The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-29
Work Brings Happiness


In speaking of intelligently applied in
dustry as a valuable asset I have in
mind something more than merely keep
ing busy, but wish to say right here that
there is nothing SO conducive to happiness
as work. The value of work is dependent
upon the results accomplished. man
might work from morning until night roll
ing stone back and forth across lot,
but his work would be absolutely with
out value to himself or to anyone else.
No one in his right mind would think
of doing such a thing, vet there are In
every community men and women who
are doing very similar things, Their
work is not Systematically planned SO as
to produce the maximum results for the
amount of energy expended. Perhaps.
with a mistaken idea of economy, they
are working with antiquated or made
quate tools or machinery, or they may
be directing their energies to the pro-
duction of something for which profit
able markets are not available. The man
who is working for himself. If he is a pro-
ducer. should first of all be satisfied that
he may reasonably expect to find profit
able market for his products and should
then SO plan his operations as to secure
the largest volume of output in proper
tion to the labor and money expended,
bearing in mind that expenditures for i'm
proved machinery or tools or for compe-
tent assistance may be In the direction
of real economy. In the same way ne
who engages in a mercantile business
should study the wants of his customers
on the one hand and sources of supply
on the other and endeavor so as to keep
his capital working to the best advan-
tage.
ITO the young man or woman working
for wages intelligently applied industry
has an especial meaning. 1t is essential
to promotion, and to ultimate indepeno-
ence There are, in every large estab-
llshment, employees who seem to be m
dustrious, but who never get ahead. When
promotions are made they are passed
over in favor of others who are their
juniors in length of service. There are
others who advance rapidly from one
post to another. The one who is passed
over may complain of favoritism, put
generally the trouble is with himself In
telligently directed industry on the part
of an employe consists not simply in do
ing his individual task well enough TO
hold his Job. 1t consists in understand
ing his task in relation to the opera
tions of the establishment as whole,
in loyalty to employers and in ef1ectiVe
team work with other employees. EVERY
bov knows that the most valuable ball
PLAYER is not one who understands only
how his own position should be played
and who plays only for his individual rec
ord regardless of the success of the team,
but that he is one who knows every de-
tail and fine point of the game. and VINO
thinks primarily of winning games and
lets his own record take care of itself.
II is exactly so in business. The valuable
man is he who works for results. He
who is not satisfied with perfunctory
performance of his duties, but whostudies
the business as a whole, mastering the
details of the department he is IN, un-
derstanding it's relations TO other de-
partments and learning what he can or
their operations is the one who Will pe
selected for promotion in any efficiently
managed establishment. and when pro-
NOTED he will make good, for one of the
things he will have studied will be the
duties of the place before him.
Reliability
"The third asset that | have men
ed-reliability-may be said to be
covered by character and intelligent
Iy applied industry, but l think rev
words may be devoted especially TO IL
Prof. John Stuart BlaclSie of the Uni
vcrsity of Edinburg, a most successful
teacher of young men, wrote that the
highest praise that could be given 10
man was that this is a man who
always does what is required of him,
and who always appears al the noun
v hen he Is expected to appear In this
sentence Professor Blackie summed up
the whole subject of reliability. 1t Is
great satisfaction for a man who is
responsible for the work of others to
know that each man under him can
be expected to be in his proper place
and to do his full duty under all cir
cumstances. 1t is also a great asset TO
a young man to have the reputation OF
sobriety punctuality and dependable
ity Compared with such one the man
who is occasionally intoxicated. who
allows triflers to interfere with his
punctuality, or who fails to do his full
outy or more than his duty in an, emer-
gency has small chance of advance
Incnt.
I'm every department of human ac-
tivity the world Is calling for young
rlen and women with the assets OF
character. intelligently applied, indus
try and reliability. The opportunities
for them are manifold and the rewards
are generous