1、GrowingUp1Fiftyyearsagoparentsstillaskedboysiftheywantedtogrowuptobepresidentaskeditnotjokinglybutseriously.Manyparentswhowerehardlymethanpaupersstillbelievedtheirsonscoulddoit.AbrahamLincolnhaddoneit.Wewereonlysixtyfive

2、yearsfromLincoln.ManyofgrfatherwhowalkedamonguscouldremeberLincoln.Menofgrfatherlyagewerethewstfaskingifyouwantedtogrowuptobepresident.Asurprisingnumberoflittleboyssaidyesmeantit.五十年前父母大都會(huì)問男孩子們長大后想不想當(dāng)總統(tǒng)，問這話時(shí)一本正經(jīng)，并非開玩笑。許多

3、窮得跟乞丐似的父母也仍然相信他們的孩子能當(dāng)上總統(tǒng)。亞伯拉罕?林肯就做到了。我們與林肯那個(gè)時(shí)代僅僅差65年。依然健在的許多爺爺輩的人還能記得林肯時(shí)代。就是他們最喜歡問你長大后想不想當(dāng)總統(tǒng)。回答說想當(dāng)?shù)男∧泻?shù)量多得驚人，而且他們是當(dāng)真的。2Iwasaskedmanytimesmyself.NoIdidn’twanttogrowuptobepresident.Mymotherwaspresentduringoneoftheseinterro

4、gations.Anelderlyunclehavingposedtheusualquestionexposedmylackofinterestinthepresidencyasked“Wellwhatdoyouwanttobewhenyougrowup.我就曾經(jīng)被問過多次。我會(huì)回答說不，我長大后不想當(dāng)總統(tǒng)。有一個(gè)年紀(jì)大的叔叔，當(dāng)著母親的面向我提出這個(gè)問爛了的問題，發(fā)現(xiàn)了我對當(dāng)總統(tǒng)不感興趣，他就接著又問：“那你長大了見見他?！?When

5、IburstinthatafternoonshewasinconferenceintheparlwithanexecutiveoftheCurtisPublishingCompany.Sheintroducedme.Hebentlowfromthewaistshookmyh.WasittrueasmymotherhadtoldhimheaskedthatIlongerftheopptunitytoconquerthewldofbusin

6、ess那天下午我沖進(jìn)家門的時(shí)候，她正在客廳里跟柯蒂斯出版公司的一個(gè)負(fù)責(zé)人談話。他把我介紹給他。他彎下腰和我握了握手，問我是不是像母親說的那樣渴望獲得進(jìn)入商界的機(jī)會(huì)。7MymotherrepliedthatIwasblessedwithararedeterminationtomaketosucceedinbusiness.”母親在一旁忙說我決意要使自己成為一個(gè)有所成就的人。8“That’sright”Isaid.“是的。”我低聲說。9“B

7、uthaveyougotthegrittheactertheneversayquitspiritittakestosucceedinbusiness.”“那么，你是否具備在商業(yè)上獲得成功所需要的剛強(qiáng)、勇氣和絕不放棄的精神呢？”10MymothersaidIcertainlydid.母親回答說我當(dāng)然具備。11“That’sright”Isaid.“是的?！蔽艺f。12Heeyedmesilentlyfalongpauseasthoughwe