OPTIMISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21431, 4 September 1931, Page 13

OPTIMISM

CHANCES OF SUCCESS MR CALDER MACKAY’S ADDRESS. The recently-formed Fern Business Efficiency Society of Dunedin (Inc.) held its firtt public meeting in the Early Settlers’ Hall last night. There was a large attendance, including several ladies. . The president (Mr R. S. M'Kenzie), who occupied the chair, mentioned that the society had come into being at the instigation of a number of young business men —the type of men who enthusiastically believed in efficiency in business and in telf-improvement. This inspiration was caused to no little extent by the members being followers of authors of efficiency methods Casson, Alexander Hamilton, Sheldon, and last, but not least, W. G. Fern, the English business organiser and psychologist. “So popular were the works of Fern with our members,” said Mr M'Kenzie, “that his name was used as the name of our society. In time to come we hope to influence similar societies to come into being in Christchurch, Wellington. Auckland, and elsewhere. With our combined efforts we may have to extend or modify our constitution, but the fact remains that Dunedin, as is often the case, was the first to move in the direction of improving efficiency in the lives of business men of to-day. A few men can do little, but a largo number can do a'great deal of good, and we ask for the co-operation of all business men, young and old, to join our society. Older employers are particularly requested to join us, or if active membership is impossible we ask them to at least influence their younger colleagues or employees to become members. It is to be deplored that a very large amount is wasted annually in almost every business through lack of ( efficiency. Even in out rock-like city of Dunedin anyone can cite glaring cases of distinct losses being incurred through obsolete and inefficient business methods. No doubt the present slump can be attributed in no small degree to lax methods, and the slump has certainly brought home to many people the absolute necessity of strict and efficient business methods. We feel that, bv taking up this matter whole-hearted y, our' efforts will be of some use to the community as well as to our own businesses.” — (Applause.) The club, .added the chairman; had been fortunate in securing Mr W. Calder Mackay, managing director of Calder Mackay Company. Ltd., to give an address. Mr Mackay was a successful and' self-made business man, who was a business efficiency enthusiast. In the course of an address, which was given with force and impressiveness, Mr Mackay emphasised an. optimistic rather than a pessimistic outlook. . ‘Acres ot Diamonds” was the title of his address, and he opened with a reference Ao the discovery of the great Golconda diamond mine to‘illustrate the. fact that in every town opportunities existed for a man to make more of himself, in his own environment, with his own skill, with his own energy, and with his own friends. r*ever before had there been as many helps to an ambitious man as there were tojday. What with free schools and free libraries, almost all the knowledge in the world might be had by anyone. When a man Incited knowledge, friends, and money, the fault, surely, was inside turn. . Every time he met with a A^orth-while stranger he had a chance to make a friend. Every time he had a job he had the chance to do it better. The fact was that an opportunity was not a gift—it was a chance to do something for somebody. An opportunity was nothing without action, that was why an active, ambitious, keen man had hundreds of opportunities, while the drifter had none. Mr Mackay proceeded: Perhaps someone will say: ‘ I have kept a store in this city for 20 years and have not made over £IOOO in all that time.’ Well, you can measure the good you have been to this city by what the city has paid you, because a man can judge very well what be is worth by what he receives. some young man may say : ‘ I .can’t start a business oecause I haven’t any capital. It I had capital, my, how rich I would be. But very few men got rich on capital. It is no help to a young man, or woman, to inherit money, and it is no help to your children to leave them money. The way you can help them is to leave them education, ft wide circle of and ftn honourable name. A rich man’s son can never know the best things of life. “Some gloomy people spreading fear and whispering gossip, refuse to admit that profits are being made by anyone, went on Mr Mackay. ‘‘The standard statistic service of the Department oi Commerce of America, whose field men and statisticians have carefully checked all information available, haye brought out a list of 52 companies, all well known, whose stock is regularly listed on the exchange! and whose earnings through 19J0 have been above the average. These 52 companies represent 36 different industries, so that they are an .excellent’ cross-section of the nation’s business. There are, of course, hundreds of smaller concerns that can tell the same story and this Should give us courage. ;■ “ There is no similar statistical organisation in Britain but there are hundreds of business men in Britain who have taken off their coats and are making a profit today. We find one concern making substantial increases by going into new products, new packages and making a closer study of the consumer’s buying habits. We find that by research and investigation of new uses for their product, another company’s sales were increased by 10 per cent. I like the members of the company who report that they have made a success this year by ‘keeping their eyes on that lighthouse through .the fog. They are doing a real job, a job. which makes it once more evident that there is business here for the company that goes after it. . , “A, good laugh beats medicine or electricity. and when a man has a hard job he needs two things: (1) Information as to what to do; (2) enough cheerfulness and optimism, so that he can carry the job through. Pessimists see the troubles but they do not see the advantages. Few of them, in fact, realise how many advantages they have. .. . * I submit the following practical suggestions.” concluded Mr Mackay. “ You may take one suggestion a month aim make the suggestion a test of your will power. (1) Read the. autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, or any other autobiography you wish, but choose one. (2) Once a day mention. something you have extracted from the autobiography to someone you know. (3) Study the lives of the most successful men of your own personal acquaintance and makes notes of your observations, (4) Introduce something new into your job. If your imagination or initiative fails you, take a flower every day to the shop or bench or office, or wherever you work., (5) Choose some different person you know, daily, and tell them verbally .something you appreciate they have done, or write them a note of appreciation of something they have done. (6) Set yourself something to do every day for .30 days, such as reading 10 pages of a book, or taking certain exercises. (7) Plan 12 objectives, one for each month of next year. “I have now pointed out to you that there are opportunities on every side, ami that we can all do better jobs than we are doing. Opportunities are the diamonds, but an opportunity turned into action is a diamond polished. Action is the grindstone that polishes the thought, and, as one great writer baa said, ‘Action is the only prayer that is ever answered,’ Do something—and be successful.” Mr W. D. More (pastor, Church of Christ), after a few preliminary remarks, read Fern’s lecture, “ You Can Win Success.” A vote of thanks was accorded the speakers.