It is possible to make the greatest success turn aside from beaten paths, leave the accustomed haunts of the successful, and go to a place where no such success ever before has been established.  The Mayo brothers compelled their success as world renowned surgeons to come to them at the little city of Rochester, Minnesota.  Elbert Hubbard brought fame to East Aurora, New York, by founding there his school of philosophy and the Roycrofters.

[Sidenote:  Over-specialized Preparation]

Almost as common as the mistake of first looking far afield for success opportunities, is the error of over-particularizing one’s original preparation.  If you think now that you want to be a lawyer, you should prepare yourself especially by studying law, of course.  But you should not exclude preparation for other vocations.  Judge Gary was thoroughly prepared for legal practice.  Doubtless when he began his studies of law he expected to continue in his chosen profession.  But he did not neglect to prepare himself in general business capability.  So when his biggest chance came, he was ready to step out of his law practice and into a manufacturing industry.  There he fitted himself for the position of chief executive in the immense United States Steel Corporation.

The ability of a master salesman is not limited to getting orders for just one line of goods, or to selling only to certain buyers.  He has all-around sales knowledge and skill.  Though he naturally sells to better advantage in some fields than in others, he can attain a high degree of efficiency in selling anything meritorious, because of his broad and diversified preparation.

[Sidenote:  Varied and Adaptable Preparation]

Your preparation for all the possibilities of success you may be able to reach hereafter should be similarly varied and adaptable; though you will be wise to specialize, in addition, by making more detailed preparation for the vocation of your choice.  At twenty the average man cannot know for what he is best fitted.  He may not be sure even at thirty.  The start toward eventual success has often been delayed until middle life.  To cite my own case, I prepared myself especially for the career of a certified public accountant, but found my greatest success in the profession of selling.  I was able to grasp my biggest opportunity in the sales field because, though I had been devoting my time and energies chiefly to accountancy, I had studied and practiced salesmanship for years in order to market my own services most effectively.

While preparing yourself for success, keep your mental eyes wide open.  Perceive any and all chances about you, however much you specialize in your preparation for a selected career.

[Sidenote:  Preparation In Salesmanship]