有很多人在看到了成功的大門，卻未能打開，最後碌碌無為，他們不能稱為成功，他們只是失敗者。

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.

年輕人創業之初，應該從最底層幹起，這是件好事。匹茲保有很多商業巨頭，在他們創業之初，都肩負過“重任”：他們以掃帚相伴，以打掃辦公室的方式度過了他們商業生涯中最初的時光。我注意到我們現在辦公室裡都有工友，於是年輕人就不幸錯過了商業教育中這個有益的環節。如果碰巧哪天上午專職掃地的工友沒有來，某個具有未來合夥人氣質的年輕人會毫不猶豫地試著拿起掃帚。在必要時新來的員工掃掃地也無妨，不會因為而有什麼損失。我自己就曾經掃過地。

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.

假如你已經被錄用，並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，如果不把自己想象成一家大公司未來的老闆或者是合夥人，那我會對他不屑一顧。不論職位有多高，你的內心都不要滿足於做一個總管，領班或者總經理。要對自己說：我要邁向頂尖！要做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 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從事的事業上。一旦開始從事某種職業，就要下定決心在那一領域闖出一片天地來；做這一行的領導人物，採納每一點改進之心，採用最優良的設備，對專業知識熟稔於心。

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.

一些公司的失敗就在於他們分散了資金，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；在這裡投資，在那裡投資，到處都投資。“不要把所有的雞蛋放在一個籃子裡”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裡，然後小心地看好那個籃子。”看看你周圍，你會注意到：這麼做的人其實很少失敗。看管和攜帶一個籃子並不太難。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專注。

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；要滴酒不沾，或要喝也只在用餐時喝少許；不要做投機買賣；不要寅吃卯糧；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裡，然後小心地看好它；要量入為出；最後，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。”

詞彙釋義

1. at the threshold of 在…的開始

例句：

They are at the threshold of a new career.

他們正要開始幹一番新的事業。

2. janitor n. 守衛,門警,管理人

例句：

He is a school janitor.

他是學校的門衛。

3. salutary adj. 有益的,有用的,有益健康的

例句：

The accident is a salutary reminder of the danger of climbing.

這一事故有益的一面是提醒了我們攀登活動是有許多危險的。

4. scatter n. 散播之物,散佈 v. 散開,散佈,散播

例句：

The farmers were scattering seed on the fields.

農夫把種子撒在田裡。

5. put all one's eggs in one basket 孤注一擲

例句：

To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs la one basket.

只買一家公司的股票是孤注一擲的做法。

6. speculate v. 深思,推測,投機

例句：

She speculate on the exchange.

她做證券投機買賣。

難句解析

1. 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.

【參考譯文】如果碰巧哪天上午專職掃地的工友沒有來，某個具有未來合夥人氣質的年輕人會毫不猶豫地試著拿起掃帚。

【結構解析】“by chance”的意思是“碰巧”，“who has the genius of the future partner in him”是定語從句修飾“the boy”。

2. 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.

【參考譯文】假如你已經被錄用，並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，如果不把自己想象成一家大公司未來的老闆或者是合夥人，那我會對他不屑一顧。

【結構解析】“obtain employment”意思是“找到工作,就業”，“aim high”意思是“胸懷大志，力爭上游”，“not give a fig for”的意思是“對……毫不在乎”。

3. He who carries three baskets must put one on his head, which is apt to tumble and trip him up.

【參考譯文】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。

【結構解析】“who carries three baskets ”是定語從句修飾“He”，句中的“which”指the one should be put on his head.