安德鲁·卡内基/Andrew Carnegie

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 then at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the frst hours of their business lives sweeping out the offce. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offces, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of a 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 offce if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.

Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is“aim high.”I would not give a fg for theyoung man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important frm. 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.

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 fght it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it.

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“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.

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；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.”

年轻人应该从头开始，从底层做起，这是很好的一件事情。匹兹堡有许多出类拔萃的企业家，在刚入行时，都承担过一个重要的职责：他们手持扫帚，在清扫办公室中开始了他们的创业生涯。我注意到，现在的办公室都配置了工友，我们的年轻人很不幸地失去了企业教育中有益的一环。但是，假如某一天早上，专职的清洁工偶尔没来，那么具有未来合伙人潜质的小伙子就会毫不犹豫地拿起扫帚。必要时，让新来的员工在办公室外扫扫地对他们并没有坏处。我自己就曾经是那些扫地人中的一员。

当确定你获得录用并有了一个公平的起点时，我的忠告是：“确定远大的目标。”对于那些还未把自己看成大公司的未来合伙人或者老板的人们，我是无话可说的。不管公司有多大，永远不要满足于只是成为这家公司的首席雇员、领班或是总经理。告诉自己：“我的位置在最高层。”在你的梦想中，你应该是一流的。

通往成功之路的基本条件和重大秘密是：把你的精力、思想和资本全部集中于你所从事的事业之上。投身于哪一行，就要下定决心在这一行做出一番事业，做这一行的领导人物，采纳每一点改进，采用最好的设备，尽力精通专业知识。

一些公司的失败，就在于其资金的分散，以及因此而导致的精力分散。他们这也投资，那也投资，到处投资。“不要把所有的鸡蛋放在同一个篮子里。”这句话大错特错。我要告诉你们的是：“把所有的鸡蛋都放在同一个篮子里，然后看紧它。”观察周围并仔细留神，做到了这一点，你就不会失败。照看和携带一个篮子是很简单的。就是因为人们总是试图提很多的篮子，从而打破了这个国家的大部分鸡蛋。一次提着三个篮子的，就得把一个篮子顶在头上，这个篮子就会掉下来并把他绊倒。美国商人的一个缺点就是不够专注。

我所说的话总结起来就是：要目标远大；不要涉足酒吧；不要喝酒，或是仅在用餐时喝一点儿；不要做投机买卖；不要签署支付超过储备的现金利润的款项；把公司的利益看成是你自己的；要专注；要把所有的鸡蛋放在同一个篮子里，并且照管好它；消费永远小于收入；最后，要保持耐心，因为正如爱默生所说：“只有你们自己，才能销蚀掉你们本来能够达到的——最终的成功。”

心灵小语

如果你希望成功，当以恒心为良友，以经验为参谋，以谨慎为兄弟，以希望为哨兵。

W词汇笔记

subordinate[s?'b?:dineit]adj.次要的；从属的

例 One or a very few species must be clearly separated from the subordinate species.

一个物种或极少数的几个物种必须明显地与次要的物种区分开来。

thrust[θr?st]v.插入；推挤；向某人刺去

例 The robber thrust his sword through the travelers bosom.

那个强盗用刀刺穿了那个旅客的胸部。

salutary['s?ljut?ri]adj.有益的；有用的；有益于健康的

例 Japan's experience is salutary.

日本的教训更是具有参考价值。

revenue['rev?nju]n.税收；国家的收入；收益

例 Keep contact with Revenue Department and Ministry of Finance.

和税收部门及财政部门保持联系。

S小试身手

年轻人应该从头开始，从底层做起，这是很好的一件事情。

译________________________________________

当确定你获得录用并有了一个公平的起点时，我的忠告是：“确定远大的目标。”

译________________________________________

只有你们自己，才能销蚀掉你们本来能够达到的——最终的成功。

译________________________________________

P短语家族

It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary.

sweep out：清除；扫除

造________________________________________

To summarize what I have said：Aim for the highest, never enter a bar room.

to summarize：简而言之

造________________________________________