30歲前要學會的人生課

你的二十歲怎麼過，人生就可能怎麼過。心理學家Meg Jay博士在著作<<The Defining Decade>>中說，二十多歲的十年，不該只是探索、期待船到橋頭自然直。本文介紹Meg Jay提出的精采要點，大聲唸出每一點，還沒做到的，人生下一個十年一定要學會。

進入文章前，請先想想下列英文怎麼說：

a) 情境、想像

b) 克制

c) 重拾

1. Get The Best Job You Can Get

A lot of people think it’s necessary to start with a job they don’t like and wait for their chances. Actually, getting the best job you can get is important—The experience will become the 1) bargaining chip of your future. Don’t waste time waiting.

1. 堅持選擇最佳的工作

許多人認為屈就於不喜歡的工作是達成理想必經之路，事實上，找自己最滿意的工作很重要，你的資歷將成為未來的籌碼，別浪費時間等待。

2. Not Making A Choice Is A Choice

Some young adults decide to stay at home or be part-time workers because they think they are “opening for options”, but putting the choice 2) up in the air results in a thin resume.

2. 別決定「不做決定」

尚未決定未來志向，決定「靜觀其變」，的打工一族甚至賴家王老五，可能錯失累積資歷的最佳時機。

3. It's Going To Take Time to Get Good At Your Job

Young people can’t wait to get everything on track, but it usually takes years to master a job. What you can learn when you still have the chance making mistakes is the 3) bottom line at the beginning of your career.

3. 當菜鳥是必經過程

菜鳥都想盡快成為老鳥，但掌握一門工作往往需要數年。把握還是菜鳥的時間，慢慢從錯誤中學習才是將工作做好的不二法門。

4. Get Some Perspective

Young people often have their a) scenarios of superiors. They might be sensitive to criticisms and suggestions. Don’t just obey. Try to get some perspectives.

4. 學著有觀點

新鮮人往往對上司的批評及評論感到相當敏感。學習有點自己的個性，而不是對主管唯命是從。

5. Learn to Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin.

Confidence is attractive. Stop thinking about what other people might say about you, just believe that yourself are the best.

5. 學著自在做自己

自信是最吸引人的要素之一。別老想著別人會怎麼看你，勇敢地做自己吧。

6. Find something you’re passionate about (that’s not related to making money) and pursue it.

Find something that you’ll still do even if you know you won’t make any money from it. You will find that life becomes happier.

6. 賺錢之餘，找到你的熱情所在

找到一件即使無法以此生財，你也願意花時間去做的事，你會發現人生變快樂了。

7. Learn to Manage Your Money Effectively

Saving money is the first step for taking a break, starting a side project, and retirement. b) Refrain from shopping and learn to make a long-term plan for your money.

7. 學會理財

想休息，想開始新計畫，想退休，第一步都是儲蓄。新鮮人在領到第一份薪水時應稍稍抑制自己的購物慾，學習為自己的第一桶金做更長期的理財規劃。

8. Educate Yourself. Gather Worldly Knowledge

Educate yourself doesn’t mean you should c) retrieve your textbooks and go back to college. Try to gather knowledge in work and daily life. You can educate yourself by reading, traveling or even working.

8. 教育自己，大量吸收知識

教育並不代表你該重拾課本回到學校。試著從工作和日常生活汲取知識。閱讀、旅行甚至工作都能夠教育自己。

9. Be a Great Friend to a Very Small Number of People.

Stop making hundreds of friends on Facebook but have none in the real life. Know the meaning of friendship. You can only have a few friends as long as you are true friends in life.

9. 縮小交友圈，建立真關係

在臉書交數百個朋友，現實中卻沒朋友？成年之後，你需要了解朋友真正的意義。真正的摯友不用多。

口語詞彙

1. bargaining chip 談判籌碼

在賭場中做為籌碼的塑膠硬幣稱為 “chip”，而談判中討價還價的條件便是bargaining chip了。

I want to use their difficult position as a bargaining chip in the negotiation. 我想將他們的困境作為我們談判的籌碼。

2. up in the air懸而未定

up in the air 直譯是懸浮於空中，指事情依舊漂浮不定，尚未有結果。

The whole future of this selling plan is still up in the air. 這項銷售計劃的未來依舊懸而未定。

3. bottom line 重點，最重要的事物

bottom line 即是底線的意思，也可指所有事物中最重要或最基本的要素。

The bottom line is how do we get enough of money to complete this project. 最重要的是我們該如何籌得足夠的資金去完成這項計畫。

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