安德魯·卡內基/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.”
年輕人應該從頭開始，從底層做起，這是很好的一件事情。匹茲堡有許多出類拔萃的企業家，在剛入行時，都承擔過一個重要的職責：他們手持掃帚，在清掃辦公室中開始了他們的創業生涯。我注意到，現在的辦公室都配置了工友，我們的年輕人很不幸地失去了企業教育中有益的一環。但是，假如某一天早上，專職的清潔工偶爾沒來，那麽具有未來合夥人潛質的小夥子就會毫不猶豫地拿起掃帚。必要時，讓新來的員工在辦公室外掃掃地對他們並沒有壞處。我自己就曾經是那些掃地人中的一員。
當確定你獲得錄用並有了一個公平的起點時，我的忠告是：“確定遠大的目標。”對於那些還未把自己看成大公司的未來合夥人或者老板的人們，我是無話可說的。不管公司有多大，永遠不要滿足於隻是成為這家公司的首席雇員、領班或是總經理。告訴自己：“我的位置在最高層。”在你的夢想中，你應該是一流的。
通往成功之路的基本條件和重大秘密是：把你的精力、思想和資本全部集中於你所從事的事業之上。投身於哪一行，就要下定決心在這一行做出一番事業，做這一行的領導人物，采納每一點改進，采用最好的設備，盡力精通專業知識。
一些公司的失敗，就在於其資金的分散，以及因此而導致的精力分散。他們這也投資，那也投資，到處投資。“不要把所有的雞蛋放在同一個籃子裏。”這句話大錯特錯。我要告訴你們的是：“把所有的雞蛋都放在同一個籃子裏，然後看緊它。”觀察周圍並仔細留神，做到了這一點，你就不會失敗。照看和攜帶一個籃子是很簡單的。就是因為人們總是試圖提很多的籃子，從而打破了這個國家的大部分雞蛋。一次提著三個籃子的，就得把一個籃子頂在頭上，這個籃子就會掉下來並把他絆倒。美國商人的一個缺點就是不夠專注。
我所說的話總結起來就是：要目標遠大；不要涉足酒吧；不要喝酒，或是僅在用餐時喝一點兒；不要做投機買賣；不要簽署支付超過儲備的現金利潤的款項；把公司的利益看成是你自己的；要專注；要把所有的雞蛋放在同一個籃子裏，並且照管好它；消費永遠小於收入；最後，要保持耐心，因為正如愛默生所說：“隻有你們自己，才能銷蝕掉你們本來能夠達到的——最終的成功。”
心靈小語
如果你希望成功，當以恒心為良友，以經驗為參謀，以謹慎為兄弟，以希望為哨兵。
W詞匯筆記
subordinate[s?'b?:dineit]adj.次要的；從屬的
例 One or a very few species must be clearly separated from the subordinate species.
一個物種或極少數的幾個物種必須明顯地與次要的物種區分開來。
thrust[θr?st]v.插入；推擠；向某人刺去
例 The robber thrust his sword through the travelers bosom.
那個強盜用刀刺穿了那個旅客的胸部。
salutary['s?ljut?ri]adj.有益的；有用的；有益於健康的
例 Japan's experience is salutary.
日本的教訓更是具有參考價值。
revenue['rev?nju]n.稅收；國家的收入；收益
例 Keep contact with Revenue Department and Ministry of Finance.
和稅收部門及財政部門保持聯係。
S小試身手
年輕人應該從頭開始，從底層做起，這是很好的一件事情。
譯________________________________________
當確定你獲得錄用並有了一個公平的起點時，我的忠告是：“確定遠大的目標。”
譯________________________________________
隻有你們自己，才能銷蝕掉你們本來能夠達到的——最終的成功。
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P短語家族
It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary.
sweep out：清除；掃除
造________________________________________
To summarize what I have said：Aim for the highest, never enter a bar room.
to summarize：簡而言之
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