The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-13
BUILDING A CAREER.
The Only Sure Way by which On
May Become Somebody


The Only Sure Way by Which One
May Become Somebody.
While it Is true that distinction ID
sometimes thrust upon one, the surest
way to attain either fame or fortune
Is to work for it. There are men who
have found easier routes, but as they
are exceptions to the rule, their ex-
periences are not safe guides for the
average man to follow. To be on the
safe side he should make up his mind
that he will be compelled to work for
everything he is to have. Moreover, he
must be inspired with the determine
ton to work for it properly.
To accomplish this feat two or three
things are necessary. OF these the
most important point is that he must
be willing to begin at the bottom. To
do anything well 1t is necessary that
one should know how to do 1t. In this
respect at least the learning of a trade
is like mastering the art of house build
ing. To construct a house properly
one cannot begin at the roof or even at
y.
point that must be considered Is the
laying of the foundation, and upon the
nature of this foundation depends the
character of the structure that is
placed upon it.
To master an art, a trade or a bust
ness, therefore, the pupil must put him
self in thoroughly receptive condi-
ton. He must be ignorant, just as a
child is Ignorant, for he has yet to mas
ter the A B C's Of his profession. In
other words, before he can hope to be
somebody he must be willing to be an
absolute nobody, a seeker after infor-
nation at the bottom of the ladder.
Afterward his ascent of the ladder
depends largely upon his own efforts.
If he is quick at the labor Of mastering
details the period of his nonentity will
be correspondingly brief, for it Is in
mans capacity to absorb such details
that his right to progress asserts itself.
The success of a structure is largely
due to the attention which is given to
details which in themselves may seem
unimpOrtant. Mans success In life
just as largely depends upon his ap-
probation of the little details upon
which even the largest venture Is de-
pendent
AS one climbs, of course the horizon
widens to view and opportunities pre-
sent themselves that are undreamed Of
so long as one remains on the lower
rungs Of the ladder. To comprehend
their possibilities, however, one must
be capable of approaching such per-
spective. In this respect experience is
just as important a factor as genius.
Genius is the intuitive ability to grasp
a possibility, but experience is neces-
sary to that condition Of perfect ap-
probation without which any great
achievement Is impossible. To the per-
feet completion of any great attain
ment, therefore, the words of one and
two syllables which one learns at the
bottom Of the ladder are just as I'm
portant looked at from a comparative
point of view, as are the intricate dis
tinctions between harmony and discord
which one cannot comprehend until he
has climbed to one Of the higher rungs
The foundation stones may be Of
rougher material and Of less artistic
conception than the gargoyles that
beautify the top Of the structure, but If
the rough hewn foundations are not
laid securely even the most artistic Of
gargoyles will not save the building
from the disaster that is inevitable.
1t is the same way with a mans ca
reer. If he is willing to begin at the
bottom, where, as a mere nobody, he
may take his first lesson In the art Of
climbing, there is nothing, unless it be
his own lack Of industry, that need
prevent him from finally attaining a
position where he will be very much a
somebody.-Graham Hood in New
York Globe