A very clever way of illustrating this principle, as succinctly as possible.Three brothers were discussing their standing in the world of business and their individual prospects for success.
One of them, whose name was A. Bility, proudly said:
"Owners of businesses and their executives want brains. They will pay any price for skill, capacity, dexterity. They want brains—ability—above all else. Therefore, I am the most eagerly sought of all, and I shall succeed beyond you both."
The second son was named Sta Bility. He wrinkled his brow in deep thought before he spoke.
"You may be right, brother. A. Bility is a great asset for any individual or any organization. But then you must remember what more than one of our great captains of industry has said."
"What was that?" demanded A. Bility, with just a note of disdain in his voice.
"Why, just this," answered Sta Bility, slowly, "that loyalty, energy, good sense, honesty, and day-in and day-out stick-to-it-iveness are as important as brilliancy or highly developed talents."
The third brother, whose name was Adapta Bility, remained silent, an interested listener to what his brothers were saying.
A. Bility turned to him and said: "Well, Sunny Jim, which is more desirable, think you—A. Bility or Sta Bility? Which will achieve the greater success?"
Adapta Bility smiled.
"I think you are both right, brothers. There is no question in my mind but what A. Bility, with his power of doing, his quick, brilliant manoeuvres, his ideas and his resourcefulness, is a very valuable asset to any man or business."
A. Bility smiled.
"At the same time," continued Adapta Bility, "we must not forget that on many occasions when A. Bility is discouraged and tired after a poor trip on the road, or when he is in the dumps over a failure in trying to 'sell' the boss an idea, old Sta Bility, here, keeps right on ringing the time-clock punctually and pluckily, steadily tackling the tasks as they come along, lifting the top sheet off the pile, finishing it, and then taking up number two, three, four, and so on, in their order. Without him on the job, much time, much effort, much of the results of A. Bility's endowments would certainly be lost."
A. Bility squirmed in his chair restlessly. Sta Bility was listening intently.
"Of course," laughed Adapta Bility, "there are executives, particularly those over forty, who, while appreciating fully your genius, A. Bility, and your solidness, Sta Bility, are continuously wishing that I was on the pay-roll. You know how it is; there are many times when both of you resent a change in your work, a seeming slight by a boss who is too busy to be super-thoughtful all the time; or you become piqued because a new man is brought in to specialize on some important, highly remunerative work in which neither of you have been trained. That 's why some of them say, 'Give me twenty-five per cent, brains and balance, and seventy-five per cent, good disposition,—the tact and desire to get along well with all my organization and with me,—and I 'll be satisfied with my men, and they 'll all make bigger successes than either the high pressure temperamentals or the plodding grouchers ever will'."
As the calm tones of Adapta Bility's voice died away, he leaped quickly to his feet and smilingly slipped his arms about his father and mother, who entered the room together at that moment. The father's name was Relia Bility and the mother's Desira Bility.
"We heard you boys arguing," explained the father, looking at them seriously, "so Mother and I thought we should come in. We are both older and more experienced in the ways of the world," he continued, while the mother smiled lovingly at her sons, "and we, of course, do not wish to see you make any mistakes. Would you care for our counsel at this time?"
"Surely!" exclaimed Adapta Bility, smilingly.
"Yes, sir," replied Sta Bility, slowly.
"If you wish," answered A. Bility, after the others had spoken.
"We think and advise then," spoke Relia Bility, as his wife moved toward the boys and quietly joined their hands about her, "that you will do best to be partners—to join together inseparably, a triumphant triumvirate, which all men and all organizations will value and covet, each as much as the other, for you need each other, and together you make a perfect combination."
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