Two friends come to mind in this connection. One is a splendid woman we knew at college. She became a German teacher and up to the outbreak of the War had an instructorship in a western state university. The elimination of German lost her the position. "Why did you ever choose German, anyhow, Ruth?" we asked her. "Your abilities lie in such a different direction." "Because my favorite teacher in high school taught German," she replied. Enemies and Engineering ¶ An opposite case is that of a friend of ours who has worked in an uncongenial profession for thirty years. "You were meant for engineering, Tom," we told him. "With all the leanings you had in that direction, how did it happen you didn't follow it?" "Because the man who cheated my father out of all he had was an engineer!" he said. Never choose a new vocation just because you are _restless_. You will be more so if you get into the wrong one. The "Society" Delusion ¶ Never choose a vocation just because it promises _social standing_. The entree it gives will fail you unless you make good. And social standing isn't worth much anyhow. When you are in the work for which you were born you won't worry about social standing. It will come to you then whether you want it or not. And when it does you will care very little about it. The Entering Wedge ¶ Never take a certain job _for life_ just because people are _dependent_ upon you. Save enough to live one month without a job, preparing yourself meanwhile for an entering wedge into a vocation you do like. Then take a smaller-paying place if necessary to get started. If you really like the work you will do it so well you will promote yourself. You owe it to those who are dependent upon you to do this. Jack of All Trades ¶ Never do anything just to show you _can_. Don't let your versatility tempt you into following a number of lines of work for the purpose of demonstrating your ability. Versatility can be the greatest handicap of all; it tempts you to neglect intensive study, to flit, to become a "jack of all trades and master of none." Only Three Kinds of Work ¶ There are but three general classes of work. They are: WORK WITH PEOPLE; WORK WITH THINGS; WORK WITH IDEAS. Each individual is fitted by nature to do one of these _better_ than the others and there will be one class for which he has the _least_ ability. In the other one of the three he might make a mediocre success. Every individual should find a vocation furnishing that one of these three kinds of work for which he has the _greatest_ ability. Then he should go into the particular _branch_ of that vocation which is best adapted to his personality, training, education, environment and experience. * * * * * Part One VOCATIONS FOR ALIMENTIVES