r in detail
the question, "What, in your observation, are the chief causes of the
failure in life of business or professional men?" The causes
attributed by these representative men were as follows:

Bad habits; bad judgment; bad luck; bad associates; carelessness of
details; constant assuming of unjustifiable risks; desire to become
rich too fast; drinking; dishonest dealings; desire of retrenchment;
dislike to say no at the proper time; disregard of the Golden Rule;
drifting with the tide; expensive habits of life; extravagance: envy;
failure to appreciate one's surroundings; failure to grasp one's
opportunities; frequent changes from one business to another; fooling
away of time in pursuit of a so-called good time, gambling;
inattention; incompetent assistants; incompetency; indolence; jealousy.
Lack of attention to business; of application; of adaptation; of
ambition; of business methods; of capital; of conservatism; of close
attention to business; of confidence in self; of careful accounting; of
careful observation; of definite purpose; of discipline in early life;
of discernment of character; of enterprise; of energy; of economy; of
faithfulness; of faith in one's calling; of industry; of integrity; of
judgment; of knowledge of business requirements; of manly character; of
natural ability; of perseverance; of pure principles; of proper
courtesy toward people; of purpose; of pluck; of promptness in meeting
business engagements; of system. Late hours; living beyond one's
income; leaving too much to one's employees; neglect of details; no
inborn love for one's calling; over-confidence in the stability of
existing conditions; procrastination; speculative mania; selfishness;
self-indulgence in small vices; studying ease rather than vigilance;
social demoralization; thoughtless marriages; trusting one's work to
others; undesirable location; unwillingness to pay the price of
success; unwillingness to bear early privations; waste; yielding too
easily to discouragement.

Surely, here is material enough for a hundred sermons if one cared to
preach them. Without attempting to discuss all these causes of
failure, some few may be profitably examined.

No youth can hope to succeed who is timid, who lacks faith in himself,
who has not the courage of his convictions, and who always seeks for
certainty before he ventures. "Self-distrust is the cause of most of
our failures," said one. "In the assurance of strength there is