I came across an article called “3 Words That Guarantee Failure“, and can’t agree with it more.
我看到这样一篇文章，题目叫“这三个词注定使你失败”（英文）。我真是再同意不过了。
It made me think of my old days of preparing applications to schools in United States. I was working hard to get my personal statement done at that time, and asked help from Steve, one of the international teachers in my college. I grabbed him minutes before his class to go over my draft, and after scanning he simply said: “You need to rework.” but did not gave me much indication on how to make it better.
这篇文章让我想起了自己申请美国留学的岁月。那时，我正在为写个人陈述文书而头疼，并且好不容易找到一个机会请求我们学校的外教Steve帮我修改。那天，我跟他上课前几分钟约见帮我看草稿。他快速浏览了一遍之后s说：“重新写吧。”但是他没有给我什么具体的建议。
“Send email to me as soon as you’re done with rework.” He said.
“重写完后给我发邮件吧。”他说。
“Ah.. ” I said. “I will try my best.”
“啊……我尽力做好。”我说。
“What?” He looked angry. “You should NEVER EVER say that.” At the moment, the class bell rang. Floods of students passed the building entrance, right where we stood. I felt every single person passed by staring at me, and the old angry man who was shouting in English. My face felt like burning.
“你说什么？”他看起来有点生气了，“你永远都不该说那种话。”这时，上课铃响了。学生像洪水一样涌进楼道，刚好经过我们站的地方。我感觉每一个经过的人都转头向我们这边瞧，看一个落魄的女学生和一个正厉声发表批评的说英语的外国老人。我觉得自己的脸像火烧一样红。
“If you say you try something, you’ll NEVER get it done. Do you know that?” He pointed to my draft. “And I’m not interested in spending my time on it.”
“如果你说你尽力做什么事情的话，你永远都无法将事情做好。你知道吗？”他指指我的草稿，“我也没有兴趣在这东西上花时间。”
“I will make it!” I said loudly. “I will make it!”
“我会做好的！”我大声说，“我会做好的！”
His face lit up a bit. ”That will work. Send email to me then.” Before then turning around to the direction of his class, he added, ”Remember that.”
他的脸色稍稍好看了一点：“这么说就对了。到时候给我发邮件吧。”他走去上课之前，转过身来对我说，“别忘记我们刚说的话。”
I remembered. And here I am in United States.
我没有忘记。现在，我美国的研究生顺利毕业，开始了工作打拼的生活。
It’s true. And I recall it every time when I want to say “I will try”. Do, or do not. There is no “try” if you want to get things done.
确实是这样。在每次我想说“我尽力”或“我尽量”的时候，我会想起这件事。做，或者不做，想做好事情就别说“我尽力”。
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