34 FRITZ BAHR'S COMMERCIAL FLORICULTURE 



his home and those in it, and is respected by those with whom he 

 comes in contact. 



It is the easiest thing in the world for a florist to acquire the 

 spending habit from some of his patrons or succumb to the tempta- 

 tion to buy doubtful stocks when he could invest his profits to good 

 advantage in his own business — from which they came. To be suc- 

 cessful in business and make money is one thing; to live a useful 

 life and spend your money to best advantage is quite another. 

 There is many a nervous breakdown that isn't caused by overwork. 

 Yet it is well to get into the habit of forgetting all about your busi- 

 ness when you reach home, and into the "smiling face" habit. This 

 acts like sunshine upon those with whom you come in contact. 



You rise not by pulling others down, but rather as the result 

 of helping others up. You cannot gain anything by envying those 

 with lots of money, but you profit much by imitating those blessed 

 with Httle, but who make the best use of it. The real optimist is he 

 who lives and works to make himself optimistic. As to troubles, 

 "today" is the "tomorrow" you worried about yesterday — but you 

 have lived through it. 



A FEW WORDS ABOUT SUCCESS 



If I depart here for a moment from the usual course one is sup- 

 posed to pursue in writing a book of this kind, it is because I wouldn't 

 consider my work complete without touching on this subject. 



To be successful in whatever we undertake is what we are after. 

 But all too often a man will think of nothing else under that name 

 but the making of money. So much in Ufe is valued in terms of 

 dollars and cents, that to show a way to get hold of the dollars, and 

 if possible, to get them easily, is frequently regarded as all important. 

 While I sincerely hope that the contents of this book may help a 

 good many to do that very thing, I feel as if I ought to present also 

 my view on the deeper meaning of the word "Success," the practice 

 of which on my part has helped me to a better understanding of Ufe 

 and a keener appreciation of the good and enjoyment there is in it. 



It is the easiest thing in the world to dish out advice. Quite 

 frequently those who are most liberal with it heed but little of it 

 themselves, although oftentimes they are most in need of it. They 

 are like the fellow who knows all about potting; who knows and 

 can tell you just how to do it, but who, in the potting shed, accom- 

 plishes less than any of the others who don't say much, but keep on 

 potting. 



The offering of suggestions on how to be, or become, successful 

 m hfe (which includes business) might be taken the same way. 

 Yet as we go on through hfe, the ups and downs and changing en- 

 vironments are bound to make impressions on us, shape our thoughts 

 and give rise to opinions, which sometimes may be of use to others. 



