书城励志震撼世界的声音:名人励志演讲集萃
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第23章 The Road to Success(1)

Andrew Carnegie,the King of Steel,philanthropist

It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions.

年轻人应该从头学起,担当最基层的职务,这是件好事。

Andrew Carnegie

背景故事

“一个有钱人如果到死还是很有钱,那就是一件可耻的事情。”说出这样一句振聋发聩的警世明言的人就是世界钢铁大王安德鲁·卡内基。虽然他出生于贫民窟,但最终却成为了美国最有权势的人之一。这都是他自己奋斗而来,他没有因为出身贫穷而自卑,也没有因后来的富可敌国而自负。我们常羡慕为什么成功人士的人格魅力如此之强,原来他们都是在克服困境中逐渐成长起来的,而决非只靠运气便能创下一个天空。贫穷并不可怕,可怕的是失去追求梦想的野心和动力。

卡内基将自己的人生经历浓缩到演讲中,用自身经历来警醒世人。“把所有的鸡蛋放在一个篮子里,然后小心地看好它”;“除了你自己没人能真正阻止你成功”。来吧,让我静心聆听这位世界伟人的声音。

名人简介

在美国,“钢铁大王”卡内基的名字是个传奇,也令人百思不得其解。他与“石油大王”洛克菲勒、“金融巨头”摩根等大财阀一样,曾经影响着整个美国的金融状况。但让世人为之惊讶的是,他在自己事业的最巅峰,放弃了所有的一切,追求另一种恬淡、无私的生活,并为慈善事业做出了巨大的贡献。

在美国工业史上写下永难磨灭的一页。他征服钢铁世界,成为美国最大钢铁制造商,衣锦还乡,跃居世界首富。而在功成名就后,他又将几乎全部的财富捐献给社会。他生前捐赠款额之巨大,足以与死后设立诺贝尔奖金的瑞典科学家、实业家诺贝尔相媲美,成为美国人民心目中永远的英雄和个人奋斗的楷模。

演讲赏析

The Road to Success

Andrew Carnegie,the King of Steel,philanthropist

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.

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 has not already seen 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.

And here is the prime condition of success,the 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.

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“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.

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.