(点击右边三个点，可调整速度，电脑上可下载)

The Road to Success

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.

年轻人应该从头学起，但当最基层的职务，这是件好事。匹兹堡有许多大企业家在创业之初都肩负过重任。

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 jamtresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of a business education.

他们与扫帚结伴，以清扫室度过了企业生涯的最初时光。我注意到现在的室都配备了工友，这使我们的年轻人不幸丢掉了这个有益的企业教育的一个内容。

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.

不过，如果哪一天早晨清扫工碰巧没来，某位具有未来合伙人气质的青年就会毫不犹豫试着拿起扫帚。

The other day a fond fashionable mother in Michigan asked a young man whether he had even seen a young lady sweep in a room so grandly as her Priscilla.

有一天，一位溺爱孩子的、时髦的密歇根母亲问一位男青年，是否见过像她的女儿普里茜拉那样的年轻女子如此潇洒地在房间里进行打扫。

He said so, he never had, and the mother was gratified beyond measure, but then said he, after a pause, "What I should like to see her do is sweep out a room." It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.

男青年说从未见过;那位母亲高兴得乐不可支。但男青年顿了顿又说：“我想看到的是她能在室外进行打扫。”如果有必要，新来者在室外进行打扫并没有什么损失。

Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is "aim high".

我本人就曾经是打扫人之一。我对你们的忠告是“要胸怀大志”。

I would not give a fig for the young man who has not already seen hilf 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.

对那些尚未把自己看成是某重要公司的合伙人或领导人的年轻人，我会不屑一顾。你们在思想上一刻也不要满足于充当任何企业的首席职员、领班或总经理，不管这家企业的规模有多大。你们要对自己说;“我的位置在最高处。”

And here is the prime condition of success, the at secret: concentrate your energy, thought, and capital exclusively upon the business in which your 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.

你们要梦寐以求登峰造极。获得成功的首要条件和最大秘诀是：把精力和财力完全集中于所干的事业上。一旦开始干那一行，就要决心干出个名堂，要出类拔萃，要点点滴滴地改进，要采用最好的机器，要尽力通晓这一行。

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.

失败的企业是那些分散了资力，因而意味着分散了精力的企业。他们向这件事投资，方方面面都有投资。“别把所有的鸡蛋放进一只篮子”之说大错特错。

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 do 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.

我告诉你们，“要把所有的鸡蛋放进一只篮子，然后照管好那只篮子。”注视周围并留点神，能这样做的人往往不会失败。管好并提好那只篮子很容易。再我们这个国家，想多提篮子的人打碎的鸡蛋也多。

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.

有三只篮子的人就得把一只篮子顶在头上，这样很容易摔倒。美国企业家的一个错误就是缺少集中。

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."

我把所说的话归纳如下：要志在顶峰;千万不要涉足酒吧，不要沾酒，或者仅在用餐时喝点酒;千万不要投机;签署支付的款项时，千万不要超过盈余的现金储备;取消订货的目的永远在于挽救货主;集中精力，把所有鸡蛋放进一只篮子并照管好那只篮子;支出永远小于收入;最后，不要失去耐心，因为正如爱默生所说：“除了你自己以外，没有人能哄骗你离开最后的成功。”