The Great Secret of Success

Concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun in one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it; adapt every improvement, and know most about it.

The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or there, here, there and everywhere. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" is all wrong. I tell you "put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket." One fault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.

- Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919) from a speech given to the students of Curry Commercial College in Pittsburgh in 1885. From 'The Book of Business Wisdom: Classic Writings by the Legends of Commerce and Industry.' Edited by Peter Krass

Solid principles remain relevant regardless the passing of time. The wise study principles. The foolish follow the herd.