Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-24
Differences Between
Lawyers and
Business Men

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Keep in touch with a. lawyer, but
don't take his advice on business
matters.
A lawyer should be like diction-
ary-a piece Of reference.
Lawyers by the very nature OF their
vocation have much to do with con-
Germs who are in trouble, and WIN
firms who are poorly managed.
Lawyers know law first and ousi-
ness second; the business man knows
business first and law second.
The advice of one successful busi-
ness man is worth the advice OF
twenty-three lawyers ON a matter OF
business.
Use the lawyers TO keep you out OF
trouble. Let him see your contracts
and the papers and agreements per-
tanning to leases sales. purchases.
royalties and all documents which
may from their nature be brought In
to court as evidence. These things
are the ones on which to take the
lawyers advice.
When you are pushed into a corner
and must fight, then get the best
lawyer, for in fight in court, like
a fight in the prize ring, the best
trained and equipped man usually
wins.
1t Is more often the best lawyer
wins than the better side OF the
case.
Legal struggles seldom pay. Law
suits take up time and money, and
the result, even If in your favor, sell
dom Offsets the time money and
worry you have expended.
The good lawyer keeps you from
fighting. Many lawyers, however. are
grafters, and they advise fight, for
they win whether you do or not.
Settle disputes even II you are i'm
posed on. There is little satisfaction
in getting a judgment for one hun
dred and fifty dollars when your
lawyers fees are fifty dollars and
you have expended two hundred dol,
lars worth OF time and worry over
the case.
Ask your lawyers advice on the
legal status of your. operations, and
not on business propositions.
II you are a success in business
that Is an evidence. generally speak
ing, that your Judgment is good.
You can get all the advice you
want for nothing. II you state a
case and lay out a proposed plan,
and then ask your friends advice on
the subject, you can safely count that
nine out of ten will say that your
proposition Is all right as outlined
by you.
These friends figure that you have
given the plan much thought and
study, and it is much simpler fol-
them to coincide with your opinion
than to take an opposite view.
Honestly between ourselves We
must admit that when We seek ad
vice we generally do 1t only for the
purpose OF having our own opinions
confirmed, and, II our friends do moi
agree with us, We say they are pre-
JUDGED.
Lawyers don't see the smooth, sys
tematic, well balanced side of bust
ness, and their knowledge is all mega
tive instead of positive on business
matters.
II you have an important move In
mind, map out the plan carefully. lay
the plan out In detail, be con
sentative in your estimate of pros.
pective profits. and always make
the liberal allowance for cost
over the figures you have pre-
pared, and deduct liberal percent
age from the receipts you anticipate
Be very conservative in matters o.
figures, and then add -some.-
The building you propose to'put W
will cost far more than your architeci
tells you. You know this in ad
vance, and you make an allowance
for extras. but when the bills al
come in you win find that in add
ton to the estimated cost and tn,
extras which you have figured on
there will be something else to pay.
The sales of business you pro
pose to embark In will be less thar
you or your manager figure they will
be- -.'-..s-@.s
Always allow for enthusiasm and
imagination in the matter Of prospec
tive receipts.
When your plans are in shape show
the document, contracts and agree
ments to your lawyer, and get hi!
legal, but not his personal, advice
You must be the doctor Of youi
own business.
Remember, lawyer knows law and
a business man knows business
Dollars and Sense.