品質培養的途徑之一是承認錯誤。
Character is revealed in how we handle things that go wrong.
品質體現在我們如何去處理做錯的事情上。
Years ago I had to choose someone to organize a huge meeting.
幾年前，我需要一個人去組織一次大型的會議。
I gave an untested employee a chance,and he bombed it big time.
我把任務交給一位沒有接受過考驗的職員，他花了很長的時間才組織了這次會議。
"It was all my fault,"he told me.
“這完全是我的錯，”他告訴我說。
"but if you give me another chance,you have no idea how far I’ll go to make the next one succeed."
“但如果你再給我一次機會，我會很快取得成功。”
He displayed such courage in admitting his failure that I did give him another chance.
他勇敢地承認了自己的失敗，我給了他第二次機會。
And I’ve never regretted it.
我從不后悔我做出了這個決定。
He performed do superbly that my estimation of his character was higher than if he’s done it right the first time.
結果他出色地完成了這次任務，使他在我心目中的地位得到很大的提高，即使他第一次就做對了也不會有這么高。
The best opportunities to build character,however,are within our families,where we are constantly tested and most vulnerable to lapses.
然而培養品質的最好地方是在家里。在家里我們可以不斷得到考驗，極小的錯誤都會受到責備。
True character begins at home.
真正好的品質是從家里開始培養的。
Often we sense that we can get away with things around those who know us best,who will love us regardless of our conduct.
我們常常覺得我們可以從最了解自己的人那里得到諒解。不管我們做什么，他們都不在乎，都會依然愛我們。
This can end up subverting our character and our relationships.
這將導致我們的品質惡化及關系的僵化。
How often have we heard of someone who is a gem of an employee but treats his or her spouse like a piece of the woodwork?
我們常聽說某人很受職員的愛戴，但對待自己的愛人時則表現冷淡。
Perhaps even more common is the following scenario;At one seminar,
我們經常碰到下面的一幕：有一次在研討會上，
after I’ve spoken on the importance of demonstrating character within the family,a man came up and said,
我講完品質的示范在家庭中的重要作用之后，有人走過來說：
"I like what you’re saying,but my wife and I just don’t have the same feelings for each other that we used to.
“我非常同意你的觀點，但妻子卻與我的想法不同，
I guess we don’t love each other anymore.What can I do?
我想我們不再彼此相愛，我該怎么辦呢?”
Love her,I replied.
“去愛她，”我答道。
He looked puzzled.How do you love when you don’t feel love?
他迷惑地看著我：“當你對她沒感情時，你該如何去愛呢?”
"My friend,"I responded,"Love is a verb,
“朋友，”我說，“愛是個動詞，
The feeling of love in the fruit of love.So love your wife.
愛會產生感情，去愛你的妻子吧，
You did it once,you can do it again.Listen.Emphasize.Appreciate.
以前你愛過她，現在你可以再愛她一次，聆聽、重視、欣賞。
It’s your choice.Are you willing to do that?
選擇在你手中，你想不想去愛呢?”
Of course,I was asking this man if he was willing to search within himself for the character required to make his marriage work.
當然，我問他是否愿意培養自身的品質去維持他們的婚姻。
All our relationships follow the contours of life;they have ups and downs.
人與人之間的關系受到生活的影響，也會有起有落。
This is why our families provide a critical measure of our character and the opportunity,again and again,to nurture.
這就是為什么在家里可以看出一個人的性格的原因，這也是使我們的品質得以升華。
What became of the bank president who was involved sexually with an employee?
當這位銀行總裁與職員發生曖昧關系后他的態度如何呢?
When I confided to him what I knew of his affair and the effect it was having on his staff,he ran his fingers through his hair.
我告訴他我知道那事及其給全體職員帶來的惡劣影響，他搔搔頭發，
"I don’t know where to begin."he said.
“現在我該怎么辦?”他說。
Is it over?
“你是否還想繼續?”
He looked me squarely in the eye."Yes,Absolutely."
他盯著我說：“絕對不會。”
Then begin by talking with your wife.I answered.
“那首先向你妻子說明白。”我答道。
He told his wife,who forgave him.
他把事情告訴妻子，妻子也原諒了他。
Then he called a meeting of his staff and addressed their morale problem.
然后他召開了一次職工大會說明士氣低落的原因。
I have found the cause of the problem.he said.
我找到了問題的原因所在，他說。
It is me.I am asking you to give me another chance.
那是我的過錯，我請求你們的原諒。
It took time,but eventually employee morale-a sense of openness,optimism and trust improved.
要改變是要一定時間，但最終職員的士氣——一種坦誠、樂觀、信任的精神——提高了，
In the end,however,the executive was doing him_self the greatest favor,
最后受益的還是他自己，
He was finding his own path to character.
他終于找回了自我。
