Larry Smith: Why you will fail to have a great career

Translator: Thu-Huong Ha Reviewer: Morton Bast

翻译人员: Candice Wang 校对人员: Yuguo Zhang

今天下午我想和你们讨论一下

I want to discuss with you this afternoon

why you're going to fail to have a great career.

你为什么不会成就伟业。（笑声）

(Laughter)

I'm an economist.

我是个经济学家。我让人心情低落。

I do dismal.

End of the day, it's ready for dismal remarks.

一天过完了，准备好听听让人心情低落的评论。

I only want to talk to those of you who want a great career.

我只想和你们想要成就伟业的那些人谈。

I know some of you have already decided you want a good career.

我知道你们有些人已经决定了

你们想要一个成功的事业。

You're going to fail, too.

你们也会失败的－（笑声）－

(Laughter)

Because -- goodness, you're all cheery about failing.

因为－天呐，你们听到失败都这么高兴。（笑声）

(Laughter)

无疑是加拿大人。（笑声）

Canadian group, undoubtedly.

(Laughter)

Those trying to have good careers are going to fail,

想事业有成的人会失败，

because, really, good jobs are now disappearing.

因为，真的，现在好工作都在消失。

There are great jobs and great careers,

有好工作，和好事业，

and then there are the high-workload,

也有工作量大，压力大，

high-stress, bloodsucking, soul-destroying kinds of jobs,

吸食血液，侵蚀灵魂的那种工作，

and practically nothing in-between.

而且几乎没有工作能好点的。

So people looking for good jobs are going to fail.

所以想找好工作的人会失败。

I want to talk about those looking for great jobs, great careers,

我谈谈那些寻找伟业的人，

你们为什么要寻找，为什么会失败。

and why you're going to fail.

First reason is that no matter how many times people tell you,

第一个原因是不管多少次别人告诉你，

"If you want a great career, you have to pursue your passion,

“如果你想成就伟业，你就必须追随你的热忱，

you have to pursue your dreams, you have to pursue

你必须追随你的梦想，你必须追随

the greatest fascination in your life,"

你人生中最大的吸引，“

you hear it again and again, and then you decide not to do it.

你听过这句话一遍又一遍，然后你决定

不去这样做。不管你下载多少次

It doesn't matter how many times you download

Steven J在斯坦福大学的开学演讲，

Steven J.'s Stanford commencement address,

you still look at it and decide not to do it.

你还是看看然后决定不去做。

I'm not quite sure why you decide not to do it.

我不太确定你为什么决定不去做。

You're too lazy to do it. It's too hard.

你太懒了。这事太难。

You're afraid if you look for your passion and don't find it,

你害怕如果你去寻找梦想然后找不到，

you'll feel like you're an idiot, so then you make excuses

你会觉得你像个白痴，所以你给自己找借口，

about why you're not going to look for your passion.

为什么你不去追寻你的梦想。

They are excuses, ladies and gentlemen.

这些都是借口，女士们先生们。

我们要列一个长单子，你的创造力，

We're going to go through a whole long list --

your creativity in thinking of excuses not to do what you really need to do

想想你不去做成就伟业该做的事情

的借口。

if you want to have a great career.

So, for example, one of your great excuses is:

所以，举例来说，你众多借口之一是，

(Sigh)

“嗯，伟业实际上对于大多数人来说

"Well, great careers are really and truly, for most people,

just a matter of luck.

只是运气问题，所以我就在这待着，

So I'm going to stand around, I'm going to try to be lucky,

我就试试做那个幸运的人，然后如果我真幸运的话，

and if I'm lucky, I'll have a great career.

我就能成就伟业。如果不能，我就找个还不错的事业。”

If not, I'll have a good career."

But a good career is an impossibility, so that's not going to work.

但是没有还不错的事业，所以这个行不通。

Then, your other excuse is,

然后，你还有其他借口：“是的，有那些与众不同的人

"Yes, there are special people who pursue their passions,

追寻自己的梦想，但是他们是天才。

but they are geniuses.

They are Steven J.

他们是Steven J. 我不是天才。

I'm not a genius.

When I was five, I thought I was a genius,

我五岁的时候以为自己是天才，

but my professors have beaten that idea out of my head long since."

但是我的教授们早就把这个念头

打消了。“（笑声）嗯？

(Laughter)

"And now I know I am completely competent."

”然后现在我知道自己完全有能力。“

Now, you see, if this was 1950,

现在你看，如果这是在1950年，

being completely competent --

完全有能力，

that would have given you a great career.

就能让你成就伟业。

But guess what?

但是你知道么？现在几乎是2012年了，

This is almost 2012, and saying to the world,

对世界说”我完全，绝对，有能力，“

"I am totally, completely competent,"

is damning yourself with the faintest of praise.

就是用最无力的称赞谴责你自己。

然后，当然，另外一个借口：

And then, of course, another excuse:

"Well, I would do this, I would do this, but, but --

”嗯，我会做这个，我会做这个，但是，但是，

well, after all, I'm not weird.

嗯，毕竟，我不是个怪人。

Everybody knows that people who pursue their passions

每个人都知道那些追寻自己梦想的人

are somewhat obsessive.

都多少有点强迫症。有点奇怪？嗯？嗯？好吧？

A little strange.

Hmm? Hmm? Okay?

You know, a fine line between madness and genius.

你知道的，疯子和天才一线之隔。

"I'm not weird. I've read Steven J.'s biography.

我不是个怪人。我读过Steven J的传记。

Oh my goodness -- I'm not that person. I am nice.

我的天呐。我不是那种人。我是好人。

I am normal.

我是正常人。我是正常的好人，

I'm a nice, normal person, and nice, normal people --

而且正常的好人

没有梦想。

don't have passion."

(Laughter)

"Ah, but I still want a great career.

啊。但是我还是想要成就伟业。

I'm not prepared to pursue my passion,

我还没准备好去追寻梦想，所以我知道

so I know what I'm going to do,

我要做什么，因为我有办法，

because I have a solution.

I have a strategy.

我有策略。

It's the one Mommy and Daddy told me about.

就是爸爸妈妈告诉过我的那个。

Mommy and Daddy told me that if I worked hard,

爸爸妈妈告诉我说如果我努力工作，

I'd have a good career.

我会有个不错的事业。所以，如果你努力工作，

So, if you work hard and have a good career,

而且有个不错的事业，如果你工作特别特别特别努力，

if you work really, really, really hard,

you'll have a great career.

你就能成就伟业。

Doesn't that, like, mathematically make sense?"

这在数学上不是也成立么？“

Hmm. Not.

嗯...不是的。（笑声）

But you've managed to talk yourself into that.

但是你还是让自己信了这话。

You know what? Here's a little secret:

你知道么？这有一个小秘密。

You want to work? You want to work really, really, really hard?

你想工作？你想工作特别特别特别努力？

You know what? You'll succeed.

你知道么？你会成功的。

The world will give you the opportunity

这个世界会给你机会去工作得特别特别特别努力，

to work really, really, really, really hard.

But, are you so sure

但是你就那么确信这能让你成就伟业

that that's going to give you a great career,

即使所有的证据都指向另一边？

when all the evidence is to the contrary?

So let's deal with those of you who are trying to find your passion.

所以咱们假设，咱们来处理一下你们当中

想追寻梦想的人。

You actually understand that you really had better do it,

你实际上明白你最好这么做，

never mind the excuses.

抛开借口。你试图找到你的梦想，

You're trying to find your passion --

(Sigh)

and you're so happy.

而且你这么快乐。

You found something you're interested in.

你找到了你感兴趣的事。

"I have an interest! I have an interest!"

我有个兴趣！我有个兴趣！你告诉我。

You tell me.

You say, "I have an interest!" I say, "That's wonderful!

你说，“我有个兴趣！“我说，”太好了！“

你想告诉我什么呢？

And what are you trying to tell me?"

"Well, I have an interest."

”嗯，我有个兴趣。“

I say, "Do you have passion?"

我说，“你有热忱么？”

"I have an interest," you say.

“我有兴趣，”你说。

"Your interest is compared to what?"

你的兴趣和什么比较？

"Well, I'm interested in this."

“嗯，我对这个感兴趣。”

"And what about the rest of humanity's activities?"

那其他一切的人类活动呢？

“我对那些没兴趣。”

"I'm not interested in them."

"You've looked at them all, have you?"

你把那些都看过一遍了？

"No. Not exactly."

“没有。不完全是。”

Passion is your greatest love.

热忱是你最高程度的热爱。

Passion is the thing

热忱是能帮助你最好地成就自己才华

that will help you create the highest expression of your talent.

的事情。

Passion, interest -- it's not the same thing.

热忱，兴趣－不是一回事。

Are you really going to go to your sweetie and say,

你真的会去找你的甜心然后说，

"Marry me! You're interesting."

“嫁给我吧！你很有意思。“（笑声）

(Laughter)

Won't happen.

不会发生的。不会发生，然后你会孤独终老。（笑声）

Won't happen, and you will die alone.

(Laughter)

What you want,

你想要的，你想要的，你想要的，

what you want, what you want,

是热忱。它超越兴趣。

is passion.

It is beyond interest.

You need 20 interests, and then one of them,

你需要20个兴趣，然后它们其中一个，

one of them might grab you,

其中一个会抓住你，让你燃起激情。

one of them might engage you more than anything else,

然后你就找到了与其他事情相比之下

and then you may have found your greatest love,

你最大的热爱，

in comparison to all the other things that interest you,

那就是你的热忱。

and that's what passion is.

I have a friend, proposed to his sweetie.

我有个朋友，向他女友求婚。

He was an economically rational person.

他是个会过日子的人。

他对他女友说，“咱们结婚吧。

He said to his sweetie, "Let us marry.

让咱们融合利益。”

Let us merge our interests."

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Yes, he did.

是的，他这么说的。

"I love you truly," he said. "I love you deeply.

“我真心爱你，”他说，“我深深爱着你。我爱你

I love you more than any other woman I've ever encountered.

胜过其他任何女人。

I love you more than Mary, Jane, Susie, Penelope,

我爱你胜过Mary, Jane, Susie, Penelope,

Ingrid, Gertrude, Gretel --

Ingrid, Gertrude, Gretel-

I was on a German exchange program then.

我那时候在一个德国的交换项目里。“（笑声）

I love you more than --"

“我爱你胜过－”

All right.

好的！她在他列举到一半的时候

She left the room

halfway through his enumeration of his love for her.

离开了房间。

After he got over his surprise at being, you know, turned down,

在他从被拒绝的惊讶中缓过来之后，

他总结了他刚刚成功逃离

he concluded he'd had a narrow escape

from marrying an irrational person.

和一个不理性的人结婚的厄运。

Although, he did make a note to himself that the next time he proposed,

虽然他也对自己说，

下次求婚的时候，不必要列举

it was perhaps not necessary

to enumerate all of the women he had auditioned for the part.

所有过往的女朋友。（笑声）

(Laughter)

But the point stands.

但是这个论点是成立的。你必须寻找各种选择

You must look for alternatives so that you find your destiny,

才能找到命中注定的那个，

或者你害怕”命中注定“这个词么？

or are you afraid of the word "destiny"?

Does the word "destiny" scare you?

”命中注定“这个词吓着你么？

That's what we're talking about.

这就是我们要谈的，而且如果你找不到

And if you don't find the highest expression of your talent,

你才能的最高表达，如果你在

if you settle for "interesting," what the hell ever that means,

”有意思“这里止步不前，不管这他妈的是什么意思，

do you know what will happen at the end of your long life?

你知道在你漫长的一生即将结束的时候会发生什么吗？

Your friends and family will be gathered in the cemetery,

你的亲友们聚集在墓地里，

and there beside your gravesite will be a tombstone,

在这，你的坟边上有个墓碑，

这个墓碑上刻着字，说，

and inscribed on that tombstone

it will say, "Here lies a distinguished engineer,

”此地长眠着一位发明了Velcro的杰出工程师。“

who invented Velcro."

但是这个墓碑上也应该刻着，

But what that tombstone should have said,

in an alternative lifetime,

在一个平行时空里，

what it should have said if it was your highest expression of talent,

如果这是你才能的最高表达它就应该刻着，

”此地长眠着一位诺贝尔物理学奖得主，

was, "Here lies the last Nobel Laureate in Physics,

who formulated the Grand Unified Field Theory

他规范了”大统一场论“

and demonstrated the practicality of warp drive."

并且示范了曲速引擎的实用性。”

(Laughter)

（笑声）

Velcro, indeed!

Velcro, 确实。（笑声）

(Laughter)

一个是伟业。

One was a great career.

One was a missed opportunity.

一个是失掉的机会。

But then, there are some of you who,

但是，你们当中有些人，

抛开这些借口，你们会找到，

in spite of all these excuses, you will find,

you will find your passion.

你们会找到自己的热忱，

And you'll still fail.

然后你们还是失败了。

You're going to fail, because --

你会失败，因为，

因为你不会着手去做，

because you're not going to do it,

because you will have invented a new excuse,

因为你会想出新的借口，

any excuse to fail to take action,

任何让你只说不做的借口，而且这个借口

and this excuse, I've heard so many times:

我已经听过很多次了。

"Yes, I would pursue a great career,

“是的，我会追求一番伟业，但是相比成就，

but, I value human relationships --

我更看重人与人之间的关系。

(Laughter)

more than accomplishment.

I want to be a great friend.

我想做一个好朋友。我想做一个好伴侣。

I want to be a great spouse.

I want to be a great parent,

我想做一个好父母，而且我不会为了

and I will not sacrifice them

伟大的成就而牺牲这些。”

on the altar of great accomplishment."

（笑声）

(Laughter)

What do you want me to say?

你们想让我说什么？

Now, do you really want me to say now, tell you,

现在，你们真的想让我说，告诉你们，

"Really, I swear I don't kick children."

“真的，我发誓我不踢小孩。”（笑声）

(Laughter)

嗯？看看你给自己定的世界观。

Look at the worldview you've given yourself.

无论如何你都是个英雄，然而我，通过暗示，

You're a hero no matter what.

And I, by suggesting ever so delicately

这么小心翼翼地，说你可能想要成就伟业，

that you might want a great career, must hate children.

一定痛恨小孩。我不恨小孩。我不踢他们。

I don't hate children. I don't kick them.

Yes, there was a little kid wandering through this building

是的，刚才我来的时候有个小孩走过来，

when I came here, and no, I didn't kick him.

我没踢他。（笑声）

(Laughter)

Course, I had to tell him the building was for adults only,

当然，我不得不告诉他这个楼是给大人的，

and to get out.

他得出去。

他含糊地说他妈妈什么的，

He mumbled something about his mother,

and I told him she'd probably find him outside anyway.

然后我跟他说他妈估计在外面找他呢。

Last time I saw him, he was on the stairs crying.

我上次看到他的时候他正在台阶上哭呢。（笑声）

(Laughter)

What a wimp.

真是个懦夫。（笑声）

(Laughter)

But what do you mean? That's what you expect me to say.

但是你是什么意思？这就是你们期待我说的。

Do you really think it's appropriate

你真的认为，你真的认为

that you should actually take children and use them as a shield?

拿小孩当挡箭牌

合适吗？

You know what will happen someday,

你知道有一天会发生什么，

你，完美的父母，对吗？

you ideal parent, you?

你的孩子有一天会跟你说，

The kid will come to you someday and say,

"I know what I want to be.

“我知道我想做什么。

I know what I'm going to do with my life."

我知道我想怎么度过一生。”

You are so happy.

你特别高兴。这种对话父母最爱听了，

It's the conversation a parent wants to hear,

因为你的孩子数学好，

because your kid's good in math,

and you know you're going to like what comes next.

而且你知道你会爱听你孩子接下来的话。

Says your kid,

你孩子说，“我决定了

"I have decided I want to be a magician.

我想做个魔术师。

I want to perform magic tricks on the stage."

我想在舞台上表演魔术。”

（笑声）

(Laughter)

And what do you say?

然后你说什么？

You say, you say,

你说，你说，

"That's risky, kid.

“嗯...那样比较不保险，孩子。

Might fail, kid. Don't make a lot of money at that, kid.

有可能会失败，孩子。挣不了大钱，孩子。

I don't know, kid, you should think about that again, kid.

你知道的，我不知道，孩子，

你应该再想想，孩子，

You're so good at math, why don't you --"

你数学这么好，为什么不－“

The kid interrupts you and says,

然后你孩子打断你，说，

”但是那是我的梦想。我梦想就是成为魔术师。“

"But it is my dream. It is my dream to do this."

And what are you going to say?

然后你要说什么？

You know what you're going to say?

你知道你要说什么吗？

”你看，孩子，我过去也有过梦想。但是－但是。“

"Look kid. I had a dream once, too, but --

But --"

So how are you going to finish the sentence with your "but"?

所以你想怎么用”但是“结束你的句子？

"But. I had a dream too, once, kid, but I was afraid to pursue it."

”...但是，我过去也有过梦想，孩子，但是我没敢去追随。“

Or are you going to tell him this:

还是，你想告诉他这个？

”我过去有梦想，孩子。

"I had a dream once, kid.

但是之后你出生了。“（笑声）

But then, you were born."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

（笑声）（掌声）

Do you really want to use your family,

你真的，真的想利用你的家庭，

do you really ever want to look at your spouse and your kid,

你真的想把你的伴侣，

和你的孩子当成狱卒吗？

and see your jailers?

There was something you could have said to your kid,

你其实可以这么跟你孩子讲。

when he or she said, "I have a dream."

当他／她说”我有个梦想“的时候，

You could have said --

你可以说，面对你的孩子，说，

looked the kid in the face and said,

”去追随它吧，孩子，

"Go for it, kid!

就像我那样。“

Just like I did."

But you won't be able to say that,

但是你没法那么说，

because you didn't.

因为你没去追随梦想。所以你不能那么说。（笑声）

So you can't.

(Laughter)

然后父母的罪恶

And so the sins of the parents

就在可怜的孩子们身上应验了。

are visited on the poor children.

Why will you seek refuge in human relationships

你为什么把人际关系当成

as your excuse not to find and pursue your passion?

你不去追随你的热忱的借口？

你自己知道为什么。

You know why.

在你内心的内心，你知道为什么，

In your heart of hearts, you know why,

and I'm being deadly serious.

而且我现在非常严肃。

You know why you would get all warm and fuzzy

你知道你为什么会在人际关系中

and wrap yourself up in human relationships.

层层包裹自己。

这是因为你是－

It is because you are --

you know what you are.

你知道你是什么。

You're afraid to pursue your passion.

你不敢去追求梦想。

You're afraid to look ridiculous.

你害怕自己看起来像个疯子。

You're afraid to try.

你不敢去尝试。你害怕失败。

You're afraid you may fail.

好朋友，好伴侣，好父母，伟业。

Great friend, great spouse, great parent, great career.

不是打包在一起的吗？这难道不是你？

Is that not a package? Is that not who you are?

How can you be one without the other?

你怎么能符合其中一个却不符合另一个？

But you're afraid.

但是你害怕。

And that's why you're not going to have a great career.

这就是为什么你不会成就伟业，除非－

Unless --

除非，最引人回忆的词－

"unless," that most evocative of all English words --

"unless."

除非。

但是除非这个词和另外一个

But the "unless" word is also attached

to that other, most terrifying phrase,

最可怕的短语是连着的，

"If only I had ..."

”如果我当初...“

"If only I had ..."

”如果我当初...“

If you ever have that thought ricocheting in your brain,

如果你曾经有过这个想法在你脑海里回旋，

it will hurt a lot.

它会特别伤人。

So, those are the many reasons

所以，这些就是

why you are going to fail

你为什么不能成就伟业

to have a great career.

的众多原因。

除非...

Unless --

除非。

Unless.

Thank you.

谢谢。（掌声）

(Applause)