--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Harris, F. S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 18 number: 1 published: 1914-11 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Harris, F. S., "Some Conditions of Success", *Improvement Era* 18, no. 1 (November 1914): 23–24.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1801unse 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: improvementera1801unse start_page: 23 end_page: 24 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1914-11) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1801unse 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. --- # Some Conditions of Success Some Conditions of Success BY DR. F. S. HARRIS, OF THE UTAH STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE In preparing the manual of the Y. M. M. I. A. on "The Vocations of Man," blanks were sent to several hundred of the most successful men of the West in the various walks of life. Among other things, they were asked to give their ideas about some of the conditions of success in their respective callings. The replies showed a great uniformity, even though they came from men engaged in very diverse kinds of work. Doctors, lawyers, merchants, farmers, bankers, railroad men, manufacturers, builders, mechanics, writers and teachers all united in saying that success in life depends largely on a few simple, fundamental principles. Probably the one most often mentioned was honesty, under some one of its names. One prominent judge said, "Success in one's work depends upon, first, absolute honesty second, absolute ; honesty ; absolute honesty third, fourth, absolute honesty, and ; fifth, absolute honesty." A well-known business man said: "In the first place, a young man starting out must be absolutely truthful and honest in all that he undertakes to do." This, with some variation of phraseology was contained in scores of the replies. "Very often," wrote a successful manufacturer and business man, "young men resort to habits that are damaging and, of course, an impediment to a successful life. They become careless and neglectful in their work and the feeling of indifference grows upon them to such an extent that they. are not honest with themselves; they misappropriate their employer's business. It has been truthfully said, 'Dishonesty doubles the journey to success; a crooked path must always be longer than a straight one a man ; is never so strong as when he stands upright the further he; stoops the easier he can be knocked over.' Many a boy has developed dishonesty because of neglect of duty he has gone to the ; till and borrowed a dime with the full intent and purpose of re- storing it the next day, but the next day comes along and the dime is not restored. He finds himself in the same position, only worse than he was the day before, and instead of borrowing a dime he takes a quarter, then a half dollar, then a dollar, till it has developed into a crime. The end of a reputation depends on the beginning. On entering any place of business for the purpose of learning that business, one should give honest thought, honest effort and honest labor." 24 IMPROVEMENT ERA Many of the replies placed side by side with honesty such qualities as industry, love for the work, continuity of purpose, unselfishness and determination. These qualities were mentioned over and over again, till it almost seemed, in reading them, like the writers had copied one from another. Not once in all the replies was underhanded craftiness, considered so important by some young men, listed as an aid to success in life. If young men would take the advice of those who have had a broad experience in the world, and have been successful in their business, many a heartache would be spared, and years of valuable time could be saved. Those who are prepared to know tell us that the road to success leads through the gates of honesty, industry, sobriety and continuity of purpose. Can we not as young people follow the true road through the right gates? LOGAN, UTAH Music Men make music here from strings, From brass or steel or stranger things, Though music is not made at all, It doth but from the heavens fall. Music tinkles in the rain; All but the poet list' in vain; There's music in the frozen snow; From melting music rivers flow. Our hearts are beating out a tune. Music marks time's flight, how soon We'll leave the tinkling brass, and go Where music's mystic strains e'er flow. There's music in the heart of things; Birds make music with their wings. The croons of insects in the field Do a quaint-like music yield. The babe upon its mother's knee Has music in its heart so free; Has music in its make-up, too, And singing in its soul anew. There's music in the mind of man, Music on a perfect plan Which from life to life doth span, And joins the heavenly choirs. Aubrey Parker