成功之路

It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.
年輕人創(chuàng)業(yè)之初，應(yīng)該從最底層干起，這是件好事。匹茲堡有很多商業(yè)巨頭，在他們創(chuàng)業(yè)之初，都不情愿地肩負(fù)過“重任”。他們與掃帚相伴，以打掃辦公室的方式度過了他們在商業(yè)生涯中最初的日子。我注意到我們現(xiàn)在辦公室里都有工友，所以很可惜，年輕人就錯過了商業(yè)教育中這個有益的環(huán)節(jié)。如果碰巧哪天上午，專職掃地的工友沒有來，某個具有未來合伙人氣質(zhì)的年輕人便會毫不猶豫地試著拿起掃帚。新來的員工在必要時，掃掃地也無妨，你并不會因此而有什么損失。我自己就曾經(jīng)掃過地......

Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is “aim high”. I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, “My place is at the top.” Be king in your dreams.
加入你已經(jīng)找到工作，并且有了一個良好的開端，我對你的建議就是：要志存高遠(yuǎn)。一個年輕人，如果不曾把自己想象成是一家大公司未來的老板或是合伙人，那我就會對他不屑一顧。在任何企業(yè)，不管它的規(guī)模有多大，你的內(nèi)心都不要滿足于做一個首席助理、領(lǐng)班或者總經(jīng)理。要對自己說：我要邁向頂尖！要做就做你夢想之國里的國王。

And here is the prime condition of success, the great secret: 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, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it.
成功的首要條件和最大秘訣就是：把你的精力、思想和資本全都集中在你正在從事的事業(yè)上。一旦開始從事某種職業(yè)，就要下定決心在那一領(lǐng)域闖出一片天地來：不斷提高自己，采用最優(yōu)良的設(shè)備，對專業(yè)知識熟稔于心。

The concerns which fail are those which have scattered their capital, which means that they have scattered their brains also. They have investments in this, or that, or the other, here there, and everywhere. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” is all wrong. I tell you to “put all your eggs in one basket, and then watch that basket.” Look round you and take notice, men who do that not often fail. It is easy to watch and carry the one basket. It is trying to carry too many baskets that breaks most eggs in this country. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up. One fault of the American businessman is lack of concentration.
過于分散自己資本的企業(yè)，注定會失敗，因為分散資本就意味著分散了他們的精力。他們向這方面投資，又向那方面投資；在這里投資，在那里投資，到處都投資。“不要把所有的雞蛋放在一個籃子里”的說法其實大錯特錯。我要對你說：“把所有的雞蛋都放在一個籃子里，然后小心地看好那個籃子。”看看你周圍，你會注意到：這么做的人其實很少失敗。提著一個籃子并看好它，并不太難。在我們國家，想同時提很多籃子的人往往打破的雞蛋最多。提三個籃子的人，必須把一個頂在頭上，而這個籃子很可能掉下來，把他自己絆倒。美國商人的一個錯誤就是沒有集中自己的精力。

To summarize what I have said: aim for the highest; never enter a bar room; do not touch liquor, or if at all only at meals; never speculate; never indorse beyond your surplus cash fund; make the firm’s interest yours; break orders always to save owners; concentrate; put all your eggs in one basket, and watch that basket; expenditure always within revenue; lastly, be not impatient, for as Emerson says, “no one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourselves.”
總結(jié)一下，我所說的：要志存高遠(yuǎn)；不要出入酒吧；要滴酒不沾，要喝也只在用餐時喝少許；不要投機；不要寅吃卯糧；要把公司的利益當(dāng)作你自己的利益；要專注；把所有的雞蛋放在一個籃子里，然后小心地看好它；要量入為出；最后一點，要有耐心，就像艾默生所言：“除了你自己沒人能真正阻止你成功。”