So many people are in such a hurry to success that they eagerly take any shortcuts that come across their way. In reality, shortcuts usually lead to disappointments rather than quicker success. The key to any long-term success is to take the necessary steps to steadily progress rather than skip any of them. This would be true whether the goals are financial or health or relationship related.
太多人急著想要成功，總是希望途中能走捷徑。但在現實中，捷徑往往只會帶來失望而非瞬間成功。長久成功的關鍵是踏實走好所必須的每一步，而不是敷衍了事。不論你的目標是有關經濟的、健康的還是人際關系的，這一點都確鑿無疑。
I’ve seen gullible people buy into the many ‘get rich quick’ or ‘lose weight fast’ schemes out there only to find out that none of them work except in relieving you of the money paid for such products or programs. A friend of mine even bought one of those home devices that electronically stimulate belly muscle contractions thinking that weight lost is possible while watching TV. This friend, who did not want to put in the work of exercising in a gym, is still overweight today.
我遇見過不少輕信“一夜致富”或“快速減肥”的人，最后發現他們除了在類似產品或活動上浪費大把鈔票外，什么收獲也沒有。我有個朋友甚至買過一種能電動刺激腹部收縮的家用儀器，自以為可以趁看電視的功夫就成功減肥。然而，這個不愿去健身房運動的朋友，至今也還是沒能減肥。
Shortcuts can result in loss of success
捷徑會導致錯失成功
As a certified ski instructor, I’ve seen many beginners who try to come down slopes that they are clearly not ready for. Such folks have not reached a level where they can consistently stop and turn on their skis while even on the bunny hill yet. For some reason, these same people ventured onto steeper slopes serviced by chairlifts and they end up frozen stiff with fear at the top.
作為一名資歷滑雪教練，我見過不少初學者躍躍欲試那種他們顯然還不夠資格的滑坡。這些人在小斜坡上甚至都還無法熟練剎車和轉彎，可出于某種心理，他們卻總是冒險搭乘升降機到陡峭的山坡上去，然后又在坡頂上嚇得哆哆嗦嗦。
I’ve had to physically climb back up a slope to rescue such novice skiers by holding them all the way safely back down the hill. Imagine how embarrassing this must be for an adult as this is how we usually start little three or four year-olds on the bunny hill.
結果我只好親自爬到坡上去解困，一路拉著這些幼稚的滑雪家伙安全下坡。想想這對成年人來說該有多么尷尬吧，三四歲的時候就在小斜坡上練習過的呀！
If they do manage to start coming down on their own, they will usually panic, lose their focus and end up going straight down the hill with increasing speed. Of course a ‘yard sale’ (a ski phrase which describes a fallen skier with skis and poles ending up all over the slope) will be the result.
要是他們確實能夠自己滑下來，通常也會變得六神無主，完全任憑加速度筆直地沖下來。當然，后果就是“橫七豎八”，整個坡上連人帶板摔得到處都是。
We always tell beginners that they must be completely comfortable in making solid turns and stops on a bunny hill before going onto slopes serviced by chairlifts. This is achieved only by extra practice outside of lesson time. But some are just impatient and decide to go on the chairlifts anyway before they are proficient on the easier slopes.
我們總是告誡初學者：只有先在小斜坡上能夠熟練自如地剎車和轉彎，然后才能搭乘升降機嘗試陡峭山坡。而且這也需要在課外多加練習才行。但有些人就是不耐煩，一意孤行地選擇先搭升降機去陡峭山坡，就算還沒在小斜坡上滑熟練也無所謂。
They thought that they could take shortcuts and bypass the steps required. Imagine the shock when they realize that even the easier slopes serviced by the chairlifts are way beyond their abilities and comfort levels when they are looking down these larger hills compared to the relatively flat bunny slopes.
他們以為可以跳過部分規定的步驟轉而選取捷徑。但當搭乘升降機到達比較容易的山坡時，他們卻發現自己根本就沒有那個膽量和能力，再回頭看看那些相對平坦的小斜坡，想想他們該有多么震驚吧！
