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Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success cover

Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success

Chapter 102: The Early Bird Gets the Worm
By Kelly Miller
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History - AmericanHistory - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The text surveys the social, educational, economic, and moral advancement of Colored Americans since emancipation, combining narrative chapters on leadership, labor, business, religion, health, and physical training with a detailed compendium of institutions. It presents statistics and government-sourced reports, profiles of schools and agencies (more than three hundred institutions described) and numerous photographs and portraits (over sixty illustrations), and offers practical advice on self-improvement, professional development, and community organization. Chapters address education, vocational and professional training, entrepreneurship, public employment, and civic life, aiming to document achievements and to guide further progress.

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

This is a saying that contains a large load of philosophy.

There is always a worm around for an early bird to pick up for breakfast. Of course it is very foolish for the worm to come out, but that is the way things are in this world.

What you have to do is to play the part of the bird by getting there first. To carry out the idea, remember that you are not the only bird after the foolish worm.

This means hustle on your part, and that is what every business must show—hustle.

In any event do not be the worm.

You watch the markets and take advantage of every fall in prices. Perhaps there is a small telegram in an out of the way place in your morning newspaper, which intimates that there is going to be a large shipment to market of potatoes, peaches, cabbages and so on. Down you go and put in an order at a small price and you get the product. Or, you have a lot on hand and a glut will lower prices. Up you get and down you go to sell out your lot at less than the market rates to those who have not yet seen the approach of a glut.

You do not have to wait for breakfast or for anything—just travel and hustle.

The weather report mentions a probable frost. Down you go and mark up the product likely to be affected. Everybody—every early bird is doing it, and it is the custom of business men to do this.

The worm picked up by the early bird is the man who says “Pooh! I don’t believe there is going to be any glut or any frost.”

This is a mighty big country and things are coming and going all the time. There is a big production and it is crowded to the point where there is liable to be a frost—that is a deficiency in the market, and then you have a glut. Keep your eyes and ears open and watch the market reports.