Page images
PDF
EPUB

T

Initiative

HE world bestows its big prizes, both in money and honors, for but one

thing. And that is Initiative. What is Initiative? I'll tell you: It is doing the right thing without being told. But next to doing the thing without being told is to do it when you are told once. That is to say, carry the Message to Garcia. Those who can carry a message get high honors, but their pay is not always in proportion. Next, there are those who never do a thing until they are told twice; such get no honors and small pay. Next, there are those who do the right thing only when Necessity kicks them from behind, and these get indifference instead of honors, and a pittance for pay. This kind spends most of its time polishing a bench with a hard-luck story. Then, still lower down in the scale than this, we have the fellow who will not do the right thing even when some one goes along to show him how

and stays to see that he does it; he is always out of a job, and receives the contempt he deserves, unless he has a rich Pa, in which case, Destiny patiently waits around the corner with a stuffed club. To which class do you belong?

[ocr errors]

A Prayer

HE supreme prayer of my heart is not to be learned, rich, famous, powerful,

66

or good," but simply to be radiant.

I desire to radiate health, cheerfulness, calm courage and good will. I wish to live without hate, whim, jealousy, envy, fear. I wish to be simple, honest, frank, natural, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffectedto say "I do not know" if it be so, and to meet all men on an absolute equality—to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unabashed and unafraid. I wish others to live their lives, too-up to their highest, fullest and best. To that end I pray that

I may never meddle, interfere, dictate, give advice that is not wanted, or assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people, I'll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves; and if I can uplift or inspire, let it be by example, inference and suggestion, rather than by injunction and dictation. That is to say. I desire to be Radiant-to Radiate Life.

G

Genius

ENIUS is only the power of making continuous effort. The line between

failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it—so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience, would have achieved success. As the tide goes clear out, so it comes clear in. ¶ In business, sometimes, prospects may seem darkest when really they are on the

turn. A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. There is no failure except in no longer trying. There is no defeat except from within, no really insurmountable barrier save our own inherent weakness of purpose.

How to Succeed

[ocr errors]

HE secret of success is this: There is no secret of success. Carry your chin in and the crown of your head high.

We are gods in the chrysalis. Success is a result of mental attitude, and the right mental attitude will bring success in everything you undertake. In fact there is no such thing as failure, except to those who accept and believe in failure. Failure! There is no such word in all the bright lexicon of speech, unless you yourself have written it there. A great success is made up of an aggregation of little ones. These finally form

a whole. The man who fills a position of honor and trust has first filled many smaller positions of trust.

The man who has the superintendence of ten thousand men has had the charge of many small squads. And before he had charge of a small squad he had charge of himself. The man who does his work so well that he needs no supervision has already succeeded. And the acknowledgment of his success is sure to follow in the form of a promotion.

The world wants its work done, and civilization is simply a search for men who can do things. Success is the most natural thing in the world. The man who does not succeed has placed himself in opposition to the laws of the universe. The world needs you-it wants what you produce you can serve it, and if you will, it will reward you richly. By doing your work you are moving in the line of least resistance-it is a form of self-protection. You need what others have to give -they need you. To reciprocate is wisdom: to rebel is folly. To consume and not produce is a grave mistake, and upon such a one

« PreviousContinue »