The Greeley tribune., 1912-11-07
COURTESY IN BUSINESS
(By Ebert Hubbard)

We are ruled by our habits.
First, we form our habits, and
then our habits form US.
We are what we are on account
Of what We have thought, said or
done. After having done a thing
once, there is tendency in the
brain to do it again. If continued,
We get the habit; that is, we do the
thing without thinking. just as q
matter of course. Thus does habit
become second nature.
What kind of people will We be
in Elysium?" they asked Socrates
four hundred years before Christ.
And his answer was, You will be
the same kind of people you are to-
day, because this life is a prepara-
ton for the next, just as today is a
preparation for tomorrow"
Any man with the crouch habit.
'piker". habit, the frown habit.
the cigarette habit, the dope habit,
the booze habit, is on the creased
chute. and he himself is swabbing
the slide. Also, there is a sort of
general disposition on the part of
Q. cry body to give him push down
the road to Davy Jones' locker.
In the heart Of all of us is the
tendency to pass back everything
that Is handed US.
II man smiles, waves his hand
at you as you walk down the street
N the morning. you wave your hand
back and smile in return uncon-
sciously. and often one little expe-
rience like this will key TOR you the
day joyously.
Courtesy, kindness. goodwill,
generosity, liberality, are all catch
ing.
Nothing is SO contagious as
smile. Try it on the first man you
see.
The advantage and benefit OF
telephone courtesy are beyond COM
putation.
But the use of the telephone re-
quires a certain amount or patience.
You must have faith that the man
at the other end of the line has
something to tell you that is worth
saying.
In the big central telephone Of
fees operators are selected with
especial care as to their voices. A
girl may have brains all right, but
screeches or purrs, to that degree
yhone operator or as q saleswoman.
Anyone who uses the telephone,
be he operator or patron, arfsto-
.crat or plebeian, should practice
telephone courtesy. He should
speak neither too loud nor too low,
but should endeavor to put q smile
;,,to 10 onh H0nhf
accusation.
Many people. on taking down
the receiver. will shout, who's
will say. who are you. anyway"
This is followed up with what do
you want?" All Of which is quite
discourteous, absurd and inoppor-
tune.
Anyone taking down the receiver
should announce who he is. II you
were a salesman, on entering an Of
flee you would not shout at the first
man you met, who 10 this!" or
who are your"
When you call on . person you
have never before met. you certain ]
ly do not demand that he should re-
veal his identity until you have first I
revealed yours.
On taking down the receiver.
either to answer Q call or to put
one in. when you get your party.
say. "This 10 Mr.. Brown who u :
speaking" Just assume a pleasant
attitude OF mind. and your voice
will follow.
have noticed that train men on
certain railroads for the most part
have pleasant voices. They call the
stations in a way 10 they are under
stood, and they do not appear to be
bawling bad names at their enemies.
They are the voices Of mon who are
we'll nourished. who get eight hours
sleep. who think we'll OF themsei-
Yea who are proud Of their jobs
ana proud Of the road for which
they work. Il
Thus ars they placed on good
+..m. With their COLLEAGUES and