Before you seek it, be sure of your entire readiness for the opportunity you especially want.  You can much better afford to wait a little while for certain success than to rush, unready, into the field of your choice, risking the likelihood of failure that could be guarded against by intelligent preparation to succeed.

[Sidenote:  Do Not Start Unprepared]

A young man was offered a position of fine opportunity with a great banking house.  His ambition was to build his career in that particular organization.  But when the duties of the proffered situation were explained to him, he declined to undertake them at once; though he risked the chance that he might not get another such opportunity for employment by the financial institution of his choice.

“I am sorry,” he said to the cashier, “but I do not know enough about accounting to fill that job now.  It will take six months of hard work evenings to train myself to fit your needs.  Please give me other employment in the bank meanwhile, so I’ll be able to study the job at close range while getting ready for it.”

This was excellent salesmanship.  The candidate suggested in his words, tones, and actions that he recognized a real opportunity, that he comprehended all it involved, that he was willing to prepare himself adequately, and that he felt certain of his ability to fill the place after completing the necessary preparation.

The bank, however, was in immediate need of his services in the position offered to him.  So the cashier, who had been very well impressed by the young man’s attitude, told him to take the place, and offered to supply him with an accountant aide for six months.

[Sidenote:  Keeping the Opportunity Open]

“I would rather not,” the applicant persisted in declining.  “I mean to keep on climbing toward the top in this bank, once I get started; and I don’t want to begin as a cripple.  I couldn’t give thorough satisfaction now, even with an assistant on the accounting.  It is not good business for me to start by making a poor impression.  I’d prefer that you do not think of me as a man for whom excuses need to be made.  I wish to commence my work in that job, when I am ready, with your complete confidence that I can handle it—­not as a weak sister.”  He smiled winningly.

The failure of so skillful a salesman of ideas was simply impossible.  There is no getting away from such a high quality of salesmanship.  The cashier bought the present and prospective services of the young man who had demonstrated at the outset his comprehension of the first importance of preparation. The opportunity was kept open six months for the applicant in training, while he fitted himself for his future job.  This successful salesman of true ideas of his best capabilities is now a vice-president of the great financial institution.

“But,” you say, “suppose the cashier had been unable to wait, would not the young man’s over-emphasis of his attitude on preparation have prevented him from succeeding in his ambition?”