--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Claude Richards collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 17 number: 7 published: 1914-05 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Claude Richards, "Conditions of Success—IV," *Improvement Era* 17, no. 7 (May 1914): 646–650.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1707unse start_page: 646 end_page: 650 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-05) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1707unse publication_year: 1914 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1914, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # 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 ; case and in the best working condition to handle efficiently the industrial problem of life, adding stability to one's actions and