The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1866-03-31
THE
Commercial Advertiser.
Business Rules.

The reyerses o: the past five years have been an
experience which should be valuable 10 all bust
ness men. Fortunes which had been years ac-
cumulating, have suddenly disappeared. Thou
sands who once thought themselves strong. never
To be broken. have been shivered TO atoms. and
are left pennies. They must now begin again.
Many have passed the prime of life their step
* less elastic. their brain less active, and they
will hereafter work with an abiding conscious
ness that they cannot plan and execute "a in days
gone by. We never see such late new beginners
without real sympathy and IA desire 10 give them
an encouraging word and a helping hand.
But in This writing we have - do, not with
the unfortunate. or those who are recOnstructing
their temporal affairs, but with the young and
the prosperous. and with those who have weather.
cd all storms and are vet sailing smoothly.
Most men when they start in business make
good resolutions. At any rate, they may sue
coed they expect 10 avoid the dangers which
have ruined Others. For awhile all goes on well.
but the day comes at length when they are swept
away, and all their brilliant earthly prospects
are gone forever.
According % an old maxim, it is never too
late to learn. Business men. however. do not
believe this. Every one think that he has per-
fected himself in knowledge. that he needs no
help or advice from any quarter. and that if
others have failed of success that is no reason
why ne should follow in the same track,
When Il man decides to build Il house, he
adopts a plan and adheres to it 10 the end. When
Il navigator attempts Il voyage, he cunsults his
charts, and governs himself by the experience of
others. When one is sick, or his life is endan-
gered by coming in contact with disease, he seeks
advice from a skillful physician. There are Ger
tain rules, forms and precedents which govern
and influence most men in all matters, except the
conduct of Il mercantile business. Here they
mean u be original. They don't want the adj
vice of anybody. just here We want TO speak.
We wish to propose to such men the following
rules-fOr their practical consideration.
|. Do not undertake a business with which
you are not perfectly acquainted, any sooner than
you would attempt, if blind, to survey Il city.
First thoroughly understand what you propose
to do. Serve an apprentceship-do anything
before taking Il single step involving risk.
,. Never attempt Il business tor which you
have no taste or tact. Seek to do that for which
you have Il natural faculty and relish. Don't
aspire to be a merchant, when you should be a
farmer, Il mechanic, or Il duy-labOrcr.
3. Never connect yourself in partnership with
those in whom you have not perfect confidence
with whom you would not be willing, sick or
well, home or abroad, living or dead, to intrust
all your business affairs.
+. Never attempt to do more business that YOU
can safely do on your capital.
). Avoid taking the extraordinary risks of long
credits, no matter what profits are in prospect.
4. Give no credit whatever to any one who
does not possesses a good moral character.
.. Supervise carefully your own business (not
N'uI iltIShboT 81 anu !OOh dlltT your CIcGhS, ana
see that they are faithful in the performance Of
all their duties.
:. Let all those with whom you have dealings
or intercourse understand distinctly that You will
not lend yourself, for the sake of trade, to do any
mean thing-anything which your conscience
Will not approve of.
>. Never lend your name by Endorsement or
otherwise, except under most extraordinary cir
and then let the act be guarded with
every possible security.
10. Never allow yourself or your partners, to
draw Il dollar from the concern to invest in any
. outside operation whatever.
IL. In forming a cOpartnership, insist that n
limited fixed sum only shall be drawn by each
partner for personal expenses.
II. Under no circumstances whatever deal in
stocks. Don't believe any one of the thousand
tales of a fortune in that direction.
They are Il trap and Il lie.
10. Keep all your accumulated profits i'll your
business 50 long as you own Il dollar. When you
have more capital than you can use, then it will
be proper 10 invest it outside.
II. Borrow of banks OF other sources never, if
It can be avoided. If temporary assistance is
needed, seek it from a tried friend, or from Il
sound banking institution, and then return the
on the day fixed, with the most rigid pune
Is. Have an eye ON the condition Of the coun-
Its crops, and the general prospects for bust
ness. and look out sharp for the movements of
who, in nine cases out of ten, care
more for a reelection than for our commercial
interests or our national prosperity.
There are other and most important matters
which should not be orgotten. Keep good COM
amy. Value integrity more than money. Live
within your means. Eschew wines, thcaters and
asst horses. Use no profane language. Never
quarrel with a partner. Be kind, considerable
nd generous TO your clerks, and also to your un-
Ortunate debtors. Cultivate the friendship of
Do your proper share III promoting the
'ubllc veal. BE a man, Il gentleman and a
christian and you will make sure of an inherit
nee in this life and of untold riches in the life
mich is 10 cpmp -EEoDe,HrUt