Evening star., 1921-07-02
This IL the second article OF a
series on "MnkinE Good in Busi-
ness,' appearing in The star.
The third will appear next Sat-
urday.


urday.
A few years ago I was employed by
a great magazine publisher to make
a study of Americas leading indus
tries. Tho purpose of this study was
to find those industries in which op-
portunities for success were greatest
This publisher Is one OF the men
who makes" prosperity. He enjoys
taking hold of some particular brand
of product. of which very few have
ever heard. and making all Of US go
sto the market and demand it.
For this publisher I tried to find
some product which had possibilities
of development. but in the producing
or marketing of which no one was
then making good. To my great sur
prise in making the investigation
was unable to find single industry
from eggs to engines. ties to tires,
pins to pianos. butter to buildings. In
which some one, somewhere, was not
making millions of dollars.
Opportunities Equal.
The result of this investigation
showed that the reason why some
people make a success and others fall
is purely matter of difference In
ability. Opportunities exist in every
line Of business. Opportunities are
almost equal over a period of years
in all lines. 1t is true that in the
fall there is a greater demand for
fur coats than for straw hats. 1t is
only a few months. however. before
the straw hat man will be reaping his
harvest while the fur coat mans s
business will then be dull.
At times there is great demand
for men in certain lines of industry.
- cynf 10 .cva
wages. This fact of itself attracts a
great many men to the industry and
thus ultimately overcrowds it. The
industry which today pays the high
est wages may be in few years pay
ing the lowest. and the industry
which today is paving the lowest
wages may be in a few years paying
the highest. The wheel of opportu-
nifty is slowly but continually turning.
The old adage of only three genera
tions from shirt sleeves to shirt
sleeves has not disappeared from our
economic order of things.
Right Where We Are.
There are good opportunities in
every line Of business. there are op-
uortunities in almost every locality.
there are opportunities with every
employer and every profession.
Whether or not one makes the most
of these opportunities depends almost
wholly upon ones self. Our best op-
portunity today Is more than likely
in the industry in which we are
Whom we are working, in the city
where we are working, or in the pro-
fession in which we are engaged.
Success in an industry with an en-
depends upon the Individual more
than on any one of these other fac
tors.
A few years ago there was a lot
of talk about vocational guidance.
but we do not hear so much about
1T today. Like many other things.
1t was overworked. 1t is true that
there are four entirely different
classes of occupation. such as % the
professions, including medicine. law,
ministry and journalism: (2) me-
chanical lines. including engineering,
machinery, manufacturing and build
ing: (6 salesmanship, Including
merchandising. tending store. SELL
ing on the road and advertising;
90 agriculture. including farming.
and various other outdoor pursuits.
But this classification is wholly ade-
quate for an extensive vocational
study, and is sufficient for every
ones purpose.
1t is true that there is a woeful
lack of intelligent vocational guild
ance. 1t is also true. however, that
the very touchstone of any test is
20 be honest with ones self when con-
Sidering. ones adaptabtlity or in
adaptability for any particular po-
sition considered. A. young man
who breads meeting people should
not become a salesman. A man who
breads details should not become a
bookkeeper. A man who is chicken
hearted should not become a doctor
A man who dislikes appearing in
public should not become public
speaker.
Sell Anything, If
IT, however, the man who does like
to meet people and who is eternally
optimistic wants to be a salesman.
It makes very little difference what
he sells so long as it makes the
great mass of. people healthier. hap
pier and more prosperous. The thing
which Is easiest to sell today will
be the hardest to sell a few years
kIInu1urlIrrnIlmf Iiif1ii1l,rfnrfnu