人生不設(shè)限·去一個機會找得到你的地方

如果你已經(jīng)作好準備，卻找不到向你敞開的機會之門，那么或許你必須重新為你自己和你的才能找到對的地方。例如，如果你的夢想是成為世界沖浪冠軍，那阿拉斯加這個地方可能沒辦法給你太多浪，對吧?有時你必須移動一下，才能抓到機會。幾年前我想通了，如果我希望自己的演講事業(yè)有更寬廣的聽眾群，觸及世界各地的人，就必須離開澳大利亞，到美國去。我愛澳大利亞，大部分的家人也還在那里，但位于南半球的澳大利亞實在太遠了，不適合當作基地，而且所提供的選擇和曝光機會也不及美國。

If you have prepared yourself to the best of your ability but no doors have opened for you, then maybe you need to reposition yourself and your talents. If your dream is to be a world champion surfer, chances are Alaska won't offer many big waves, right? Sometimes you need to make a move to catch a break. I realized several years ago that if I wanted to develop a worldwide audience for my speaking career, I needed to move out of Australia and to the United States. I love Australia. Most of my family is still there. But Down Under was too remote a launching pad and didn't offer the options and the exposure that I've found in the United States.

當然了，即使來到美國，我還是要非常努力才能創(chuàng)造自己的機會。我所做的最棒的一件事，就是跟一些人建立聯(lián)系，他們都能分享我對于演說和激勵他人的熱情。研究顯示，大多數(shù)人是通過朋友和同事得知工作機會，而其他機會也是這樣來的，從一些秘密管道，你會比其他人更早得知消息。無論要找的是真愛、工作、投資機會、擔任義工等地方，你都可以通過參加專業(yè)團體、地方俱樂部、商會、教會或公益組織，來創(chuàng)造你自己的機會。另外，網(wǎng)絡(luò)上也有許多可以量身訂做合作網(wǎng)絡(luò)的地方，例如Twitter、Facebook、Linkedln和Plaxo等。你的圈子愈大，就愈有機會找到打開的夢想之門。

Even after coming to the United States, I had to work to create my own breaks. One of the best moves I made was to network with others who shared my passion for speaking and inspiring others. Studies have shown that most people learn about job openings through their professional networks of friends and co-workers. As with most other types of opportunities, you hear about them on the grapevine long before other sources have the news. Whether you are looking for love, a job, an investment, a place to volunteer, or a venue to share your talents, you can make your own breaks by joining professional groups, local clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, or church, charitable, and service organizations. The Internet is tailor-made for making helpful connections, with social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Plaxo. The wider your circle, the greater your chances for finding an open door to your dream.

不要把自己活動的范圍限制在你有興趣的領(lǐng)域，只跟相關(guān)的人、機構(gòu)或網(wǎng)站打交道。每個人都會認識一些人，然后那些人又會認識另外某些人，所以，去尋找熱情又致力于追求夢想的人吧，即使他們的夢想跟你截然不同也沒關(guān)系。我喜歡有熱情的人，因為他們會像強力磁鐵一樣，把機會吸過來。

You shouldn't limit yourself to just those individuals, organizations, and Web sites related to your field of interest. Everybody knows somebody who knows somebody. So seek out anyone who is passionate and committed to a dream, even if theirs is entirely different from yours. I love passionate people because they attract opportunities like mighty magnets.

另一方面，如果現(xiàn)在和你混在一起的人無法認同你的夢想或你對于改進自己人生所作的努力，我會建議你換一批新朋友。那些整天泡在酒吧、夜店和電動玩具店里的人，有干勁的不多。

On the other hand, if you are hanging with a crowd of folks who don't share your dreams, or your commitment to bettering your life, I'd advise you to find a new group of friends. Those who hang in bars, nightclubs, or video arcades rarely soar.

如果你無法引來自己想要的機會和選擇，那你可能需要再進修，增加自身實力。進不了大學的話，就從社區(qū)大學或技術(shù)學院開始。申請獎助學金的機會比你想象的要多，所以不要因為學費問題就退縮了。如果你已經(jīng)有了大學文憑，或許可以更上一層樓，修個碩士或博士，或者加入跟你的領(lǐng)域相關(guān)的專業(yè)團體、線上社群、網(wǎng)絡(luò)論壇或聊天室等。總之你要記住，如果機會沒來找你，你就必須去一個它們能找到你，或者你能找到它們的地方。

If you aren't attracting the sort of offers and options you aspire to, maybe you need to find higher ground through higher education. If you can't win acceptance to a college or university, work your way up through community college or a tech school. More scholarships and financial aid programs are available than you might imagine, so don't let the costs discourage you. If you've already earned a degree, you may want to upgrade to a master's or doctorate program, or join professional organizations, online communities, or Internet forums and chat rooms for people in your field. If the breaks aren't coming your way, then you need to get to the place where they can find you, or you can find them.