Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-11
THE FINE ART OF
SELLING TALENT
High Class Positions Go to Her
Who Hustles to Use Her Gifts
Instead of Waiting For Big Bust
ness to Be Put In Her Lap.

4 PROFESSIONAL woman found
~ it necessary to drop her work
~ temporarily in order to earn
more money. So she decided
to direct her unquestioned talents to
the rich and generous field of business.
After several months of futile search
for work sufficiently profitable she
heard indirectly of a golden opportuni-
ty. 1t was a high class position, so
high class indeed that she felt it could
only come to her in a professional"
way-it had to be offered her. No,
indeed, she knew that she would lose
dignity by applying for it personally.
"Why my DEAR" she exclaimed, al
most Mortified, you always hear of a
post of that sort being offered. No n
could possibly apply for it like you do
for a subordinate position! 1t would
be almost as undignifed as advertis-
ing for patients by circular letter!'
1t was almost impossible to persuade
her that obsolete, professional "ethics"
do not prevail in business-that the
more exalted the job the more neces-
sary is it to make determined efforts
to get it and to present every possible
qualification that will carry weight.
The alert woman must seek the job.
She will find herself resting in fine
idleness if she waits until the job
seeks her.
This rather odd viewpoint is only one
of the handicaps of many highly edu-
Gated women who seek business sue
cess. One often finds the woman of
broad education and intelligence occu-
plying a minor post in business. Her
potential business ability could be de-
veloped readily if she found the right
opportunity. But somehow she doesn't
find it, and it is due simply to one lack
in a great many cases-the lack of
ability in selling her own services.
To have the qualifications that make
a good ~saleswoman or a good secretary
or a good buyer or any other job is
only half the necessary business equip
ment for a m How to sell her
abilities well is equally important. In
fact, the ability to sell ones own serv-
ices is half the equipment for success
anywhere. 1t is conspicuously true
even in the artistic world. Some years
ago a brilliant musical hopeful went to
New York armed with great talent, a
portmanteau full of letters of introduce
ton and a profound conviction that
New York vas his oyster. The ma
jority of the really earnest artists have
this same vulnerable spot-a lack of
business ability, the ability to sell their
W services. They have no knowl-
edge of the staging of their own per-
sonalities and the necessary CONNER
cial side of their work. 1t is just as
true that many mediocre ~artists-per-
formers and instructors-succeeded be-
cause they studied the fine science of
using what they had.
This is not a plea for successful
mediocrity. but it is a plea for a bet
ter study of the science of distribution,
the placing of ones abilities correctly.
where they will be used to the greatest
advantage to all concerned. 1t is not
probable that the business man will
seek out your abilities and immediate
ly recompense you accordingly. 1t is
up to the woman of education or po-
tential ability to seek her best oppor-
tunity painstakingly-to prove her
worth in the specific direction in which
she thinks herself capable and to sell
her services in a businesslike manner
for what they are worth.