Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1855-11-15
P. Z. Barnum's Rules for Success in
RuSinesS


few rules that | am convinced, from ex-
perience and observation, must be observ-
ed IN order to insure success in business.
list. Select tie KIND Of business Mat suits
your natural inclinations and temperament
Some men are naturally mechanics others
have strong aversion to anything like
machinery, and SO on; one man has Il natu
raj taste for one occupation, and another
for another. e am glad that we do not
I'll feel and think alike" said Dick Home
spun, "for if we did, everybody would
think my gal Sukey Snipes, the sweetest
creature in all creation, and they would all
be trying to court her at once
| never could succeed us merchant
have tried it unsuccessfully several times.
| never could be content with fixed salary,
for mine is purely speculative disposition,
while others are just the reverse; and
therefore all should be careful to select those
occupations that suits them best.
81. Let your pledged ,rord ecer be sacred.
Never promise to do thing without
performing 1t with the most rigid prompt
ness. Nothing is more valuable to man
III business than the name of always doing
rs he agrees, and that to the moment A
strict adherence to this rule, gives man
the command of half the spare funds with
in the range of his acquaintance, and al
ways encircles him with host of friends
who may be depended upon in almost any
conceivable emergency.
Sd. Hhoterer you do, do miH all go,ty
s;iight.-Work at it if necessary. esnv and
fa:c, IN SCISSOR and out of season. not leay-
ing stone unturned, and never 19eferrino
for single hour that which can be done
5ust as we'll nor The old proverb is full
Of truth and meaning. whatever is
worth doing at all is worth doing we'll"
Many man acquires s fortune ov doinq
his business horoug6'y, while his neigh
Dor remains poor fcr life, because he only
haG does his BUSINESS. Ambition, energy,
IN ius'ry, perseverance, are indispensa bic
requisites fdf success in business.
4th. 'Setsiety. Use no description of
intoricatasg dri:,ks-As no man can sue
'ceed't' business unless he has brain to
enable him to lay his plans, and reason to
gstde him in their execution, so. no matter
now beautifully a man may be blessed with
intelligence, if his brain is mudded, and
hisjudgment wrapped in intoxicating drinks
i. IS impossible for him to carry on bust
ness successfully. How many good OPP
portunities have passed never to return,
while man was slipping ''social glass"
with his friend How many foolish bar
gains have been made under the influence
of the nerrino, which temporarily makes
it victim 50 rirht How many important
chances have been put off until tomorrow,
and thence forever, because the wine-cup
has thrown the system into State of lassi-
tude, neutralizing the energies 50 essential
To success in business. The use of intoxi-
cation as is the smoking of opium by the
Chinese, and the former is quite as des-
tructive to the success of the business man
as the latter
5.h. Let hope preiominote, int he nat too
risioaary.-Many persons are always kept
poor, because they are too risionory Every
project looks to them like certain success,
and therefore they keep changing from one
Business to another, always in hot water,
always under the harrow The plan of
counting the chickens before they are hatch
cd" Is an error Of ancient date, but it does
not seem to improve by age.
6th. DO not sconer your po~ers.-En-
gage in one kind of business only, and
stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or
until YOU conclude to abandon it. A CON
slant hammering on one nail, will gener-
ally drive it home at last, SO that it can be
clinched. When mans undivided atten-
ton is centered on one object, his mind
will constantly be suggesting improvements
of value, which would escape him if his
brain were occupied by dozen different
subjects at once. Many fortune has slip
ped through mems fingers by engaging in
too many occupations at once.
9Th. Engoge proper employees
employ man of bad habits, when one
whose habits are good can be found to fill
his situation. | have generally been ex-
trcmely fortunate in having faithful and
competent persons to fill the responsible
situations in my business, and a man can
scarcely be too grateful for such bless
ing When you find man unfit to fill his
station, either from incapacity or PECULIAR
ty of character or disposition, dispense with
his services, and do not drag out a miser
able existence in the vain attempt to chang,
his nature. 1t is utterly impossible to dc
So ssYoI cannot make a silk nurse - dy..