BUSINESS SUCCESS.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 5

BUSINESS SUCCESS.

HOW TO ATTAIN IT. LEADERS ARE MODEST. John Hays Hammond, President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, defined "success"' before the twelfth annual National Business Conference. He said that of all standards by which success is measured "none is so mcritricious as that of wealth," but he did not agree with the view that a narrow limit should lie imposed as to the amount of money a man should be allowed to acquire through ability, honest effort and frugality. "I should say in contradistinction to the question, How much have you?" said Mr Hammond, "in determining the limit of a man's wealth, that we should ask the questions, How did you get it? What are you doing with it? Did you acquire it honestly and, in doing so, did you render a service to your fellow-man? In the essentials for a successful career, Mr Hammond placed first the possession of character. He found no real success unless it carried the high esteem of one's associates and one's own self-respect.

Luck Not a Factor. One nf the first things Mr Hammond advised his hearers lo get out of their minds was that luck is the determining element of a successful career. "It is welcomed, but is not dependable," he said. "The real crop must he sown and reaped by the sweat of one's brow." Mr Hammond advised reading the lives of Lincoln and Franklin for inspiration; the careers of Edison, Graham Bell, Vail, Burbank. Ford,-Schwab and Frick for the courage needed by those who are not born with golden ' spoons in their mouths. "Sons, of rich men are denied the privilege of being compelled lo develop their character eariy." he said, "and thus they are prevented from acquiring the inestimable traits of initiative, resourcefulness and industry. They become enfeebled through enervating environment, and therefore, are not so well equipped to fight tho battle of life as are the sons of poorer parents." After describing the success of engineers he had shown personally, obfaincd after physical and mental hardships, Mr Hammond continued: "There arc many adventitious aids to success. For example, a pleasing address; this may seem a small consideration, but often it is a most important aid. Too little attention is given by parents lo teaching their children what we call good manners. Good Mixers Needed. "It is likewise of advantage to be by nature a good mixer, not, however, of an artificial kind of "glad-hand artist,' who endeavours to win j popularity by sclfTsh purposes and a I j the sacrifice of principle and self- \ respect. Popularity of the latter kind i is of short duration. The born..good j mixer is one who has tact, and tact comes from a kindly nature. : "What is inelegantly, but aptly, | termed a 'grouch' is a very unfortunate j obsession. Do not undermine your resolution, nor waste your energy in proclaiming that the 'lime is out of joint' and that the world is going to the dogs. On the contrary, it is getting better and better every day. "You may rely upon it that the demeanor of the successful man 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 self-respect and also pride of his achievement, but he is not the least conscious that his success has been due to any greatness on 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 lo 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 large 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 affairs. "Polities lias been regarded by some as merely of 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 pre- • sent business opportunities. Sucn l men are shirking their civic respon- 1 sibilities and should be so stigmatised i by their fellow-citizens." i