The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-11-26

Copyright
SNAGs.

PROFESSIONS marching road is sell
dom straight. 1t runs along the high
ways and into the byways, over the
valley, the hills, and the mountains.
There is no royal road to success,
no easy way of accomplishment, not
withstanding that Royal Roads" and
Easy Ways" abound in half the spell
binding harangues which irresponsible
writer's and takers hurl upon their
young victims, who, with bated breath,
drink in the words which seem to pro-
claim the doctrine of Something for
Nothing" or Much for Little"
recall an incident: A friend of
mine, well grounded in experience,
started an enterprise under new en-
vironment. His apparent immediate
success was remarkable. The business
paid at the start. He was elated. His
friends congratulated him. His small
capital appeared to be sufficient.
assured. This condition continued
for many months. Then he struck
dead center. Business dropped off.
Profits no longer appeared on the bal
ance sheet. To use the language of
the streets, he was "up against II"
and up against IT. hard. He perse-
vered and won, but for nearly a year
his nose was at the grindstone. He
worked day and night. Every week OBJ
stacles presented themselves which
appeared to be almost insurmountable.
In the end, however, his perseverance,
combined with ability and experience,
conquered, as is usually the case.
Comparatively few men succeed
continuously. Few, very few, bust
ness houses pay continuous profit
Like our highways, the business road
is not constantly smooth, and 1t is
seldom straight. Gold-tipped pros
poets may be leaden underneath, and
the sky is not often clear for more
than few days at time. 1t is sure
to be cloudy, it is sure to rain. The
glorious encouragement of the sun is
not to be wholly depended upon. A
dark day Is coming.
Success depends not only upon cap
ital, experience and ability, but upon
an appreciation of possible, IL not
probable, disaster.
The good trade of today may not be
| duplicated tomorrow.
The best of goods do not sell con-
tinually, and there is little profit
which does not fuctuate.
Even the strongest municipal bond
may be worth more today than 1t will
be tomorrow.
Nothing in business appears to be
standard and sure.
Every road either has a snag in the
middle of it. or there are snags be-
side 1t which the storm will drive into
| the center.
Expect difficulties. Anticipate snags,
even when you appear to sail on the
flood tide of success.
Many a yachtsman has started out
on calm morning and been wrecked
by the afternoon storm, even during
season of good weather.
Reef before the hurricane strikes.
Be ready to meet the wind and storm.
Make haste slowly" See that your
anchor is ready for heaving, that your
lines are strong enough to hold. Be
prepared for wind and wave. If they
don't come you are fortunate. If they
do come your preparation may enable
you to ride them and make a safe
haTbor.
Recognize the fact that there is
such thing as a snag, even when you
do not see it. 1t is there, or may be.
And, if it is there, do not be discour-
aged. Do not sit back and wall in
listless tone, "Just my luck | might
have known it" Tackle that snag
with mighty determination to wrest
it from your path and annihilate it.
Then, when it has ceased to be. march
on to the next obstruction, fortified
by the consciousness of your power
to handle what is to come, as well as
that which has been.