The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-08-02
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
WHY Some succeed and Others
Fail in Business.

Fail IN business.
To ali young men Just about TO embark,
and 10 all older ones already under way, in
business, of whatever kind, the foregoing
question is a very important one, especially
when it is borne IN mind that most men
sooner or later bankrupt and fail in their
business undertakings not merely merchants
and tradesmen, but even farmers, and those
of all occupations. Why so much miscar-
rage and wreck. when all seems so easy and
promising, usually. IN the outset? Is 1t
accident ? is il luck7 Sometimes, perhaps,
but not usually. Cause and effect are proba-
bly as nearly allied in business matters as in
anything else; and when plans fail and
prospects smash, careful enquiry IN the right
direction will usually explain the why and
the wherefore, beyond a doubt.
The first and by far the most common rea-
son of failure among American business
men, among all mankind, Is the disposition
to do too much. We are eternally o%ver-rat-
ing our capabilities, and planning more than
we can accomplish. The farmer buys too big
a farm, the merchant too many goods; the
speculator gets too deeply in debt; and all
promise themselves more than they can per-
form. A year, two years, five years, when
looking ahead, how remote it appears; but
alack, how soon it passes away, especially to
him that owes money, or has made promises
that it plaques him TO perform.
The three hundred and sixty-fve days OF
a year, how quickly they roll around a day,
a week, a month,-the spring, the summer,
the autumn passes, each in rapid succession,
and soon the year is gone, and the promise
that is made upon the future, how hard is it
often found in the performance.
Did we Judge more wisely, and, after due
allowances for mishaps and disappointments,
more or less of which will always come, did
we calculate more closely, and always within
the mark, how different would be the results
of all our undertakings, and how much less
the agonies and strifes to keep the head above
water.
Yes. friend, almost ali our pecuniary ills
arise from miscalculation of our capacity, or
rather over calculation, in our projects and
undertakings. Does any one wish a proof
OF this2 If so let him look about him 1t
will be readily discovered on all hands.
Every community abounds in ample numbers
who have overdone, or are overdOlng-
wrecks that have been cast on shore because
they spread too much sail and plenty of
others always driving the same way, and for
the same cause. Yea, the world is full of
pecuniary misery for this simple reason.
Now and then some one sails through
projects with flying colors, and
their success tempts scores to follow, only to
meet destruction.
Will the mass of mankind, and especially
the young and rising generation, ever learn
prudence from tbs folly OF those who have
gone before them, or must they take their
entire schooling from experience that IS the
all-important question. As the drunkard
always finds enough to encourage him TO
-. III - ,--I,rlH-- - E,,=r~1--
enough parties will always be met with ready
to urge them in too deep, either from folly or
some selfish design. But those who would
be prudent should, when in doubt, always
take the safe, side, and be content to do little
rather than too much
Listen not to the tempter IN the form of
credit, but regard 1t as a poisonous serpent
almost sure TO bite you. When any one
offers to sell you upon credit, what you do
not absolutely need, regard him as a pick
pocket, for so he will usually prove. But,
says the reader, would you not tolerate credit
III any case? Yes, we would reply; but only
In the most urgert cases; If your team is
broken up for the want of a horse or an OK,
and YOU have no means with which to
purchase, rather than fail in seeding, 90 in
debt. But 20 90 in debt, for a fancy horse or
carriage, without known and certain ar
engagements for the pay, would be an almost
objectionable folly, and bespeak a careless
and dangerous business character, and one
that would probably lead to trouble, if not
Bankruptcy, in the end.
Debts when they become chronic and get
fairly upon interest, are stubborn things and
instead of being easily handled under all
times and circumstances, often handle those
that owe them and, alas, how roughly, too,
not unfreouentiv. No man ever expects to
become a bankrupt or a drunkard in the
outset, but BY degrees the evil accumulates,
times turn wrong, and ere the unSuspecting
victim knows, he Is there. The present
times are ample testimony TO this fact, as
many poor souls can bear witness.
In conclusion, then, let those who would
succeed begin carefully, and school down all
idle ambition TO go fast or 10 embark in adj
ventures and speculation; take hold only of
what YOU can manage pay as they 90 keep
cool wait patiently work industriously; be
economical, mot mean,) honest, judicious,
firm to say no when necessary, land II is not
%unfrequent y counsel with their wives, eSpe-
cially if they are more cautious and prudent
mot unfrequently the CASEY than themselves,
teach their children TO be industrious. and 10
earn their dollars before they spend them.
The foregoing rules observed carefully,
and we will warrant all such parties safe from
s~Ieeplcss nights, shipwrecks or serious diSas-
ter. Who among our young men will
practice the recipe2 \ score of years hence
will tell. You can find them without a
lantern, and tel them by their surroundings.
I