笪景行

We all see and hear about extraordinary （非凡的；卓越的） people around us and wonder why we cant be more like them. In fact， its not the big things but the small things that make someone extraordinary.

我們都看到過或聽說過周圍那些卓越的人，并且會想為什么自己不能和他們一樣。實際上，人并不是因為大事而優(yōu)秀，而是因為小事才變得卓越。

Here are some of the small things extraordinary people do every day：

下面的幾件小事是卓越的人每天都會做的。

[1. They are open to criticism. 他們樂于接受批評。]

You cant always be right. Learn to support your ideas or decisions with reason. Your decisions might invite criticism， but you will also get a chance to improve.

你不可能每次都對。學著用理性來支持你的想法或決定。你的決策可能會引發(fā)批評，但是你卻得到了提高的機會。

[2. They admit their mistakes. 他們都承認錯誤。]

My friends boss made a huge mistake. Instead of defending （辯護） his idea and carrying on as if nothing happened， he apologized. Its OK to admit you were wrong. You will get not only the respect of others， but also credibility （信用）.

我朋友的老板犯了個大錯。他沒有為自己的想法辯護，沒裝作什么也沒有發(fā)生，而是道歉了。承認自己做錯了沒什么大不了。你不僅會獲得他人的尊敬，也會贏得信譽。

[3. They are generous （慷慨的） with compliments （贊美）. 他們毫不吝嗇贊美之詞。]

It hurts when your efforts are not recognized. So every chance you get to praise someone， do it. A compliment can have a positive impact on the lives of other people. Your families and your friends will love you for it.

當你的努力不被承認時你會受到打擊。所以，當你有機會贊揚他人時，一定要贊揚。贊美能對他人的生活產(chǎn)生積極的影響。你的家人和好友也會喜歡你這樣做。

[4. They are sensitive （敏感的） to others. 他們對他人都很敏感。]

Think about a time you complimented someone but he or she changed the topic. Maybe he or she was uncomfortable. But you still were not happy， were you？ Similarly， when you feel awkward （尷尬的） receiving a compliment or an award， remain in control and give the person in front of you a polite smile and thank him or her. Dont make the moment unhappy.

想想你正贊美對方而對方卻改變了話題的時候。也許你的贊美令他/她感覺不舒服。但是你會覺得不痛快，對吧？同樣地，當你收到贊美之詞或獎品時，如果感到尷尬，可以克制自己，給你面前的人報以禮貌的微笑并謝謝他/她。不要讓那一刻變得不愉快。

[5. They ask for help. 他們尋求幫助。]

When you need help， dont be arrogant （自大的） or shy. If youre lost on the road， it is fine to ask for directions. Everyone needs a little help sometime. When you ask for help， youre letting people know youre not a superman and youre willing to listen. It shows you could become a great leader someday.

當你需要幫助時，不要自大，也別害羞。如果你迷路了，就去問問別人該怎么走。每個人都會在某一時刻需要幫助。當你尋求幫助時，你會讓人知道你不是個超人，你愿意傾聽。這表明有一天你也可能成為偉大的領導。

[6. They apologize when needed. 他們該道歉的時候就道歉。]

We all make mistakes， but what makes a person big is when he is ready to apologize. Dont try to hide behind excuses， such as “I didnt mean to say it， it just happened.” Dont try to shift blame. Just come right out and say youre sorry.

我們都會犯錯，但優(yōu)秀的人勇于道歉。不要試圖找借口說“我不是這個意思”之類的話。不要試圖推卸責任，直接說你錯了。

[7. They are willing to learn.他們樂于學習。]

When you dont understand how something works， let an expert show you. When you let someone teach you something， you are telling the person that you respect their talent， time and that you believe what he is talking about. Always be willing to learn， because there is no way else to know everything.

當你不清楚事情的原理時，讓專家給你解釋。當你讓別人教你東西時，你是在告訴別人你尊敬他的天賦、時間，你相信他的話。永遠要樂于學習，因為這是認識世間萬物的唯一途徑。

[8. They are helpful. 他們樂于助人。]

Never hesitate （猶豫） to help someone. Its fairly simple but it goes a long way. Dont be afraid of making promise. The key is not to sound patronizing （自命為恩人的；要人領情的）. Offer in a way that feels mutually beneficial （互利互惠的）.

能助人時別猶豫。這個說起來容易做起來難。不要害怕承諾。關鍵要注意不要以恩人自居。用一種互惠互利的方式去幫助他人。

[9. They are expressive （富于表現(xiàn)力的）. 他們愿意表達自己。]

They are not bottled up （抑制，壓抑強烈的感情） but speak out how they feel. They praise people who are good and point out what people do wrong. This is applied to every aspect of their lives.

他們不把話憋在肚子里，而是把感覺說出來。好的人就去表揚，做錯了的就指出來。這種方式適用于生活的方方面面。

[10. Theyre in charge of their emotions （情緒）. 他們能控制自己的情緒。]

Sometimes it is very important to keep silent. Especially when youre angry and you dont want to end up saying things you didnt really mean to. What you should do is to control your emotions， think back to what happened， and then come to a decision about how to deal with it. Before you say anything， consider others feelings. Never be rash （輕率的；魯莽的） with words or actions.

有時保持沉默是非常重要的，尤其是當你生氣，但不想說一些讓別人誤會的話時。你應該做的是控制自己的情感，想想發(fā)生過的事情，然后決定如何處理。在說話之前，考慮他人的感受。不要輕率說話或行動。