該故事講述了一個成功的商人，他十分樂于為自己指導的年輕人給出建議。故事的末尾有習語的定義和一個表達小測試。試著閱讀下面的故事，第一次時，在不看后面定義的前提下去理解故事梗概。第二次閱讀時，可以利用后面的定義解釋，來幫助你在學習新的習語的同時理解全文。
John's Keys to Success
約翰的成功秘訣
John is an incredibly accomplished and successful businessman. As such, he is quite popular as a mentor. He enjoys showing young professionals the ropes. The first thing he says is that his career has certainly not always been smooth sailing. In fact, he learned a number of lessons along the way. "First and foremost," John said "don't believe that success is ever mana from heaven." He said that everyone he had met had a similar rags to riches story, and that a lot of hard work had gone into the success.
約翰是一位功成名就的商人。同樣，他也是一名十分受歡迎的導師。他很喜歡向年輕的專業人士傳授竅門。他要說的第一件事，就是自己的職業生涯當然也不是一帆風順的。事實上，一直以來他學習了大量的課程。“首要的是，”約翰說道，“不要覺得成功是會突然從天而降的。”他認為，他遇到的人都有相似的白手起家的經歷，他們都是通過辛勤地工作而獲得成功的。
John believes in hard work, but also in recognizing the right opportunities. "It's absolutely essential to never spread yourself too thin" John advised. "If you have too many irons in the fire, you'll certainly miss out on real opportunity" he continued. "I've seen people as busy as a bee who never really seem to do anything" he pointed out. The more I thought about this advice, the more I understood what he was saying.
約翰相信辛勤工作的作用，但他也承認機遇的重要性。“過度操勞絕對是不必要的”約翰建議。“如果你要做的事太多太多，你就一定會錯過真正的機會。”他繼續說道。他說：“我見過一些人，他們像蜜蜂一樣忙個不停，卻沒有真正的做實事。”關于這條建議，我越是思考，就越覺得能夠理解他的說法。
If you put on your thinking cap, you'll realize that it's impossible to really concentrate if you have to worry about fifty different things. Another important lesson was that it's important to know which side your bread is buttered on and make sure to give that activity your full attention. In other words, you need to ride the gravy train.
如果你集中精力思考，你會發現，如果要操心的事太多的話，你是不可能真正將注意力集中到某事上的。另一件重要的事就是，你必須知道，對于自己來說最重要的是什么，并將所有的精力放在那項活動上。也就是說，你需要做的是那些被人們認可的工作。
Don't start looking for new challenges if everything is working out for the best!
如果事情都圓滿結束了，不要馬上開始就尋找新的挑戰!
John stressed that the most important ability of any successful entrepreneur was to have the presence of mind to not only take advantage of an opportunity, but also to keep your eye on the ball. Some people are quick on the uptake, but then they get bored. It's important to be consistent, but not spread yourself too thin. Finally, make sure to never show your hand to your opponents. In any case, that's how to be successful according to John.
約翰強調，任何成功事業中，最重要的能力不僅僅是有意識地抓住機會并利用好它，還要集中精力把它們做好。一些人能夠迅速理解這個道理，但他們很快就厭倦了。持之以恒很重要，但也不要操勞過度了。最后，你要確保，不要想你的對手展示你的優勢。無論如何，這就是約翰關于成功的建議。
Idioms Used in the Story
故事中的習語
smooth sailing = an easy life with no problems
一帆風順的生活
know which side one's bread is buttered on = to understand what is most important for oneself
明白對于自己來說最重要的是什么
ride the gravy train = to make money by doing something that is already proven to be successful
通過做那些被認可的事而賺錢
keep one's eye on the ball = to concentrate and conti
nue doing well
[cn]集中精力繼續做好某事
mana from heaven = surprise riches
意外的財富
from rags to riches = from poor to rich
白手起家
show someone the ropes = to explain and show by example how something is done properly
通過例子解釋和展示做好某事的方法
as busy as a bee = very busy (also busy as a beaver)
非常忙碌(也說busy as a beaver)
work out for the best = to end with the best possible result
以最好的結果結束
quick on the uptake = to understand very quickly
很快地理解
have the presence of mind to do something = to be aware and able to grasp an opportunity
有意識地抓住機會
show one's hand = to show others what advantages you have in a situation
向他人展示你在某個環境中的優勢
put on one's thinking cap = to concentrate
集中注意力
spread oneself too thin = to do too many things
要做的事情特別多
have too many irons in the fire = to do too many things
要做的事情特別多
習語測試
1. My friend is as ________________ these days. He never gets time to relax.
2. We've been lucky in life. It's been _____________ since the very beginning.
3. I'm sure the situation will improve. It will _________________.
4. You need to ____________________ for this problem. It requires a lot of concentration.
5. Alan ___________________ during the negotiations for the business deal.
6. Franklin went from ________________ in his life. He started with nothing and ended up a very rich person.
7. Some artists are lucky and have a huge hit early in life. Then they ______________________ for many years afterwards.
8. My boss _________ me ______________ at work because it was my first week.
答案
1. busy as a bee
2. smooth sailing
3. work out for the best
4. put on your thinking cap
5. showed his hand
6. rags to riches
7. ride the gravy train
8. showed me the ropes
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