第三次机会
作者: 来自小故事网
译者: 爱尔兰UCD 赖小琪
我认识一个企业家，他识人、用人的方法很有意思。
I know an entrepreneur who has his way of identifying and using talented people.
他说看起来打工的人满街走，一呼一大片，真正好用的人其实并不多。所以他用人，只要看准了的，看好了的，一定容忍，哪怕看起来是相当愚蠢、相当荒唐、甚至已经造成了损失的，也会给他改正的机会。
He often says that there are an ocean of workers in our society, but few are talented employees. Therefore, so long as he identifies a talented person, he would bear him and give him opportunities to correct his mistakes even if his mistakes are very stupid and ridiculous and even have caused some damages.
能给几次？三次。为什么是三次，有什么依据吗？企业家讲了多年以前的一个故事：
I asked him how many opportunities he would give to his employees to correct their mistakes. He said, “three.” I asked why. Then he told me one of his stories happening many years ago:
那时我高中毕业没考上大学，乡下的父母兄嫂都支持我复读再考一次，我坚持自己出门闯荡，进城打工。
I failed to enter college after graduation from senior middle school. All of my families and relatives encouraged me to study for another year and take the college entrance exam again, whereas I resolved to go to the town and work.
我到处碰壁，家里带出来的钱很快用光，整整两天没吃东西，回家的路费也没了。在傍晚下班、交通最拥堵的时候，鬼使神差地，我挤上了一辆公交车。
I encountered numerous difficulties in the town and used up all the money soon. At that time, I did not eat anything for two days and even had no money to buy a bus ticket to go home. One day, at dusk when most people got off work and the traffic congestion reached the peak, I slipped into a bus quietly.
行驶中，有乘客高喊“丢钱啦”，我心一颤，因为他丢的钱，正在我的手中。我已经快挤到车门边，准备车一停靠，就溜之大吉。
All of a sudden, a passenger exclaimed loudly, “Someone has stolen my money!” I felt anxious, because his money was in my hand. At that time, I was about to squeeze near the bus door and planned to slip away when the bus reached the stop.
这时有人提出直接开到派出所，有人急着回家，车厢里吵吵嚷嚷的。那司机把车停靠在路边，打开车内照明灯，准备查找。这时乘客中冒出一句：“关上灯，让他拿出来。”灯灭了大概有一分钟吧，我的心里激烈斗争，拿，还是不拿？正在这时，灯亮了，大家看地下，没钱。“再给他一个机会吧。”车内又恢复了黑暗。饥肠辘辘的我，考虑着是否还出一部分，稍稍留一些钱，否则饿死也是死，最坏去派出所，也能混顿饭吃。你看，人在饥饿时，思维就是如此混乱。
Some people suggested the bus be driven to the police station, while some were claiming the bus should go on driving normally because they were in a hurry to go back home. The whole bus was very noisy. The driver then stopped the bus by the road and turned on the lights to search for the money. Suddenly, one passenger said, “Turn off the light and give the thief a chance to take out the money.” The light was off for a minute. When I was still struggling in mind whether to take out the money or not, the light was on again. Seeing there was no money on the floor, someone said again, “Give him one more opportunity.” Then the light was off again. At that time, I was damn hungry and thinking to leave part of the money for myself. Otherwise, I would starve to death later, which was nothing better than going to the police station. You can see that when you are super hungry, your mind would also be in chaos.
灯又亮了，地下还是没有钱。车内开了锅，算了算了，去派出所。这时又有人提议：“给他最后一次机会吧。”这话让我猛然清醒，当灯再次熄灭时，我把那笔钱全部交了出来。
The light was on again and there was still no money on the floor. The passengers were in heated discussion again and suggested going to the police. At that time, someone said again, “Give him the last chance!” I felt awakened all of a sudden and take out all the money when the light was off again.
这事过去很多年了，我感谢那个不知名的声音，车灯的明灭，似乎是神灵对我良知的召唤。
It has been many years since the incident occurred. I have been feeling enormously grateful to the one who gave me three chances to correct my mistake. The on-and-off light was seemingly the recall for my conscience from the Heaven.
我尤其感谢那第三次机会，因为，机会总是短暂的，转瞬即逝的，第一次机会来临时，可能缺少思想准备；第二次机会来临时，可能缺少行动方案；而等到第三次机会，明白的人，一定知道应该怎么做了。
I am especially grateful to the third chance because opportunity tends to be momentary and when the first opportunity comes, you may not prepare well psychologically, and when the second comes, you may lack the motivation to act. Only when the third opportunity comes will you know clearly what you should do.
