温馨夜读II PART1 1.A Million Dollar Lesson

 

[00:00.83]Reflections on Life

[00:04.21]You are the only one in a sea of infinity¹! 

[00:08.02]Your dearest possession is life, and it is given to you but once. 

[00:13.02]Life gives every one his opportunities, 

[00:16.07]but it doesn’t send them into his hands. 

[00:18.80]Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, it’s truly up to you. 

[00:24.35]You are the artist that paints your future with the brush of today!

[00:28.93]1.A Million Dollar Lesson 

[00:34.16]A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson on customer satisfaction and expectation. 

[00:41.02]Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training 

[00:46.35]to corporate² executives and staff. 

[00:48.64]It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

[00:52.56]I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. 

[00:57.79]Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. 

[01:05.52]A spotless cab pulled up.

[01:07.81]The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me 

[01:10.97]and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. 

[01:15.21]As he got in the driver’s seat, 

[01:17.28]he mentioned that the neatly³ folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. 

[01:22.40]He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.

[01:27.96]Well! I looked around for “Candid Camera!” Wouldn’t you? 

[01:32.96]I could not believe the service I was receiving! 

[01:36.67]I took the opportunity to say, “Obviously you take great pride in your work. 

[01:42.33]You must have a story to tell.”

[01:44.18]“You bet,” he replied, “I used to be in Corporate America. 

[01:49.08]But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. 

[01:53.00]I decided⁴ to find my niche⁵ in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.”

[01:59.43]“I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, 

[02:04.32]being of service and feeling like I have done a full day’s work and done it well. 

[02:09.01]I evaluated my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.”

[02:14.69]“One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply meet the expectations of my passengers. 

[02:23.00]But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer’s expectations! 

[02:28.80]I like both the sound and the return of being ‘great’ better than just getting by on ‘average’.”

1 infinity   

n.无限，无穷，大量

参考例句：

• It is impossible to count up to infinity.不可能数到无穷大。
• Theoretically,a line can extend into infinity.从理论上来说直线可以无限地延伸。

2 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

3 neatly   

adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地

参考例句：

• Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
• The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 niche   

n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)

参考例句：

• Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
• The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。