Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-02
IN A BUSINESS WAY.
A Few Hints That May Help People
Turning Over New Leaves.
THE VALUE OF SMALL THINGS
Considered With Reference to Results in
WOOing Pickle Fortune.
PATIENCE AN ELEMENT OF SUCCESS

In laying plans for the new year, which was
ushered in with much ceremony yesterday,
it should not be overlooked by anyone, no
matter what his avocation may be, whether
banker or merchant, mechanic or appren.
tice, that in every line of business. no matter
whether conducted on alarge or small scale,
it is the little things that count.
The little expenses, the little wastes, the
little economies, are the ones that turn the
balance of accounts, either for profit or loss,
and it is these little things that need the
closest attention. The larger, more i'm
portant details of every business are care
fully looked after. there is very little chance
for neglect, carelessness or oversight. The
workman who spoils costly piece of ma
chinery, or causes loss of any considerable
account, is held responsible, and is gen.
orally very careful in this respect, but in
little things he is not as prompt in exercis-
ing care and economy, and these little
things are looked upon as OF noconsequence,
and as having no real value.
A gentleman who, beginning upon barely
nothing, succeeded in building MP large
and profitable business, and retiring with
considerable fortune, when asked not long
ago how he managed, what was the secret of
his success, replied: 'By saving what other
people wasted, looking after the little things,
and seeing that not thing was thrown away
or cast aside as too small or Insignificant to
be of any value A few cents here and few
there make up quite q sum in the course OF
year, and it was by paying careful atten-
tion to the little details, by looking after the
cents, that have made my dollars"
A GOOD ILLUSTRATION.
A young man applying to the late Stephen
Girard for q situation saw pin on the floor.
He picked it up and put it away. The act
was noticed by Mr.. Girard. who, rightly
thinking that man so careful in small
things would be equally careful in large
ones, employed the young man, who soon
rose to affluence.
There is great deal more in this than
most people would be willing to admit.
They are in too much Of a hurry to make
dollars to look out for the cents.
A poor or incompetent and disinterested
workman is not only poor man to employ
because he is incompetent, but because he is
wastetul and careless about small things.
Take some of our very large manufactures,
where hundreds of employees are engaged,
and unless the most watchful care is exer-
cised, the amount of waste that is lost would
go far toward paying running expenses.
In these times of close competition, when
it becomes an absolute necessity that every
possible item be carefully turned to account,
the exercise of economy in small things is
being more rigidlv cultivated. Profits at
best are only small, and these are made con-
siderably less by the wastefulness of careless
and unthOughtful men.
Nor is it alone in the factory or workshop
where the necessity of looking after these
little things makes itself apparent. The
workingman of to-day, with his wages
scarcely sufficient to provide for the home
urgent need to practice
ECONOMY IN SMALL THINGS,
and it is surprising to note what an amount
of waste is made by those who have the most
need to practice economy. A few cents here
and few there seem mere trihes, and are
not regarded as of any particular conse-
quence, or as having any material relation |
to the annual expenses, but If careful ac- |
count we're kept for single year, the result |
would be astonishing, and Just here is |
where the difference lies between individuals |
and corporations. The latter have learned |
by a comparison of the strict accounts. |
which are an absolute necessity with them,
the lesson of economy In small things.
Everything is put down and can be |
looked over and studied, and its effect upon |
the total noted, and this is a lesson which |
should be learned by individuals and work |
ingmen especially. By them, as rule, no
account of daily expenses, or even any ex-
pense, is kept They receive their money /
and it is spent. At the end of the wear not |
fal1 hio
has gone, or for what purpose, whether he |
has made profit from the time and labor |
expended or not; and for this reason, as
well as that he may see where and how he
may economize and save something, even if
only small amount, the workman should
keep a strict and careful account Of daily
expenditures and receipts.
Such a course would not only result ben
efcially to him personally, but would make
him more careful, paiDstaking and valua-
bic employe. Carelessness at home, or of
ones personal interests, breeds carelessness
of others interests and there is nothing
which an employer notices more quickly,
and is more willing and ready to appreciate
and reward, than display of care and in
terest in the little details by a workman.
1t cannot be expected that man who is
careless OF his own welfare and interests
will exercise any more than he is obliged 10
do under the watchful eye of the foreman or
or care for those of his employer
THE VALUE OF PATIENCE.
It is, then, all-important that every indi-
vidual exercise this watchfulness of the
small things in business and in private life.
Tn employer must guard himself against
loss by the carelessness and wastelulness of
his employees. The employe should be
vigilant in watching his own per-
sonal interests, and all should remember
that it is the little things that count.
Patience is another element of success in
business of whatever kind. The frettul,
man may succeed, but the
chances are against him. The same remarks
apply to mechanics and apprentices. Moth
ing should be CLOSED over to save little
lime. Anything worth doing at all is worth
loing we'll. Good work is a recommends
ion to the man who does it. Patience has
made many man rich.
By following these rules, or rather princi-
1les, success will be easier and life made
more pleasant; for carelessness is the cause
VI a great many of the difficulties which
oeset the path of the ordinary man; while
mpatience hinders the accomplishment of
eSults which wnuId he 90 alutarv and haIpful |