Letters of a self-made failure . iocre or downrightdummies, only we dont know it. Imsetting a premium on self-analysis. A really great man is never fettered35 A SELF-MADE FAILURE by circumstances. You cant keepgenius handcuffed, and if youre madeof the stuff that produces Lincolns orEdisons or Carnegies, your success willnot be hampered by anything I can say;youll succeed in spite of it. No man who is cut out for a boss everworks long for someone else—not if hesreally it. The fact, however, that thereare so many more clerks than bossesproves how shy of executive ability mostpeople are. What Im
Letters of a self-made failure . iocre or downrightdummies, only we dont know it. Imsetting a premium on self-analysis. A really great man is never fettered35 A SELF-MADE FAILURE by circumstances. You cant keepgenius handcuffed, and if youre madeof the stuff that produces Lincolns orEdisons or Carnegies, your success willnot be hampered by anything I can say;youll succeed in spite of it. No man who is cut out for a boss everworks long for someone else—not if hesreally it. The fact, however, that thereare so many more clerks than bossesproves how shy of executive ability mostpeople are. What Im trying to do is make youfind out your own limitations withoutbuying the knowledge at the top price. I want you to succeed, to advance, tobetter your position, and nothing thatI have written you is opposed to thatend; but if you cant size up yourselfany better than you have measured me,youre a bad judge of human nature,and a correct judgment of men is oneof the great essentials to success. The trouble with most of us is that36. •a bo B O <2 s s o A SELF-MADE FAILURE we are not on the level with we could get into some dark cornerand have a confidential look at the innerman and see ourselves, not as others seeus—for that might be a prejudiced view—but as we really are—a lot of us wouldlay aside the hammer and take up thespade. If all of this is putting a premium onmediocrity, then truth is nothing andthe cheerful liar is a philanthropist. I want you to be ambitious, old man,but that word covers a multitude ofsins. Be as ambitious as you like, butremain within the limits of your talentand capabilities. Most businesses today are duplicatedto such an extent that trade has becomelargely a competition of brains. Ideasand ingenuity count for more than mer-chandise ; so if you possess the rare crea-tive faculty, you can employ your geniusmore profitably and to better advantageby giving your house the benefit of it39 LETTERS OF than in attempting at your age to
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