Chapter 14 The Impression of Increase.
第十四章 做一個不斷進取者
WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions for the present must be those pertaining to the business in which you are now engaged.
無論你將來是否會轉行,你現在的行動都必須圍繞目前的工作而展開。
You can get into the business you want by making constructive use of the business you are already established in; by doing your daily work in a Certain Way.
你可以通過利用現有的事業基礎進入到另一個更能激起你創造欲望的領域里,重新開辟一番天地,而這一切都必須腳踏實地從現在,從手頭的工作做起——按照特殊的方式處理好每天的日常事務。
And in so far as your business consists in dealing with other men, whether personally or by letter,
三百六十行,無論你從事哪一行,都必須不斷地與其他人進行溝通和交流。這些溝通可能是面對面的直觀交流,也有可能是通過書信往來的間接溝通,
the key-thought of all your efforts must be to convey to their minds the impression of increase.
但是,不管其形式如何,你與他們交流的最主要的目的一定是想增加自己在他們心中的印象。
Increase is what all men and all women are seeking; it is the urge of the Formless Intelligence within them, seeking fuller expression.
無論男女老少,誰都希望屬于自己的事物能夠越多越好,造成這種心理的就是藏在我們心中的無形的智慧。它的目標就是不斷尋找更多的財富,實現更完整的人生。
The desire for increase is inherent in all nature; it is the fundamental impulse of the universe.
渴望擁有更多的欲望是自然界所有生物共有的一種本性,也是促進宇宙進化的原始動力。
All human activities are based on the desire for increase;
人類所有的活動全都是以此為基礎而展開的。終其一生,我們的全部追求總結起來不過六個字:
people are seeking more food, more clothes, better shelter, more luxury, more beauty, more knowledge, more pleasure -- increase in something, more life.
渴望擁有更多——更多更美味的食物、更好更美麗的服飾、更舒適的居所、更愜意的生活、更多的美好事物、更多的知識和趣味一在已有的基礎上,不斷地增加,甚至包括更長久的生命。
Every living thing is under this necessity for continuous advancement; where increase of life ceases, dissolution and death set in at once.
所有正在進化的生物都會有此欲望,以至于我們可以將它看成是生命的征兆。一旦這一征兆中止,隨之而來的必然是死亡和腐朽。
Man instinctively knows this, and hence he is forever seeking more.
通過本能,人類深知“增加”對生命的重要性,因此,我們一生當中從未停止過對“進取”的追求。
This law of perpetual increase is set forth by Jesus in the parable of the talents;
很早之前,包括《圣經》在內的。不少經典就已經以寓言的形式向世人昭告了這一永久性的生存法則。
only those who gain more retain any; from him who hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
只有那些不斷增加其財富的人,才能成為這些財富的永久所有者,而那些沒能遵循這一法則的人則會不斷地失去,甚至是那些已經屬于他的事物,最終也將易主。
The normal desire for increased wealth is not an evil or a reprehensible thing; it is simply the desire for more abundant life; it is aspiration.
所以,渴望獲得更多財富的欲望并不是邪惡的代名詞,更不應該受到任何譴責。這種渴望獲得更充實的生活的欲望不過是自然法則運作的結果,也是人世間最偉大的雄心壯志。
And because it is the deepest instinct of their natures, all men and women are attracted to him who can give them more of the means of life.
同時,因為這一渴望是所有人的一種最原始、最基礎的本能,所以,當那些能夠滿足我們這一渴望的人們出現在眼前的時候,我們常常會不由自主地被他們所吸引。
In following the Certain Way, you are getting continuous increase for yourself, and you are giving it to all with whom you deal.
假如你在做每一件事的時候都完全按照那種特殊方式去做,你會發現自己的財富一直都在增加,然后,你又轉手將這些新增加的財富交到和你打交道的那些人手中。
You are a creative center, from which increase is given off to all.
你就是一個創造的源頭,或者說,財富集散中心,各種各樣新增的財富全都經由你再散發出去。
Be sure of this, and convey assurance of the fact to every man, woman, and child with whom you come in contact.
這是你的本能,也是你的職責,你必須這樣做,而且與此同時,你還應當將這樣的理念傳遞給與你有過接觸的每一個人,男女老少,一個都不能少。
No matter how small the transaction, even if it be only the selling of a stick of candy to a little child, put into it the thought of increase,
無論這一集散過程的規模多小、多簡單,哪怕僅僅是賣一塊糖果給某個孩子這樣不足掛齒的小買賣,你也絕對不能就因此而忽視它。你必須一視同仁,把它看成是一個財富增加的過程,
and make sure that the customer is impressed with the thought.
并且在交易的同時將這一思想深深印刻在顧客的腦海里。
Convey the impression of advancement with everything you do,
在做每件事的同時,你都應該給對方留下一個你在進步的印象,
so that all people shall receive the impression that you are an Advancing Person, and that you advance all who deal with you.
從而讓所有與你有過接觸的人都認為,你是一個不斷追求進步的人,而且你還會帶動身邊所有的人共同前進,
Even to the people whom you meet in a social way, without any thought of business, and to whom you do not try to sell anything, give the thought of increase.
這其中甚至包括了那些與你并無經濟往來,你無需向他們推銷商品,也根本無需給他們留下進步印象的普通社交人員。
You can convey this impression by holding the unshakable faith that you, yourself, are in the Way of Increase;
要做到這一點其實并不困難。首先,你自己的腦海里必須有一個堅定不移的信念:我一直都在進步,
and by letting this faith inspire, fill, and permeate every action.
然后從這一信念中不斷汲取進步的靈感,讓它貫穿于你每一次行動的始終,如此往復,你自然就能給所有與你接觸過的人留下一個你正在進步、你的財富正在不斷增加的印象。
Do everything that you do in the firm conviction that you are an advancing personality, and that you are giving advancement to everybody.
你必須堅定信念,確信自已是一個不斷追求進取的人,相信自己完全有能力帶領身邊所有的人一同進步。也只有這樣,你才能通過行動將這一印象傳遞給別人,并使他們對此也同樣深信不疑。
Feel that you are getting rich, and that in so doing you are making others rich, and conferring benefits to all.
于是,漸漸的,你會發覺自己的財富正在不斷地增加,然后,你身邊的其他人也慢慢地富裕起來,生活也慢慢充裕起來,而給他們帶來這一切的正是你自己。
Do not boast or brag of your success, or talk about it unnecessarily; true faith is never boastful.
但是,你絕不能因此就洋洋得意,四處炫耀自己所做的一切,更不能因此就夜郎自大起來。因為,真正的信念從來都不是靠吹噓出來的,而這一信念的追隨者往往都十分謙虛含蓄。