P.T. Barnum and The Art of Money Getting

When President Lincoln and his family entertained the world famous General Tom Thumb (made world famous by Mr. Barnum himself), Lincoln asked Tom if he had any suggestions about handling the war.

“Mr. President,” Tom replied, “my friend Barnum could settle the whole thing in a month.”

The more I read about P.T. Barnum, the more I am amazed at what he was able to accomplish throughout his life. He was a prolific writer, a journalist, a dynamic speaker, a master marketer, a millionaire, a politician, an abolitionist, a best-selling author, a maker of men and women, and founder of the Greatest Show on Earth.

Here is a link one of Mr. Barnum’s most famous speeches. The speech is entitled “The Art of Money Getting.” The speech was given well over 100 years ago and there is not a lesson that doesn’t directly apply today.

Please take time to read this speech. I definitely think you will find it as useful and powerful as I did.

Here are some of favorite excerpts of the speech:

Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done. But however easy it may be found to make money, I have no doubt many of my hearers will agree it is the most difficult thing in the world to keep it. The road to wealth is, as Dr. Franklin truly says, "as plain as the road to the mill." It consists simply in expending less than we earn.

The safest plan, and the one most sure of success for the young man starting in life, is to select the vocation which is most congenial to his tastes.

Young men starting in life should avoid running into debt. There is scarcely anything that drags a person down like debt.

Work at it, if necessary, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well now.

I hold that every man should, like Cuvier, the French naturalist, thoroughly know his business.

So in regard to wealth. Go on in confidence, study the rules, and above all things, study human nature.

Men should be systematic in their business. A person who does business by rule, having a time and place for everything, doing his work promptly, will accomplish twice as much and with half the trouble of him who does it carelessly and slipshod.

Politeness and civility are the best capital ever invested in business.