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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.