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.