08-The Road to Success

Itis well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the mostsubordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had aserious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career.They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their businesslives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now inoffices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of businesseducation. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, theboy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to tryhis hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out theoffice if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.

Assumingthat you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to youis “aim high”. I would not give a fig for the young man who does not alreadysee himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest contentfor a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager inany concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My place is at thetop.” Be king in your dreams.

Andhere is the prime condition of success, the great secret: concentrate yourenergy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you areengaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, tolead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the mostabout it.

Theconcerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which meansthat they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, orthat, or the other, here there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in onebasket.” is all wrong. I tell you to “put all your eggs in one basket, and thenwatch that basket.” Look round you and take notice, men who do that not oftenfail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry toomany baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries threebaskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. Onefault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.

Tosummarize what I have said: aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do nottouch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyondyour surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always tosave owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch thatbasket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for asEmerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.”