A Business Primer
Want to know how to be successful and how to conduct your business? You could do far worse than to listen to P.T. Barnum, who did not say "A sucker is born every minute" although he did say "Behind every crowd is a silver lining". But he made some thoughtful quotes that are excellent guidelines for us all. Here are a few for your enjoyment and edification:
“Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master. “
“Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.”
"Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done."
"Many persons are always kept poor, because they are too visionary. Every project looks to them like certain successes, and therefore they keep changing from one business to another, always in hot water, always 'under the harrow'."
"Engage in one kind of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or until your experience shows that you should abandon it."
"The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him."
"Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business
. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly."
"Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for him by nature, and best suited to his peculiar genius, he cannot succeed."
"If he owned the Museum, and you had paid him for the privilege of visiting it, and he had then insulted you, there might be some reason in your resenting it, but in this instance he is the man who pays, while we receive, and you must, therefore, put up with his bad manners."
"Men who drive sharp bargains with their customers, acting as if they never expected to see them again, will not be mistaken. They will never see them again as customers. People don't like to pay and get kicked also."
“Money is in some respects life's fire: it is a very excellent servant, but a terrible master. “
“Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.”
"Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done."
"Many persons are always kept poor, because they are too visionary. Every project looks to them like certain successes, and therefore they keep changing from one business to another, always in hot water, always 'under the harrow'."
"Engage in one kind of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or until your experience shows that you should abandon it."
"The truth is, the more kind and liberal a man is, the more generous will be the patronage bestowed upon him."
"Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business
. Large stores, gilt signs, flaming advertisements, will all prove unavailing if you or your employees treat your patrons abruptly."
"Unless a man enters upon the vocation intended for him by nature, and best suited to his peculiar genius, he cannot succeed."
"If he owned the Museum, and you had paid him for the privilege of visiting it, and he had then insulted you, there might be some reason in your resenting it, but in this instance he is the man who pays, while we receive, and you must, therefore, put up with his bad manners."
"Men who drive sharp bargains with their customers, acting as if they never expected to see them again, will not be mistaken. They will never see them again as customers. People don't like to pay and get kicked also."