52. The Road to Success
52. 成功之道
Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is "aim high". I would not give a fit 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.
假如你已經(jīng)被錄用,并且有了一個良好的開端,我對你的建議是:要志存高遠。一個年輕人,如采不把自己想象成一家大公司未來的老板或者是合伙人,那我會對他不屑一顧。不論職位有多高,你的內(nèi)心都不要滿足于做一個總管、領班或者總經(jīng)理。要對自己說:我要邁向頂尖!要斗坎就做你夢想中的國王!
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 it in, 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域闖出一片天地來;做這一行業(yè)的領導人物,采納每一點改進之心,采用最優(yōu)良的設備,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 w ho 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.
一些公司的失敗就在于他們分散了資金,因為這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。看管和攜帶一個籃子并不太難。人們總是試圖提很多籃子,所以才打破這個國家的大部分雞蛋。提三個籃子的人,必須把一個頂在頭上,而這個籃子很可能倒下來,把他自己絆倒。美國商人的一個缺點就是不夠?qū)Wⅰ?/p>
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."
把我的話歸納一下:要志存高遠;不要出入酒吧;要滴滴不沾,或要喝也只在用餐時喝少許;不要做投機買賣;不要簽署支付超過儲備的現(xiàn)金利潤的款項;要把公司的利益當作自己的利益;取消訂貨的目的永遠是為了挽救貨主;要專注;要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,要有耐心,正如愛默生所言,“誰都無法阻止你最終成功,除非你自己承認自己失敗。”
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