Monday, March 29, 2010

FOAM SIPPERS

The Deseret News - Jul 24, 1914

FOAM SIPPERS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

It is written somewhere that "Man cannot live by Bread alone." But this didn't mean that he should fill out the remaining portion of his eatable lot with cake and cream puffs. And yet there are scores of people—you come in contact with them daily—who chuckle that you know how to earn and make the Bread and at the same time can come to you for a handout of the side dishes.

As long as this strange, funny old world lasts, there will be those who will want to do nothung more strenuous than Sipping the Foam from the labor of other people.

There is another class of people who can't SEE anything but the Foam and Decorations to the serious things of life. This little talk is not so much for such as they. This talk is for you and me.

Service has its effervescence. It's the sweetness and ease that always follows great effort, but enjoyed mostly by those who have had no part in the service. There is compensation for every good thing performed, but it comes in appreciation and happiness from the worthy. You like to feel that when you do a helpful thing someone is benefited thereby whose very Soul could smile.

The Foam Sippers get to the nerves of us all. That is why you and I should take care that we Sip no Foam from the toil and sacrifice of others, without ourselves being parties to the early hard work. Let us all jump in and have a real part in the making of the Cake with the "Frosting" and Foam. Let us have none of the superficial Foam, however, that a great world of people is constantly "dishing out."


Multiplying Your Power

The Deseret News - Jul 15, 1914


Multiplying Your Power
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS



The trouble with most of us is that too many times we choose for association the Street Corner, rather than the Assembly Room or the Quiet corner in the home of our friend, or the Strong Man in the great crowd. For most men follow the crowd because they have no idea how to lead it.

But if you want to Multiply Your Power, find out—learn what the crowd likes and wants. And just the moment you strike a responsive note the cheers will start, for animation and attention are riveted. Enthusiasm is rampant.

There is nothing like Enthusiasm to Multiply Your Power.

And Enthusiasm comes along the moment you become interesting enough to arouse interest. Interest gone, you go—back to the commonplace. Your power has shriveled up and you are taking orders instead of giving them. So, delight in Enthusiasms. Also, search for diversions. Play toward the unusual and unexpected. For every time you do, you Multiply Your Power, and increase your efficiency.

Excel in at least one thing. Be a Master in at least one Art.

Stay not too long at one job unless that job leads you on. The tyranny of mediocrity will starve the noblest meaning man and make his attempts as but mere hand wavings in the air. "New occasions teach new duties," so also do new ideas and new discoveries and now surroundings pull at the sleeping sources of more Power in any able human and make his abilities and achievement to multiply and grow big and sound.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

REMEMBER

The Gazette Times - Jun 4, 1914

REMEMBER
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


The human Soul rises in grandeur the minute it thinks in holy Remembrance of those who have rendered great service and gone their way. This is a month when the American Nation turns its thoughts to those whose lives were spent in its behalf over a half a century ago. And whether the brave wore the suit of Blue or of Gray, the love and honor that will be wrapped about their memory will be pure and great.

For the very highest achievement that any man is able to render is that of unselfish Service. The very least you can do for such immortal spirits is to Remember them. And to them honor.

That man will never grow useless who is so constructed that he can Remember the deeds and sacrifices of those who paved the road over which he now securely walks. Life, after all, is but one great big job at which all human beings work. And the more nobly you Remember what the Fighters and Ideal fashioners did before you, the more certain you are worthy add to what they left. Then some day people will want to Remember YOU.

Out of each day Remember the best thing that the day reveals.

Remember. Accumulate appreciation wealth. Wax strong over the strength of those who have made History bright enough for you to read and to glory over. Remember kindnesses. Remember those less fortunate than yourself. Remember you were not always what you are now. And Remember that you are not one-half as great as it is possible for you to be.

Vantage Points

The Deseret News - Apr 6, 1914


Vantage Points
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


We mould our own characters and fashion our thinking powers and come to our viewpoints through a habit of searching out Vantage Points and building from what we see and learn there.

Do you daily seek out Vantage Points? If you don't, blame no one but yourself for commonplace viewpoints and humdrum feeling and action.

Men climb because they have vision. Vision spreads, it moves farthest from great Vantage Points. But you don't have to be learned or famous or wealthy to search out and take possession of Vantage Points. No matter who you are, you can find them and grow from their inspiration.

Linconln's greater Vantage Point was his poverty and close association with hardship and the simple things. Yours? Think for a minute. And when you come to set them down in your mind review them from day to day as great assets sure to lead you on and up.


Monday, March 22, 2010

FAULT FINDERS

The Deseret News - Oct 13, 1913


FAULT FINDERS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


About the most useless occupation in the world is Fault Finding. Who ever heard of a Happy Fault Finder? If you Find Fault with Conditions that is not going to change the conditions; if you, Find Fault with the kind of Weather God Almighty presents, that is not going to change the Weather; if you Find Fault with your Job; that is not going to select and place before you a different job.

The only time Fault Finding is justifiable is when you Find Fault with your own Faults so as to self correct them.

The chronic Fault Finder is not only valueless but a nuisance. No one wants him around and everyone is depressed by his presence. He is usually and Idler. He is a polite sort of a Criminal, though allowed "at large." Fault Finding always comes from within the one who Finds Fault, though he always insists that outside conditions cause the trouble.

If People and Things were all Flawless—if Conditions were always perfect—all incentive for Growth would be lacking.

When you feel like Finding Fault with Somebody or Something, stop for a moment—and Think! There is sure to be something wrong around your own yard. Find out what it is. Then—the cause for your Fault Finding being removed, you immediately hand in your name as an Applicant for membership in The Optimist's Club. And nobody will "Blackhall" you.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

LIKABLENESS

The Deseret News - September 1, 1913


LIKABLENESS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


The salt of the world is sprinkled among those to whom every man and woman delights to go: The Likable People. You know them. You are drawn their way whenever their atmosphere touches yours. They lift and honor Life.

Likableness is one of the real essentials of Leadership--a thing felt because lived.

You meet a Stranger but straightway he becomes your Friend--Likeableness woven into his very makeup makes him a kin to you. You look him in the eye, feel the warm, solid grasp of his hand and know that you can build upon his word.

You walk into a busy office. You face a busy man. But being sincerely Likeable--approachable--you honor his time and his graciousness. You pay tribute to his Character--you do not impose upon his responsibility.

Likeableness is a wonderful asset. It is one of the vital necessities for Success--Success through Happiness and Services. Make yourself Likeable--genuinely so You can--for anybody can.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

TINSEL


The Deseret News - Aug 29, 1913


TINSEL
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Have you ever noticed that it is the plain, simple things, made up in quality, that cost the most? Go into a furniture store for some favorite piece, pick out a fabric for your clothes, select a piece of jewelry. The fact is there--the plain things cost the most. The reason is this--

Quality loaded down with Tinsel is cheapened. Quality always carries the highest value.

Into nearly every crack and crevice of life, the crave for Tinsel exists. The Unreal is everywhere offering itself for the Real. Imitation talks abroad and is bold. But the Genuine--bereft of Tinsel--cannot be mistaken. It is recognized on sight.

Have the courage to be what you are, and to live happily on what you have. For when you leap beyond this, you acquire Tinsel--mere Sham and Counterfeit. Strong characters never bother about cheap Tinsel--mere trapping to their already big holdings in the Genuine.

Truth and Fact travel always without concern. Brass cannot long pass for Gold. Nor can a man long be what he is not. At night Tinsel may glow but in the light of day it will show for what it is. An explanation will not avail.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Straight Line

The Deseret News - Aug 20, 1913


The Straight Line
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


There is a world of simple, yet sound philosophy, in our school book axiom that "a Straight Line is the shortest distance between two points." Self-evident as it is, it embodies a wonderfully true principle of Success--something like this--

Have a Central Purpose in life, and then follow it through by The Straight Line route.

Everybody carries a Tag. Some carry it in their Faces, some in their general Attitude, and some in their very walk. But the Tag is there. And it tells to the shrewd student of human nature the exact destination of the holder of the Tag.

Each day as you freshly rise to the performance of new duties, be sure that the first thought of your day is to get into The Straight Line habit by following every worthy Purpose of the day before, and welding it the more strongly to the main and most important Purpose of your life. Do this and all the world will easily read your Tag and know that you travel The Straight Line.

Make The Straight Line a plan second nature to you. When a problem faces you, immmediately Think out The Straight Line solution--then Work it out. No matter how trivial the thing may seem, go through it and apply The Straight Line idea and you will have formed a habit of directness, decision and efficiency sure to hold you in strong hand at any time.

Think and Work in terms of The Straight Line.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

BRANDS

The Deseret News - Jul 15, 1913

BRANDS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


This is an age of Brands and Trademarks. You immediately know the Quality and Character of a product as soon as you note its Brand or Trade-Mark. And because this is possible, it means economy, convenience and confidence.

What Brand does your Life represent?

Is it THE "Sunshine" Brand, the "Grouch" Brand, the "Helpful" Brand, the "Unselfish" Brand, the "Thoughtless" Brand, the "Smile" Brand, the "Getthere" Brand, the "Square" Brand--THINK--what is YOUR Brand?

For the Brand is stamped to you, somewhere.

It may be on your Face, maybe in Voice, your Walk may show it, or your Clothes--but the brand is there, somewhere, and even a Child may be able to detect it.

What Brand do you want the world to see on you?

Lincoln carried a Brand. It was "Honest Abe." Such a Brand can never outlive its usefulness. "Thoughtful Charlie." "Do Things Bill," "Shiftless Sam," "Sunny Jim." "Always-Thinking-Of-Others-Maggie"--everyone carries a self-made Brand like these.

What Brand does your Life represent?

Whatever your Brand, be very sure that it really DOES stand for YOU, and the best that you are. If you have never thought of this Brand business, think of it now. And when you have discovered what YOUR Brand is and where you carry it--put your whole Life back of it and make it stand for your largest Ideals. If your Brand is worth while, self advertise it.

Make your Brand really represent the BEST that you are.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

GOOD WILL

The Deseret News - Jul 10, 1913

GOOD WILL
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

The most valuable asset that Business has is its Good Will, which is, being interpreted, the accumulated Trust that the world at large may have put into the business. Good Will is also accumulated Confidence.

Add to your Good Will each day.

Perhaps the highest form of Good Will is found in a big man. Recently in a Court of Inquiry in order to learn the true value of The New York World, since the death of its greatest Editor and Owner, Joseph Pulitzer, Arthur Bribane, the noted writer and Publisher, stated that Mr. Pulitzer easily contributed in Good Will to The World, value to the extent of a Quarter of a Million Dollars yearly!

Add to your Good Will each day.

Whenever you do a piece of work to such success that you glory in Pride over it, at such a time you add to your Good Will. When you complete a task that everyone expected you to fail in, you add to your Good Will. Whenver you contribute knowledge or achievement, you add to your Good Will.

Add to your Good Will each day.

Good Will is Character. Good Will is Honor. Good Will is Success! Other things may be replaced but once you lose your Good Will, you have lost it all. Therefore, guard and protect it--but fail not to add to it each day.

SECOND WIND

The Deseret News - Jul 4, 1913


SECOND WIND
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


The race of Success is won just like any other race--on Second Wind. Second Wind is nothing more than reserve power responding and carrying through to the end.

Be a Second Wind Performer.

Some people never experience Second Wind--simply because they never put forth the necessary effort to enable them to draw on their reserve lung space. But the reserve is there just the same.

Be a Second Wind Performer.

The successful man goes through all the little processes of failure and discouragement and defeat--then he gets his Second Wind--pushes all the setbacks aside, and carrying great momentum, he goes on and on. This is always the story of the one who has the courage and stamina to press on until the Second Wind is reached.

Be a Second Wind Performer.

If you want to experience the delight and power that results from the acquiring of your Second Wind you have but to do more than you are told to do--more than you have to do. Second Wind comes through Initiative, Enthusiasm, and Determination.

Be a Second Wind Performer.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

MERIT


The Deseret News - Jul 2, 1913



MERIT
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Merit does find its true reward. In the final summing up, people pass for what they actually are. The gauge of Merit works straight and sound. Luck and Chance are the mere teasers of Fate.

Merit nothing beneath you.

Do more than is expected of you. Do each task better than people think you can. Believe all things are possible with you and you cannot fail to Merit big. It is better to aim for Perfection and miss it, than to aim at Imperfection and hit it.

Merit nothing beneath you.

Be not troubled over the accidents of Destinity. The rule of Merit will safely guide you into the wide way of Winning. True Merit is the rule and not the exception. Thousands of pages of History illustrate this truth.

Merit nothing beneath you.

Whatever you Merit and are worthy to receive, you will get. Concentrate your thoughts in elevating your Aims and Ideals, for these are they that lead you on and up.

MOVE ON

The Deseret News - Jun 28, 1913


MOVE ON
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


One of the biggest, wisest and soundest lessons of history and life is to Sputter not, Loaf not, Wrangle not at all, but--Move on.

There is Health in Action. Move On.

To find whether a Task is worth your efforth, be first convinced that you will be Wiser, Happier and Stronger after it is done. If you are convinced of this, after careful weighing--set your Mind and Feet and Hands to the task, get it done, and then--Move On.

There is Growth in Action. Move On.

If you feel that you are not getting Joy to the full in what you do each day, Move On to something better. Have courage to Risk. Move On. Blessed is the man who finds his Work and Glories in it, for he cannot help but--Move On.

There is Happiness in Action. Move On.

Stand still and you Stagnate, grow Dull and lose the Snap and Ginger that men and women of Action always have. Move On. Study yourself, your Work, your Ambitions. Set your eyes Westward. Let not the Sun of Success go down upon the failures of your Inaction. Move On.

There is Success in Action. Move On.

Think. face new Ideas. Bury your dead Blunders and Mistakes. Search for new Viewpoints. Grasp new Ideals. Watch your Step. Move On.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

FEAR

The Deseret News - Jun 26, 1913


FEAR
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


Fear is about the biggest Bugahoo that Failure sends out, for its red flame of destruction gets to the heart of more men and women than any other agency of evil. It is a force of fire that sooner or later is sure to burn the noblest soul to dust, if not mastered.

Fear is never without. It is always within.

Fear is inside of Yourself--if it is anywhere. Your job is to smother it out. And here are a few suggestions. First, trust yourself. Then trust another people. And finally, trust God--for there is a God, somewhere, somehow. Where there is Trust, there can be no Fear.

No one can ever Win so long as he Fears his Success.

Lytton inspiringly wrote: "He either Fears his Fate too much, Or his Deserts are small, Who dares not put it to the test, To gain of lose it all." The conquering of Fear is the grand business of life.

At the moment that you feel no Fear, you begin to live!

The happy Warrior Fears no Foe. The efficient, courageous Worker Fears no task. He is unafraid of his Job. Oh, you who read this little talk, Fear NOTHING. The Purpose of a great World runs through you as it runs through all mankind. Smile and be Spurred by its Truth. This day is an important part of your whole. And you are and imoprtant part of this day.

Walk past Fear. it is easy. And you CAN.

OPPOSITION

The Gazette Times - Jun 21, 1913


OPPOSITION
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


There is no force quite so effective as Opposition. When everything runs along smoothly and with no Opposition we lose the correctness of our vision, become careless and get off edge.

Win on your mettle.

Opposition keeps you constantly on the alert, arouses every ounce of fight in you and makes you think and plan you hardest and act beyond your normal powers.

Win on your mettle.

No one knows his own Possibilities of Efficiency and Achievement until the odds against him become desperate and he stands up and faces them and fights.

Win on your mettle.

You have within yourself certain abilities undreamed of by you that need but the stimulating force of Opposition to bring them out. Opposition, dodged, becomes a terrible monster; faced, it takes to its heels.

Win on your mettle.

Friday, March 5, 2010

MOMENTUM


The Deseret News - Jun 18, 1913



MOMENTUM

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


Momentum is Accumulated Force in action. Accumulate Momentum and in its possession at some critical moment in your life you will rise to a glorious Foresight and Acumen.

You can never accumulate Momentum by standing still.

If you fail to take hold upon every possible chance that is offered you you fail in that measure to gather up and put aside accumulated Experience which goes to make up Momentum.

You can never accumulate Momentum by standing still.

Momentum is power saved up for Tomorrow. But if you waste the Opportunities of Today your Momentum is bound to slip away. For Momentum must be fed with continuous Action and Deeds in order that you may benefit from its force

You can never accumulate Momentum by standing still.

There is nothing more pitiful than to see men and women of brilliant Mind or Abilities reaching Middle Life inactive and with no Achievement carved about their names. The time to pile up Momentum is during the early years of life and duriring the early years of every day. But no matter in what position you find yourself you can begin at any moment to acquire Momentum and make it one of the most useful factors in your whole career.

SPURTS

The Gazette Times - Jun 17, 1913



SPURTS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Too many people depend upon Spurts to carry them through. Too many people start with colors flying to wind up with their Hopes and their Enthusiasm trailing in the dust.

Start well--then, Keep It Up.

Eight-o'clock men, Monday morning men, January first men, who are out of the race at nine o'clock, on Tuesday morning and on February first, make up a large part of the men who enter Life's race.

Start well--then, Keep It Up.

Be not deceived by the attitude of the crowd. It is always eager to shout for the man who will give it a sensation by a Spurt at the start. It is equally eager to applaud the men who follow with Spurts. But the big, defeaning applause us for the steady, quiet, determined man who missed the eyes of the crowd at the start, but whose conserved energy enables him to cross the line at the end of the race a Winner.

Start well--then, Keep It Up.

Do your Spurting at the finish rather than at the start.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

PARTNERS

The Deseret News - Jun 17, 1913


PARTNERS
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Marriage should be first, last and all the time a Co-partnership. It is firty-fifty clear through or else one is taking more than the other gets, in which case neither secures the highest percentage of returns in Happiness.

A Partnership is no Partnership unless there is equal contribution according to ability.

A business Partnership is of the greatest value where there is Individuality--where there are distinctly separate Abilities. The Partnership between a man and woman in Marriage should be exactly the same. There is a division of Responsibility. For Marriage in its highest form of success is where each Partner makes good in Responsibility.

Each Partner should be glad and willing to share equally in Responsibility.

A business Partnership would not last long with each Partner assuming the duties of the other. Nor would it last long if one Partner should begin to limit or curtail the free Individuality of the other. A Human Being moulded and fashioned after the Ideas of another into a mere Duplicate is of little value to anyone.

The Happies Marriages are those where each admits the freest expression of the other's Personality.

The man who carries to his home the unimportant or trivial cares that infest his day or the woman who greets her husband with the little annoyances and worries of her day does not fulfill the highest agreements of a Partnership.

Grasp with Smiles and Cheer and Enthusiasm the duties that belong to your side of the Partnership. Make good and you will be inspired at the effect of this upon your Partnership in making good.


Monday, March 1, 2010

TRUST


The Gazette Times - Jun 12, 1913


TRUST
By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS


The human Soul craves Trust more than any other thing. Just as soon as you put Confidence in a man and convince him that you believe in him without a particle of distrust--at that very moment he enters into his greatest period of Efficient Accomplishment.

The best way to get the most out of any Friend or Worker is to Trust him.

Just as soon as an Employer begins to Trust an Employe--just as soon as an Employe begins to Trust his Employer--at that moment a strong organization begins. It is the same in the course of the Everyday. The people that we Trust are the people who Trust us. Mutual Trust is Mutual Happiness. No one can be Unhappy of Useless who Trusts.

It is Natural to Trust. It is Unnatural not to Trust.

Human Life begins by Trusting. The Child at first Trusts everyone. Every happy relationship starts with co-operative Trust. The only thing that can mar or pry Trust from its hinges is Suspicion.

In the work of this day--every day--whenever you are tempted to Distrut, to Criticize, to Envy--bring this little word into use--Trust.