生活如同一场漫长的赛跑 你真的做好准备了吗？

 　　Recently, I was running a race and thought it was over. The finish line was within sight, so I started my final sprint¹. As I cornered the last bend in the road, the finish line was not where I believed it to be. In fact, it was still a good half mile down the road. Since I had misjudged the end of the race, I had expended² all of my energy and could only coast the remaining distance to the finish line.

　　最近，我参加了一次赛跑，参加完我就以为是结束了。终点线就在眼前，我开始了最后的冲刺。然而当我转过最后一个弯，我坚信一定会在那里的终点线却不在。事实上，它还在半英里之外。由于我对赛跑终点的错误判断，我耗尽了全部的体力而且只能慢慢跑完剩余的路程。

　　This analogy holds truth for many things in life. Don’t misjudge the finish line in your race.

　　生活中其他事情也是类似的。不要在赛跑中错误估计终点线。

　　The Race Is Longer Than You Think

　　路程比你想象的长

　　Success takes perseverance³. And there are no shortcuts⁴ to hard work, dedication⁵, and honing of your skills.

　　成功需要毅力。在工作时没有捷径，必须要奉献，而且磨练你的技能。

　　“The race is always longer than you think.” There is no such thing as overnight success. Yes, there are flashes in the pan, but they are gone as quickly as they sparkle. Make sure that you are ready to run the long race to completion. Here are 5 Ways to Ensure You Are Prepared to Go the Distance:

　　“赛跑的路程通常比你想象的要长。” 罗马不是一夜建成的。是的，也许有昙花一现，但是它闪光之后很快就会消逝。确保你做好了长距离赛跑的准备。这里有五个方法来确保你已经做好了准备：

　　1. Plan for the Long Race

　　长跑前制定计划

　　Plan for a long race. Winning is not done in short sprints⁶, but rather long endurance challenges.

　　制定一个长跑计划。胜利不是一蹴而就的，而是一个长期的耐力挑战。

　　2. Know the Finish Line

　　知道终点线在哪里

　　If the race you are running doesn’t have a finish line you will not know when you are done. Ensure that your goals have deadlines, and thus finish lines (or at least checkpoints along the way.)如果你在进行的比赛没有终点线，那你就不知道什么时候结束。确信你的目标有最后期限，正如那条终点线（或者至少在路上有关卡）。

　　3. Always Have a Reserve

　　做好储备

　　One of my early mentors⁷ said, “a true leader always has a reserve.” When everyone else is exhausted⁸ and spent, it is the leader who still has some left in their tank to persevere⁹.

　　我先前的一个导师说，“一个真正的领导通常都有所储备。” 当其他人筋疲力尽，有所储备的领导才能坚持下来。

　　4. Train for the Distance

　　赛跑训练

　　Make sure you have trained for the distance you are running. Don’t go out to run a half marathon, if you have never completed more than a short jog. By train, I mean practice, learn, and prepare for the project you are undertaking¹⁰.

　　确信你已经为了赛跑的长度有所训练。如果你没慢跑过，不要去跑一个半程马拉松。训练，我指的是练习、学习，并为你要经历的事做准备。

　　5. Never Go Empty

　　不要走空

　　I am always amazed by those that run “to empty” and are then stuck on the side of road. Running to empty doesn’t accomplish anything other than setting you back in the big picture.

　　我通常对那些走空了站在路边的人十分不解。走空只能把你放在背景里，什么也不能帮你完成。

　　Be Ready to Go the Distance

　　准备完成这段距离

　　The race is never short. Those who think that life is a sprint are incorrect. Yes, there are periods of fast change and rapid movement. However, life is a long distance run with many hills, turns, and obstacles.

　　赛跑从来都不短。认为生活就是短跑是不对的。是的，会有快速变化、运动的时期。然而生活是一次充满山峰、转角和障碍的长跑。

　　So, don’t misjudge where your finish line is. And always be ready to go the distance.

　　因此，不要错误判断你的终点线。随时准备好去远方。

 

1 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

2 expended   

v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽

参考例句：

• She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
• The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

4 shortcuts   

n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草）

参考例句：

• In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说，专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

6 sprints   

n.短距离的全速奔跑( sprint的名词复数 )v.短距离疾跑( sprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• You can run sprints only so long before you're out of breath. 你死命地跑，只能跑那么一段时间，到了喘不上气的时候，只好停下来。 来自辞典例句
• The cheetah finds the open grasslands ideal footing for its lightning-quick sprints. 非洲猎豹把开阔的草原作为它们闪电猎食的理想处所。 来自互联网

7 mentors   

n.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的名词复数 )v.（无经验之人的）有经验可信赖的顾问( mentor的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Beacham and McNamara, my two mentors, had both warned me. 我的两位忠实朋友，比彻姆和麦克纳马拉都曾经警告过我。 来自辞典例句
• These are the kinds of contacts that could evolve into mentors. 这些人是可能会成为你导师。 来自互联网

8 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

9 persevere   

v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。
• It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。

10 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。