"business" in the Big Book

I studied economics and business as well as law.

Business and financial leaders were my heroes.

Then I got a promising business opportunity.

Before then, I had written lots of sweet promises, but my wife happily observed that this time I meant business.

It was fortunate, for my old business associates remained skeptical for a year and a half, during which I found little work.

Business and professional men have regained their standing.

A certain American business man had ability, good sense, and high character.

Here are some of the methods we have tried: Drinking beer only, limiting the number of drinks, never drinking alone, never drinking in the morning, drinking only at home, never having it in the house, never drinking during business hours, drinking only at parties, switching from scotch to brandy, drinking only natural wines, agreeing to resign if ever drunk on the job, taking a trip, not taking a trip, swearing off forever (with and without a solemn oath), taking more physical exercise, reading inspirational books, going to health farms and sanitariums, accepting voluntary commitment to asylums—we could increase the list ad infinitum.

He was ambitious to succeed in business, but saw that he would get nowhere if he drank at all.

He made up his mind that until he had been successful in business and had retired, he would not touch another drop.

An exceptional man, he remained bone dry for twenty-five years and retired at the age of fifty-five, after a successful and happy business career.

His family was re-assembled, and he began to work as a salesman for the business he had lost through drinking.

If ever there was a successful business man, it is Fred.

“In this frame of mind, I went about my business and for a time all was well.

My business came off well, I was pleased and knew my partners would be too.

Business failure, insanity, fatal illness, suicide— these calamities in his immediate family embittered and depressed him.

He is like the retired business man who lolls in the Florida sunshine in the winter complaining of the sad state of the nation; the minister who sighs over the sins of the twentieth century; politicians and reformers who are sure all would be Utopia

A business which takes no regular inventory usually goes broke.

If the owner of the business is to be successful, he cannot fool himself about values.

But with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is in­ finitely grave.

As we look over the list of business acquaintances and friends we have hurt, we may feel diffident about going to some of them on a spiritual basis.

While drinking, he accepted a sum of money from a bitterly-hated business rival, giving him no receipt for it.

It may mean the loss of many nights’ sleep, great interference with your pleasures, interruptions to your business.

Therefore, ask yourself on each occasion, “Have I any good social, business, or personal reason for going to this place?

If it is a happy occasion, try to increase the pleasure of those there; if a business occasion, go and attend to your business enthusiastically.

He is positive he can handle his liquor, that it does him no harm, that drinking is necessary in his business.

His business may suffer somewhat.

Perhaps he can still tend to business fairly well.

If he is already committed to an institution, but can convince you and your doctor that he means business, give him a chance to try our method, unless the doctor thinks his mental condition too abnormal or dangerous.

But the head of the house has spent years in pulling down the structures of business, romance, friendship, health—these things are now ruined or damaged.

He may either plunge into a frantic attempt to get on his feet in business, or

some of his manifestations are alarming and disagreeable, we think dad will be on a firmer foundation than the man who is placing business or professional success ahead of spiritual development.

A mong many employers nowadays, we think of one member who has spent much of his life in the world of big business.

His present views ought to prove exceptionally useful to business men everywhere.

My downfall cost the business community unknown thousands of dollars, for it takes real money to train a man for an executive position.

We think the business fabric is shot through with a situation which might be helped by better understanding all around.

Of an evening, you can go on a mild bender, get up in the morning, shake your head and go to business.

If your decision is yes, whether the reason be humanitarian or business or both, then the following suggestions may be helpful.

You, as a business man, want to know the necessities before considering the result.

He wants to quit drinking and you want to help him, even if it be only a matter of good business.

We all had to place recovery above everything, for without recovery we would have lost both home and business.

Can he talk frankly with you so long as he does not bear business tales or criticize his associates?

Wherever men are gathered together in business there will be rivalries and, arising out of these, a certain amount of office politics.

He may wish to do a lot for other alcoholics and something of the sort may come up during business hours.

If he is conscientiously following the program of recovery he can go anywhere your business may call him.

If you are sure he doesn’t mean business, there is no doubt you should discharge him.

There is a real interest, both humanitarian and business, in the well-being of employees.

We, who have collectively seen a great deal of business life, at least from the alcoholic angle, had to smile at this gentleman’s sincere opinion.

From a business standpoint, his trip came off badly.

Why, he argued, should he lose the remainder of his business, only to bring still more suffering to his family by foolishly admitting his plight to people from whom he made his livelihood?

He trembled as he went about, for this might mean ruin, particularly to a person in his line of business.

I’m ready to do business.

No one is too discredited or has sunk too low to be welcomed cordially—if he means business.