Recognition of this truth is behind the very
general movement, both here and abroad, to
provide the best possible conditions both in the
factories and the home environment of workers.
Employers are coming more and more to un-
<p 122>
derstand that conservation of physical forces
means maximum output. The foundation,
of course, is a clean, spacious, well-lighted, and
perfectly ventilated factory in a situation which
affords pure air and accessibility to the homes
of employees. In England and Germany the
advance towards this ideal has taken form in
the ``garden cities'' of which the plant is the
nucleus and the support. In America there is
no lack of industrial towns planned and built
as carefully as the works to which they are
tributary.
Some have added various ``welfare'' features,
ranging from hot luncheons served at
cost, free baths, and medical attendance to
night schools for employees to teach them how
to live and work to better advantage. The
profit comes back in the increased efficiency
of the employees.
_Even though the health be perfect and the
attitude of attention be sustained the will is
unable to retain concentration by an effort for
more than a few seconds at a time_.
When the mind is concentrated upon an
<p 123>
object, this object must develop and prove
interesting, otherwise there will be required
every few seconds the same tug of the will.
This concentration by voluntary attention is
essential, but cannot be permanent. To secure
enduring concentration we may have to
``pull ourselves together'' occasionally, but the
necessity for such efforts should be reduced.
This is accomplished by developing interest
in the task before us, through application of
the fundamental motives such as self-preservation,
imitation, competition, loyalty, and
the love of the game.
If the task before me is essential for my
self-preservation, I shall find my mind riveted
upon it. If I hope to secure more from speculation
than from the completion of my present
tasks, then my self-preservation is not
dependent upon my work and my mind will
irresistibly be drawn to the stock market and
the race track. If I wish my work to be
interesting and to compel my undivided attention,
I should then try to make it appeal
to me as of more importance than anything
<p 124>
else in the world. I must be dependent upon
it for my income; I must see that others are
working and so imitate their action; I must
compete with others in the accomplishment
of the task; I must regard the work as a service
to the house; and I must in every possible
way try to ``get into the game.''
_This conversion of a difficult task into an
interesting activity is the most fruitful method of
securing concentration_.
Efforts of will can never be dispensed with,
but the necessity for such efforts should be
reduced to the minimum. The assumption
of the attitude of attention should gradually
become habitual during the hours of work, and
so take care of itself.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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