Music Trade Review

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REVIEW
THE
V O L . LIV. N o . 16
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, April 20,1912
SINGLE COPIES. 10 CENTS.
$3.00 PER VEAR.
Selecting a Profession Which Is Congenial
H
OW many men we see in certain trades or professions who are utterly unfitted to perform the
tasks set before them. In this country we give the youth greater freedom than prevails in the
older countries of Europe.
American parents as a rule study the natural bent of the children, whereas in England and on
the Continent a boy usually follows his father's trade or profession whether he is fitted for it or not.
Professions are given boys before they have reached an age where it is possible for them to give any
serious thought to the question of suitable pursuits
When a boy starts in a trade or profession utterly unfitted for it, he is handicapping himself in a very
serious manner; and, w r hen a man's activities are turned into the wrong channel, it is pretty difficult to set
them right again.
According to my views every man has the ability to be a specialist in a particular line.
In other words, he is so constituted that there is one kind of work that he can perform far better than
any other; and many of the failures in life are due to the fact that the individual who fails has not suc-
ceeded in finding the sort of labor for which he is most fitted.
Take some of our old-time piano makers—men who founded the industry.
It was impossible for them to develop the business side—they did not have it in their natures. They
knew but one thing—how to make pianos.
They knew nothing about marketing them or about the problems of trade or commerce; but by-and-
bye there came along a line of men who possessed the business instinct.
They saw where development was possible and they were not long in developing the trade along com-
mercial and progressive lines.
They enjoyed that kind of work—they never would have been satisfied for one moment in drafting a
piano scale; and to succeed in any undertaking it is necessary that the work that we do should appeal to us.
We must be able to feel that we love our work, else it will lack the elements that make successful indi-
viduals possible.
Of course by the application of the qualities of self denial, persistence and adhesiveness we can compel
ourselves to do practically anything no matter how severely the work may go against the grain; but the
success which is attained under such conditions is invariably of the most mediocre character.
There can be no question but that temperament plays a vital part in all that we do.
Take the artistic temperament.
Imagine some of our great pianists poring over columns of figures or bound down to the restrictions of
the business world!
No matter how much money was offered them they simply could not do it—their temperament would
rebel.
After all, unless a man gets some happiness out of his profession why should he follow it?
For the progressive American there is unquestionably great opportunity—much greater than is af-
forded in Europe; but the one essential thing at the start is to select the right profession—a congenial one,
then a man can see opportunity ahead—he can see long wide vistas of possibilities opening up in this
great country which are marvelous. The European youth has no such chances.
A friend of mine, an Englishman, whose work in the scientific field is recognized the world over, told
me but a short time ago that at sixty he should giv-e up England and go to a new country where his sons
would have better opportunities than were afforded them under the conditions which prevailed in England.
While all of us to a certain extent can create opportunities, yet we cannot climb over impossibilities.
In other words, if the basic conditions do not permit of certain advance it is impossible to make it, for
a stream cannot rise higher than the fountain.