The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-07-19

PILLAR, Is the power Oh DONG ones most ana best
and the first characteristic that up for
sideration is the hear 80 much of these days.
This is the age of efficiency and every line of
deavor has been effected by it. What is Efficiency?
answer 1t is the power of doing ones most aud
best in the shortest time and easiest way the salts
faction of all concerned
Efficiency is the keynote ofthe present day bust
ness world, and no can hope to hold position
of Importance if he qualify pretty closely to
this standard 1t is enough that he should be in
telligent and Industrious All these qualities help,
but only help To keep close TO the front he must
be able to do the work that he has perform about
as we'll if not tre better than anybody else in the
world could do it. The first move toward Efficiency
is to find out how much need it. When mans
grade falls below 80 per cent in college he is
sdered poor student, either very lazy very dull
Yet how many of us are above that average in the
school of life?
we strive to become efficient right
here in this institution You ask how? Simply by
exerting our best efforts in everything we do You
may reply that we are handicapped by our environ
ment. On the contrary it puts us to more severe
test. 1t is not my desire to sermonze but is it not
true that if had been 80 per cent better efficient
in the past would be here to-day. Is it not
fact that if we become efficient in here we will be
the outside? l think am frankly speak
ing when say that the young man who learns the
meaning of this word will not break his parole or
have any desire to get into trouble the future.
We make mistakes because we deficient in the
power 10 see, in the power to do
In business the efficient man is in great demand.
In the past. the man who could do little of every
thing was considered prize handyman, but it
has been proven that the man who knows little
about everything doesn't know much about anything.
What can you do? He will ask. Have you had
an engineering training? Are you good craftsman?
good stenographer? good salesman? Can you
keep books?' Questions like these are the kind that
employers ask. The who do, and can be
depended upon to do SOMEONE important thing
better than most other people do it is the
who is wanted.
In the city of Washington there are a dozen
stenographers who for six months work receive about
$4,000 each for reporting the proceedings of Con.
gress. There hundreds of others in the United
States who much They skilled account
ants who earn much 1926 per day. And yet it
is said that these fields professions
ed. True, [ admit they are over crowded with the
shiftless and careless fellow who performs his work
in any old way This class is paid accordingly while
the efficient is drawing the large salary.
IF you chauffeur desire to become one
learn all you can about the automobile. Most other
fellows will not do this. therefore you have open
field. Don't be ordinary bookkeeper. Learn the
methods. Study business law Learn how to
write good collection letter or dun as we say. In
anything take up in the future, let do that
thing better than anyone else could do it, Let us
not think that we will be handicapped by our past
Alexandra Dumas said, Very often unexpected
grief unmerited misfortune gives to man an
energy and perseverance which he could never find
in happiness. After such trials man often becomes
superior, who would have remained simple and vul-
gar if he had always been happy. One may expect
everything from man of energy to whom misfortune
has given courage and ambition
George Mcdonald says, The rich man has a
monotonous time with his broad expanse of blue sky
The poor deeper into the blue by reason of
the clouds that frame it in for him. When we are
pushed defeated. tormented, we have chance to
learn something.
Therefore say Let us profit by the word of
these great and strive to become more efficient
1t is largely matter of our being willing to trv
That is why Character-what We are and what we
think and look-plays 80 important a part in our
in the business Office of the present day."
n "a
One of the most pathetic sights is to see man
give up the struggle when just in sight of success
Many of these unfortunates would at least attain
something of real value by sticking their tasks
but there is hope whatever for the who gives
up loses heart in his undertakings toward advance
ment To be lazy Indifferent in our transactions
is stepping-stone toward future ruinaton. y