Youth's Educator For Home And Society

CHAPTER XXIII.

A SHORT CHAPTER ON BUSINESS.

THE average American is a business man. In this land, where titles and hereditary estates do not give him the leisure and excuse for idling away his time which so many Europeans have, he is immersed in some business which is his life-work. Even when wealth flows in upon him, he seldom retires from active pursuits, to enjoy the rest which is his right, until failing health warns him that life is perhaps dependent upon his retirement. This is due entirely to the nervous, restless energy of the typical American, who is impelled by his ambition to acquire that wealth and business reputation which give us standing with other nations. Business is here the quintessence of energy, and the highway to honor and fame. So our men go on toiling and adding to their countless millions, and piling them up, for future generations to enjoy.

Business rules cannot be laid down that would be infallible, for each man has a system of his own; but a few rules bearing upon the etiquette due to others in the transacting of his daily affairs, have a fitting place in a book which aims to cover the ground of good forms as applicable to every department of life.

POLITENESS TO STRANGERS.

Politeness is the key to success. An establishment where employers and employes are polite and attentive will command the trade of the best customers. Many employers fondly imagine that if they adopt a brusque, abrupt manner toward a customer, it will be believed that they are doing an immense business, and have no time for idle ceremony. Nothing will injure a business man more than this. We have seen a stranger enter an office where several clerks were employed, and stand abashed, waiting for some one to address him as to his business, until the delay was painful. The proper thing to do was for some one to step forward and inquire his business, and call the person whose place it was to attend to him.

LOSING THE TEMPER.

Never lose your temper in discussing business matters. The moment you do that, you place yourself at a disadvantage. Besides, you get the reputation of being an unpleasant person to deal with,

BUSINESS AND SENTIMENT.

Keep your business strictly to yourself. And do not allow your social habits to intrench upon your hours of business. Deal in a straightforward, upright manner with all. Sentiment is very nice in its place. but it has no place in business; and if you permit yourself to be governed by its dictates, you will do many things which will retard your success. You should use judgment and discretion in all things. Have a plan of action founded on correct business rules, and do not deviate from it.

HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Choose a business for which you have a liking, and which you can understand. Having mastered it, do not change lightly. Some men are in a dozen different lines in half that many years; they never make a success of any one of them. Control or rather plan and regulate the labor of others, A man who has a large force of employes and who deals with them fairly, is always sure of good services, and from their labors will win a competence. Control your own investments, and know exactly their results. Do not trust too implicitly to others.

CALLS IN BUSINESS HOURS.

No one should make a friendly call in business hours. Some unthinking persons will visit a friend who is engaged in some business house. The friend is glad to see you, and there is scarce a firm but is willing that its employes should spare a few moments-occasionally in such a case. But when that call is prolonged into an hour, or even more, and the employe is in mental torture lest his emloyer may reprimand him, the pleasure is much dampened. Such callers are always "afraid they are taking up too much time," and the poor victim, who seldom has backbone enough to tell them frankly that they are, assures them thus: "Oh, no, glad to see you." Those who are not engaged in business cannot comprehend that the time of one who is, does not belong to any one but the employer, who pays for the work accomplished in a given time. Meanwhile, that work is accumulating, and the employe sees the gathering storm, and knows that he must pay the price of a friendly "call" by extra efforts to "catch up" with his daily task. There are occasions where a call is excusable, as for instance if a friend's stay in town is too limited to allow of his calling at the house, or he does not know the home address. But, as a rule, no one should intrude upon the hours devoted to business, or if it cannot be avoided, make your stay so short that your farewell will not be "a consummation most devoutly wished."

PAYING BILLS.

All bills should be paid when presented. If you compel a creditor to call a second or even third time with a bill, your credit will be impaired. Be particular to thank a man when you collect a bill.

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENTS.

When you make an engagement, meet it promptly. Never make an agreement at random. Rut having made one, adhere to it implicitly.

NEVER DECEIVE.

Never misrepresent any business transaction. Do not deceive a customer with reference to the quality of goods. State just what they are. If you once, in your zeal to sell an article, declare it to be what it is not, you forfeit the good-will and confidence of that customer permanently. It is the best plan to say frankly that it is not exactly what the customer wishes, even if you lose a sale by so doing.

POLITE TO ALL.

Use all customers alike. Make no distinction between the one who makes a large purchase and the small buyer. And never make remarks disparaging any one with whom you transact business.

MEET YOUR BILLS.

All bills and drafts must be met promptly. If you find you cannot do so, it is proper to notify your creditor and tell him frankly, stating a time when you can do so. You will usually find he will accommodate you, if you are straightforward in your business methods.

DO NOT PRY.

Never glance over another's accounts or books if you chance to see them open. Do not attempt to learn the business of a rival firm. Have; or at least, suppress all curiosity about anything which does not concern you individually. Never listen when two men are holding a conversation.

REPLY TO LETTERS.

Reply to all letters at once. Delay is unbusinesslike. In asking for information from any one, inclose a stamp for reply. When you call on a man on business, transact it as quickly as you can. Busy people have no time to waste.

PAYING OUT MONEY.

When you pay out money, if it be a large sum, insist upon the person's counting it in your presence. On the other hand, never receive a sum of money without counting it in the presence of the one from whom you receive it.

REPROVING EMPLOYES.

If an employer has occasion to reprove one in his employ, he should do so privately. A kind, forbearing manner will accomplish more than a pompous, churlish tone. A little interest shown in the welfare of employes, will win more valuable service from them.

LADIES CALLING ON BUSINESS.

When a lady calls on business intent, she should state it as explicitly as possible, and leave at once. Some very young girls who are unused to the ways of the world, will call on young men whom they know, at their places of business. This is a very bad practice, and will expose the most innocent to unfavorable remarks.