If it is as simple as this, why the need of saying it?  The need is brought about by the painful fact that one of the characteristics of habit action is to continue on without change even after the mind has apparently recognized that a change should be made.  Success comes not from the mere word knowledge of these things, but through action.

SPECIALIZATION.

Of the many elements on which industrial development depends, the question of specialization looms large.

Under the general term “specialization” we include all plans and methods of work by which the scope of activity of man is concentrated.

The highest degree of skill of artist or worker is attained by concentration of energies to a restricted range of work.  It is through practice that the skill is acquired.  The highest skill and highest ability is attained by the degree of interested attention and number of repetitions of a given kind of work.

Other things being equal, the practice, combined with keenness of interest, makes the most successful man in a given profession or work.

Repetition of operation becomes an automatic (habit) action in which man accomplishes the most work for a given expenditure of energy.

These two results—­proficiency and easy performance—­are of greatest value, but repetition of action, like nearly all good things, is not without its drawbacks.  An overdose of one kind of work with a limited range of action frequently leads to dulling the senses.  This stultifying effect produces a most undesirable result.  The harm begins when there is a loss of interest in the work, for it is through the interest that the progress is made.  The dividing line between the good and bad results varies with different types of men.

The simplest tasks may become of intense interest to the scientist and he may achieve great success in a work that to others seems monotonous drudgery.  But with all its drawbacks it still is the best way for man to work and while we must labor to eliminate the condition of drudgery, we must face the plain fact that competition between men, industries, states and nations makes it absolutely necessary to specialize.

Specialization by the men and groups of men will determine the question of superiority of advance in science, industry, commerce, general wealth and welfare, as well as military strength in the time of war.

While we have clearly before us the degrading effects of repetition of distasteful tasks; we must not ignore the other extreme.

The opposite condition is the employment of energies of mind and body in ways that cannot produce high degree of ability.  With such desultory use of energies, a day’s work is of relatively small value, and there is no progress.

Of the two extremes we find the most prevalent to be the scatter-brain and scatter ability type.