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.

　　年轻人创业之初，应当从最底层干起，这是件好事。匹兹保有许多商业巨头，在他们创业之初，都肩负过“重担”：他们以扫帚相伴，以扫除办公室的方法渡过了他们贸易生活中最初的时间。我注意到咱们当初办公室里都有工友，于是年轻人就可怜错过了商业教导中这个有利的环节。如果碰劲哪天上午专职扫地的工友不来，某个存在未来合伙人气质的年轻人会绝不迟疑地试着拿起扫帚。在必要时新来的员工扫扫地也不妨，不会因为而有什么丧失。我自己就曾经扫过地。

　　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.

　　如果你已经被录用，并且有了一个良好的开始，我对你的倡议是：要志存高远。一个年青人，假如不把自己设想成一家至公司将来的老板或者是合伙人，那我会对他不屑一顾。不管职位有多高，你的心坎都不要满意于做一个总管，领班或者总经理。要对自己说：我要迈向顶尖!要做就做你幻想中的国王!

　　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.

　　成功的重要前提和最大秘诀就是：把你的精力，思维和资本全都集中在你正从事的事业上。一旦开端从事某种职业，就要下定信心在那一范畴闯出一片天地来;做这一行的引导人物，采用每一点改良之心，采取最精良的装备，对专业常识熟稔于心。

　　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.

　　一些公司的失败就在于他们疏散了资金，由于这就象征着分散了他们的精神。他们向这方面投资，又向那方面投资;在这里投资，在那里投资，到处都投资。“不要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里”的说法大错特错。我要对你说：“把所有的鸡蛋都放在一个篮子里，而后警惕地看好那个篮子。”看看你四周，你会留神到：这么做的人实在很少失败。照管跟携带一个篮子并不太难。人们老是试图提良多篮子，所以才攻破这个国度的大局部鸡蛋。提三个篮子的人，必需把一个顶在头上，而这个篮子很可能倒下来，把他本人绊倒。美国商人的一个毛病就是不够专一。

　　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."

　　把我的话演绎一下：要志存高远;不要出入酒吧;要滴酒不沾，或要喝也只在用餐时喝少许;不要做投契交易;不要寅吃卯粮;要把公司的好处当作自己的利益;撤消订货的目标永远是为了抢救货主;要专注;要把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里，然后当心地看好它;要量力而行;最后，要有耐烦，正如爱默生所言，“谁都无奈禁止你终极胜利，除非你自己否认自己失败。”

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