很多人都有的另一项弱点,就是以自己的成见来测度一切人、事、物。这本书的
读者当中,仍有一些会坚信他们无法思 考致富,因为他们的思考习惯已沉浸在贫穷、
缺乏、失败和不 如意之中,而无法自拔。
这些不幸的人令我回想起一位杰出的中国人,他来美国受 美式教育,上的是芝加
哥大学。有一天,哈佛校长在校园里碰 到这个年轻的东方人,停下来和他聊了一下,
问他美国人最令 人印象深刻的特征是什么。
“那还用说!”那个学生叹道,“你们的眼睛好奇怪,都斜 斜地吊起来!”我们不正是
这么说中国人的吗?
我们向来都拒绝接受自己所不了解的事物。我们以为自己 立下的规矩,就是最妥
切的尺度。别人的眼睛当然是“斜斜吊 起来”的,因为别人的眼睛长得跟我们不一样。
“不可能”的福特V— 8 汽缸引擎
The"Impossible"Ford V-8 Motor
亨利·福特在要制造有名的V— 8 汽缸引擎轿车时,曾指示 他手下的工程师着手设计
一种引擎,‘要把八个汽缸全放在一 起。设计的纸上作业完成了,但是工程师们都
同声地跟福特 说,‘要把八个汽缸全放在一起,压根是不可能的。
When Henry Ford decided to produce his famous V-8 motor, he chose to build an engine
with the entire eight cylinders cast in on block, and instructed his engineers to produce a
design in one for then engine. The design was placed on paper, but the engineers agreed,
to a man, that it was simply impossible to cast an eight-cylinder engine-block in one
piece.
福特说:“无论如何都要做出来。”
Ford said,"Produce it anyway."
他们又回答:“但是,那不可能啊!”
"But,"they replied,"it's impossible!"
“动手做。”福特一声令下,“不论花多少时间,做到交差为止!”
"Go ahead," Ford commanded,"and stay on the job until you succeed, no matter how
much time is required."
工程师只得着手去做。如果他们还想待在福特的公司里讨 生活,就别无他途可行,
只得去做。过了半年,没有动静。又过了半年,一样没有半点进展。工程师们试过了所有想得出来 的计划去执行命令,结果仍然是:“不可能!”
The engineers went ahead. There was nothing else for them to do, if they were to remain
on the Ford staff. Sit months passed, and still nothing happened. The engineers tried
every conceivable plan to carry out the orders, but the thing seemed out of the
question;"impossible!"
过了一年,福特的工程师们都没有进展,他们再次告诉 他,他们想不出有什么办法
可以做到他的指示。
At the end of the year Ford checked with his engineers, and again they informed him they
had found no way to carry out his orders.
“继续做,”福特说,“我要八汽缸引擎,也一定要做到!”
"Go right ahead,"said Ford,"I want it, and I'll have it."
他们继续努力,然后仿佛如有神助似的,做法出笼了。
They went ahead, and then, as if by a stroke of magic, the secret was discovered.
福特的决心又打赢了一仗。
The Ford determination had won once more!
这个故事也许说得不够详尽,但是故事的内容却都是“如 假包换”的。从这贝做事,
想要思考致富的众多读者,可以推 算出福特百万家财的秘密何在。毋须舍近求远,
就在眼前。
This story may not be described with minute accuracy, but the sum and substance of it is
correct.Deduce from it, you who wish to think and grow rich, the secret of the Ford
millions, if you can. You'll not have to look very far.
亨利·福特了解成功的原则,也运用了这些原则,所以他 成功了。这些原则中,有
一项就是渴望:知道自己要的是什 么。阅读这本书时,请牢记这则福特的故事,时
时在字里行间 寻找认识他了不起的原因。只要你能做到,能正确无误地指认 出福
特所运用到的原则,就几乎可以在适合自己的任何行业 里,和他一样地出类拔萃。
Henry Ford was success, because he understood and applied the principles of success.
One of these is desire:knowing what one wants. Remember this Ford story as you read,
and pick out the lines in which the secret of his stupendous achievement have been
described. If you can do this, if you can lay your finger on the particular group of
principles which made Henry Ford rich, you can equal his achievements in almost any
calling for which you are suited.
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