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！
