金融英語泛讀:實現(xiàn)夢想，最佳時機就是現(xiàn)在

The Perfect Time to Start Is Right Now實現(xiàn)夢想，最佳時機就是現(xiàn)在

When surveyed, entrepreneurs say 29 is the ideal age to start a business. The average age that entrepreneurs actually start a business is 35.

There's no perfect age to start living your dreams. Being too young or too old is no excuse.The perfect time to start is right now.These people did.

Nola Ochs—The Energizer Student

In 1972，Nola Ochs was widowed on her wheat farm in the town of Jetmore, Kansas（population 1000）. She tended to her farm with the help of her children.In 1978，she realized she wanted more from life.Aged 68，she signed up for a tennis class at the nearest community college.

After ten years studying everything from agribusiness to the Bible, she was told that she was one class away from an associate degree. All she must do was complete college algebra.With an associate degree she was pleased but not fulfilled.College algebra would not be the end of her scholarly career.Several years later she decided to make the two hour trek to Fort Hays State University.Enrolling at age 94，she lacked only 30 class hours to earn a bachelor's degree.In May 2007，at 95，she became the world's oldest college graduate.

Is it time to sit back and enjoy the framed diploma on the farmhouse wall?Not yet. She started a Master's Degree.

Cliff Burgess—The Marathon Man

In 1993，Cliff Burgess was 55 years old. He was tired of his potbelly and vowed to start walking.Cliff hits the pavement in his suburban Texas town.A walk around the block turns into twice around the block.Walking feels good, but he knew he can pick up some speed.The weight starts to come off as he signs up for 5km and 10km races.In less than a year, he entered in the San Antonio marathon thinking of it as a training run in preparation for his first marathon—42km（26.2 miles）.He feels good during the race, and he crossed the finish line faster than expected.

Averaging 15 marathons per year, he completed his 100th marathon six years later at the age of 62.

Reaching 100 marathons isn't the final goal. He finds himself in Finland, France, Romania, China, Argentina, Brazil，25 other countries, and nearly all of the 50 states of the USA in a record 15 years.

“Nothing happens unless first we dream.”

—Carl Sandburg

Action summary

*There's never a perfect age to live your dreams. The perfect age is right now.

*Make your goal known. Travel one step at a time.

*Keep your dream alive. Long-term goals exist because they take a long time.

*Success and determination are intimate siblings. Talent is merely success's distant cousin.

調(diào)查顯示，企業(yè)家認(rèn)為29歲是創(chuàng)業(yè)的理想年齡?？蓪嶋H上，企業(yè)家創(chuàng)業(yè)的平均年齡是35歲。

要開始實現(xiàn)你的夢想，根本沒有什么理想的年齡。年齡大小都不是理由，最佳時機就是現(xiàn)在，馬上開始吧。

這些企業(yè)家就是這樣做的。

諾拉·奧克斯——較勁的學(xué)生

1972年，諾拉·奧克斯寡居在堪薩斯州杰特摩爾鎮(zhèn)（人口1000）一個種植小麥的農(nóng)場。她在子女的幫助下照管農(nóng)場。那是在1978年，有一天她突然意識到生活應(yīng)該多姿多彩。于是她在68歲時，去附近的社區(qū)學(xué)院報名參加了一個網(wǎng)球班。

10年下來，從“農(nóng)業(yè)綜合經(jīng)營”到《圣經(jīng)》，她學(xué)了一樣又一樣。后來，她被告知再修一門課程就可以拿到大專文憑了——學(xué)完學(xué)院的代數(shù)課程。

取得大專學(xué)位，她很高興，但并不滿足。因為在她看來，拿下高校的代數(shù)課，并不意味著她的學(xué)習(xí)生涯就此結(jié)束。幾年后，她決定驅(qū)車兩小時去上富特海斯州立大學(xué)。入學(xué)時，她已94歲，只差30個課時就能獲得學(xué)士學(xué)位。到2007年5月，在她95歲時，她成為世界上年紀(jì)最大的大學(xué)畢業(yè)生。

現(xiàn)在該坐下來欣賞掛在農(nóng)舍墻上、嵌在相框里的一紙文憑了吧？還是不行。她又開始了碩士學(xué)位的攻讀。

克里夫·伯吉斯——馬拉松賽場上的老者

1993年，55歲的克里夫·伯吉斯開始對自己的啤酒肚越來越厭煩，發(fā)誓要通過散步減肥。他的家位于得州小鎮(zhèn)的郊外，他決定在附近的柏油路上散步。慢慢地，在街區(qū)里的行走，由一圈變成了兩圈。散步的感覺很好，但他知道自己的速度還能再快點。當(dāng)體重有所下降時，他報名參加了5公里和10公里的比賽。不到一年，他進了圣·安東尼奧馬拉松隊，心想把這種跑步當(dāng)作首次馬拉松比賽——42公里（26.2英里）的訓(xùn)練。在比賽中，他感覺良好，沖過終點的速度比他預(yù)想的還要快。

他平均每年要參加15場馬拉松比賽，一跑就是六年。62歲那年，他跑完了第100場馬拉松賽。

跑完100場馬拉松比賽并非最終目標(biāo)。后來發(fā)現(xiàn)這15年來，他在芬蘭、法國、羅馬尼亞、中國、阿根廷、巴西等25個國家，以及美國差不多50個州里，都有參賽記錄。

“除非我們夢想在先，否則一事無成?！?/p>

——卡爾·桑德伯格

行動總結(jié)

●沒有什么實現(xiàn)夢想的理想年齡。起步的最佳年齡就是現(xiàn)在。

●亮出你的目標(biāo)。一步步來。

●持續(xù)你的夢想。確定長期目標(biāo)，因為實現(xiàn)它們需要很長時間。

●成功和決心緊密相連。天分所占的比重少之又少。

實戰(zhàn)提升

核心單詞

associate[?'s?u?ieit]v.使聯(lián)合，使結(jié)合

enroll[in'r?ul]v.參加；入學(xué)；注冊

vow[vau]n.誓言；誓約；v.起誓；鄭重宣告

exist[ig'zist]v.存在；生存

intimate['intimeit]adj.深入的，詳細(xì)的

財經(jīng)知識一點通

存款準(zhǔn)備金（deposit-reserve ratio）

是指金融機構(gòu)為保證客戶提取存款和資金清算需要而準(zhǔn)備的在中央銀行的存款，中央銀行要求的存款準(zhǔn)備金占其存款總額的比例就是存款準(zhǔn)備金率。一般情況下，存款準(zhǔn)備金率上升，利率會有上升壓力，這是實行緊縮的貨幣政策的信號。存款準(zhǔn)備金率是針對銀行等金融機構(gòu)的，對最終客戶的影響是間接的；利率是針對最終客戶的，比如你存款的利息，影響是直接的。

存款利率（deposit rates）

指客戶按照約定條件存入銀行賬戶的貨幣，一定時間內(nèi)利息額同貸出金額即本金的利率。有活期利率和定期利率之分，有年/月/日利率之分。

翻譯練習(xí)

Being too young or too old is no excuse. The perfect time to start is right now.

With an associate degree she was pleased but not fulfilled.

Keep your dream alive. Long-term goals exist because they take a long time.