Difference差距

張超

John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years， however， the boss promoted1 Bobby to the position2 of manager but John remained an ordinary employee3. John could not take it any more， tendered4 his resignation5 to the boss and complained the boss did not know how to delegate6 and did not value hard-working staff， but only promoted those who flattered7 him.

約翰和博比同年大學畢業后，被同一家批發公司錄用。他們二人工作都很努力。然而，幾年后，老板提拔博比為部門經理，而約翰還是一名普通員工。約翰再也無法忍受，于是向老板遞交了他的辭職信，并抱怨老板不會用人，不重用那些兢兢業業的員工，只提拔那些奉承他的人。

The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said， “Thank you for your criticism8， but I have a request9. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps you will change your decision and take back your resignation.”

老板知道這幾年約翰工作確實很努力。他想了一會兒說：“謝謝你對我的批評。但是我只有一個請求，我希望在你離開之前再為公司做一件事情。或許到時你會改變決定，收回辭呈。”

John agreed. The boss asked him to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per10 kg. John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $ 1.2 per kg.

約翰答應了。老板讓他去市場找到一個賣西瓜的人。約翰去了并很快回來。他說他找到了一個賣西瓜的人。老板問他每公斤多少錢。約翰搖搖頭，回到市場去問，然后又回來告訴老板每公斤1.2美元。

Boss told John to wait a second， and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went， returned and said， “Boss， only one person selling watermelon. $ 1.2 per kg， $ 10 for 10 kg， he has in all 340 melons. On the table 58 melons， every melon weighs about 2 kg， bought from the South two days ago， they are fresh and red， good quality11.”

老板讓約翰等一會兒，這時他把博比叫到辦公室。他讓博比去市場找到一個賣西瓜的人。博比去了，回來之后說：“老板，只有一個賣西瓜的人，每公斤1.2美元，每10公斤賣10美元。這個人一共有340個西瓜，其中58個放在桌上，每個西瓜重約2公斤，都是兩天前從南方運來的，新鮮，紅瓤，質量好。”

John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.

這件事給約翰留下深刻的印象，他意識到自己與博比之間的差距。他決定收回辭呈并向博比學習。

My dear friends， a successful person is more observant12， thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist13 in the daily details14. For the same matter， a successful person sees more and farther so that he can find an opportunity15 and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead， while you see only tomorrow， the difference between a year and a day is 365 times， how could you win？

親愛的朋友們，成功的人更善于觀察，勤于思考和孜孜探求。機遇就存在于生活的細節中。同樣的一件事，一個成功的人會看得更多更遠，這樣他才能找到機會并抓住機會來實現自己的目標。如果一個人能看到一年后的情況，而你只能看到明天，一年與一天的差距是365倍，你怎么能贏呢？

Notes：

1. promote vt. 促進;提升 ? ? 2. position n. 位置;職位

3. employee n. 雇員 4. tender vt. 提供

5. resignation n. 辭職書 ? ? 6. delegate vt. 委派……為代表

7. flatter vt. 奉承 ? ? ? ? ? ? 8. criticism n. 批評

9. request n. 請求;需要 10. per prep. 每，每一

11. quality n. 質量 ? ? ? ? 12. observant adj. 善于觀察的

13. exist vi. 存在 ? ? ? ? ? ? 14. detail n. 細節

15. opportunity n. 機會