向前一步:第71期 职业生涯中的长远梦想及短期目标(3)

 　　Younger colleagues and students frequently ask me how I planned my path. 比我年轻的同事和学生经常问我是怎样进行职业规划的，

　　When I tell them that I didn't, they usually react with surprise followed by relief. 当我说自己其实并没有什么规划时，他们通常会表现得很吃惊，然后便松了口气。

　　They seem encouraged to know that careers do not need to be mapped out from the start. 一个人的事业并不总是需要在一开始就做好计划，

　　This is especially comforting in a tough market where job seekers often have to accept what is available and hope that it points in a desirable direction. 这在当前就业市场不景气的大环境下尤其具有安慰作用，因为求职者总是不得不先接受能找到的工作，然后再稳步发展。

　　We all want a job or role that truly excites and engages us. 我们都想找到能让自己兴奋并且感兴趣的工作或职位，

　　This search requires both focus and flexibility¹, 但是，这个寻找的过程既需要明确的目标，也需要一定的变通。

　　so I recommend adopting two concurrent² goals: a long-term dream and an eighteen-month plan. 所以，我建议大家应该同时确定两种目标：长远的目标和“18个月”的短期目标。

　　I could never have connected the dots from where I started to where I am today. 我从未想过自己事业的起点会与现在的工作有关联。

　　For one thing, Mark Zuckerberg was only seven years old when I graduated from college. 首先，在我大学毕业时，马克·扎克伯格只有7岁。

　　Also, back then, technology and I did not exactly have a great relationship. 而且在那个时候，我还未曾涉及科技领域，

　　I used Harvard's computer system only once as an undergraduate, to run regressions for my senior thesis on the economics of spousal abuse. 我只是在读本科时，为了给婚姻暴力经济学的毕业论文做回归分析，用过一次哈佛大学的计算机系统。

　　The data was stored on large, heavy magnetic tapes that I had to lug³ in big boxes across campus, 那些数据被存储在一堆笨重的磁带里，我不得不拖着大箱子穿过校园，

　　cursing the entire way and arriving in a sweaty mess at the sole computer center, which was populated exclusively with male students. 一路抱怨，最后满头大汗地赶到学校唯一的计算机中心——那里坐满了男学生。

　　I then had to stay up all night spinning the tapes to input⁴ the data. 然后为了录入数据，需要来回倒磁带，我不得不一晚上都待在那里。

1 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

2 concurrent   

adj.同时发生的，一致的

参考例句：

• You can't attend two concurrent events!你不能同时参加两项活动！
• The twins had concurrent birthday. 双胞胎生日在同一天。

3 lug   

n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动

参考例句：

• Nobody wants to lug around huge suitcases full of clothes.谁都不想拖着个装满衣服的大箱子到处走。
• Do I have to lug those suitcases all the way to the station?难道非要我把那些手提箱一直拉到车站去吗？

4 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。