he was the logical
candidate; but the president of the company refused to promote him until
he had had a chance to demonstrate his ability to meet the social
requirements of his position. He conceded Parsons' brilliance, his
energy, and everything but his capacity to become genuinely interested
in the people who were both above and beneath him in the organization.
Inquiry revealed that he was making the best of a situation in which
neither he nor his wife had realized the importance of social activity.
Bear in mind that we do not mean a playboy temperament or a mercenary
attitude, but rather a genuineness in human contacts.

When the problem was laid before them, a program was laid out for them
to follow. Parsons and his wife called on everyone they felt should not
be neglected, later inviting to their own home those who seemed in a
position to help them. During these second visits, the conversation was
turned to what might be done by "people like ourselves" to prevent
getting into a rut. Dozens of helpful activities were recommended, and
they made it a business to explore the most valuable, so that they could
tell others about forthcoming meetings of discussion groups, plays,
lectures, and the like. Within six months, they had entirely overcome
the president's objection, and a year later Parsons was promoted to the
other position at a $2000 increase in salary.

Two facts will occur immediately to anyone who is an intelligent
observer of such things: first, Parsons and his wife had a better time
after the change than before; and second, business expects people to
discover these things for themselves. This couple were more than usually
fortunate to be led by the hand up to this new experience.

Business gave Parsons his chance when it permitted him to demonstrate
his ability. Quick jumps in business are not made available to people
upon the basis of their belief that they can qualify. Business would be
guilty of rash speculation with its funds if positions were given to any
except those who had demonstrated their qualifications in advance.
Business has no time for or patience with those who do not recognize the
importance of these things. We have no license to give responsibility to
those who say: "I didn't know that this was important. Give me a trial,
and I will do my best to learn quickly." The answer to that is: "We have
another man who has been qualifying for many years. He saw the place of
these things in busines