Mail Order Business

Mail Order Business by Adrian Kennelly

There are two main divisions in the mail order business; first, as carried on by a small dealer giving it his whole attention; second, as transacted by an established house, either as side issue to assist the traveling sales department, or as in case of Montgomery Ward & Co. and other catalogue houses, as a sole business.

The underlying principles of the business are the same in all cases, differing only in application. The requisites for a successful start may be briefly outlined and if conscientiously followed out will bring a degree of success depending only upon the extent of the field and the closeness of the application of the promoter.

Qualifications Necessary.—First, brain is of importance. The average beginner should employ the best brain talent procurable, some one else's if not his own. For the building of a permanent business, honesty must be an asset as well as brain power. Houses now in the field to stay are noted for the honesty with which they treat all dealing with them. Sales over the counter may be made on account of the locality of the store, even though the goods are not up to standard and the proprietor considered tricky, but a customer who has been victimized by mail can never be depended on for another order.

The smaller mail order journals and a certain class of jobbers as well as some mail order writers hold forth a glowing future for an inexperienced man starting in the business with small capital—as one writer terms it, "a man or woman of average intelligence, with a capital of fifty dollars in cash, no experience, and no influential friends, can start in business and spell success in capitals at the end of one year's labor." "Where one such venture launched at an opportune time by someone peculiarly fitted to the business, comes to success, fifty fail for lack of capital and as many more yield indifferent results.

Says W. B. Powell on this subject: "You cannot get rich on a three-line ad in a mail order paper filled with advertising that makes yours look like thirty cents. The mail order business has gotten down to hard-pan basis. You have to have a good article and considerable capital back of you, business sense, and a tenacity of purpose that will not falter within two or three years. You cannot get rich quick on two or three hundred dollars. If you could, there wouldn't be white paper enough to print the ads offered the mail order publications."

A beginner should have sufficient capital—actual money in the bank—and a reasonable credit to tide him over in case he needs money temporarily.

Adaptability, as in other lines of business, is a prime requisite. A business suited to one's taste is bound to be a success eventually, and if not suited to it and the promoter cannot adapt himself to its manifold requirements, he should lose no time in changing to one in which he can put forth his full energies.

System.—The advantage of system in the mail order business is fully set forth by Sydney A. Hale, who says: "You must have system in your business, and the best is none too good. In no other business is the routine and detail so great; in no other business is a most accurate and most minute record of every transaction so essential; in no other business is a handy record so necessary.

A good system is not necessarily an involved one; on the contrary, inasmuch as system consists in the elimination of labor, time and useless detail, the simplest system is the nearest approach to perfection. It is the writer's experience that no one stock system can ever prove adequate—only a system devised essentially and especially to fill your own particular needs.

Whether it fills anybody else's need is not your care; unless it can fill your own needs it should be abandoned. A successful system must always be easy of access; it must be accurate; it must be complete. Money invested in perfecting a system is money saved. Don't try to start business or life without them. It is the man that has a system in both life and business that wins the battles."

Advertising.—The vital part of a mail order business once started is the advertising. Proper mediums must be used, the ads must be well worded, displayed, and placed; advertising effort must be continuous.



This is an extract from The Business Mans Encylopedia

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Preferred Tools of the Car Detailing Trade

Preferred Tools of the Car Detailing Trade by Adrian Kennelly

Your tools and equipment are critical to your success. You need to know the reasons why certain tools are preferred over others.

There are two main buffer types that a detailer will use: an orbital buffer and a high-speed rotary buffer. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, weights, colors and speeds.

The Orbital Polisher

This essential detailing tool was made to eliminate swirl marks, mars, or burns from being put into the paint by the common use of speed, heat, and friction. This is associated with the rotary action buffers.

The orbital concept came from the success of the classic floor polisher, which is used to bring up a high gloss shine on marble or wood flooring. The orbital polisher does not leaving swirl marks.
The orbital polisher is very effective. It creates an oscillating effect; produces zero rpms and recreates the motion of hand waxing at 1700 oscillations per minute.

The Orbital Polisher:

* Leaves no swirl marks
* Does not require the use of glazes
* Provides consistent results.


The High Speed Rotary Polisher:

* Best choice for auto body shop to strip/prepare vehicle for new paint job
* Best for heavy duty compounding
* Is lighter in weight
* Offers variable speed options.

Both types of detailing polishers provide specific advantages when used appropriately according to the customer's need.

Skill Level in Polishing

Using the high-speed rotary requires considerable skill learned over time and experience. A beginning detailer who is still learning would not be able to manage this highly skilled machine. Furthermore, they could do considerable damage to a customer's car.

The orbital polisher, on the other hand, is perfectly safe to use for all skill levels of detailers. The orbital is weighty, but it also exacts a deeper, more brilliant shine. If you find the weight an issue you can also buy a plastic model.

Brush motors can burn out quickly with regular use, while the ball bearing capacitor motors (no brushes, no gears) won't.

The orbital polisher works great for maintenance once the car has been stripped, repainted, and compounded.

To convert your high speed and avoid the need for glazes, buy an orbital adapter kit. These will screw into top of any high speed.

Extractor Machine

A professional detail shop will use an extractor machine.

You will not exact the same results by performing an interior detail by hand with a bucket, brush, and wet/dry vacuum.

A good quality extraction machine supplies the heat, water pressure, and vacuum lift and does a professional job that delights the customer's expectations.

Using an extractor, the customer is guaranteed a professional job every time!

Investing in an Extractor

Buy the best! You will receive back years of solid performance when you spend a little bit more.

A local distributor should offer better pricing than direct factory pricing in most cases. You also benefit from help with training and support.

You are more likely to be able to order parts for immediate repair so the machine won't need to be shipped out to be repaired.

Features

Heat provides maximum performance of the extractor as well as the chemicals used.

The temperature of approximately 185 degrees works best. Too much heat could destroy carpet fibers and warp rubber backing.

Heat Sources

In-line Heaters

You don't need to warm up or preheat cleaning solution. Produces vibrant heat immediately.

You must use two power cords due to the high amperage draw. You may need to plug into two separate shop circuits. This can be inconvenient if one power cord goes in one direction and the other goes across the shop to an independent circuit.

In-tank Heaters

Turn on the machine to preheat the cleaning solution.

Once the machine is warm and if it has a stainless steel tank it will work fine throughout the day. Use the preheat setting between details.

In-tank heaters draw less power and require only one cord to operate.

Using Chemicals

Extractors use fewer chemicals than manual cleaning.

Using a spray bottle, spot spray grease or heavy traffic areas for best results. Avoid putting a more aggressive cleaner through the extractor pump.

Clean your pump with a 3:1 solution of white vinegar and water. Run this through the machine once a month. This will keep your machine in prime condition and it will perform expertly.

Highly Efficient

Your extractor machine easily replaces cleaning by hand with a bucket and brush. You are much more efficient using this method of cleaning.

Extractor Cleaning Instructions

To begin, vacuum the interior and remove all debris. No need to get the small, lint type dirt, as the extractor removes all of the smaller, lint type particles as well as the really deep dirt.

Spray the cleaning solution throughout the area to be cleaned. Use a pre-spotter with heavy soiled stains and allow this solution to penetrate well.

Go for a small, short bristled brush to help dislodge the toughest stains and ground in dirt. Use the solution/vac to remove the dirt.

You will find that drying time is quicker using this method compared to hand vacuuming.

To make your time more efficient, use the various styles of tools available. They are made of both stainless steel and plastic.

The standard upholstery wand is used more than any other is. Use it to clean some 95% of the work on your average customer's car interior.
Use the crevice tool to clean in between seats and areas that cannot be reached with the standard upholstery tool.

The floor wand is a detailer's preferred tool. Use it for vans and in your showroom. Some shops take their show on the road using this tool and clean carpets in restaurants, offices, and other venues.



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Great Tourist Attractions in New York

Great Tourist Attractions in New York by Adrian Kennelly

When you are looking into planning your next vacation New York is definitely a destination that you should be considering. There are many wonderful sites to see while visiting New York and the following will give you a few suggestions for places to visit during your vacation.

If you would like to get a world-class view of New York then you must visit the top of the Empire State Building. A couple of tips that can make your visit even more enjoyable: First of all keep track of what the weather will be like when you plan to visit as the best views from the top of this famous building is on a clear day. If you would like to save some time, you should purchase your tickets online. Just select the day that you are going to visit and as soon as you are able to get though security, you can bypass the ticket line and head straight for the lines to get on one of the elevators. The observatory opens at 8am and closes at midnight with the last elevator descending at around 11:15pm so the Empire State Building is a good attraction to fit in either at the beginning or ending of your site seeing day.

The Statue of Liberty is another must see attraction while sight seeing in New York. This ever-enduring symbol of freedom is a fun way to learn more about the history of the United States. Plan to arrive early when you visit the Statue of Liberty, this way you will have a much better chance of avoiding long lines. You should pack your own lunch, as there are plenty of spaces available to have a picnic. In addition, if you will be spending a bit of time outdoors so make sure that you dress appropriately. If you are vacationing and on a bit of a budget then you will definitely want to take the Staten Island Ferry when you visit that Statue of Liberty, it's free.

Central Park is another great stop on a trip through New York. You could enjoy a picnic or a boat ride or simply just talk a stroll through the beautiful park. A few notable spots in this famous park include Central Park Zoo which is a great alternative for families that do not want make the journey to the equally popular Bronx Zoo. Strawberry Fields Pictures is a gorgeous living tribute to John Lennon. You can see beautiful Imagine Mosaic and over one hundred different species of plants here. Shakespeare in the Park holds performances at the Delacorte theater in Central park all throughout the summer. You will not be disappointed taking in a show.

These are just three of the great attractions that New York has to offer its visitors each and every day. The internet is an excellent place to locate even more great attractions and events going on through out the year that would make your vacation to New York even more memorable. Now matter what to decide to do or what time of the year you choose to visit you are bound to have a fun and exciting vacation.



Adrian Kennelly is the webmaster of DirectoryGold Web Directory. Visit it for links to sites on the United States and New York City and articles on Travel and Leisure

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Support Space Sciences - For the Future of Mankind

Support Space Sciences - For the Future of Mankind by Sam Donaldson

With the current war in Iraq and all the current global anti-USA sentiment, international support for NASA is waning. People should come to understand that the work and importance of such governmental agencies such as NASA far outweighs the importance of any geopolitical occurances. There are many other groups of people as well who profess no interest in space sciences due to their dogmatic beliefs. This includes the widly help notion that the Earth will meet a dogmatic fate at the hand of some deity. Still, the majority of scientists these days do agree that the days of Earth are numbered. Regardless of who you are or where you are from; one day your decendents will have to evacuate the Earth. That is is mankind is first able to survive himself.

Our Sun, the beloved Sol is not still a young star. There is only a finite amount of fuel it contains and despite it's power and brilliance, it too has an incept date. Eventually it will swell and even encompass the orbit of Earth itself. All that we know of our beloved and precious Terra will be destroyed and rendered to absolute waste. There is also the danger that the Earth might suffer a major impact event in the meantime from the likes of a comet or giant meteorite. Many Scientists are saying these days that the Earth itself is perhaps as much as 90% into it's habitability stage. Rather this is true or not is irrelevant. If humanity is to survive as a species, at some point we must evacuate this planet.

It may not be that the destruction of the planet Earth will not take place for maybe hundreds of millions if not billions of years to come; it is of the most extreme importance that humanity can arrive at not just the technological level to construct an escape, but a practical social effort and conscious on the subject as well. Regardless of the philosophy and politics of whatever country or countries that exist at any given time, it is of the utmost importance that all of humanity supports the development of technologies related to space travel and other sciences, like Terra Forming for example. We after all did inherit many needful traits from the vile Romans.

Currently NASA is planning a return trip to the Moon that is much more involved and advanced in purpose than our most recent ventures that were over 30 years ago. I say "our" in the strictest sense of "Everybody". This is indeed a project for the benefit of all of mankind. From the Moon we can reach out to spread our presence to the other planets of our solar system and beyond. In the least if some great calamity should happen to mankind between now and the final cataclysm, in the least we would of the knowledge gained from these exploits hopefully safely tucked away in a cave somewhere for posterity. Mankind has plenty of time between now and then to grow and mature a bit more. In the order of things humanity itself is very new.

To put it simply, it is the responsibility of everyone who cares about the ultimate future of mankind to support not just NASA but all of the space exploration and related science agencies from around the world. From the smallest of things the largest and mighty does grow. Personally I'm optimistic about our future. I have the greatest hope that oneday our descendents will perhaps reflect back on the people of the long vanished Earth in awe of our caring and purpose and perhaps see themselves as a celebration of who we were. Perhaps without any lament but pure joy, a single human child whom we successfully managed to shelter around a distant star will shed a tear for us...in thanks to the caring folk who once inhabited a place called Earth. Should this come to pass in the eye of my mind, just this in itself is enough to justify space exploration.



Sam Donaldson is the writer for the Rewards Credit Cards website and from time to time he goes off topic. Please feel free to visit his site and examine numerous reviews for low interest credit cards.

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The Healing Path Of Homeopathy

The Healing Path Of Homeopathy by Kevin Sinclair

Homeopathy is a natural healing method based on the principle of "like cures like." This means symptoms are treated with an extremely diluted dose of whatever it is that might have caused the ailment in the first place. The doses of medicine are so diluted; there might not be any active elements of the original solution remaining in the actual medicine when treating the person with the disorder.

This leads to the next point, that homeopathy works on the energetic level, not the physical level. Homeopathy treatments influence the energy system of the patient (for want of a better word). The method impacts the whole person physically, emotionally, and mentally. It views a disorder as an imbalance in a person's chi, or life force energy, and acts to stimulate the body's own natural inner healing ability, bringing it back into balance.

In this way, homeopathy is much like acupuncture. This is another difficult to explain healing method that focuses on the body's energy system and restoring balance. Acupuncture and homeopathy both have a physical component, but the healing cannot be explained in terms of physical, chemical reactions.

A German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, who sought an alternative to the brutal healing methods practiced at the time, originated homeopathy in the late 1700's. Homeopathy was very well established in the US in the 1800's and beyond. Homeopathic hospitals were common and the method was taught in medical schools. So it was quite popular, as well as sanctioned, in the US until about the 1930's. This diminished with the rise in power of the American Medical Association, among other issues.

Homeopathy is still quite popular and practiced widely around the world, especially in Europe and India. Hundreds of millions of people access homeopathy every year for healing.

Homeopathic remedies can be used to treat just about any combination of symptoms or injuries. They are also used for over all wellness and prevention. Single medicines contain only one active ingredient and are intended to treat a very specific condition. A series of detailed questions about a person's physical, mental, and emotional status is used to identify the best individual remedy.

There are also combined medicines that treat a variety of concerns. These have a number of active ingredients. Arnica cream is a popular example of this. It is used for treating muscle soreness and injuries.

Typically, homeopathic medicines are considered to be safe, have no side effects, and can be used in conjunction with mainstream treatments. Locating a homeopathic provider is easier and easier with the growth of the alternative health community in the US in recent years. The remedies themselves can easily be found at all health food type stores.

A couple of concerns about homeopathy can also be raised. Sometimes when using a homeopathic medicine, the symptoms can seem to get worse before they get better. This has been attributed to the body recreating symptoms in reaction to receiving a treatment containing the elements that cause the illness.

Also, there is no confirmed scientific proof that homeopathy actually works to cure people. This is a concern for the skeptics. Many studies conclude that health benefits of homeopathy are due to the placebo effect. In other words, it's all in their heads and has nothing to do with medicine. Some will then say this affirms the effectiveness of the treatment. It's supposed to work this way on the energetic level.

Homeopathy is very different from conventional western medicine. It has many advocates and many skeptics. By some it is seen as a medicine of the future as we grow in understanding of the human energy system and all the avenues through which healing can occur. In the meantime, the reach of homeopathy is expanding and it satisfies an ever growing number of people's desire for natural healing.



Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of my-personal-growth.com, a site that provides information and articles for self improvement and personal growth and development.

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The New Age Child

The New Age Child by Abhishek Lodha

Here comes the New Age Child - the Indigo Child. Clear and large eyes are the recognizing factors of the Indigo Children. Brilliant memory, a strong urge to live accompanied with sensitivity and god gifted spirits, these children are the New Age Children. They possess both the capability and the potential to change the ambiance of our lives. Thus they are acting as the bridge to our future.

The Indigo Children are the new generation being born in the 21st century. 'Indigo Child' - the name itself indicates the vibrant colors which surround them and the 'Third eye' of these new born children is indicative of the fact that they are born psychics and possesses a strong intuition. On the basis of their in-born powers the Native Americans call them 'Children of the Sun' whereas 'Millennium Children' is the name given by some other authors.

Characteristics of the New Age Children:

1.They do not like to be dominated by others.
2.Rituals and traditional beliefs irritate them.
3.They are always on the look out of improving themselves and their work, be it their school or home.
4.They gel with their kind of people very well, otherwise they are very unsociable.
5.They are very straight forward in expressing their needs and feelings.
6.Timid ness is something which repels them.
7.They have a strong self esteem.
8.Impatient is the keyword amongst the new age children.
9.They never tolerate or respond to any erroneous work done by others.
10.Monotonous work is something which bores them easily.
11.Creativeness is in abundance.
12.They are 'the Jack of all trade' - can do too many things at a single go.
13.Sixth sense is very strong within them.
14.God gifted intelligence are their specialty.
15.Develops abstract thinking power from infancy.
16.Acquires high self confidence.
17.They are masters in day dreaming.
18.Wise thinkers with foresightedness.
19.They are generally born psychics.
20.They are extroverts in expressing their angers.
21.Need the help of others to discover their talents and themselves.

But one thing should be remembered - as a result of their psychic abilities indigo children should not be confused with the children who genetically inherit these abilities. The New age children purportedly possess certain spiritual as well as some psychological attributes.

Parenting the New Age Children:
Parents are always the same; whether they are the parents of a normal child or an indigo child. Like the other new born children, indigo children are no exceptions to facing several challenges in life. But it is very important for the parents of the indigo children to understand their psychology.

Parents need to give their children all possible special attention, love, care and proper guidance. The child should be given every opportunity to excel in whatever field they express their interest; because if these children are meant to play some important roles in bridging the current generation with the next, they will do so in whatever way they feel it right. In short, the Indigo Children are the 'well balanced' children. So being the parent of these children, you need to know the child you are dealing with. In case you fail to understand their needs and psychology always be prompt in taking professional help.



Abhishek is interested in anything related to the Astrology and the occults. He is the owner of MysticBoard.com - the best esoteric website. Know and understand psychic ability get to know more on the New Age Children from http://www.mysticboard.com/psychic.

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10 Powerful Self Motivation Rules

10 Powerful Self Motivation Rules by Fadzil Dolmani

Self motivation is the only way for you to get out of your current situation that you may not like. You need to have the inner drive to keep your momentum in achieving your goals in life. Without self motivation, nothing else matters. You can hire the most expensive motivator to tell you all the things you already know. But, if you fail to realize that there is no one else except you who can change your life, then you practically throw your money down the drain by going from one seminar to another in the hope that you can change your life. What matters most is your own action. You need to create and develop your own self motivation to bring you the energy and enthusiasm to pursue the dreams of your life.

You need some kind of motivational drive in anything you do. At work, you may need your colleague or boss to motivate you to accomplish your task. At home, you may need your family member to share some motivational thoughts to keep you energetic in your pursuit of your dreams. They can sit with you all day trying to keep you motivated. Again, all these will be meaningless when you yourself fail to acknowledge that you need more lasting drive to really keep your enthusiasm, that is, your self motivation. This is the quality that will separate you from the rest of the people.

Most of you may be thinking that this is going to be a very daunting task as you do not have the slightest idea of how you are going to go about this. You will be surprised as how easy this can really be done. Here are the 10 things that you need to follow:

1. Stop worrying about making mistakes.

Making mistakes is one way we can learn and improve in our life. There is no one that has never made any mistake. The most important thing here is you realize that you have made mistakes and do not repeat the same mistakes again. You will learn the most from your mistakes than any other way.

2. Feel happy about your life.

Happiness generates more positive energy within you. This energy is important to keep you more optimistic and enthusiastic about your life. Happy people are always motivated to accomplish something in their life.

3. Get out of your comfort zone.

Get out of your comfort zone and try new things that will bring more opportunities to you. Do not just stick around with the same people, same known places, skills or work. Explore new things that will enhance your ability to achieve your goals and keep you stay motivated.

4. Think the unthinkable.

Nothing will stop you from thinking of goals you want to achieve. You have to dream high in order to set high goals. Everything starts with a dream. Do not limit yourself in your goals and dreams.

5. Read and listen to inspirational materials.

You have to start spending time reading motivational books and listening to inspirational tapes. But, you must also implement what you learn from your reading and listening. New things you learn from these exercises will give you excitement and energy to work harder toward achieving your goals.

6. Resolve problems instead of running away.

Your ride to success destination will not be smooth all the time. You will face difficulties. Do not quit when you experience predicaments in your quest to achieve your dreams. Frustrations and setbacks naturally form as parts of your success venture.

7. Appreciate every moment of your life.

Think of what your life really is as of now. Appreciate every moment you have currently. Thinking about the past or day dreaming about the future will not bring you anywhere. Appreciating your current conditions makes you feel much better and realize the need to move forward to achieve your goals.

8. Finish what you start.

Once you have started something, finish it. Never leave what you do halfway regardless of the end result. This will make you accustomed to finishing any task you initiate, which is important if you really want to achieve your goals in life.

9. Face challenges one at a time.

Challenges are components in your success journey. Take up one challenge at a time. Do not try to accumulate and face them at one go. As the challenges accumulate, you will only feel less motivated to face them and finally unable to complete anything.

10. Care less about what people say.

You may hear a lot of bad things people say about you. Sometimes those bad comments may come from somebody close to you. As long as you thoroughly understand and believe in what you are doing, you can just ignore bad comments people say about you. Thinking too much about what people say will only make you weaker and loose focus on your effort.

Of course, this list does not just stop here. To instill and develop your self motivation, there are more ways you can do. But, if you can really comprehend and take the appropriate actions just based on these 10 things, you will definitely see the results.



Fadzil is an entrepreneur, writer and web content developer who likes to share his knowledge on ways to improve someone's life. He believes in doing steps that are simple to anyone in achieving goals. To learn more about such steps, please go to http://www.wisdomgateway.com/6wlmover/life_makeover.htm
He is also the founder of Wisdom Gateway - one stop center for practical and profitable knowledge. To know more, please go to http://www.wisdomgateway.com

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For 10 Years This Plan Has Saved Time And Nerve Wear And Tear

For 10 Years This Plan Has Saved Time And Nerve Wear And Tear by Adrian Kennelly

This plan is unique. It's effective, too. Perhaps every man who reads it can't use it, but one thing is sure:
You can't tell how much it may help you out until you do read it. And it's in the users own words.

This is a filing plan that suits me down to the ground. It will suit you, too, if you do the same general kind of work I do, or have about the same problems when it comes to finding "that document" in a hurry.

What is my work?

It is of a non-routine nature. It is always different. No steady stream of reports and correspondence flows across my desk, the same day after day, to be handled by "referring" it to "the proper party" or answering by dictated letter. It runs, instead, eternally along new paths. First, there is some condition in the business, not yet covered by routine or ruling, that needs to be pruned or watered. We discuss the matter. We reach a certain unanimity as to the right kind of pruning or watering. Then these remedial measures must be translated into detailed procedure and concrete words and acts.

I expressly abstain from stating the name of my job. The minute I do that every man whose job has a different name concludes this article is not for him. In reality, this article is for anyone whose work, in essence, is pro- motional and involves masses of hodgepodge memoranda, letters, blueprints, schedules, reports, notes of conferences, and the like. It is for the man who frequently "wants what he wants" out of this mass instantaneously to clinch his point in the eager talks so characteristic of uncharted work. It may be a complaint from a consumer; it may be a clipping from the morning's news; it may be a rough drawing by one's favorite artist; but one wants it quick!

Here's the plan: the moment I can get any paper or document off my desk and into a drawer I do so. I use only one drawer. Everything is put into it, one thing on top of another. This is no sorting, no classification. Into the drawer it goes, the latest always on top, to be covered in its turn by the next paper, and so on. When I want to get any recent paper, I simply look in this one drawer for it. Evidently, the more recent it is, the oftener I shall want it—and the more recent it is, again, the nearer the top it is, and the easier to find.

That is the first half of the system. The basis is not alphabetical, nor subject, nor nature of document. '' Recency" is the sole basis. By simply laying one thing in one drawer, hour by hour, day after day, you automatically insure that the oftenest wanted paper is the one nearest the top and therefore easiest to find. You "file" as you go along. Whatever you want you will find in the drawer. You always get it. You get it inside of 30 seconds; often instantaneously. There is no pressing the button for the "filing clerk"; no wait for her to return, dismayed and fearful of rebuke, to report that the paper cannot be found but "the boys are looking for it; they think Mr. Drew had it, but he is sick today.'' That is all eliminated.

"But what," you ask, "happens when this magic drawer becomes full to overflowing?" When that happens, and it happens regularly, of course, I take out the entire mass and lay it on my desk upside down. The oldest pieces are now on top. I turn each piece over in its turn and one glance tells me whether it should remain in the drawer or whether, by the lapse of time, it has become "dead"—and it is wonderful how many papers, in constant use one week, snatched out and exhibited time and time again, become later mere antiquities because the work they represent is done and disposed of.

The trashiest of the "dead" pieces go in the waste basket. The rest—those that may possibly come to life some day or be wanted in connection with another task—are filed—this time in the ordinary and accepted sense of the word "file." They go either into the general office files, if they belong there, or they go into my own private subject file if they are such that no other department could or would want them.

So I go on, working from the bottom up until the newness and recency of the pieces I encounter warns me they are likely to be wanted any moment because they concern work still unfinished. There I stop, and restore the now much reduced pile to its drawer, to be the foundation of today's and tomorrow's and next week's accumulations.

I got this system from an advertising expert who is one of the shrewdest and cleverest judges of office methods I ever met. He has used the method for years and it works perfectly. I never knew him to be flurried or hurried in laying his hand on any paper. The precise document he needed seemed to appear in his hand as though it had materialized from thin air. He would simply reach to the one drawer and draw out what he required while he was talking about it.

A good many business men—retailers and other heads of businesses—unconsciously carry out the first part of this system. They let papers accumulate in piles from day to day. Very much so! But this is planlessness rather than plan. These men allow papers to pile up unsorted, not because they have any method in so doing, but merely because that is a lazy man's way. "When they want anything from the heap, there is a hurried, scrambling search, with subdued "cussing" perhaps, but the desired document seldom is found.

I sometimes think my method has a kind of philosophical basis. If we look upon a file as a kind of mechanical memory (and sometimes it is called so) then the ideal basis for filing would be that of the human memory—and we all know that facts are filed in our brains mostly by "recency." "We remember today's events best, yesterday's less well, and so on."

I have used this system for 10 years, with infinite saving of nerve wear and tear.



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Elements of a Good Business Letter

Elements of a Good Business Letter by Adrian Kennelly

The essentials which go to make up a good business letter may be divided into two classes—mechanical make-up, and contents. Before a letter can come into existence the mechanical side must be attended to. The subject matter may be pertinent and well composed and yet the letter itself be so arranged typo-graphically and so disposed on the page that the unity of the whole is lost.

The display as a whole should balance. Before the stenographer starts the address, calculation should be made as to how many lines the letter will run and as to how it should be disposed on the page. The body of the letter should neither be crowded near the top nor bottom of the sheet, but should be so placed that, viewed in connection with the letter head, it presents a well balanced and artistic effect. This effect is often underrated, being in fact passed by without a thought by the average stenographer, and the ordinary business man is so busy seeing that his dictation is correctly transcribed that he gives little thought to this essential. Harmony of color effect should be observed. A yellow paper bearing the firm announcement in blue, the letter in green and signed with purple ink is not to be recommended.

Letters blurred in copying and wet from the press or otherwise violating the rule of neatness cannot help but produce an unfavorable impression. Orthography and capitalization, particularly of proper names, should be exact and uniform.

A misspelled word in the body of a letter, particularly if a mere transposition of letters in typewriting, may occasionally slip in and do no particular damage, but the misspelling of the name of the party addressed may lose an order, and cannot help but militate against the general effect of the letter. Neatness uncompromising neatness—that should be the first effect of a letter, giving the idea that the firm putting out the writing is thorough master of the minor (as well as the major) details of its business.

Contents

In letter-writing, contents may be divided into subject matter and expression. The subject matter is, broadly speaking, what the writer says. This should coincide with two other things—

(1) what the writer wants to say, and
(2) what the one addressed wants to know.

Something which is the a b c of life and a mere matter of routine to the writer in a certain line may be abstruse and complicated to a non-technical reader. To avoid an offensive simplicity of language on the one hand and excessive technicality on the other is one of the tests of a good business correspondent. There is a tendency to slight simple questions asked by different inquirers day after day, which must be avoided by putting oneself in the place of the one asking the question, and giving the knowledge for which he is looking.

One of the most, if not the most, important essentials of a good business letter lies in correct expression. The one thing which causes more failures in business correspondence than any other, is the incorporation of personal peculiarities in a letter. There may be called to mind, in fact, more than one established business backed by ample capital, having a broad field and financed by capable and conservative business men, that is at the mercy of a poor correspondent. This is ably expressed by Forrest Crissy, who says:

"So apparent must be the importance of this branch (tact and tone in business letters) of business systematization, that scarcely a word of argument is needed to enforce its necessity. Very recently a large whole-sale merchant said to me:

'I have recently been obliged to discharge the head of my credit department—my confidential man. He is honest, conservative and shrewd, but recently I have been awakened to the fact that his incapacity to write a letter which does not leave a sting, a chill, or at least a sense of lofty indifference, is hurting my business more than would some downright reckless blunders. When he writes a letter granting a good customer a larger line of credit he gives it a twist that somehow makes that customer wish he hadn't asked for credit and thus placed himself under added obligations. And if he refuses to meet the request for such a favor the refusal is so put that it seems a studied effort to conceal a strong unwillingness to give any credit at all. Yet this man has always considered him-self an adept in letter-writing—and for a time he completely hypnotized me into that view. But at last the steady withdrawal of patronage and the occasional out-spoken retorts which his letters provoked forced upon me a recognition of the real condition of affairs. Then I went out after a man who could write a business letter that had just the right ring to it; that was neither so sloppy that it sounded hypocritical or so stiff and stilted that there was no tone of good hearty business friendliness in it. I have found him. He comes high, but the difference in results is remarkable. Of course, there are other things required than this form of literary ability—if that's what you'd call it. He must have business experience, business judgment and all the other cardinal business virtues; but the addition of this peculiar capacity to write business letters that hit the mark is a rare gift and makes him a star man.' "

Simplicity and clearness as an element of expression cannot be rated too highly. The saying of a thing in the plain language of the common people, not only adds to the style and dignity of a letter, but has the most vital element of being understandable. As Chas. R. Weirs says, "Eloquence, either real or imaginary, has no place in a business letter."

Whatever else may be neglected in writing, courtesy should not be slighted. A man may be told nearly anything face to face—it is qualified by the bearing, tone of voice, manner and earnestness of the speaker. A sentence may be given an entirely different meaning by a tone or gesture—it may even be diplomatically changed after partly spoken, to make it conform to the unconscious demand of the listener, and most of all—spoken speech is transient. What is written, on the other hand, is put down in black and white to stay. The record is permanent. It can be offered in evidence, can be dug up years afterwards from a musty file, and discourteously written can queer, not only an immediate sale, but the sales of a decade.

Length

Letters often tend to verbosity from the fact that they are dictated instead of written. Were a man to write his letters himself with pen and ink he would study brevity and conciseness of expression, but having letters written for him, he will dictate more than he would write. Brevity is not always desirable. Some people—particularly those receiving few letters— like to receive lengthy correspondence. Getting few letters, they wish those long and newsy. A letter is an event to some patrons and cannot be too long for a careful perusal. In this class of letters the party ad-dressed may be often appealed to in conversational style; as, "Judge of the goods yourself, Mr. Brown," "We ask you, Mr. Smith, if we have not treated you fairly?" etc. At the other extreme is the business man, particularly the city business man. To him, brevity to the point of curtness is always welcome. As someone has alliteratively said, the formula for a business letter to a busy man is: Sir: Say it. Stop!

Judging the Other Man's Letter.

One of the pre-requisites of a good correspondent is the ability, inherent or acquired to judge the general character and status of the writer by means of his letters. Until the last few years the letter-head of a firm was a considerable guide to the standing of the company putting It out, but good printing is now much more common and many one-horse concerns put out conservative, well-gotten-up stationery.

Ability to recognize the efforts of an amateur or schoolboy inquiring for a catalog with no intention of buying and to treat the writer accordingly, call for almost occult powers. The president of one of the large machinery companies putting out a cement mixer selling at $850.00, relates that one of the company travelers visited Detroit in response to an apparently good lead and found a twelve-year-old boy wanted a dozen cement mixers "to go into the mail-order business with."

Some companies putting out expensive catalogs write a letter asking a doubtful inquirer to fill out an information blank before sending a catalog. The correct interpretation of the personality of a writer means the saving of dollars of expenditure as well as the ability to write him correctly. In a fire insurance concern employing hundreds of agents it would be easy for a manager to inform himself through his special agents as to each agent's nationality, education, experience in the business, etc., and vary his correspondence accordingly, while a mail order house might have no means of judging a man but by his bare letter.

Form Letters

A form letter is one of a series of letters, to be sent on similar occasions. Such letters are usually in imitation typewriting with blanks left for the name of the party addressed, and when carefully executed are a close imitation of a typewritten letter. Form letters vary from those not to be distinguished from actual typewriting, to the stock letters of collection agencies, in which no attempt is made to imitate the machine. Some writers use a number of short forms or inserts which they use in dictating to avoid a repetition of dictation.

Letters of Recommendation

The promiscuous writing of letters of recommendation has done much to cheapen the effect of recommends. Many firms refuse such letters entirely. Perhaps the best plan is to have an employee, when leaving, use his former employer's name as a reference.



This is an extract from The Businessmans Encyclopedia

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