Are You a Go-Getter?

Many years ago I encountered a story about being a "go-getter". It's story about a man named Bill Peck, a former soldier, who is put through a test of obtaining a “blue vase” by his new employer. The story relates how Cappy Ricks, the retired owner of Ricks Logging and Lumber Company, encourages the new President of the company, Mr. Skinner, to hire Bill Peck after discovering that Mr. Peck is a go-getter. Against his will Mr. Skinner agrees to hire Mr. Peck, all the while believing that Mr. Peck will not be able to carry the load of the job. In the beginning of the story Mr. Peck proves Mr. Skinner wrong and gives Cappy Ricks and Mr. Skinner reason to believe that he may be worth a promotion.

To verify that their instincts are correct about promoting Mr. Peck, Cappy Ricks decides to put him through the test of the “blue vase”, the ultimate test of the go-getter. The four promary lessons to be gained from the test of the Blue Vase are:
*Believe in yourself. Mr. Peck provides a great reminder that we all need to believe in ourselves. If there is anyone who could consider themselves down and out it is a war vet with a leg limp and only half of an arm on one side. However, Mr. Peck does not let this get him down. He approached his first meeting with Cappy Ricks with all the belief in the world, and sold himself to the business owner by refusing to take no for an answer.
*Act with determination. Throughout the book Mr. Peck displays his determination time and time again. From the beginning of the book when he was so determined to get the job that he had already had business cards made, to later in the story when he refuses to take no for an answer and vows to do whatever it takes to obtain the “blue vase” for Cappy. Mr. Peck is a man on a mission, determined to deliver the “blue vase” to his employer.
*Don’t take “No” for an answer. Time and time again Mr. Peck reaches a point where it seems as if he is being told “no.” He meets resistance in many situations in his pursuit of the “blue vase”, but rather than packing it in and going home he finds ways to rethink his approach and create a new path towards the “blue vase.”
*Tell yourself “It Shall Be Done.” This is the saying that Mr. Peck shares with Cappy, a saying that he picked up from his commanding officer, who just happens to be an old employee of Cappy Ricks. It is the belief that even in times when you don’t know how to do something, you say “it shall be done” and then work to find a solution to the problem. It may not be easy, but if you truly believe you can achieve something your mind will help you create a plan to achieve it.

There is in this breif writing more wisdom in these few pages than there are in many books of much greater length. It would e great to make it a habit to re-read this book on a regular and basis and pickup new lessons from each reading.


"How could I reject a person who simply would not be rejected?"