Recipe for A Successful Life 塑造成功的人生 21 January 2008
Early one morning, an old businessman saw a young fisherman returning to the shore with just a bucketful of catch in his boat and asked why he didn't work a bit longer to catch more fish. The fisherman responded, "Well, I've already got enough to feed my family." The businessman raised his eyebrows. "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The fisherman replied, "I play with my children, walk with my wife, surf the Internet, join the village opera troop and entertain the fellow villagers for free. I have a full and busy life, sir." The smart businessman lectured the silly fisherman, "Now let me teach you one or two things how to be successful in business. You should spend more time fishing to earn more money, then you will be able to buy a bigger boat to catch more fish, then you can buy several boats, and then to own a fleet of fishing boats, and then you can open your own cannery, and then you can leave the fishing village and move to a big city where you will run your enterprise." The fisherman asked, "How long will this all take?" "20 or maybe 30 years." The fisherman thought about that, and asked again, "Then what, sir?" The businessman's eyes shone. "Then you will be so successful that you can sell your company stock to the public and make millions and even billions yuans." "Even billions? Wow! But then what?" The businessman's face now was flushed with excitement. "Then you can retire, and move to a small fishing village where you can have time to play with your grand children (if their parents let you play), walk with your old wife (if she still can walk), surf the Internat (if your eye signt allows), and join a village opera troop (opps, that part you may need to skip)." The fisherman was now truly confused. "Haven't I been doing that already? Why put off until I become a billionaire?" 一日大早，一经济学家见一渔民打鱼归，小木船里只有一塑料桶的鱼虾，于是多管闲事地问为什么这么早就收工。 渔民很悠闲地说：“就这点够俺一家子吃用啦，不收工还赖在海上干嘛？” 经济学家觉得有点不可思议。“那你大半天赖在家里又干嘛？” 渔民很自得地说：“啊呀，赖在家里那事情可是多了去了。你看啊，陪儿子玩耍，陪老婆遛弯，陪网友聊天，这都需要时间啊。百忙之中俺还要在俺村的业余剧团里跑个义务龙套什么的，俺正经是个大忙人呢。” 经济学家一时起了悲天怜人的情怀，决定免费给这个不务正业的傻冒开开窍。“老弟啊，人不能不思进取啊，让我来教教你怎么塑造成功的人生吧。你得早出晚归地打鱼，挣了钱后买个大点的渔船，然后你就可以打更多的鱼，打了更多的鱼后就可以买更多的船，然后更多更多的鱼，然后更多更多的船，最后开一个渔业公司，生产加工服务一条龙，到那时你就可以全家搬到城里去住，做大老板。” 渔民兄弟听得一愣一愣地，琢磨了半天问：“到那一步得用多长的时间啊？” 经济学家想了想说：“大概二三十年左右的时间吧。” 渔民兄弟又琢磨了一会，再问：“那做了大老板以后又怎么样呢？” 经济学家的眼睛放光了。“那可了不得啊。到那时你就是成功人士了，你的公司可以上市，你就变成了百万富翁，甚至千万富翁。” 渔民兄弟咂了咂舌。“千万富翁？这个厉害！接下来呢？” 经济学家这会儿连脑门都放光了。“接下来你就可以享清福了。你可以宣布退休，搬到一个安静的小渔村里安度晚年，陪儿子的儿子玩耍，陪老掉牙的老婆遛弯，和老头老太太网上聊天，看别人在业余剧团里跑龙套。想想，这整个就是神仙过的日子啊。” 渔民兄弟想了想，整个糊涂了。“这不就是俺现在过滴小日子吗，就这还犯得上刚才那通折腾？” Previous: Diaologues
between Chinese Characters 2
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