Problems or Opportunities 是困难还是机遇

We live in an unusual time with corporate downsizing，restructuring，and the increase in global competition.Some view these times as problematic； others see the incredible opportunities created by such change.

In the last decade there has been a huge growth in home-based and service-industry businesses.These businesses have been started by individuals with the courage to pursue their dreams，Yet，for every idea that is implemented，thousands of ideas never get beyond the conceptual stage—from the imagination to a plan of action.

What holds people back from pursuing their dreams and acting on their great ideas?I believe it's fear of failure.Someone once said，“there are a lot of ways to become a failure，but never taking a chance is the most successful way.”I’ve also heard it said that，“people don’t plan to fail，they fail to plan.”

Companies these days must be willing and able to change constantly.Sometimes companies change course to survive，and sometimes they do so because an opportunity is too good to resist.I know of a small company that provided a messenger service several years ago.A sudden major increase in corporate use of fax machines nearly put this small company out of business.Fortunately，the owner of the company was astute enough to realize other global corporate trends happening at the same time.The owner shifted gears from offering a messenger service to providing an off site records storage service and soon business was booming once again.

It all comes down to perspective.When there was a downturn in the economy，some people could say，“This is terrible!With the downturn in the economy，nobody will have a budget for my service.”Or others thought，“This is great!With the tightening of budgets and the loss of support staff，there's an even greater need for professionals to be effective，which is precisely what I’m here to help them do!”

积极的人在每一次忧患中都看到一个机会，而消极的人则在每个机会中都看到某种忧患。

参考翻译（胡尊艳）

我们生活在一个非比寻常的时代，企业进行精简和重组，全球竞争也在不断加剧。很多人认为这是个困难重重的时代，但是有些人却认为这样的时代会带来无限的、难以置信的商机。

在过去的十年中，家族企业和服务企业大量涌现。这些企业主要是由那些敢于追逐梦想的人士开创的。然而，所有得以实行的创意都经历了反反复复的修改。

是什么阻碍了人们追求和实现梦想的道路呢？我认为是对失败的恐惧。有人曾经说过，“导致失败的原因有很多，而不敢冒险是最彻底的一个。”我也听说过这样一句话：“非败于计划，而是败在没有计划。”

当今的公司必须不断地、主动地进行变革。有时变革是出于生存的需要，有时是因为难以抗拒绝佳机会的诱惑。我认识一个几年前提供信使服务的小公司，企业传真机的大量使用几乎使这个小公司濒临破产，幸运的是，该公司的老板很精明，他敏锐地觉察到了当时出现的另外一些国际商业趋势，并将公司的业务从提供信使服务转为提供场外记录存储服务，很快企业便重新焕发出生机。

态度决定一切。当经济低迷时，有些人会抱怨，“太糟了，经济这么不景气，没有人会出钱雇用我了。”而有些人则会认为，“太好了，随着预算的收紧和员工的精简，就会急需大量的专业人员，这正是我一展宏图的好机会啊！”