Conditions of Success, IV

;

Conditions of Success

BY CLAUDE RICHARDS OF THE GENERAL BOARD Y. M. M. I. A.

IV. CHARACTER (CONTINUED)

Obedience. Cultivate early in life the habit of strict obedi-

ence to your parents, teachers, employer, and to any others whose

business is to direct you or give you advice and instructions.

Learn to respect and obey the law and the established customs

of society. Honor the leaders of your church and the officials

of your state and nation. Respect every man or boy in his posi-

tion, whatever that position may be, and try to make your daily

actions and your entire life conform to the laws of God and to the

eternal fitness of things. And in the truest spirit of obedience,

strive to put yourself in harmony with those over you and "in tune

with the Infinite."

Loyalty. Loyalty is even bigger than obedience, for it covers

more ground. Loyalty contemplates obedience, and in addition,

it requires a man to do whatever else he can to further the in-

terests of those whom he serves. Loyalty makes service easy. In

business there is no one thing more helpful to the employer than

the loyalty of faithful employees. Loyalty contemplates many

other virtues, and soon brings recognition from managers. Some

employees are loyal only on special occasions and on pay day

others stand back of their institution every day in the week, and

think of pay day only when reminded of it by the large salary

checks they receive.

Perseverance. Perseverance is a splendid quality and can

take the place of a great deal of missing talent. It never recog-

nizes discouragement but keeps right on plugging until victory

is won. Perseverance is one of the great stepping stones to suc-

cess, reaching its helpful hand out to the humblest men if they

are willing to try.

Sincerity. Sincerity will render perseverance less difficult

and make many other things easy. Sincerity begets confidence.

It takes cognizance of all that is worth while in life and inspires

its possessor to push on and do things. It is closely related to

ambition, the thing that helps to keep a man from idle ways.

Generosity. Generosity is a trait of character which speaks

the size of a man's heart and signifies his willingness to share

with his neighbor, and his desire to confer a benefit upon him.

Generosity in its broad sense might be said to represent a man's

interest in his fellows. You will readily see a close relationship

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 647

between generosity and service. The one is a forerunner of the

other and constitutes the motive that leads to the action. The

world is willing to overlook, if need be, a number of faults in

the man who carries in his heart the genuine desire to be of service

to his fellowmen. All service should be given unselfishly, not

with the idea of reward, for the highest rewards follow only those

who are unmindful of personal gain as they work to benefit

others.

Sociability in moderation is conducive to suc-

Sociability.

cess. Like generosity it is outward evidence of the human interest

one feels in his soul for others. It is also an avenue of approach

and beneficial intercourse between people. In business, the ability

to mix is a real asset, affording a man the opportunity to get ac-

quainted and to let others know in which department of business

he seeks to render them intelligent service.

Associates. In this matter of sociability both in business and

outside of it, one is entitled to choose carefully his frequent as-

sociates. For a man is unconsciously affected by the company

he keeps, and his efficiency will be increased or impaired accord-

ingly. And why should we not, since this life is a part of eter-

nity, be privileged to enjoy contact with good people in the

hours of our labor, and the pleasure and profit of their associa-

tion in the period of our relaxation?

Sense of Humor. In the serious business of life, a situation

isoften relieved and benefited by a keen sense of humor. Humor

can often be of ready use in illustrating a point and in preparing

men for cheerful service. It acts as a tonic to stimulate the tired

worker and to lighten the heavy load, and has a buoyant effect

upon all who feel its influence. Life is capable of many inter-

pretations. Now and then we meet him who views it so seriously

that he is almost afraid to smile, other times we find ourselves al-

most face to face with the tittering fool who laughs his life away.

There are all classes intermediate. It is safe to say that extremes

should be avoided, but shall we deny any man the right to observe

the humorous side of things and to make mention now and then

of what he sees? The sense of humor encourages optimism, and

optimism is a strong propelling power in a happy life.

Naturalness. One wit has said, "See sharp and be natural."

Naturalness is the recognition that you are what you are. How-

ever different you might like to be, you should never try to de-

ceive yourself or others as to what you actually are. Work for

improvement day and night. Do all you can to change things

for the better, but, as you associate with people, be natural. Do

not stoop to affectation in speech, manners or makeup. And in

pausing, as you should occasionally, to take an inventory of your-

self and of what you have done, do not underestimate your worth

—

on the one hand, nor overrate yourself on the other be natural, be

648 IMPROVEMENT ERA

fair to yourself. Take every item in at cost price. It is the only

safe way to do. Above all, do not interfere with the simplicity

of your nature. And remember, always, that in simplicity there is

strength.

Honesty. Truth the most powerful thing in the world.

is

It is as old as life itselfand will go on and live forever. It can

endure in any clime and is as happy in a hut as in a palace.

Though it is sometimes made to suffer temporary defeat it al-

ways comes out victorious in the end. Dishonesty and deceit are

the enemies of truth. It is as useless, however, to fight truth as

it is to attempt to stop a huge river in its onward course. Truth

may lie covered for a while, but, it will come out finally and ex-

pose him who has tried to bury it. A man should not be honest,

though, through fear, or, for policy's sake, but out of respect

for the truth. "An honest man is the noblest work of God."

There can be no lasting or beneficial service that does not have

for real foundation the truth.

its

Courage. Courage is an admirable quality of character.

There are many times in the life of a successful man when he

must stand alone. To do it may require all the courage he has.

Going with the crowd may be easier, but is it always best ? When

in your judgment it is not, then you must stand alone. He who

has the grit to say no and to stand by it, is on the unmistakable

road to success. The courage to stand for what you believe to

be right will win for you respect from all classes of people.

Nobody likes a coward. On the other hand, everyone admires the

man, who, when occasion requires will defend his friends, his

business or his religion. Do you not like to see a positive char-

acter, — —

a man who stands for something whether his principles

harmonize exactly with yours or not ?

Reliability. Reliability calls for the fulfilment of a man's

promises and the discharge of his accepted duties. A man may

be honest under any average definition of the term, he may be

courageous, at least whenever there is any special occasion for it,

and yet he may grow into the careless habit of neglecting his

promises with respect to appointments, getting to work on time.

payment of obligations, and attention especially to the smaller re-

quirements expected of him. No one would say that he was dis-

honest or accuse him of being a coward, and yet no one can rely

regularly upon his word. Sooner or later, by reason of this care-

lessness, the man will bring himself into disrepute. The habit

must be overcome and reliability re-instated, if it is not, it will

greatly lessen one's efficiency in any field of service.

Self-control. All of the requirements of success can be cul-

tivated and developed by him who has will power sufficient.

Through the exercise of self-control and will power we may

acquire day by day the various qualities that make for success.

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 649

The power of self-control is the thing perhaps more than any

other that raises man above the animals. It is important to gain

control of one's self, especially of one's tongue and one's temper,

and hold control, otherwise the work of many days may be de-

stroyed in a few minutes. A man is not rational when he is

angry in this condition he should not try to deal with other peo-

;

ple. The sooner he gains complete control over himself the bet-

ter. There is majesty in self-control. Most of the development

and progress in a man's life depend upon his power to act in

harmony with his judgment.

Temperance. Intemperance is frequently responsible for the

loss of self-control. The use of intoxicating liquors is decidedly

harmful to the system and renders one unfit for every kind of

business. It might be argued that there is no harm in the moder-

ate use of intoxicants, but it must be admitted that one step leads

to another in the same direction, and that a young man is on

dangerous ground when he takes his first glass. Many a young

man of highest promise has had his career shattered by the ac-

quaintance of this treacherous enemy. It has ruined more men

and homes than any other thing in the world. If it were one's

main ambition in life to fail, to bring misery to his family, to dis-

grace himself in the eyes of the public and to become a burden

upon others, then he could select no safer and surer course than

to enslave himself to these hellish drinks.

To a lesser degree the use of tobacco is injurious to the body

and a hindrance to the progress of those who us.e it. Though

many of our useful men and highly respected citizens are users

of tobacco, yet there are probably none of them who do not regret

the habit and who would not advise strongly against it. The use

of tobacco often leads to drink.

Moreover, temperance in its relation to success must go far-

ther than intoxicants and tobacco, and include moderation in

dress, sleep, food, exercise, work and the other items requiring

moderation.

Ideals. "Hitch your wagon to a star." Our ideals are our

dreams of success and of what we would like to be. Dreaming

is essential to success. It is the magic light that leads us on and

on until we accomplish the ambition of our lives. Our dreams of

today should be our realities of tomorrow. "Ideals are just re-

alities that lie off the main traveled road." Our ideals should give

fullrecognition to our aim or purpose in life and encourage it, and

in fact they should run along the line of our life's work. Do not

be afraid to dream noble dreams. If you never build a castle in

the air, the chances are that you will never build one on the

ground.

V. VOCATION

The need of a vocation was the subject of our first letter. In

650 I MPR< >VEMENT ERA

that letter we pointed out the fact that the last fifty years has

brought about a big change Our social and industrial life has

:

become more complex. Present requirements for a livelihood, de-

mand that a person be able to do one thing well. This means that

he shall select some one thing to do, and then become proficient

in that thing — in other words, that he shall choose a vocation and

specialize. The twentieth century will be pre-eminently the age

of specialization. How can a man then hope to earn for himself

and family a good living unless he is prepared to give, in return

for what he needs, such services as are needed by his fellows and

demanded by the century in which he lives? A vocation is as

necessary to success as a track is for a railroad train. It is the

track on which our main energy is to run.

VI. MARRIAGE

The three most important events in a man's life are conceded

to be his birth, his marriage and his death. Over two of these

things he has no control, except that he may postpone the day of

his death by living a sound and sober life. Over the other event

he has approximately one half control, though the final word must

be spoken by another person. The necessity of this most im-

portant step of marriage is recognized by every right-thinking

man. Success cannot be complete without it. Aman's foremost

mission in life is to get married and rear an honorable family. It

is the highest calling, of man and the means, by which he can

render the greatest service to the world. To disregard marriage

means not to recognize the most important and basic of all in-

stitutions— the home, the source of man's greatest happiness and

profit. The choosing and following of your life's work, though

of inestimable importance and consequence, must always be

placed second in magnitude to your getting married and rearing a

family.

VII. A SETTLED FAITH

A settled faith, like marriage, is essential even to a success-

ful business career. Bv a settled faith we mean at least the recogni-

tion of a standard code of morals and action, and the acceptance of

those broad principles of religion that teach faith in God and en-

courage the importance of living a clean and decent life and of ren-

dering helpful service to mankind. Whatever his sect mav be, it is

an advantage for a young man to engage in religious activity, for

the teaching and the inspiration that it gives to him and the guide

that it furnishes for his life. Moreover, to be thus settled, and

to give some service to one's church, is beneficial, just as it is

desirable to be settled in married life for it places the mind at

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case and in the best working condition to handle efficiently the

industrial problem of life, adding stability to one's actions and