Conditions of Success—IX · Improvement Era

:

Conditions of Success

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

IX — CONCLUSION

Dear Friend Hozvard:

In order that you may have the entire outline before you in

one view for reference or examination we now present it in com-

plete diagram

I. Appearance 6. Punctuality

(a) Dress 7. Courtesy, Service

(b) Countenance 8. Tact

Cheerfulness 9. Frugality

Disposition 10. Attribute Toward Work

(1) Purpose (aim)

II. Health Dignity

(2)

(a) Sleep Humility

(3)

(b) Food

(4) Obedience

(c) Cleanliness Loyalty

(5)

(d) Exercise Perseverance

(6)

(e) Recreation Sincerity

(7)

III. Intellect (b) Generosity

(a) Power to think (c) Sociability

(b) Power to reason 1. Associates

(c) ludgment. (d) Sense of Humor

Commonsense (e) Naturalness

Propriety (f) Honesty

Judge not (g) Courage

(d) Memory (h) Reliability

(e) Expression (j) Temperance

(f) Training (k) Ideals

IV. Character V. Vocation

(a) Habits

Work

VI. Marriage

System VII. A Settled Faith.

Accuracy

Thoroughness VIII. Self Analysis and Improve-

Speed ment Register

This outline has been made and its parts briefly discussed

in an effort to furnish you with a suggestive guide for use in

analyzing yourself from day to day with respect to efficiency.

We recommend that you employ this or some other means for the

purpose of self-examination and also as an improvement reg-

;

ister to record your progress. You will find a pencil to be a valu-

able friend. It never forgets what it has heard, and stands always

ready to repeat at the request of its companion. It is full of sug-

gestion and value, particularly in technical work and study.

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 861

Should you adopt our suggestion and decide to employ this

outline you might proceed in the following way:

Prepare copies of this outline ruled to accomodate the mark-

ing, sufficient to last for one year, using one a month. Keep them

under suitable cover and in a private place. Begin with the first

subheading in the outline. Dress. Spend one week trying to im-

prove in this respect. Mark each day the result. If you are suc-

cessful leave the space blank ; if you do not feel satisfied with

your progress then mark X in the respective square. Introduce

a new sub-topic each week making a strenuous effort that week to

improve in that particular, remembering the items or qualities al-

ready passed and recording the results of each day with respect

to each of them. Continue the special effort on each succeeding

new sub-topic until you have exercised your will to improve in the

direction of each quality mentioned.

Never loose sight of our big subject, success. Our outline,

even though somewhat extensive, is not complete, indeed the

question of success in life would involve all the virtues and in-

clude all the items of service and development. We

would not

have you infer from what we have said that your entire record

of progress in life can be shown on paper. There may be some of

CLAYTON HOGGAN

One of the Y. M. M. I. A. contestants in the Boys' Half-acre con

test, age 15, Lewiston, Utah. Clayton is the son of G. A. Hoggan one

of the most successful farmers of Lewiston, Utah. "Clayton is a

very enthusiastic young farmer," we are informed by Brother J. C.

Larsen, Jr., "who is taking a careful pride in all his work. The

team he drives is always fat and sleek; the furrows are straight; in

fact, all his work would be a credit to an experienced farmer." He

is entering the contest on sugar beets, and Brother Larsen

expresses

the opinion that he will keep his competitors busy all the time, if

they hope to win.

862 IMPROVEMENT ERA

your biggest strides that in their nature would be too intangible

to transcribe, or too sacred to transfer to written records. Three

of our general sub-headings, vocation, marriage and a settled

faith, it can hardly be said call for pencil and paper marking.

Each of these in a sense is a matter of larger moment of less

frequency than daily opportunity.

Now that we have finished our discussion of the outline and

have urged that you undergo each day a rigid self-examination

and let us stop and ask:

discipline, "What's the use? Why

should go to all this trouble? Shall I not simply continue on,

I

having a good time and taking the success that comes my way?

Millions of other men are doing this. Why shouldn't I?" Ex-

treme as they appear in this treatise, such questions will come

frequently into the minds of the easy-going, unambitious class.

And they will suggest themselves at times to all of us when we

are in an easy-going, unambitious mood.

To such questions the answer must lie in one's conception of

life. To him who is purely selfish, and who sees in life only a

round of silly pleasure, it is hardly likely that a' life of serious

discipline and thoughtful training will appeal. To such a one the

term success is sure to have a meaning quite different from that

we have given it throughout these letters. "Regular, intelligent

service, etc." To us it seems that the ultimate purpose of life is

expressed in that philosophy that declares that "Man is that he

might have joy." And to us it seems also that the greatest joy

comes from service.

Regular, intelligent service rendered without thought of re-

ward to one's fellowman, in our opinion, constitutes success. If

a man is to be successful, then, under this definition, he must pre-

pare himself to render this kind of service. This means that he

must become proficient in the various requisites or conditions of

success.

Shall your life be successful? Shall it measure up to a high

standard of service? Shall it be a life of joy and happiness?

Each person must answer for himself. The matter of success is

and always will be an individual problem. No one else can solve

it for you —

though they may render invaluable assistance from

lessons they have learned in their own lives.

There is but one answer Yes

: I must build upon the

!

splendid character that my father and forefathers have left me.

And I must give to my posterity an inheritance of manhood and

power that will help them on to victory. I know that if my life is to

be complete, that my thoughts and actions of this day may affect

the lives and destinies of generations yet unborn, for the study of

families has demonstrated that the traits of certain ancestors have

been prominent even for centuries in their offspring. This same

Study has shown that ignorance, vulgarity and idleness have been

CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS 863

responsible for our poor houses, prisons and dens of vice; while

frugality, education and industry,have characterized and built up

the families that have supported all our better institutions and

formed the backbone of our nation. I must succeed. In my

family's history I must be a strong link in a strong chain.

We feel that we cannot leave this subject without inviting

your close and even constant attention to truths which present

themselves again and again as vital to success "The first steps

:

in life, etc."

The first steps in life are of extreme importance. Youth is

the time of telling consequences. Then it is that the boy is

shaping the career of the man, determining his character and his

efficiency.

ERNEST JACKMAN

Busily engaged in his garden at No. 224 Fourth avenue, Eighteenth

Ward, Ensign stake. The M. I. A. City Boys' Industrial Contest

was instituted by the Committee on Vocations and Industries, this

spring, in which a large number of city boys have taken an interest.

Several thousand circulars and applications were distributed, and

on the 7th of June a meeting was held in each ward of Salt Lake City

at which members of the General Board and others explained

the

purpose of the movement to large congregations of parents and

young people. On May 20, Herman Wells, of the Eighteenth ward,

Salt Lake City, reported that twelve boys had entered in that ward,

in

flower and garden contests, under this movement. The prizes offered

are, first, $10; second, $5; third, $3; fourth, $2. These were raised by

local contribution. The M. I. A. contest prizes are also open to boys

who may win in these garden contests,

864 IMPROVEMENT ERA

Build early a substantial credit in each of the various items

of success. The start is the most difficult. It is the first thousand

dollars in business that requires the struggle.

The twentieth century will demand efficiency. In its demo-

cratic attitude towards men and its strenuous struggle for gain,

it will ask but one question: "What can you do? and how well

can you handle the complex problems of this age?"

The great business of the world requires men of the highest

training and experience —

men who are masters of the situation.

The world is ever ready to recognize efficiency. In the words

of Emerson, "If a man can preach a better sermon, write a bet-

ter book, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though

he build his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten

path to his door."

Do not shun competition or the opportunity to gain experi-

ence, for competition is a great stimulus to action, and out of ex-

perience we build our lives. With each mistake we should brace

our careers the stronger. "True greatness consists not in never

falling, but in rising every time you fall."

You must live your own life, solve your own problems, and

"try to make yourself stronger than anything than can happen

to you." Be not overcome with adversity but learn how to take

;

it. Be not employed by sin, for "the wages of sin is death."

Learn without delay the value of your time, talents and money,

but do not worship money. Money is for man and not man for

money. Mere money-making is not success. Success is a bigger

and better thing.

There is nothing in life so sweet and so stimulating as suc-

cess.

"Nothing succeeds like success."

Have faith in yourself to succeed.

"Think success and you will win it."

Remember, "Eternal vigilance is the price of success," and

success lies in service.

Mayyou experience freely, during your lifetime, the joy of

service, and, in the final analysis of your present career, may it be

said by Him, whose business it will be to judge, that you loved

your fellowman and served him with all the vigor of your soul.

This is our earnest desire for you.

The Committee on Vocations and Industries,

General Board, Y. M. M.' I. A.

Conditions of Success, IX