy her dinner much more if she can oat it when her ■day’s work is done, with all its worries temporarily forgotten. SOUND MIND IN SOUND BODY. If the girl who ia anxious to keep fit cannot play some game every day, as few can, she should devote her Saturday or Wednesday afternoon off to golf, or hockey, or tennis, or swimming. It is really worth while to overcome natural disinclination to exorcise, because a game played regularly will do very- much to help a girl to keep fit. If golf, tennis, or hockey are out of the question, there are swimming baths in every big town, and simple exercises can always be done at home, though these are , best performed first thing in the morning. The business girl ywho goes to theatres and picture halls habitually, and who is never in bed before twelve or one o’clock, is guilty of the utmost folly. The sensible girl realises that in competing with men she must be, not necessarily as strong muscularly as men, but as fit physically. After all, good work does not depend on mere strength. Even if a girl cannot make records in games, she is just as sure of success as any man if sho is efficient# sensible, and keeps her body in good condition. Girls who revel in hot baths should try the experiment of a cold bath daily, and the 'dashing of cold water on to the face is far more exhilarating than using highly-scented powder. In short, it may bo said that tho girl who is most likely to “make good’’ in business is she who thoroughly enjoys her work and does it as perfectly as sho can, who is always selfreliant and restrained and womanly, but not effeminate, and who realises how very great is the need of a sound ‘Djind in a sound body.