Don't Spread Yourself Too Thin

Engage in one kind of business only, and stick to it faithfully until you succeed, or until your experience shows that you should abandon it. A constant hammering on one nail will generally drive it home at last, so that it can be clinched. When a man's undivided attention is centered on one object, his mind will constantly be suggesting improvements of value, which would escape him if his brain was occupied by a dozen different subjects at once. Many a fortune has slipped through a man's fingers because he was engaged in too many occupations at a time. There is good sense in the old caution against having too many irons in the fire at once.

Focus on just one kind of business, and stick with it until you succeed or experience shows you should quit. Keep hammering the same nail, and you will usually drive it in far enough to bend the end securely. When a man gives one goal his full attention, his mind will keep suggesting useful improvements. He would miss those improvements if he were thinking about a dozen different subjects at once. Many a man has let a fortune slip through his fingers because he was doing too many jobs at once. There is good sense in the old warning against having too many irons in the fire at once.