Difference差距

张超

John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both worked very hard. After several years， however， the boss promoted1 Bobby to the position2 of manager but John remained an ordinary employee3. John could not take it any more， tendered4 his resignation5 to the boss and complained the boss did not know how to delegate6 and did not value hard-working staff， but only promoted those who flattered7 him.

约翰和博比同年大学毕业后，被同一家批发公司录用。他们二人工作都很努力。然而，几年后，老板提拔博比为部门经理，而约翰还是一名普通员工。约翰再也无法忍受，于是向老板递交了他的辞职信，并抱怨老板不会用人，不重用那些兢兢业业的员工，只提拔那些奉承他的人。

The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said， “Thank you for your criticism8， but I have a request9. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps you will change your decision and take back your resignation.”

老板知道这几年约翰工作确实很努力。他想了一会儿说：“谢谢你对我的批评。但是我只有一个请求，我希望在你离开之前再为公司做一件事情。或许到时你会改变决定，收回辞呈。”

John agreed. The boss asked him to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. John went and returned soon. He said he had found a man selling watermelon. The boss asked how much per10 kg. John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss $ 1.2 per kg.

约翰答应了。老板让他去市场找到一个卖西瓜的人。约翰去了并很快回来。他说他找到了一个卖西瓜的人。老板问他每公斤多少钱。约翰摇摇头，回到市场去问，然后又回来告诉老板每公斤1.2美元。

Boss told John to wait a second， and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelon in the market. Bobby went， returned and said， “Boss， only one person selling watermelon. $ 1.2 per kg， $ 10 for 10 kg， he has in all 340 melons. On the table 58 melons， every melon weighs about 2 kg， bought from the South two days ago， they are fresh and red， good quality11.”

老板让约翰等一会儿，这时他把博比叫到办公室。他让博比去市场找到一个卖西瓜的人。博比去了，回来之后说：“老板，只有一个卖西瓜的人，每公斤1.2美元，每10公斤卖10美元。这个人一共有340个西瓜，其中58个放在桌上，每个西瓜重约2公斤，都是两天前从南方运来的，新鲜，红瓤，质量好。”

John was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Bobby. He decided not to resign but to learn from Bobby.

这件事给约翰留下深刻的印象，他意识到自己与博比之间的差距。他决定收回辞呈并向博比学习。

My dear friends， a successful person is more observant12， thinks more and explores in depth. Chances exist13 in the daily details14. For the same matter， a successful person sees more and farther so that he can find an opportunity15 and catch it to realize his aim. If a person sees one year ahead， while you see only tomorrow， the difference between a year and a day is 365 times， how could you win？

亲爱的朋友们，成功的人更善于观察，勤于思考和孜孜探求。机遇就存在于生活的细节中。同样的一件事，一个成功的人会看得更多更远，这样他才能找到机会并抓住机会来实现自己的目标。如果一个人能看到一年后的情况，而你只能看到明天，一年与一天的差距是365倍，你怎么能赢呢？

Notes：

1. promote vt. 促进;提升     2. position n. 位置;职位

3. employee n. 雇员 4. tender vt. 提供

5. resignation n. 辞职书     6. delegate vt. 委派……为代表

7. flatter vt. 奉承             8. criticism n. 批评

9. request n. 请求;需要 10. per prep. 每，每一

11. quality n. 质量         12. observant adj. 善于观察的

13. exist vi. 存在             14. detail n. 细节

15. opportunity n. 机会