CHAPTER XXIX

HABIT AND ADAPTABILITY

We become strongly attached to our old habits and re-
sent anything which requires us to change them. Men
who are supervising the work of others, or trying to in-
fluence their actions, should realize this, and make allow-
ance for it when new and improved ways of doing things
are being introduced . Just as it takes effort to get a
wagon out of the deeply worn ruts of a country road and
to wear a new and smoother and better track, so it will
require painful and painstaking effort for men to get
themselves out of their old ruts of action and to acquire
better habits of doing things. One circumstance which
should console them in making the effort, is that the new
habits when thoroughly acquired will, in turn, become
pleasureable ways of acting.
Habit always counsels to let well enough alone. To
get a man out of such a rut one will have to show that
the nevv way is so much better that it will pay to take it
up. In doing this, one may at times have to fire some hot
shot at the pestilential dry rot of habit, which is ever
threatening to destroy the life of business. In any kind
of business one is ever liable to get to running in a rut
which will carry him far out of the line of progress. The
times are constantly changing and we must change with
them. One who does not grow and keep up with the
times will ultimately fail.
