The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-10-24
METHOD.


Although method in the management o
affairs is sometimes carried to such an ex
IRENE as to be denominated "red tape
and to become the subject of ridicule, {
reasonable degree Of method is necessary
to the orderly conduct of business and il
to be commended. The methodical mar
is much more efficient than one who has M
system for the conduct of his affairs; hi
gets more work done in a given time and il
is better done. The methodical man does
not trust to his memory for engagements
but makes memoranda of everything with
dates. He keeps his accounts accurately
and does not allow the record to get behind
hand AT any moment he can tell just
how he stands, what he owes and what is
owing to him; what accounts are overdue
and what notes or other obligations are to
be met. Without making much labor of il
he keeps such memoranda as will inform
him at glance what his properties or other
investments are producing. He is good
man to do business with, for his habits
make him not only accurate, but just. He
wants all that is coming to him, but he also
wants to pay all that he owes. He does
not through carelessness or neglect allow
bills to run for months and years, but hav-
ing them before him he pays them when
they become due, or if he cannot do that
makes some acknowledgement of them.
The careless man, without the orderly in
stinct, may be "good fellow" in one
sense, for he is generally what is called
"easy going" but he wastes time for him.
self and others. His papers and books are
in disorder. When bills are presented to
him they are not filed away where they
can be found. but get buried under neg
lected correspondence. New bills have to
be made out for his accommodation and by
the time the account has been settled, a
liberal commission has been expended in
the effort of the collector The man who
is not methodical is quite impartial in his
conduct He Injuries himself as we'll as
others. His accounts are badly kept; he
neglects to send out bills; he is not always
accurate in his charges and he annoys
those who owe him money as much as those
who are his creditors. 1t is quite natural
that the general Impressions made by these
contrasted characters upon their business
associates should be widely different. It
is much more agreeable to do business with
methodical man whose accounts are ac-
.curately kept than with one who renders
bills irregularly and is sometimes obliged
to depend upon his memory for the items,
and as consequence the methodical man
extends his connections, while the man
without order or system is tolerated only
by his personal friends, who for other
reasons overlook his faults. Just as the
methodical man keeps himself informed of
the actual results of his undertakings and
investments and is thus qualified to de-
termine what to do with them, the careless
man who keeps no account, has no clear
knowledge of his business and may be
losing money without knowing it. A few
years ago prominent manufacturer who
had grown wealthy through fortunate
enterprise discovered that he had been
robbed by a confidential accountant of
more than half million dollars. The
manufacturer had paid little attention to
the details of his accounts and this enor-
nous drainage had passed unnoticed.
When accident revealed to him the perfidy
of his clerk it was an easy matter to prove
that he had been robbed. Smaller drains
pass unnoticed by the man who neglects to
keep accounts and they sometimes produce
bankruptcy. 1t is we'll therefore to cult
vate an orderly habit and to establish some
method of doing business and keeping ac-
counts. The man who has done so will
find it recommendation to business men
and a help to him personally as we'll as in
his relations with others.