Your dearest possession is life, and it is given to you but once.
你所拥有的一切中最宝贵的便是生命,而属于你的生命只有这一次。
Life gives every one his opportunities, but it doesn't send them into his hands.
生命给每个人提供了机遇送到他手里。
Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, it's truly up to you.
不管你想要去哪里,想要做什么,真正做决定的还是你自己。
You are the artist that paints your future with the brush of today!
你就是手握今日之画笔描绘自己未来的艺术家。
英文朗读文章2
A Million Dollar Lesson
价值百万美元的一课
A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson on customer satisfaction and expectation.
一位出租车司机给我上了一堂价值百万美元的课——关于顾客的满意度与期望值。
Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training to corporate executives and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride.
讲成功学的老师给公司的高层和员工做一次这样的培训要收上几千美元,而我只花了12美元的出租车费。
I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. A spotless cab pulled up.
The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.
Well! I looked around for "Candid Camera!" Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell
You bet, he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be. ”
I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluated my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.
One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply meet the expectations of my passengers. But, to be great in my business, I have to exceed the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and the return of being 'great' better than just getting by on 'average'.
I had gone into a supervisor's office to talk about a couple of issues that needed to be addressed. She, like all of the men and women in her department, had been through the proverbial "ringer." The stress was so intense, one could almost taste it.
I had been assisting the department during a crunch period of being very short-handed, and was watching everyone get close to burn-out. When I inquired about her state of mind, she confessed that her home life was almost non-existant, because she was "zombieing through the evening". The next words out of her mouth expressed a frustration of my own: "This work is not my gift from God. My family is!"
I had heard of hanging all of one's problems from the office on a "Trouble Tree" while driving home, to be picked up on the way back to the office in the morning, and for a brief second thought about suggesting that scenario.
But what came out was: "Why don't we do something different? Let's have a Blessing Tree. On the way home in the evening, we could pull down a blessing to dwell on a character trait we adore in our spouse, a particular reason we love them, the love they or our children have for us. The list could be endless."
When I tried it on the way home that night, the stress seemed to melt away. There was a "spring in my step" and when I arrived, a smile of joy and contentment was bubbling up from within! For the first time in 2 weeks, I was overjoyed to greet my wife and children!
风和太阳(The Wind And The Sun) One day the wind said to the sun, “Look at that man walking along the road. I can get his cloak off more quickly than you can.” “We will see about that,” said the sun. “I will let you try first.” So the wind tried to make the man take off his cloak. He blew and blew, but the man only pulled his cloak more closely around himself. “I give up,” said the wind at last. “I cannot get his cloak off.” Then the sun tried. He shone as hard as he could. The man soon became hot and took off his cloak. (有一天风跟太阳说: “看看那个沿着路上走的人.我可以比你快让他把披风脱下来.) (“我们等着看吧,”太阳说, “我让你先试.) (因此风尝试让那个人把披风脱下来.他用力地吹,可是那个人把披风拉得更紧.) (“我放弃了,”风最后说, “我无法让他把披风脱下来.”然后由太阳试试看.他尽可能地晒他.不久,那个人很热就把披风脱下来了.)我觉得这个挺好的~~~~