Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-01-23
Successful Business Methods.

Andrew Carnegie, the great steel
manufacturer of Pittsburgh, who
came to this country poor boy, and
who has amassed an immense fortune,
recently addressed the students of a
Pittsburgh college on the best meth
dds of achieving success in business.
The following are bis closing remarks,
which are full of wisdom:
so not hesitate to engage in any
legitimate business, for there is no
business in America, / do not care
what, which will not yield fair pro-
fit il it receives the unremitting and
exclusive attention and all the CAPT
tai of capable and industrious men.
Every business will have its season
of depression-years like the present,
during which the manufacturers and
merchants are sorely tried-years
when mills must be run, not for pro-
fit, but at loss, that the organiza-
sion and mon may be kept together
and employed, and that the concern
may keep its products in the market.
But, on the other hand, every legiti-
mate business producing or dealing
in any article which man requires is
bound in time to be fairly profitable,
if properly conducted
"And here is the prime condition
of success, the great secret: concen-
trate your energy, thought, and CAPT
tai exclusively upon the business in
which you are engaged. Having be-
gun in one line resolve to fight it out
on that line, to lead in it; adopt eve
ry improvement, have the best machi-
merry: and know the most about it.
"The concerns which fail are those
which have scattered their capital,
which means that they have scattered
their brains also. They have invest
ments n this or that or the other
here, there and everywhere. Don't
put all your eggs in one basket" is
all wrong. tell you, put your eggs
in one basket, and then watch that
basket. Look round you and take
notice men who do that do not of
ten fail 1t is easy to watch and carry
the one basket, 1t is carrying too
many baskets that breaks so many
eggs In this country. He who car
ries three baskets must put one on
his head, which is apt to tumble and
trip him. One fault of the American
business man is lack of concentration.
$40 summarize what l have said:
Aim for the highest; never enter
bar-room do not touch liquor; or, if
at all, only atmeals never speculate;
never indorse beyond your surplus
cash fund; make the firms interest
yours break orders always to save
owners; concentrate; put all your
eggs in one basket, and watch that
basket; keep expenditure always
within revenue; lastly, DO not be i'm
patient, for, as Emerson says, no one
can cheat you out of ultimate success
but yourselves"
i congratulate you upon being
born to that ancient and honorable
degree Of poverty which renders it
necessary that you should devote
yourselves to hard work. | trust
that few, if any of you, have the mis-
fortune to be rich mems sons for,
believe me, such are heavily weighted
in the race. A basketful of bonds is
the heaviest basket a young man ev-
er had to carry. He generally gets
staggering under it. We have in
this city creditabie instances of such
young men who have pressed to the
front ranks of our best and most use
full citizens. These deserve great
credit, much greater credit than will
be yours when you occupy similar
positions. But the vast majority of
the sons of rich men are unable to
resist the temptations to which
wealth subjects them, and sink to I'M
worthy lives. | would almost as
soon leave young man curse as
burden him with the almighty dollar.
1t is not from this class you have ri
valry to fear. The partners sons
will not trouble you much but look
out that some boys poorer, much
poorer than yourselves, whose par
ents cannot afford to give them the
advantages of a course in this insti-
tute, advantages which should give
you a decided lead in the race, look
out that such boys do not challenge
you at the post and pass you at the
grand stand. Look out for the boy
that has to plunge into work direct
from the common school, and who
begins by sweeping out the office,
BE is the probable dark horse that
you had better watch.