Chapter I: L. Purcell, Attorney and Counselor at Law, Pensacola, Fla (6)

In this way you become a real member of society, a citizen who has an interest in the way his affairs are carried on. In addition to that, you are deemed a solid citizen, a fixture, and when the time comes you are the one selected to fill an opportunity of any sort within your capacity.

DON’T BORROW MONEY FOR NEEDLESS EXPENSES

It is a common business transaction to borrow money when there are sufficient assets to justify it. But in such cases there is a regular rate of interest fixed by law as payment for the use of the money borrowed. You can not risk any other than the legal rate of interest, if you do you are taking unwarranted risks, and subjecting yourself to the yoke of a loan shark, out of whose clutches you can never emerge without tremendous sacrifices, often ruin.

Money borrowed to speculate with is a heavy and dangerous burden on the borrower. When he loses, he not only has nothing to show for his folly, but is goaded into borrowing more in the hope of making good his loss. Once in the toils, he will not stop until ruined financially—perhaps morally. If he wins he will still pursue the phantom fortune on borrowed money and lose finally. Speculation is a gamble with the odds against you.

In speculations, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

If you have to borrow money to complete or perfect some transaction or business deal, or to carry you through, or tide yourself over some delay, you can always get it at the regular rate of interest, provided you have reputation, and security. But do not mortgage your clothes, furniture, etc., for anything but an absolutely necessary loan.

Remember always, that money borrowed and spent is a hardship to return unless you have the wherewith in the way of business to make good.

If you worked half as hard to get money for your own pocket as you do to repay a loan, you never would need to borrow.

ESTABLISH A REPUTATION FOR YOURSELF

To get along successfully in business, or in any other occupation, for that matter, every man must establish a reputation for himself.

Indeed, reputation is the basis of credit; it is his first and best capital with which to make a start in life.

Of course, the reputation meant is a good reputation, and not one that is open to question.

A man may have a reputation as a fighter, a shrewd man, a tricky man, a dishonest man, and so on, but these keep him back in the life struggle, and even if he should succeed, as the wicked are often said to do, his success will be only temporary.

It is the lasting reputation for honesty and fair dealing that brings a man up to the standard of success.

Be true to your word, stand by your contracts even if you should lose an advantage, for you will regain more than you lose by your reputation.

A good reputation in small things means the acquirement of a reputation in large things. You are always gaining.

It must be borne in mind constantly, however, that a reputation is easily lost by a false step: “At every word a reputation dies.” Hence, having once gained a reputation for fairness, honesty, and squareness, do not let any small advantage or chance of gain persuade you to throw it away, for a reputation once lost will cost you years of sorrow to regain. When you have lost the good opinion of your fellow man, you may as well withdraw from their society for you will be an object of suspicion ever after.

IMPROVE PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES

If you knew that by pulling up a rope hanging down a well, you would get a rich prize, a bag of gold, or a box of diamonds, you would keep on pulling.

Now, life is nothing but pulling at something at the end of which we hope and expect to find something worth while.

What we pull at consists of a long string of opportunities, and if we let go, then we lose.

The fact is, we must improve our present opportunities, for they lead to other and better ones. Small opportunities are not to be despised for several of them make one large one which is what you are aiming at. “Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the beauteous land.”

Some people want to get rich immediately, and venture into all kinds of speculations to get there. These are not opportunities, they spell ruin in the end. They are the destroyers of opportunities.

An opportunity always makes good if you stick to it, but flies away from you if you neglect it.

Opportunity says to you: “Oh, well, if you do not care for my company, there are others who do,” and away it goes to the others, and then you have regrets, too late perhaps, some other man has appropriated it.

It is a common saying: “Everything comes to him who waits,” but Napoleon said: “Everything comes to him WHO KNOWS HOW to wait.” There is a vast difference.

Do you know HOW to wait, friend? If you do then you are ready to grasp opportunity when it comes your way.

Christ said: “Seek and ye shall find.” To this may be added the saying of St. Paul the great Apostle who was certainly a wise man: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” Do it now, for time flies. “The Bird of Time has but a little way to fly—and Lo! the Bird is on the Wing.”

HOW TO MAKE USE OF VALUABLE SPARE TIME

What do men do when their work for the day is over?

We are arranging things so that a man will have eight hours’ work, eight hours’ play and eight hours’ sleep. The sleep you must have or you can neither work nor play. This division of time consumes the whole day.

When we speak of eight hours’ work, we mean “work,” not dawdling.

By attending to the business you have on hand you work, and the clergymen say: “A man who labors prays.”

But what to do during the eight hours set apart for play; that is the rub. Of course everybody should understand that by “Play” is not meant dissipation, far from it. It means “recreation” of some sort that will help do the work and induce sleep.

A change of occupation is often play to some, because it gives the mind and the unused muscles a variety which is equal to rest.

A few hours of the play time devoted to improvement either of the mind or in the business we are in, will be of great benefit and result in a “raise.”

Few people want to die young, but the sure way to reach the end is to work when we should play. Labor constantly undergone, for sixteen hours every day, shortens life by about one-half. The human machine is built for so much service, and if that service is crowded into a short space of time, why then the machine gives out. Like any other machine it gives out and goes to the scrap pile.

If we play all the time, why then, the machine rusts, and gives out just the same. So if we sleep all the time, we rust and the brain gives out by inaction.

It is wise to divide the day equally as is suggested, and do something during sixteen hours, and sleep the other eight hours. This is scientific, and leads to good health, long life, and, if you do not speculate, leads to wealth, at least to a good living.

FIT YOURSELF FOR SOME TRADE OR CALLING

What do you intend to do for a living?

Plenty of time to decide that, you say for yourself or for your boy.

You deceive yourself, for there is not plenty of time. You must decide early, and educate yourself for the trade or calling you have decided to follow.

You must have some definite aim in life. Nobody can fix one for you. You know best what you can do, what you would like to do, and what sort of an education you need to do it.

Things move swiftly in these modern times, and you must decide quickly, or fall behind in the race to the life goal.

Others are treading on your heels and you must go ahead or fail out altogether, and the procession is so large, and so closely packed that you can not wedge your way in again without a hard struggle.

Do you want to be a farmer? Study farming, and everything that pertains to farm work.

Perhaps you would prefer to be a doctor. Well, then you must study for a doctor’s profession and let farming alone. If you are built for a doctor you can be one, but you should study yourself carefully and take advice on the subject.

You would rather be a lawyer? The same effort to be a doctor must be made. You can not be a lawyer just because you are bright and say funny things sometimes.

Whatever you decide to do, whether farmer, doctor, lawyer, blacksmith, carpenter, or merchant, be one or the other and do not try to straddle all of them.

A Jack of All Trades is master of none, and he is not wanted in this age of specialties. Be some one thing and be that thing for all there is in it.

WORK FOR SUCCESS WHILE YOUNG

Youth is the time to work for success.

Old age is the winter time of life and if no provision has been made to acquire a competence before that period, it will be an unhappy time, perhaps a miserable existence as the result.

Success has no tomorrow, it is always today, and if the sun of today sets upon failure, it can not be hoped that it will rise tomorrow upon success, there being nothing to cause it to do so.

There is no greater duty to be performed by man than to lay by provision for the future. Even the animals prepare for a rainy day, the worst specimens are those who neglect this instinct.

It is an instinct, the instinct of self-preservation.

Experience demonstrates, in fact, it has become an axiom of science, that after a certain age, a man is incompetent to perform his duties in as profitable a manner as before.

Some fix the age at forty years, while others say that a man has reached the fullness of his capacity at the age of fifty years.

It depends, of course, upon your employment, as to that. When a man’s occupation consists of hard physical labor, he should have acquired enough to carry him over during the rest of his life, by the time he has reached the age of fifty years.

It is certain in business and trade circles, that a man need not look for employment as a skilled laborer after the age of forty-five years.

The body wears out after years of toil, or years of idleness—which is the same thing—and the mental vigor lessens materially.

For this reason, you will become worn out before attaining success, unless you spend your time of youth in attaining it.

Opportunity for Business Life

Become a merchant, if that is your inclination, but begin in a small way and build up. You have children, then the business will be for them when they grow up and are able to help you.

The way is easy if you look around for the best opening. Pick out your neighborhood and study the wants of the people. There is always a law of demand and supply, for people want things of every description every day and every hour.

Now what does a particular neighborhood need? That is the first thing to learn. Next, what do they want? That is the second. Thirdly, how many people are there needing and wanting things? There you are with the elementary knowledge ready at hand.

Talk with a few of them and find out how they feel about a business among them within reach and with accommodations of supply and delivery.

Then begin quietly without a splurge or plunging. Go slowly, except when there is a sudden demand, then work quickly to supply that demand. Generally, however, you should work up, and put yourself in a position to be liked. You treat everybody as if you wanted to accommodate them, and they soon realize that.

You never can tell what a small beginning will lead to. If you keep your eyes open the future will unfold itself. In every locality in our cities and settled country districts, the population is increasing, in many cases by leaps and bounds. You are there and with the proper kindliness and affability you will grow with the place, and the more the population increases the greater will grow your business.

There you are, a business man, grown to be such by the force of circumstances and tact with good judgment. The business will grow still more with the help of your children.

Build Up Your Credit

By making your word as good as your bond, you are seizing an opportunity to build up your credit, and without credit you can not hope to win in the battle of life.

Pay your debts and meet all your obligations as promptly as you can, and if you can not on the specified day, come out squarely and give the reasons why.

Be frank and open with the man you owe, and while he expects you to meet your engagements according to the express letter of your contract, he recognizes the fact that in every business transaction there are accidents that prevent it.

There are always modifications of contracts, because human nature makes mistakes. The best of men do this, but they come out in a manly fashion and admit it.

It is said that business is hard, and knows no yielding; that when a man promises to do a thing, he MUST do it whether he can or not. This is nonsense, business is like every other department of life, it hinges upon humane principles.

If, however, you have not established your credit, you must do so, and you must keep it up. You can not begin your credit by begging for delay the very first engagement you make to pay. That is always a bad beginning, in fact, it is no beginning at all.

Business men watch your progress, and if you have shown yourself capable, honorable, and prompt for a reasonable time, they are always ready to help you out in the time of adversity or bad luck.

It is policy to do this, and you may as well adopt the following idea also: “A man may be down today and up tomorrow. If he is down today and has credit of good repute, he will get up tomorrow through help extended to him. Otherwise he will be left where he falls.”

Stiffen Your Backbone and Keep on Climbing

The owner of a stiff backbone is not easily put down by adverse circumstances.

No man’s troubles overwhelm him unless he gives in to them weakly.

This is the experience of men since the world began: You must fight your way up and never look back to slipping places, for then you will surely stumble.

Worry is one of the symptoms of a weak backbone. Everybody should know that small stumbles are not killing matters to mourn over or worry about. You may have had in your own experience, many cases where your worries and anxieties proved nothing but phantoms. You think you will not survive until tomorrow, but you always see the sun shining the next day whatever befalls you today.

Things always come out as a rule much better than you expect, or dared hope.

If you have health and good friends to encourage you, why should you worry or fret over the things of life which are always small and insignificant?

Keep your eyes open and watch for another opportunity to wedge yourself back in, if you should happen to be crowded out of anything.

You must not think that every avenue to opportunity is sealed up against you because you do not find a wide open way to get in. Try a small way first, and keep on pushing and the road will widen. That is you must not weaken, if you do you will slide back and so be always climbing up and sliding down the hill.

Keep in the Race, Don’t Give Up

The Holy Bible tells you, and man’s experience has always demonstrated it, that “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.”

You are fearful that you will not win. Why? Is it not because you are looking backward instead of forward?

You have had much to contend with, let us say; very well, are you going to lie down now that you can see daylight ahead?

We are living in the present, acquiring strength for the future, the past is dead and should be buried. The man who looks back is useless for present needs.

Get away from the downtrodden notion, the servant idea, and be a man with an intelligent brain aspiring to higher things.

Every man is what he thinks himself to be, and if you have no aspirations beyond your present occupation, then you will remain in that occupation and nobody can pull you out of it.

On the contrary, a man who thinks he is fitted for some better occupation than the one he is engaged in, will soon find that other occupation; he will soon be his own master.

No man is kept out of a thing unless he wants to stay out. It is true there are sometimes many difficulties, and in the case of our Colored Americans, they have been appalling and discouraging. But the light is breaking, the black clouds are disappearing, and soon, if you keep in the race, you will find the land of sunshine and happiness.

Don’t give up the ship as long as there is a timber to float on.

Keep an Eye on the Future

It is quite true that we are living in the present but we do not stop with today or stand still. You know that the sun will rise tomorrow and that you will see it rise. That is, in all probability.

The sun of tomorrow and your rising are future events.

In the present you prepare for tomorrow and continue what you began on the yesterday. Otherwise you are standing still. No man can proceed if he must begin over again every tomorrow that comes to him in his life, he must have done something that can not be completed except in the future.

That gives him work to do, something at which he can make progress. You will be of more value tomorrow than you are today because you have advanced by experience—you have learned something, and so you will learn something every day and every tomorrow will find an improvement in you. Your time will be of more value, and your services command a higher price. You must work things around so that this will happen to you.

To every young man the future holds everything dear to him, his hopes are all centered on the future. In it he sees a home, a family, honor, fame perhaps, wealth possibly, comforts and a peaceful old age.

He may bring all these to pass but he must carry them always in his mind as things to be attained.

We may not know what the future has in store for us, but we can shape events, our lives and our doings so that we will know something of the future. When we say we do not know what the future will bring forth, we do not mean things of our own creation because we do know that much, but accidentals, and against those dangers we can provide by taking counsel and making provision to defeat them.

Produce Something and Increase Your Own Value to the World

The man who is a consumer only is of little use in this world. He is out of balance with energies and activities in the business or professional world.

The earth, the soil, is valuable only because it PRODUCES something that did not exist before. It creates in its way. The more it creates or produces, the more its value. When it produces nothing it is called a desert and is avoided for all useful purposes.

It is the same way with men; they must produce, make something, and the more things they make or produce, the higher their value, the greater their wage earning capacity, or income producing power.

Let the Colored American get into a business of his own; begin in a small way, but make something for others to buy or use.

To become a producer he must enter the manufacturing and commercial fields. He must grow up with his business of producing.

In this way he will establish an enterprise for his sons and daughters, and he will be able to sit in comfort beneath his own vine and fig tree.

Present “Opportunity” lies in taking advantage of present conditions, always remembering that as we progress we open up other and better opportunities that may be temporarily closed to us.

To get the means to do this, we must educate and work. The race has made wonderful progress in the field, the workshop, and in the professions, but it must reach out into commercial life, for the wherewith to carry out higher ideals.

We must cultivate the commercial instinct if we would master our own destinies.

We are all what we make of ourselves, and can not accuse another of spoiling the work.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN!

At every cross road in the country there is a warning signal: “Look out for the Locomotive.” At every railroad crossing in every large city, there are bells rung, whistles blown, and even guards let down when a locomotive passes.

Policemen stand at corners to warn people to look out, etc.

Why all these precautions? Simply to prevent people from endangering their lives. Yet, there are lives lost every day from failure to heed the warning signals, and many persons are maimed and crippled for life from the same cause.

The impression seems to be that people do not know enough to take care of themselves, and that they are disposed to rush into danger heedlessly and imperil their lives.

The impression is based upon truth. People do not know how to take care of themselves, and therefore the law exercises a sort of guardianship over them. It is all very nice to feel that there is somebody caring for us and shielding us from our own stupidity. That is what it is—stupidity.

If men would only stop, look and listen, that is, keep their wits about them, there would be fewer accidents, fewer failures in business, and fewer failures to succeed at anything.

It is not the foolish, the ignorant, and the small child who incur risks that are fatal, but grown men, men of intelligence and even wisdom and sagacity who venture too far and are caught up by hidden or exposed dangers, and lose their lives.

It is almost suicide for any man to lose his life through his own carelessness and inattention to danger signals.

These warnings exist everywhere in every department of business, and in every occupation. A suit for heavy damages is no consolation to the man who throws his life away through carelessness.

BE EVERY MAN’S FRIEND

Every man with a grain of common sense prefers a friend to an enemy.

Not that a man need to have enemies, for if you make yourself a friend to every man, every man will be your friend and you will have no enemies.

There is much comfort and peace of mind, besides greater opportunities for succeeding in any occupation, if you possess that charming trait known as “friendship.”

Friendship is a valuable asset in character. There are always times during life when you need a friend, and you can always have one ready at hand if you are a friend to others.

We all know that a friend in need is a friend indeed, but do not bank upon what you are to gain by being a friend and persuading others to be your friend. That is mercenary, and not provocative of good feeling or self-satisfaction.

It is very proper to be friendly with every one from the standpoint of business, for then you gain friendship in a variety of pleasant ways.

There is always social intercourse to be considered. You want friends for that; indeed, if you have none, you are in a bad way, and apt to wander off into by-paths that are shady and disreputable. With a friend by your side you have a guide and adviser.

_Help Your Fellow Man_

You are not put here on earth for your own sole benefit. There are others with the same rights and privileges to enjoy the things of life as well as yourself. This is important to remember.

Now, if you help your fellow man to maintain his rights, do you not see that you are laying the foundation for help to maintain your own?

If you trample on any person you must expect to be trampled upon in your turn, and then away go your rights, and trouble ensues.

If you help your friends and neighbors in their need, you are opening the way to be a success in whatever you may undertake. Under such circumstances, men will swear by you, and if you cannot be helped by them—there being some things that are too deep to be aided, sorrow for instance—you will at least have their sympathy, good will and countenance in your undertakings.

Let all your dealings and intercourse with your fellow men be based upon mutuality. There is a proverb which may not be inappropriate, which says, “Molasses catches more flies than vinegar.” Of course, helping your neighbor out of his difficulties or even sympathizing with him in his sorrows or grief, is a sweetness to him and to you.

Every kind, every good act, has a reciprocal effect. It may not be done out of whole heartedness, and there may be a grain of selfishness in it, but the principle is there, and often repeated, it becomes a second nature to act like the Good Samaritan without hope of reward.

Nevertheless there is always a reward more or less substantial.

_Take Counsel of Your Best Friends_

It is as old as the hills that “Two heads are better than one.”

It is true that every man has two feet, two hands, two eyes, two ears, and so on, but only one head. Things do not seem to balance with only one thing, so to complete the balance it is the height of policy to have two heads. Why not?

But one of the two heads is that of your best friend who can advise you when your one head is apt to go astray in some important step or undertaking.

You may not follow the advice of your friend, but he may give you an idea that will save you from making mistakes leading to failure.

Solomon says: “Without counsel purposes are disappointed.”

But you must take counsel of your friends; not of the ungodly, or those who may take advantage of you to counsel you wrong for their own purpose.

It is to be hoped that you have friends, if not make some immediately, because you will always need them. Now, when you have a friend go to him and counsel with him, and stick to him closer than to a brother. You should not give all your ideas away or consult with everybody about your affairs. You should keep close mouthed about them, but when you are in doubt consult a friend. We repeat: consult a FRIEND, not one who calls himself your friend, and wants to borrow money, or use you for a purpose, but a real friend upon whom you can rely.

Such a counselor will not betray you, but will be your other head and study your needs and help you in your troubles.

The word “friend” is a high and noble word and possesses a meaning not common to other relations between man and man. Thus, Abraham was the “Friend of God.”

SELECT YOUR OWN COMPANY

“A man is known by the company he keeps.”

This is a proverbial saying and it is a true one.

You have only one life to live, and you must be as careful of that life as a man is of his gold.

Good companions help you on the upward path; evil companions drag you down. Men possess free will, but a misuse of it brings speedy punishment.

Opportunity meets you and asks: “Who are your companions?”

Not being able to deceive Opportunity, you tell the truth and answer: “Oh, I go around with the boys. We stand around the street corners; smoke cigarettes; hang around the billiard and pool rooms; play craps occasionally, and—”

But Opportunity does not wait to hear any more, it vanishes and keeps away from you, leaving you free to follow your own head.

It has come to be a test of quality made by every employer, to judge an applicant by the company he keeps.

“Tell me who your companions are and I will tell you who you are.”

There is no mind reading about this, it is common sense.

In these days when there is so much vice and crime; when men have become suspicious of their next door neighbor, a wise man is careful whom he trusts. If you associate with an element that is suspicious you can not complain if you are yourself suspected.

It is not necessary to go about with your hands folded in an attitude of prayer, or pretend to be overly virtuous and honest, all you need is to be a man, open and above board, and decent in your associations with others.

KEEP YOUR NERVE

Most of our troubles are imaginary, nine-tenths of them never coming to us as we expected. They are mostly matters of nerve weakness.

We start something during the day, and lay awake at night worrying for fear it may not turn out successfully. We brood over phantoms and scarecrows, for that is what most of our worries are.

If you have started anything right, and your conscience is at rest, why do you worry? There is no reason for it.

Or if you have used your best judgment and made your best effort to make your venture a success, go to rest, put your trust in God and you will sleep.

The man who loses his nerve in the middle of a railroad or any place where there is danger, comes to grief. The life on earth is a road full of pitfalls and unpleasant things, many of them as dangerous as a railroad train bearing down upon us.

If you keep your nerve, you simply get out of the way of the locomotive, or of the runaway horse, or the automobile, and keep on living.

So it is in your every-day transactions. Keep out of the way of things than may undo you. Step aside and let them pass by. Everything works for good in this world, what you do not accomplish some other man does, and it helps you because everything is along parallel lines.

Where a thing is unavoidable, or inevitable, why then it is foolish to worry, and shows poor control of your nerves.

Put your trust in God, follow the straight path, and stiffen up your nerves.

STUDY YOUR HEALTH

The ancients said that there can not be a healthy mind in an unhealthy body. And they established this rule for all to follow: “Keep your body healthy and your mind will be healthy.”

By a healthy mind is meant a calm, cool, clear, active brain that can act up to its full capacity without faltering, or falling down at trifles.

To have that sort of brain, you must preserve your bodily health.

One patent way to lose your bodily health is to acquire bad habits of any kind that you know are bad for you.

You have a headache in the morning, and no appetite. It does not require a Solomon to tell what ails you. You have been drinking, carousing, staying up late instead of going to bed and getting your necessary sleep.

You have eaten things that do not agree with you, and so you must see a doctor. Besides that, you are too sick to go to work.

All you have to go upon in this world are your health and your mind. It does not matter what you do for a living, you must keep your wits about you all the time, and you can not do this unless you keep your health.

The mind is so closely connected with the body that what affects one affects the other, favorably or unfavorably.

Eat proper food, something that you know by experience will agree with you. Take your accustomed sleep, and exercise your muscles to keep your nerves—those nerves that spread up into the brain—in full play and ready for emergencies.

A healthy man does not worry; he is an optimist and looks at the bright side of life. An unhealthy man is a pessimist and sees things through a dark cloud. He ends by running down at the heels, and ceases to possess any economical functions.

MAKING ONE HAND WASH THE OTHER

It is a good commercial and business maxim: “Make one hand wash the other.”

There are little delicate attentions shown men to induce them to do you a favor. It is not exactly doing to others as you would have others do to you, but you do something for a person in the expectation that he will do something for you. This is the origin of the saying.

Politeness, forbearance and social amenities are the rule in these days, and it is the best policy to assume that distinction even if you do not feel that way.

The propensity for making one hand wash the other is more apparent in commercial and trade transactions than in any other. It is in these occupations that the eye beholds dollars or doughnuts at the end of a string, and a gentle pulling in the way of attention and brotherly reciprocation will bring the dollars or doughnuts within reach.

Bears and dogs growl and get nasty whenever they feel like it regardless of consequences, for they live in the present entirely and nothing is of any importance to them on the morrow. They do not even know enough to lay in a supply of provisions for a rainy day. A squirrel will do that, but squirrels are not quarrelsome, they are friendly and gentle, they make one paw wash the other. Watch one of them grab for a nut, get it, and beg prettily for another.

We must provide for a rainy day, and if we are in business we must have friends and customers to fall back upon for shelter. Waiting until the rain sets in and then beginning, fails—it is then too late, at least for that day, but by beginning you will perhaps be ready for the next rainy day.

SUPERSTITION AND LUCK

More people are superstitious than are willing to admit the fact. From bygone ages to modern times, both high and low, rich and poor, educated and ignorant, have yielded to some curious vein of fancy that leads them to expect “luck” or success more readily if certain whimsical conditions are complied with. Who has not, at some time, felt the power of one or another of the odd ideas that seem to have such a firm hold on the mind of man? Laugh it off as we will, declare it nonsense as we know it to be, still there is the tendency to put an unreasoning half-belief in it.

Do we not all know those who are nervous with fear if salt is spilled; who would go without a meal rather than be one of thirteen at table; who never begin any important work on a Friday; who are careful to take their first sight of the new moon over their right shoulder instead of the left; who rejoice in the finding of a four-leaved clover?

“Luck” is a plant that grows from the seed. And the seed sown is the kind of thoughts we entertain; ideas about ourselves, about God, about our work, and about the rest of the world.

Thoughts can be chosen. If we think ourselves weak and inferior, we invite failure; because then the work that we do will not be our best, and will be surpassed in value by that of others.

If we think instead, “I can do this work better than it has ever been done before—and I will,” the seed will grow and bear fruit in results to ourselves and others.

GOOD AND BAD LUCK

Your success in life never depends upon the turn of a card or the dice. You can neither dream yourself into good luck, nor dream yourself out of bad luck.

Good luck keeps company only with industrious, thrifty and honorable people who have faith in themselves, faith in their fellow men, and faith in God.

Even then, luck will disappear like smoke in a wind unless you can also demonstrate that you possess wisdom, patience and courage.

What you think is good luck, may keep company with you for a short time, but will speedily desert you if you do not make good.

The dictionary says “Luck” means “that which happens a person; chance; accident; good fortune; success.”

In your luck you should keep away from the element of “chance” or “accident.” Let your luck depend upon your own efforts, and take things by the forelock and make them come your way. Things will happen you just as you intend they shall.

There is really no such thing as bad luck, for if a thing does not happen because of your mistakes, it is not bad luck but mistake.

Try as you may to reach a certain result, and failing, you say you had bad luck. You merely did not know how to succeed or went too far, or reached out for more than you could handle. That is not bad luck, it is mismanagement. You might have succeeded if you had managed properly.

Chance must be kept out of the way or you will flounder about in a swamp whose quicksands will engulf you sooner or later.

BE SLOW TO ANGER

The Scripture says: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.”

We are also advised not to let the sun go down on our wrath.

If we desire to succeed in any enterprise we must “possess our souls in patience.” In Luke XVI, 19, it is explained: “In your patience possess your souls.”

We are nowhere advised not to be angry, but to possess our souls in our anger. That is: Never let anger get the better of our control.

In Ephesians IV, 26, it is said: “Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”

This is the key to what is known as “temper.” It is the part of a wise man to control his temper. Not to have any temper at all is to be one whom Col. Roosevelt calls “a mollycoddle,” and such a person is truly weak and without any backbone.

But the anger or the temper which leads to violence is to be controlled absolutely. Those sudden gusts of passion lead to crime as sure as the sun rises and sets every day. And it is always personal violence, even to the extent of murder that is the result of giving way to such an emotion. No one ever becomes violently angry because he is not a good man.

If a man stands up in his manhood, and despises small things, he will be in a position to control his angry feelings no matter how much he may feel hurt by the acts of another.

If we could get angry with ourselves because we do not improve, that would be an anger worth cultivating. But so far as others are concerned, let your anger be mild and never reach the point of resentment, for that always leads to revenge which is a fatal emotion.

If others are the cause of anger to us, keep away from them, and if we must associate with them, keep cool and bide your opportunity.

PRACTICE LOGIC, COMMON SENSE AND TACT

When a man can give a good reason for what he does he practices logic. Not excuses for doing what he should not do, but REASONS why.

When he gives good reasons, and follows the universal practice of other men under the same circumstances, he practices common sense.

When he does things in a quiet, unobtrusive, and agreeable manner, so that other men are satisfied with his way, he practices tact.

These three qualities are badges of success among every nation and in every occupation, trade, or profession.

The business and professional resourcefulness of every man is not measured upon the quantity of his learning, or his high proficiency, but according to his ability to apply what he knows to the matter in hand.

A man may be able to measure the stars, and yet not be able to saw a board straight. Such a man may know much but he makes a poor carpenter.

A man should reason with himself as to the best way of doing anything, and then do it, giving good reasons for it.

Common sense is good judgment applied to the every day things of life, and tact is doing those things without disturbing others or by considering their feelings with as much care as you do your own.

To use a common expression: “You have got to worm things out of the world, but you must do it as gently as inserting a corkscrew in a stubborn cork.”

_ENCOURAGE OTHERS_

When you encourage others to go ahead with what they are doing, with a cheery word or a pleasant smile, you are laying up treasure for yourself. For the man you encourage will encourage you, and heaven knows we all need encouragement.

Many men stand on the verge of a precipice of indecision, not being able to decide whether they should draw back or fall over.

It is not help these men want so much as it is encouragement. They are able to help themselves but they haven’t the nerve, and you give them a word of cheer or encouragement, and they get right with themselves and their work.

If a man starts into business and you can trade with him, do so, and that will encourage him to go ahead and strive to be successful.

He may be a beginner at manufacturing something for the use of others. Tell him how his work or productions are well received, or take one yourself and use it even if you do not want it. You encourage him to go on, and by and by you may be in a position where you will need a little encouragement, then he will remember you.

It is customary for the unthinking to imagine that they must do something big or great in order to expect returns, but this is a mistake. We show our greatness in little things, because we know that many little things make up a great thing. The more small things we do the greater will be the accumulation in the end.

Do not patronize any man or he will repulse your approach; you must encourage, which is far different from patronizing. By assuming a patronizing air you assume a superiority which is disliked.

This is an age of small things that go to make up big things, and we must fall in with the conditions of the age in which we live and expect to do business.

_HOW TO LEARN SELF-CONTROL_

To master the feelings the head and the heart should work together.

All of our emotions may be said to come from the heart, and the latter is set in motion by the will power which is the head.

There are times when a man feels like “boiling over” as it is called, but policy and good judgment warn him to keep within bounds.

It is always our sentiments or feelings and emotions that need a curbing hand, our opinions can take care of themselves.

Where our feelings and our mind go together there is no trouble, for then duty and inclination go together. But where our feelings are not regulated and controlled, they become unstable and shifting. Like the winds that blow where they list and whither no man can tell, our lack of self-control may drive us to the most violent acts. We become the sport of chance desires and vagrant impulses.

Control is essential because from our ill-regulated acts much injustice and harm may be done, not only to ourselves but to others.

A man who stands above whim and caprice is a superior in strength to a man who permits his caprices to direct him.

What we call character has its emotions and passions, its affections and intense sympathies, but mastered and controlled into a whole of outward justice and fairness.

The true freeman fights himself free from blind feeling and impulse; he is a happy warrior and fights on a battlefield where his convictions and emotions are a unit.

The Martyrs possessed such self control that burning at the stake, or limbs torn by savage beast did not wring a note of pain from them. “But,” you say, “that was Divine strength.” Of course, and any one who desires the same Divine strength to aid him control his emotions, may have it for the asking.

DON’T BE A DREAMER

Waste no Time Dreaming of the Past

You are living in the present preparing for the future. The past is dead and you should let the past bury the past.

The man who dreams of the past and forgets his future, is like a man who rises in the morning not of today but of yesterday. He is going backward when his face is put in front pointing always forward.

Life is too short to be wasted in vain regrets for what has transpired in the past. Even yesterday is ancient history and best forgotten.

We have work to do in the present to perfect or accomplish something in the future; it is our time of grace, given us to grasp at opportunities as they come before us.

While you are lamenting an opportunity that escaped you yesterday, a better one comes along today and passes us unnoticed.

There is too much of this sort of sorrow experienced by the people of the earth, but when it comes to a man with an occupation, a business man or a young man getting ready for business, it is positively foolish and detrimental.

We know that it has been the practice of people in all times to fret and worry about the things of the past, for there are numerous sayings cautioning them against it. One of them is very appropriate: “Never cry over spilled milk.” It is gone and can not be restored.

Many persons may have what is called a “skeleton” in his closet, but it does not do him nor his friends any good service to keep rattling its bones continually.

If you have been very wrong in the past, repent and begin over again.

DON’T BE BASHFUL

There are many persons who stand in their own way to success by their timidity, or bashfulness.

Such people are too self-conscious, and betray their lack of self-confidence which is regarded as an evidence of ignorance, or at least, inability to perform the duties they aspire to impose upon themselves.

Every man is better acquainted with himself than anybody else, but when he relies upon the knowledge of others as superior to his own knowledge, he loses the respect of his fellows, and finally loses his own respect and becomes bashful in their presence.

You should cultivate courage and exhibit symptoms of self-confidence, for by that means you show others that you are willing to “dare” and venture a trial of your capacity.

If you are too timid and have no confidence in yourself, you must not expect others to take you except at your own valuation.

There is, however, such a thing as being over-confident and brazen, which is the extreme of timidity, and becomes boastfulness.

Men have a way of studying each other and judging from their own standpoint, and if they perceive any timidity or bashfulness, they judge against you as incompetent. On the other hand, they quickly see beneath the surface of boasting, and reach the same opinion.

Be self-confident, and gentlemanly about it, for so you will pull through any opportunity, besides making hosts of friends in a business and social way.

Look a man straight in the eye, but do not try to look him down.

DON’T BE UNDECIDED

A man who can not make up his mind to do or not to do a thing without a great deal of wobbling first one way and then another, is as bad as an unsafe wall in a building—everybody keeps off lest it fall and do some damage.

When a man has first carefully considered a project, or a certain line of action, and also taken the advice of his friends if the matter is important, he should decide one way or the other at once.

A wobbly man is weak-kneed, and not to be depended upon for any purpose.

If you have ever had dealings with that kind of a man you will understand how painful it is to wait for him to decide.

A man at a cross-roads hesitates and says: “Shall I go this way or that?” He hesitates, starts, returns, starts the other way, and finally goes the wrong way and falls into a hole.

It has passed into a proverb that, “He who hesitates is lost.”

Of course, there is reason and judgment to be observed in everything, for things should not be done at random, but when there are common sense, education, and good counsel to guide you, to hesitate then is to go wrong.

It should not take a man long to decide when there is a speculation presented him, and his decision should be obstinately against the speculation. There are too many good opportunities to succeed in ventures that are legitimate to touch speculation. It is in the legitimate field of operations that indecision is so often fatal.

There is another saying applicable to this subject: “Be sure you’re right, then go ahead.”

DON’T BE TOO BIG FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Most children must creep before they can walk. The reason is because they are not sure of their small limbs and try them before venturing to depend upon them.

When the child can walk he goes right ahead and walks all his life without fear or hesitation.

It is the same in every line of business. The business man must know just where he stands all the time, and he must begin small in order to learn how to rely upon himself.

You are looking for something big, large, something you think commensurate with your abilities. Well, then, let me tell you that you will never find anything to suit you. You are inflated with your ability, your importance, and fail to see the small things at your feet and within your reach that if put together will aggregate the very big thing you want.

You aim at the moon and feel bad because you do not hit it. While your aim may be perfectly good and correct, the object may be too far off for you to hit, or else you must work yourself within reach of it and then you will hit it.

Small beginnings have made every great man on earth. Out of the huts and squalid cabins of the world have issued men who have conquered the world of arms and commerce.

You have the advantage of them from an educational point of view, and think you must be saddled upon a fiery horse before you know whether you can ride a steady going one.

The millionaire was not a millionaire when he started, he was an obscure clerk in a dry goods store working for wages that you scorn. Reduce your size to something near the right one and you will see things differently and take what you can get cheerfully, biding your time to reach higher. Let your hat fit your head.

DON’T GET DISCOURAGED

One of the greatest causes for failure in life is discouragement. It seems to be an element in the life of every man to be up one day and down the next.

When a man gets up it is possible for him to stay up by hard work and persistence, but if he permits himself to go down below his balance he may consider himself altogether down-and-out.