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

Translator: Thu-Huong Ha Reviewer: Morton Bast

譯者: Yu-Sheng Lin 審譯者: Chen-Han Hsiao

今天下午我想與各位談論的主題是

I want to discuss with you this afternoon

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

為什麼你就不能有偉大的事業。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

I'm an economist.

我是一名經濟學家。我負責讓人沮喪。

I do dismal.

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

在一天的結束的時候，正適合發表讓人沮喪的評論。

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

我只想跟你們之中的想要有偉大的事業的人談。

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

我知道你們之中的一些人已經決定

想要有一個偉大的事業。

You're going to fail, too.

當然你也會失敗 — — （笑聲） — —

(Laughter)

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

因為 — — 我的天啊! 你們已經對失敗這麼開心了。

(Laughter)

從加拿大來的，沒錯吧。（笑聲）

Canadian group, undoubtedly.

(Laughter)

Those trying to have good careers are going to fail,

那些想要有好的事業都會失敗，

because, really, good jobs are now disappearing.

因為，實際上，好的工作機會正在逐漸消失。

There are great jobs and great careers,

有一些很好的就業機會和偉大的事業，

and then there are the high-workload,

然後還有另一些是高工作量、 高壓力，

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

吸血的，毀滅靈魂的工作，

and practically nothing in-between.

兩者之間幾乎不存在其他類型的了。

So people looking for good jobs are going to fail.

所以找好工作的人都會失敗。

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

我要談一談那些尋找偉大的工作，偉大的職業的

之所以要找這樣的工作，還有為什麼你會失敗。

and why you're going to fail.

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

第一個原因是，無論別人告訴你多少次

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

"如果您想要偉大的事業，你必須追求你的熱情，

you have to pursue your dreams, you have to pursue

你要追尋自己的夢想，你要追求

the greatest fascination in your life,"

在你一生中最大的夢想"

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

你一再的聽到這樣的說法，然後你決定

不做這樣的事。不管你下載了多少次

It doesn't matter how many times you download

史蒂芬-賈伯斯 的史丹福大學畢業典禮演講，

Steven J.'s Stanford commencement address,

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

您仍然會看著它，然後決定不去這樣做。

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

我並不太確定為什麼你決定不去這樣做。

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

你太懶了而不想做。或是這件事太難了。

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

你會擔心如果你去追尋你的熱情，而沒有找到它

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

你會覺得你是白癡，於是你找藉口

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

來說明為何你不去追尋你的熱情。

They are excuses, ladies and gentlemen.

這些都是藉口，女士們，先生們。

我們會談過一整串長長的清單，你的創造力，

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

還有思考力，去想出藉口不去做你真的

該做的事情，去成就你想要的偉大事業。

if you want to have a great career.

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

比方說，你偉大的藉口之一是，

(Sigh)

"嗯，偉大的事業，對大多數人來說，實際上的確都是

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

just a matter of luck.

只是運氣好，所以我打算站在旁邊看，

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

我要試著變得幸運，而且如果我是幸運的

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

我就會有偉大的事業。如果不幸運，我還是有一個好的職業。"

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

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

但好的職業是不可能的，所以這樣是行不通的。

Then, your other excuse is,

然後你的另一個藉口是，"是的，有些特別的人

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

能夠追求他們的熱情，但是這些人是天才。

but they are geniuses.

They are Steven J.

他們是 史蒂夫-賈伯斯，我並不是天才。

I'm not a genius.

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

當我五歲的時候，我以為我是個天才，

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

但是我的指導教授已經把這樣的想法

趕出我的腦袋了，從那次... "（笑聲）對吧？

(Laughter)

"And now I know I am completely competent."

"如今我知道我只是稱職的員工。"

Now, you see, if this was 1950,

現在，你看，如果這是 1950 年，

being completely competent --

一個稱職的員工

that would have given you a great career.

就可以算是帶給你一個偉大的事業。

But guess what?

但你猜怎麼著？現在已經快 2012了，若你對外說:

This is almost 2012, and saying to the world,

"我是個完全稱職的員工"

"I am totally, completely competent,"

is damning yourself with the faintest of praise.

就好像用這種微弱的讚美來咒罵你自己一般

然後，當然，另一個藉口：

And then, of course, another excuse:

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

"嗯，我想這樣做，我想這樣做，但是，但是，

well, after all, I'm not weird.

嗯，畢竟，我並不奇怪。

Everybody knows that people who pursue their passions

大家都知道，追求他們的激情的那些人

are somewhat obsessive.

是有點偏執。有點奇怪的吧？對吧? 對吧? 是吧?

A little strange.

Hmm? Hmm? Okay?

You know, a fine line between madness and genius.

你知道，瘋狂與天才之間的微小差別。

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

我並不奇怪。我讀過 史蒂夫-賈伯斯 的傳記。

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

我的老天。我不是那樣的人。我是個好人。

I am normal.

我是正常的。我是個 正常的好人，

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

而正常的好人

是沒有熱情的。

don't have passion."

(Laughter)

"Ah, but I still want a great career.

啊。但我仍想要有偉大的事業。

I'm not prepared to pursue my passion,

我不打算追求我的熱情，所以我知道

so I know what I'm going to do,

我該要做什麼，因為我有，我有一種解決方案，

because I have a solution.

I have a strategy.

我有一種戰略。

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

它是一個我媽媽和爸爸告訴過我的

Mommy and Daddy told me that if I worked hard,

媽媽和爸爸告訴我，如果我努力工作，

I'd have a good career.

我會有良好的職業。所以，如果你努力工作

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

有良好的職業，如果你工作真的，真的，真的很努力，

if you work really, really, really hard,

you'll have a great career.

你就會有偉大的事業。這不就是像

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

數學一樣的合理嗎？"

Hmm. Not.

呃...。 錯。（笑聲）

But you've managed to talk yourself into that.

但你已經設法說服自己去相信。

You know what? Here's a little secret:

你知道嗎？這裡有一個小秘密。

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

您想要工作嗎？您真的，真的，想要很認真地工作嗎？

You know what? You'll succeed.

你知道嗎？你將會成功。這個世界會給你

The world will give you the opportunity

一個機會去真的，真的，真的，真的很認真地工作，

to work really, really, really, really hard.

But, are you so sure

但是你真的相信, 這樣就會帶給你

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

一個偉大的職業生涯嗎? 當所有的證據都是指向相反的結論？

when all the evidence is to the contrary?

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

所以讓我們假定，讓我們來看看你們這些

正在尋找你的熱情的人。

You actually understand that you really had better do it,

你真的理解你是真的想要這樣做，

never mind the excuses.

不去管那些藉口。你會試著去尋找你的熱情，

You're trying to find your passion --

(Sigh)

and you're so happy.

而你也高興如此做。

You found something you're interested in.

你發現一些你感興趣的東西。

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

我有興趣 ！我有興趣 ！你告訴我。

You tell me.

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

你說，"我有興趣 ！"我說，"這太棒了 ！

你打算告訴我什麼呢? 那你 — —"

And what are you trying to tell me?"

"Well, I have an interest."

"嗯，我有興趣。"

I say, "Do you have passion?"

我說，"你對這有熱情嗎？"

"I have an interest," you say.

你說："我有興趣，"。

"Your interest is compared to what?"

你的興趣, 跟什麼來相比呢？

"Well, I'm interested in this."

"我是對此有興趣。"

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

那關於其餘的人類的活動呢？

"我對那些沒有興趣。"

"I'm not interested in them."

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

你有看過那些全部了吧，你有嗎？

"No. Not exactly."

"沒有，不是這樣的。"

Passion is your greatest love.

熱情是你的最愛。

Passion is the thing

熱情是能夠幫你建立

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

你的天份的最高表現。

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

熱情、 興趣 — — 這兩個不是同一碼事。

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

你會跑去跟你心愛的人說

"Marry me! You're interesting."

"嫁給我吧 ！我對你有興趣。"（笑聲）

(Laughter)

Won't happen.

這不會成功的。這不會成功的，你將會孤獨地死去的。（笑聲）

Won't happen, and you will die alone.

(Laughter)

What you want,

你想要什麼，你想要什麼，你想要什麼，

what you want, what you want,

就是熱情。它超越了興趣。

is passion.

It is beyond interest.

You need 20 interests, and then one of them,

您可以有 20 種興趣，然後是其中之一，

one of them might grab you,

其中之一可能會抓住你，其中之一可能會讓你投入

one of them might engage you more than anything else,

超過其他的任何事情, 然後你才可能算是找到

and then you may have found your greatest love,

你最愛的，比較過之後，都超過了所有其他

in comparison to all the other things that interest you,

你感興趣的事情，這就是所謂的熱情。

and that's what passion is.

I have a friend, proposed to his sweetie.

我有一個朋友，向他的愛人求婚。

He was an economically rational person.

他是一個經濟上很理性的人。

他跟他的愛人說，"讓我們結婚吧。

He said to his sweetie, "Let us marry.

讓我們合併我們的利益吧。"

Let us merge our interests."

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Yes, he did.

對啦, 他最好是這樣說.

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

"我真的愛你，"他說。"我愛你如此的深。我愛你

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

超過了我遇過的任何其他女人。

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

我愛你超過了 瑪麗、 珍、 蘇茜、 潘娜洛普、

Ingrid, Gertrude, Gretel --

茵格麗、格特魯德、格萊特 — —

I was on a German exchange program then.

那時我正在德國當交換學生。"（笑聲）

I love you more than --"

"我愛你超過了 — —"

All right.

好吧！她離開了房間，在他列舉著

She left the room

halfway through his enumeration of his love for her.

他對她的愛的時候。

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

你知道嗎，當他從令他吃驚的求婚被拒絕中清醒過來，

他下了一個結論，這算是死裡逃生

he concluded he'd had a narrow escape

from marrying an irrational person.

差點跟一個不理性的人結婚了，

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

雖然他也注意到要記得，自己下一次

求婚的時候，也許不需要列舉

it was perhaps not necessary

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

他曾經面試過的那些女人的那部分。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

But the point stands.

但是這個論點是對的。你必須尋找替代方案

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

這樣，你才能發現你的命運中注定的，

或者你會害怕聽到 "命運" 這個詞嗎？

or are you afraid of the word "destiny"?

Does the word "destiny" scare you?

"命運"這個詞會嚇到你嗎？

That's what we're talking about.

這就是我們在談的，如果你找不到

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

能展現你才華的最高境界的事情，而屈就於

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

"有興趣的"，不管這個代表什麼意思

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

你知道當你漫長一生結束時將發生什麼？

Your friends and family will be gathered in the cemetery,

您的朋友和家人將聚集在墓地

and there beside your gravesite will be a tombstone,

在你墳墓旁會有一塊墓碑，

在墓碑上面刻的會是這樣的:

and inscribed on that tombstone

it will say, "Here lies a distinguished engineer,

"這裡埋的是發明魔鬼氈的工程師。"

who invented Velcro."

但是這個墓碑上應該刻的內容

But what that tombstone should have said,

in an alternative lifetime,

如果在不同方式度過的一生，

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

墓碑上應該科的是關於你的天分的最高發揮

比方說是 "這裡埋的是 諾貝爾物理獎得主，

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

who formulated the Grand Unified Field Theory

他建立了大統一場論

and demonstrated the practicality of warp drive."

並且展示了曲速飛行 (科幻影集中星際航行的方式) 的實際可能性。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Velcro, indeed!

魔鬼氈，的確。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

一個會是偉大的事業。

One was a great career.

One was a missed opportunity.

另一個則是失去了一個機會。

But then, there are some of you who,

但是，你們之中的一些人

儘管有各式各樣的藉口，你會發現，

in spite of all these excuses, you will find,

you will find your passion.

你會發現你的熱情，

And you'll still fail.

而你仍會失敗。

You're going to fail, because --

你會失敗，因為，

因為你不會去做，

because you're not going to do it,

because you will have invented a new excuse,

因為你會發明新的藉口，

any excuse to fail to take action,

任何可以不去做的藉口，而這種藉口

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

我已經聽了很多次。

"Yes, I would pursue a great career,

"是的，我原本想追求偉大的事業，但我認為

but, I value human relationships --

人際關係比個人成就更有價值

(Laughter)

more than accomplishment.

I want to be a great friend.

我想要當個好朋友。我想要當個好的配偶。

I want to be a great spouse.

I want to be a great parent,

我想成為一個好的家長，我不打算犧牲這些

and I will not sacrifice them

來換取偉大的成就。"

on the altar of great accomplishment."

（笑聲）

(Laughter)

What do you want me to say?

你要我說什麼？

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

現在，你真的要我告訴你，

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

"說真的，我發誓我不會踢小孩。"（笑聲）

(Laughter)

嗯？看看你已經給自己設下的世界觀。

Look at the worldview you've given yourself.

你是個英雄，無論如何，就算我如此微妙的暗示說

You're a hero no matter what.

And I, by suggesting ever so delicately

你希望有偉大的事業的話，

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

你必須討厭小孩。我不討厭小孩。我不會踢他們。

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

Yes, there was a little kid wandering through this building

是的，曾經有一個小孩遊蕩通過這座大樓

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

當我來到這裡，噢，沒有，我沒有踢他。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

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

當然，我必須告訴他，這座大樓只有大人能進來

and to get out.

你必須離開。

他咕嚕了一些跟媽媽有關的話

He mumbled something about his mother,

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

然後我告訴他，他媽媽也許會在外面找到他。

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

上次我見到他，他正在樓梯上哭。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

What a wimp.

真是很軟弱啊。（笑聲）

(Laughter)

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

但你是什麼意思呢？這就是你希望我說的。

Do you really think it's appropriate

你真的認為，你真的認為這樣做是適當的?

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

你應該實際上把

兒童當作擋箭牌嗎？

You know what will happen someday,

你知道總有一天，會發生一些事

你，你這個理想的父母，你呢？

you ideal parent, you?

有一天小孩會來找你，說，

The kid will come to you someday and say,

"I know what I want to be.

"我知道我想要變成什麼樣的人。

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

我知道我要怎樣的生活。

You are so happy.

你將會是那麼快樂。這是那種親子對話

It's the conversation a parent wants to hear,

父母想要聽到的, 因為你孩子的數學很好

because your kid's good in math,

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

而且你知道，你將會喜歡接下來的

Says your kid,

你的孩子說，"我已經決定

"I have decided I want to be a magician.

我想要當一個魔術師。

I want to perform magic tricks on the stage."

我想要在舞臺上表演魔術。"

（笑聲）

(Laughter)

And what do you say?

那你會說什麼呢？

You say, you say,

你說，你說，

"That's risky, kid.

"嗯......這有點不保險啊，孩子。

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

可能會失敗啊，孩子。這賺不了錢的，孩子，

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

你知道的，我不知道耶，孩子，

您應該再考慮考慮，孩子，

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

你是那麼擅長數學，你為什麼不 — —"

The kid interrupts you and says,

這時候孩子打斷了你，並說，

"但這是我的夢想。我一直夢想要做這個。"

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

And what are you going to say?

那你接著要說什麼?

You know what you're going to say?

你知道你要說的嗎？

"孩子啊。我也有過夢想，但是 — — 但。"

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

But --"

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

你打算如何講完這句話呢?

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

"...但是。我也曾有過一個夢想，但我不敢去追求它。"

Or are you going to tell him this:

或者，你會這樣跟他說嗎?

"我曾有一個夢想，孩子。

"I had a dream once, kid.

但後來你出生了...。（笑聲）

But then, you were born."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

（笑聲）（掌聲）

Do you really want to use your family,

你，真的要用你的家人，

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

你真的想要看著你的配偶

看著你的小孩，就好像他們是你的獄卒那樣?

and see your jailers?

There was something you could have said to your kid,

也許有一些你可以說的，當你的小孩

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

跟你說，"我有一個夢想。" 的時候

You could have said --

你可以，看著孩子的臉，說：

looked the kid in the face and said,

"去努力爭取吧，孩子，

"Go for it, kid!

就像我曾經做過的那樣"。

Just like I did."

But you won't be able to say that,

但你沒辦法這樣說,

because you didn't.

因為你並沒有做過。所以你不能那樣說。（笑聲）

So you can't.

(Laughter)

所以，父母的罪過

And so the sins of the parents

會再次造訪無辜的孩子們.

are visited on the poor children.

Why will you seek refuge in human relationships

你為什麼會拿人際關係來當擋箭牌

as your excuse not to find and pursue your passion?

作為你不去找尋與追求熱情的藉口?

你知道為什麼。

You know why.

在你的心中，你知道為什麼，

In your heart of hearts, you know why,

and I'm being deadly serious.

而我是非常認真的。

You know why you would get all warm and fuzzy

你知道為什麼你會感到溫暖和舒適

and wrap yourself up in human relationships.

把自己包在人際關係裡面。

這是因為你想要 — —

It is because you are --

you know what you are.

你知道你想要做什麼。

You're afraid to pursue your passion.

你害怕追求你的熱情。

You're afraid to look ridiculous.

你害怕被別人取笑

You're afraid to try.

你不敢嘗試。你害怕你可能會失敗。

You're afraid you may fail.

很好的朋友，偉大的配偶，偉大的父母，偉大的事業。

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

這不是一個整體嗎？這不就是你這個人嗎?

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

How can you be one without the other?

你怎麼能只選擇其中之一而放棄其他的?

But you're afraid.

但你害怕。

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

這就是為什麼你不會有偉大的事業，除非 — —

Unless --

除非，這是所有英語單詞中最令人回味的 — —

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

"unless."

除非。

但這個 除非 還附加在

But the "unless" word is also attached

to that other, most terrifying phrase,

其他的，最可怕的短語，

"If only I had ..."

"如果我那時候有......"

"If only I had ..."

"如果我那時候有......"

If you ever have that thought ricocheting in your brain,

如果您的腦袋裡曾經有過這些念頭衝撞著

it will hurt a lot.

這會很痛苦的

So, those are the many reasons

因此，有很多原因

why you are going to fail

解釋為什麼你會失敗

to have a great career.

無法成就偉大的事業，

除非......

Unless --

除非。

Unless.

Thank you.

謝謝。（掌聲）

(Applause)