I believe the true road to preeminent success in any line is to make yourself master in that line. I have no faith in the policy of scattering one's resources, and in my experience I have rarely if ever met a man who achieved preeminence in money making.. certainly never one in manufacturing.. who was interested in many concerns.
Interpretation
To achieve true success, focus on mastering one area rather than spreading your efforts too thin.
In this quote, Andrew Carnegie emphasizes the importance of dedicating oneself to mastering a specific field or profession in order to achieve exceptional success. He argues that dividing attention and resources among multiple pursuits dilutes potential and hinders the ability to excel, suggesting that true preeminence comes from deep, focused expertise in one area rather than superficial engagement in many.
In practice
This quote could inspire entrepreneurs at a business seminar to specialize in their craft.
Give me the life of the boy whose mother is nurse, seamstress, washerwoman, cook, teacher, angel, and saint, all in one, and whose father is guide, exemplar, and friend. No servants to come between. These are the boys who are born to the best fortune.
To kill a man will be considered as disgusting [in the twentieth century] as we in this day consider it disgusting to eat one.
It is not the rich man's son that the young struggler for advancement has to fear in the race for life, nor his nephew, nor his cousin. Let him look out for the dark horse in the boy who begins by sweeping out the office.
You are what you think. So just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big and live big.
Speculation is a parasite feeding upon values, creating none.
Don't be content with doing only your duty. Do more than your duty. It's the horse that finishes a neck ahead that wins the race.
Stop looking for the 'right' career, and start looking for a job. Any job. Forget about what you like. Focus on what's available. Get yourself hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work. Become indispensable. You can always quit later, and be no worse off than you are today.
I have always believed that the only way to cope with a cash crisis is not to contract but to try to expand out of it.
I think what has allowed me to be successful is that I can absorb more information than most and drill down to the key business elements of that information and make faster decisions. And of course, I truly try to enjoy every minute of my life. I can never understand why anyone wouldn't.
The only way to reach the mountain peaks of life is to forget about self and help other people reach greater heights.
I think luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it... The man who can smile at his breaks and grab his chances gets on.
There is no such thing as luck, merely opportunity meeting preparedness. George S. Patton Jr.
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