The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-03-28
Women in Business.

diouB business lines ana by recognized
methods; also in another discovery-that
unless obliged to do so by her environment
she generally does conduct her business
e"airs in somewhat slipshod manner.
NO permanent success is possible except
according to strict business methods In
large affairs this becomes evident so soon
that either the worker is forced into CON
formity or the business disappears of its
own weight. There is little need to give
hints in such cases. Either they are super.
fluous or they are useless.
But the possibility of self support along
new lines has suggested large number of
new occupations to young women who are
establishing themselves everywhere in
small enterprises. The eventual success
OF these enterprises depends very largely
upon the spirit and method with which
they are entered into, And to these ener-
getic and enterprising young woman few
hints may be valuable.
1t should never be forgotten that "busi-
ness" and philanthropy" are two differ
ent things. Both buyer and seller fire.
quently confound the two. 1t may be ques-
toned whether half the failures in bust
ness ventures by young women do not
arise from this simple fact
And in like manner the woman who
goes into business exchanges the privilege
OF special courtesy to her sex for independ-
ence and business reciprocity. Here again
mistake is too frequently made.
A business woman must not consider
the weather nor a headache.
Her family can no longer take o para
mount place with her.
She cannot afford to be pleasant only
when she feels well and glum or unaccom-
modating when she has had bad news.
The public is merciless and cares nothing
for her, body or soul.
IL she needs a cashier or clerk it is not
enough for her that she has an idle broth
er or that her mother might take the place.
The first question for her consideration is
the efficiency of those relatives for the va
cant position.
1t seems impossible to pluck out of the
mind OF woman the idea that her per-
sonal maintenances ought to be taken into
account in settling her business affairs.
And, curiously enough, this idea has cor
rupted the business mind of the other sex.
1t is by no means unknown for man to
go paying interest to his female client
whose funds have disappeared in bad in
vestments, or, on the other hand, to expect
considerable financial charity from her as
to the principal of such investments.
Neither of these expectations would sur
vive moment between two men.
Probably the very first lesson for the
would be business woman to learn is that
she should expect no consideration what
ever on account of her sex or her personal
circumstances and should give none The
exact hll1ng OF contracts and the exact re-
quirement of dues are the foundation of all
good business.
Likewise it should be one of her early
lessons that the exact filing of contracts
refers both to time and quality.
perhaps the most common of all faults
In women who engage in small enterprises
is the feeling that if they cannot do the
work now or furnish the goods today next
week will do just as we'll. And if called
to account for these delays they consider
the customers most unreasonable.
Another curious popularity in the bust
ness relations of women, resulting directly
from her too often inexact habit Of mind,
is her treatment of errors. In the view of
many new business women any mistake
made in the goods, in orders procured, in
work done, must come out of the customer.
Now, II customer gives definite, plain
order, and the dealer does not fill that Or
der, 1t is the fault of the dealer and should
be borne by her. This fault is by no means
confined to women, it is true, but it is
specially prevalent among them. The or
der should be exact and definite-in writ
ing II need be-but once given it is the
dealers place to fill it,
In all the various lines of small enter
prises upon which women are now enter
ing and some of which they are inventing
much depends upon the way the young
business woman meets the would be Gus
toner.
A cardinal principle should be to do any
thing that any one desires. Some way
must be found to do even the impossible.
Let no possible customer disappear be-
sause you could not find some way to
meet his or her wishes Send for the goods
wanted, or even go to the city after them,
II 1t be only dollars worth. Take the
strange job if 1t have even the most remote
connection with your enterprise and do it,
though you must privately sublet it. But
let the customer always find you ready
and always sure to do what is wanted.
This insures his temperance. But if you
cannot meet his wishes the first time, he
VIII find some other person CT place where
they can be met, and that is fatal dis
covery.
BE ready in expedent. There is no bust
ness, even the largest and most system
attic, that is not always running against
a wall of some kind, and the ability to
quickly and sometimes Immediately find
a new way out is the question of success
or failure.
III you cannot do a thing one way, do it
another. If the conditions will not allow
OF the end desired, change the conditions.
ana that on the spot. She who hesitates
Is lost in these days Yet look before you
leap: A woman's natural impulses must
not be trusted too far, Readiness in ex-
Pedlent" is not only readiness, but readi-
ness In expedient. To think quickly and
closely, to determine that some difficult
requirement shall be met and to see along
what lines, If not all the details, and to
conhne these two lines of thought at the
is to secure success in any line of
L. Da,oes, in Washington
VeDs.