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.
罗伯特是一位事业有成的生意人。一样，他也是一名十分火爆的老师。他很喜欢向年青的专业人员教给小技巧。他说起的*一件事，便是自身的职业发展自然也不是一帆风顺的。实际上，一直以来他学了很多的课程内容。“主要的是，”罗伯特讲到，“不必感觉取得成功是会忽然天降的。”他觉得，他碰到的人都是有类似的白手起家创业的历经，她们全是根据不辞辛劳地工作中而取得成功的。
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.
罗伯特坚信辛苦工作的功效，但他也认可机会的必要性。“过多劳碌肯定是多余的”罗伯特提议。“假如你需要做的事非常多，你也就一定会错过了真实的机遇。”他再次讲到。他说道：“我见过一些人，她们像蜜峰一样忙个不断，却沒有真实的做事实。”有关这条提议，我越发思索，就越感觉可以了解他的叫法。
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.
假如你集中注意力思索，你能发觉，假如要操劳的事过多得话，你是不太可能真实将注意力集中到某件事上的。另一件关键的事便是，你务必了解，针对自身而言最重要的是哪些，并将全部的活力放到那项主题活动上。换句话说，你需要做的是这些被大家认同的工作中。
Don't start looking for new challenges if everything is working out for the best!
假如事儿都圆满落幕了，不必立刻刚开始就找寻新的挑戰！
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.
罗伯特注重，一切取得成功工作中，最重要的工作能力不仅是有目的地把握机会并运用好它，也要集中注意力把他们搞好。一些人可以快速了解这一大道理，但她们迅速就厌烦。坚持不懈很重要，但也不必劳累过度了。最终，你需要* ，不必想着你的敌人展现你的优点。不管怎样，这就是罗伯特有关取得成功的提议。
Idioms Used in the Story
小故事中的习语
smooth sailing = an easy life with no problems
一帆风顺的日常生活
know which side one's bread is buttered on = to understand what is most important for oneself
搞清楚针对自身而言最重要的是哪些
ride the gravy train = to make money by doing something that is already proven to be successful
根据做这些被认同的事而挣钱
keep one's eye on the ball = to concentrate and conti
nue doing well
[cn]集中注意力再次搞好某件事
mana from heaven = surprise riches
出现意外的財富
from rags to riches = from poor to rich
白手起家创业
show someone the ropes = to explain and show by example how something is done properly
根据事例表述和展现搞好某件事的方式
as busy as a bee = very busy (also busy as a beaver)
十分繁忙（也说busy as a beaver）
work out for the best = to end with the best possible result
以**是的結果完毕
quick on the uptake = to understand very quickly
迅速地了解
have the presence of mind to do something = to be aware and able to grasp an opportunity
有目的地把握机会
show one's hand = to show others what advantages you have in a situation
向别人展现你一直在某一自然环境中的优点
put on one's thinking cap = to concentrate
集中精力
spread oneself too thin = to do too many things
要做的事儿尤其多
have too many irons in the fire = to do too many things
要做的事儿尤其多
