My father's method of accounting for the hundreds of cattle on his ranch was very unique. Every spring, he would move the herd down a long ramp, through a wooden gate and into a holding pen for inspection. As each animal entered the pen, he marked the count on the gate. One summer, he went to the bank to apply for a loan, using his cattle for collateral. The bank officer asked to see his records. “No problem,” replied Dad. He went back to the ranch, took the gate off its hinges and brought it to the bank. He got the loan.
我爸用與眾不同的方法來(lái)數(shù)他牧場(chǎng)里的幾百頭牛。每年春天,他把他的牛群趕下一個(gè)很長(zhǎng)的人工坡道,通過(guò)一個(gè)木制的柵欄,進(jìn)入一個(gè)牛圈做檢查。每一頭牛進(jìn)入牛圈,他就在柵欄上劃一道。一年夏天,他到銀行去申請(qǐng)貸款,用他的牛群作抵押品。銀行職員要看他的記錄。他說(shuō):“沒(méi)問(wèn)題。”他走回牧場(chǎng),把柵欄門(mén)從鉸鏈上拆下來(lái)帶到銀行。他得到了貸款。