SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 15

SUCCESS IN BUSINESS

NECESSARY FACTORS

ADDRESS BY DR. W. G. FERN

Basic principles to hu followed in seeking success in business were suggested by Dr. \V. G. ITem, tho visiting English business adviser, in an informal talk at yesterday's Rotary Club luncheon. "Success is a personal thing, and we are apt sometimes to leave it to other people, forgetting that the success of the community is the sum total of the successes oJ: the individuals," said Dr. Fern. "The art of success is in getting the other fellow to do it. Organisation is largely a matter of deciding who shall do tho work. The first principle of success is knowing what one wants to succeed at. The next is to take a passionate interest in attaining that goal. Study the man who has succeeded. My experience is that men succeed only by stern endeavour, by developing something that the other fellow, has not. The best lessons in life are learnt from successful men. I have formed the impression so far in New Zealand that many people have tho habit of decrying their leaders. AVc in England think that tho leaders in New Zealand have been as grca'; as those of any other country, and the people of New Zealand should take ;i great pride in those who have made it what it is today, and in those who nre trying to keep it in the forefront. . . ■

"One of the great essentials in organising for success is courage. Now Zealand, it seems to me, is facing very grave and difficult problems, and I think it is your courageous men who will see it through. Many people worry about things that aro not really their business at all. A littlo daring helps amazingly. Even when the Eotary movement began there were those who said it could not be done. That has been the case with every new movement, but history has been made by the men who have done things in face of criticism and opposition, and I suppose history has been written even here in Wellington by someone who said that such-and-such a thing could ljo done. One feels that there is a great faith among New Zealanders in tho future of their country, but we don't hear enough about it overseas. Tho greatest ambassadors you have ever had are the All Blacks, who always believe they are going to win and somehow generally do." Enthusiasm was another essential quality, Dr. Fein continued. Ho was a great believer in Great Britain, which, witft all its burdens, had put its back to tho wall and fought back in a wonderful manner. (Applause.) There was a greater pride in race in Great Britain today than he had ever known. Business people at Home were taking a inoro active interest in efficiency than ever before, but it was efficiency tempered by personal contact between employer and worker. He had found that the successful man was he who could play as hard as he worked. Tho old-fashioned virtue of work was still the greatest factor in success, however. Summed up; success consisted of making life a serioa of stepping-stones towards the goal one had decided upon.