Tears to Snow

The prime condition great secrets of success

It is well that young men should begin at the

beginning and occupy the most subordinate

positions.Many of the leading businessmen of

Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust

upon them at the very threshold of their

career.They were introduced to the broom,and

spent the first hours of their business lives

sweeping out the office.I notice we have

janitors and janitresses now in offices,and

our young men unfortunately miss that salutary

branch of business education.But if by chance

the professional sweeper is absent any

morning,the boy who has the genius of the

future partner in him will not hesitate to try

his hand at the broom.The other day a fond

fashionable mother in Michigan asked a young

man whether he had ever seen a lady sweep in a

room so grandly as her Priscilla.He said no,

he never had ,and the mother was gratified

beyond measure,but then said he ,after a

pause,“What I should like to see her do is

sweep out a room ”It does not hurt the newest

comer to sweep out the office if necessary.I

was one of those sweepers myself.

that you have all obtained employment and are

fairly started,my advice to you is “aim high

”.I would not give a fig for the young man

who does not already see himself the partner

or the head of an important firm.Do not rest

content for a moment in your thoughts as head

clerk,or foreman,or general manager in any

concern,no matter how extensive.Say to

yourself ，“My place is at the top.”Be king

in your dreams.

condition of success,the great secret:

concentrate your energy,thought,and capital

exclusively upon the business in which you are

engaged.Having begun in one line,resolve to

fight it out on that line,to lead in it,

adopt every improvement,have the best

machinery,and know the most about it.

concerns which fail are those which have

scattered their capital,which means that they

have scattered their brains also.They have

investments in this,or that,or the other,

here there,and everywhere.“Don ’t put all

your eggs in one basket.”is all wrong.I

tell you to “put all your eggs in one basket,

and then watch that basket.”Look round you

and take notice,men who do that not often

fail.It is easy to watch and carry the one

basket.It is trying to carry too many baskets

，which break most eggs in this country.He

who carries three baskets must put one on his

head,which is apt to tumble and trip him up.

One fault of the American businessman is lack

of concentration.

said:aim for the highest;never enter a bar

room;do not touch liquor,or if at all only

at meals;never speculate;never indorse

beyond your surplus cash fund;make the firm ’

s interest yours;break orders always to save

owners;concentrate;put all your eggs in one

basket,and watch that basket;expenditure

always within revenue;lastly,be not

impatient,for as Emerson says,“no one can

cheat you out of ultimate success but

yourselves.