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BUSINESS MEN, in business hours, attend ONLY to business matters. SOCIAL CALLS are best adapted to the social circle. Make your business known in FEW WORDS, without loss of time. Let your dealings with a stranger be MOST CAREFULLY considered, and TRIED FRIENDSHIP duly appreciated. A MEAN ACT will soon recoil, and a MAN OF HONOR WILL BE ESTEEMED. Leave "TRICKS OF THE TRADE" to those whose education was never completed. Treat ALL with respect, CONFIDE IN FEW, WRONG NO MAN. Be never afraid to say NO, and ALWAYS PROMPT to acknowledge and rectify a wrong. Leave nothing for tomorrow that should be done today. Because a friend is polite, do not think his TIME is valueless. Have a PLACE for everything, and EVERYTHING in it's place. To preserve LONG friendship, keep A SHORT CREDIT, the way to GET CREDIT is to be punctual, the way to PRESERVE IT is not to use it much. SETTLE OPTEN; have short accounts. Trust no mans APPEARANCES, they are often deceptive, and assumed for the purpose of obtaining credit. Rogues generally dress well. The rich are generally PLAIN MEN. Be WELL SATISFIED before you give credit. That those to WHOM YOU GIVE IT ARE SAFE MEN to be trusted.
The sacred regard to the principles of justice forms the basis for every transaction, and regulates the conduct of the upright man in business. 1. He is strict in keeping his engagements. 2. Does nothing carelessly or in a hurry. 3. Employs nobody to do what he can easily do himself. 4. Leaves nothing undone that ought to be done, and which circumstances permit him to do. 5. Keeps his designs and business from the view of others, yet he is candid with all. 6. Is prompt and decisive with his customers, and does not over trade his capital. 7. Prefers short credit to long ones; and cash to credit at all times, either in buying or selling; and small profits in credit cases with little risk, to the chance of better gains with more hazards. 8. He is clear and explicit in his bargains. 9. Leaves nothing of consequence to memory which he can and ought to commit to writing. 10. Keeps copies of all his important letters which he sends away, and has every letter, invoice, &c., belonging to his business, titled, classed and put away. 11. Never suffers his desk to be confused by many paper lying on it. 12. Keeps everything in its proper place. 13. Is always at the head of his business, well knowing that if he leaves it, it will leave him. 14. Holds it at maxim, that he whose credit is suspected is not to be trusted. 15. Is constantly examining his books, and sees through all of his affairs as far as care and attention will enable him. 16. Balances regularly at stated times, and then makes out and transmits all his accounts current to his customers, both at home and abroad. 17. Avoids as much as possible all sorts of accommodation in money matters and law-suits where there is the least hazard. 18. He is economical in his expenditure, always living within his income. 19. Keeps his memorandum book in his pocket, in which he notes every particular relative to appointments, addresses, and generous when urged by motives of humanity. Let every man act strictly to these habits; when once begun will be easy to continue in, ever remembering that he had no profits by his pains whom Providence does not prosper, and success will attend his efforts. Let him also remember that the true achievements of life do not consist in making startling strikes, but in solid performance of daily duty.
Safe Business Rules
Habits of a Man In Business
(THIS IS FROM A QUOTE IN 1888)
