1900 Harry Johnsons Bartenders Manual (Mixellany)

— 70 — 23. A TIP TO THE BEGINNER.-HOW TO MAKE MONEY. Any one going into our line of business starts, nat- urally, with the hope and intention of realizing profit; but it is not as easy as is generally supposed to make money and become very successful, although, more or less, every one imagines that he possesses all the qual- ifications required to conduct a thriving business. I have found it so, especially, with first-class bartenders, head-waiters, stewards, and head-cooks; the reason be- ing that they think they have full knowledge of the business, in all its details. The fact that they are per- fect in their specialty is not a proof nor a guarantee that they will be successful in managing a general business. On the contrary, it is the men who are so self-confident that usually fail. I have had in my employ thousands of people, bartenders, waiters, etc., and among these have been many brilliant men in their particular specialty or calling. But it is a sad truth that only a small percentage of these men, who have afterward begun business for themselves, have succeeded. There are various reasons for their fail- ure. In some cases, these capable men were generally over-conceited, and. that characteristic is not sufficient to give a control over all the different lines of our business. It does not necessarily- prove, at least, that one has the qualifications to be a "boss." Others, such as very clever bartenders, who worked for a number of years in a first-class place and becoming very pop- ular, came to the conclusion that the large extra trade there was entirely on their own account. They were led astray by taking a notion that they ought to open a similar establishment in the vicinity, because they were laboring under the conceited impression that all their friends and acquaintances would follow them, and give them exclusive patronage. I don't make these