站在巨人的肩膀上

成功之路 The Road to Success

字體:16+-

安德魯·卡內基/Andrew Carnegie

安德魯·卡內基(1835—1919),美國鋼鐵大王,生於蘇格蘭鄧弗姆林,1848年隨全家遷至美國賓夕法尼亞州阿爾勒格尼。他從13歲起開始打工,進過棉紡廠,當過郵電員,受教育不多,自學成才,並靠個人奮鬥興辦鐵路,開采石油,建造鋼鐵廠,終於成為億萬富翁。他晚年熱心於慈善事業,著有《財富的福音》等書。1919年因肺炎去世,享年84歲。

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 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. The other day a fond fashionable mother in Michigan asked a young man whether he had ever seen a young lady sweep in a room so grandly as her Priscilla. He said no, 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.

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.