太多人急着想要成功，总是希望途中能走捷径。但在现实中，捷径往往只会带来失望而非瞬间成功。长久成功的关键是踏实走好所必须的每一步，而不是敷衍了事。不论你的目标是有关经济的、健康的还是人际关系的，这一点都确凿无疑。

　　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.

　　我遇见过不少轻信“一夜致富”或“快速减肥”的人，最后发现他们除了在类似产品或活动上浪费大把钞票外，什么收获也没有。我有个朋友甚至买过一种能电动刺激腹部收缩的家用仪器，自以为可以趁看电视的功夫就成功减肥。然而，这个不愿去健身房运动的朋友，至今也还是没能减肥。

　　Shortcuts can result in loss of success

　　捷径会导致错失成功

　　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.

　　作为一名资历滑雪教练，我见过不少初学者跃跃欲试那种他们显然还不够资格的滑坡。这些人在小斜坡上甚至都还无法熟练刹车和转弯，可出于某种心理，他们却总是冒险搭乘升降机到陡峭的山坡上去，然后又在坡顶上吓得哆哆嗦嗦。

　　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.

　　结果我只好亲自爬到坡上去解困，一路拉着这些幼稚的滑雪家伙安全下坡。想想这对成年人来说该有多么尴尬吧，三四岁的时候就在小斜坡上练习过的呀！

　　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.

　　要是他们确实能够自己滑下来，通常也会变得六神无主，完全任凭加速度笔直地冲下来。当然，后果就是“横七竖八”，整个坡上连人带板摔得到处都是。

　　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.

　　我们总是告诫初学者：只有先在小斜坡上能够熟练自如地刹车和转弯，然后才能搭乘升降机尝试陡峭山坡。而且这也需要在课外多加练习才行。但有些人就是不耐烦，一意孤行地选择先搭升降机去陡峭山坡，就算还没在小斜坡上滑熟练也无所谓。

　　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.

　　他们以为可以跳过部分规定的步骤转而选取捷径。但当搭乘升降机到达比较容易的山坡时，他们却发现自己根本就没有那个胆量和能力，再回头看看那些相对平坦的小斜坡，想想他们该有多么震惊吧！

　　Unfortunately, some of these beginners may never put on skis again because of their terrifying experiences. This is a real shame since they did make the initial efforts to come out to try skiing as a way to embrace winter. If they do come back to try again, sometimes it is the following winter when they have already loss the momentum of any progress as they have forgotten the basic skills.

　　糟糕的是，有些初学者会因为可怕的经历而再也不愿踏上滑板。这可真够丢脸的：毕竟，他们为了享受冬季已经尝试过滑雪了。如果他们确实准备回来再次尝试，有时也是来年冬天了，这时他们几乎忘了基本技巧，也很难取得进步了。

　　The shortcuts they thought they could get away with resulted in a loss of success. These poor folks usually have to start all over again from scratch in terms of learning how to ski even the bunny hills. Their initial fears will take twice as much work to get over compared to those who did not take shortcuts in their learning.

　　他们原本以为的捷径却只会让他们错失成功。这些可怜的家伙往往只能从头开始再学一遍如何在小斜坡上滑雪。相比那些开始就没走捷径的人，他们的恐惧感会让他们更加事倍功半。

　　Take the same steps as other successful people have done

　　像其他成功的人一样循序渐进

　　Although it is wise to get proper coaching, instruction and mentoring for your goals, these are not considered shortcuts. They are just more efficient ways to learn the skills required for success. However, time with a coach or instructor does not replace the steps one must take in order to be successful.

　　虽然为了达成目标而选择合适的教练和指导比较明智，但这些并不算是“捷径”。这些只是掌握成功所需技巧的更有效的方法而已。不过，跟随教练或指导员并不表示你可以忽略成功所必须的那些步骤。

　　You still have to do your part of the work whether it’s working out at the gym, building wealth, starting a new relationship or practicing your ski turns on the bunny hill. The bottom line is that there are no true shortcuts to real success.

　　你仍然需要做好分内之事——去健身房锻炼，累积财富、建立新的人际关系或在小斜坡上练习滑雪转弯。底线在于，真正的成功是没有捷径的。

　　Many of the goals we want to achieve have already been achieved by countless numbers of other people. Follow their examples and take the same type of steps they had to take in order to be successful. Each step is very much like a little success on its own and little successes do add up. Pay your dues to steadily develop towards success rather than take detours on shortcuts that can actually set you back.

　　我们想要实现的目标中，有很多都是其他人已经实现了的。如果想要成功，那就以那些人为榜样，采取同样的步骤吧。每一步都是一次小小的成功，而小成功就能汇集成大成功。请脚踏实地去争取成功，而不要选择实际上会拖后腿的弯路或捷径！