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奥运冠军不能教你如何成功(Citius, altius, spurious)
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我想要成功。那个人是成功的。所以那个人可以教我如何成功。
双语精读
Citius, altius, spurious
更快、更高、更假
I want to be successful. That person is successful. So that person can teach me how to be successful. This syllogism helps explain the torrent of podcasts, books and speeches devoted to the secrets of high performance.
我想要成功。那个人是成功的。所以那个人可以教我如何成功。这个三段论有助于解释，为何有海量的播客、书籍和演讲致力于揭示取得卓越成绩的秘诀。
Consultancies ask what CEOs can learn from the world's best athletes. Executives attend events in which Olympians describe what makes them tick.
各大咨询公司问，CEO们可以从世界上最优秀的运动员身上学到什么？高管们参加活动，听奥运会选手们描述是什么让他们取得成功。
There are threads that connect sporting success and business success. Getting to the games requires intense dedication and hard work. Sporting excellence rests on the efforts of multiple people, not just a single individual.
体育成功和商业成功之间存在着一些联系。要参加比赛需要全身心的投入和努力。卓越的体育成绩取决于许多人的努力，而不仅仅是一个人。
If some of the similarities between sports and the workplace are the stuff of cliché, many of the differences are too big to be helpful. Sporting contests have the objective clarity of finishing positions; most jobs lack such simple metrics.
如果说体育和职场之间的一些相似之处是陈词滥调，那么它们之间的许多差异则太大而无法提供助益。体育竞赛有客观且明确的最后名次，而大多数工作缺乏这样简单的衡量标准。
The athletes who win medals at the games are blessed not just with prodigious determination but also immense natural gifts.
在比赛中赢得奖牌的运动员不仅具有非凡的决心，而且还拥有无比的天赋。
"I got more speed in my little finger than most people have in their whole body, and I was just born that way," Michael Johnson, a legendary sprinter, recently told "The High Performance Podcast", a popular show that tries desperately to extract life lessons for mortals from people with superhuman skills.
“我小拇指里的速度比大多数人整个身体里的速度都要快，我生来就是这样。”传奇短跑运动员迈克尔·约翰逊最近在“卓越表现播客”中说道，这是一档很受欢迎的节目，费尽心思地试图从拥有超人技能的人那里为凡夫俗子汲取人生经验。
The comparisons between sports and business can raise some interesting questions, although they are not necessarily the ones you might expect.
体育和商业之间的比较可以引发一些有趣的问题，尽管它们不一定是你可能期望看到的问题。
In her book "The Long Win", Cath Bishop, a former Olympian turned consultant, describes how a rigid focus on winning can be self-defeating whether you are in a singlet or a suit.
前奥运会选手、现在从事咨询的凯思·毕晓普在她的书《漫长的胜利》中描述了，无论是穿着运动衫还是西装，过于执着地关注胜利可能会适得其反。
Elite athletes increasingly like to talk about trusting in the process-focusing on the performance rather than on the results. Divorcing the way a business decision is made from its actual outcome is a discipline that companies might benefit from, too.
精英运动员越来越喜欢谈论要信任过程——专注于表现而不是结果。将企业决策的方式与其实际结果分开，这也是企业可能从中受益的一种训练。
The pressure on competitive sports teams to cut corners in pursuit of success can lead to toxic cultures and outright cheating, just as it can within firms.
竞技体育队伍为追求成功而走捷径，这种压力可能导致有毒文化和彻头彻尾的作弊，就像企业内部的情况一样。
But these parallels are not really why people listen to the podcasts or turn up at the events. They want a simple formula for success. And they want to hear what it is like to run faster, jump higher and vault better than anyone else.
但这些相似之处并不是人们收听播客或参加活动的真正原因。人们只想要一个简单的成功公式。而且他们想要听到人们描述，比其他人跑得更快、跳得更高、撑杆跳得更好是什么感觉。
词汇预习
individual [高考]
美[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl] | 英[ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl]
adj. 单独的；一个人的；独有的 n. 个人；个体
increasingly [高考]
美[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli] | 英[ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli]
adv. 逐渐地；越来越多地
competitive [高考]
美[kəmˈpetətɪv] | 英[kəmˈpetətɪv]
adj. 竞争的；有竞争力的；胜过或超过他人的
objective [高考]
美[əbˈdʒektɪv] | 英[əbˈdʒektɪv]
adj. 客观的；真实的；宾语的 n. 目标；目的；[物]物镜；[语]宾语
determination [高考]
美[dɪˌtɜːrmɪˈneɪʃn] | 英[dɪˌtɜːmɪˈneɪʃn]
n. 决心；测定；规定；(正式)决定；定位
stuff [高考]
美[stʌf] | 英[stʌf]
n. 东西；原料；材料 n. 素质；本质；废物；无用的想法；废话，蠢话 vt. 塞满；填满
desperately [高考]
美[ˈdɛspərɪtlɪ] | 英['despərətlɪ]
adv. 拼命地；绝望地；极严重地；孤注一掷地
multiple [高考]
美[ˈmʌltɪpl] | 英[ˈmʌltɪpl]
adj. 多种多样的；许多的 n. 倍数；并联
discipline [高考]
美[ˈdɪsəplɪn] | 英[ˈdɪsəplɪn]
n. 纪律；训练；学科 vt. 训练；惩罚
pursuit [高考]
美[pərˈsuːt] | 英[pəˈsjuːt]
n. 追求；追赶；工作
within [高考]
美[wɪˈðɪn] | 英[wɪˈðɪn]
prep. 在(某段时间、距离或范围)内；在…里面 adv. 在…里面 n. 内部
lack [高考]
美[læk] | 英[læk]
n. 缺乏；无 v. 缺乏；不足
former [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrmər] | 英[ˈfɔːmə(r)]
adj. 前者的；前任的；以前的 n. 创造者；[英]学校某一年级的学生
outcome [高考]
美[ˈaʊtkʌm] | 英[ˈaʊtkʌm]
n. 结果，成果，效果，结局
actual [高考]
美[ˈæktʃuəl] | 英[ˈæktʃuəl]
adj. 实际的；事实上的
consultant [高考]
美[kənˈsʌltənt] | 英[kənˈsʌltənt]
n. 顾问；咨询者；[英]会诊医生
self [高考]
美[self] | 英[self]
n. 自己；本性；自我 pron. 我自己；你自己；他或她自己 adj.同一的；纯净的；单一的 v. 近亲繁殖；自花授粉
tick [高考]
美[tɪk] | 英[tɪk]
v. 滴答作响；给…标记号；运作；空转 n. 滴答声；一会儿；勾号；壁虱；蜱虫；枕套；褥套；[英口]赊欠
rigid [高考]
美[ˈrɪdʒɪd] | 英[ˈrɪdʒɪd]
adj. 坚硬的；严格的；固执的；僵硬的；刻板的
benefit from [高考]
美[ˈbɛnəfɪt frʌm] | 英[ˈbenifit frɔm]
得益于； 从 ... 得到好处
clarity [高考]
美[ˈklærəti] | 英[ˈklærəti]
n. 清楚；透明
intense [高考]
美[ɪnˈtens] | 英[ɪnˈtens]
adj. 强大的；紧张的；强烈的；激烈的；深刻的
dedication [高考]
美[ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn] | 英[ˌdedɪˈkeɪʃn]
n. 奉献；献词；献堂礼
formula [高考]
美[ˈfɔːrmjələ] | 英[ˈfɔːmjələ]
n. 配方；公式；规则；代乳品 adj. 方程式的；（赛车的）级的
immense [高考]
美[ɪˈmens] | 英[ɪˈmens]
adj. 巨大的；广大的；[口]非常好的
legendary [高考]
美[ˈledʒənderi] | 英[ˈledʒəndri]
adj. 传说的；传奇的；著名的
vault [高考]
美[vɔːlt] | 英[vɔːlt]
n. 窖；穹；地下室；撑竿跳 vt. 做成圆拱形；撑竿跳跃 vi. 跳跃
workplace [高考]
美[ˈwɜːrkpleɪs] | 英[ˈwɜːkpleɪs]
n. 工作场所
necessarily [四级]
美[ˌnesəˈserəli] | 英[ˌnesəˈserəli]
adv. 必然地；必定地；必需地
torrent [四级]
美[ˈtɔːrənt] | 英[ˈtɒrənt]
n. 激流；山洪；(谩骂、质问等的)连发，爆发
excellence [四级]
美[ˈeksələns] | 英[ˈeksələns]
n. 优秀；卓越；优点
toxic [四级]
美[ˈtɑːksɪk] | 英[ˈtɒksɪk]
adj. 有毒的
not necessarily [四级]
美[nɑt ˌnɛsɪˈsɛrəli] | 英[nɔt ˈnesisərili]
adv. 未必；不一定
pressure on [四级]
美 | 英
对...的压力
extract [六级]
美[ˈekstrækt , ɪkˈstrækt] | 英[ˈekstrækt , ɪkˈstrækt]
vt. 摘录；提取；拔出；榨出；选取 n. 摘录；精华；榨出物
blessed [专四]
美[blest , ˈblesɪd] | 英[blest , ˈblesɪd]
adj. 神圣的；有福的；愉快的；[口]该死的
outright [专八]
美[ˈaʊtraɪt] | 英[ˈaʊtraɪt]
adj. 直率的；完全的；彻底的 adv. 率直地；立刻地；彻底地
spurious [专八]
美[ˈspjʊriəs] | 英[ˈspjʊəriəs]
adj. 假的；伪造的
重点讲解
Citius, altius, spurious
更快、更高、更假
high performance 高性能；卓越表现
【例】to achieve high performance in competitions
在竞争中取得卓越表现
【拓展】high-performance adj. 高性能的；优秀的
high achiever 成绩优秀的人
I want to be successful. That person is successful. So that person can teach me how to be successful. This syllogism helps explain the torrent of podcasts, books and speeches devoted to the secrets of high performance.
我想要成功。那个人是成功的。所以那个人可以教我如何成功。这个三段论有助于解释，为何有海量的播客、书籍和演讲致力于揭示取得卓越成绩的秘诀。
high performance 高性能；卓越表现
【例】to achieve high performance in competitions
在竞争中取得卓越表现
【拓展】high-performance adj. 高性能的；优秀的
high achiever 成绩优秀的人
Consultancies ask what CEOs can learn from the world’s best athletes. Executives attend events in which Olympians describe what makes them tick.
各大咨询公司问，CEO们可以从世界上最优秀的运动员身上学到什么？高管们参加活动，听奥运会选手们描述是什么让他们取得成功。
what makes sb tick 让某人这样做的原因
【例】I've always wondered what makes him tick; he's so passionate about his work.
我一直很好奇他为什么对工作如此有热情。
She spent years studying human behavior to learn what makes people tick.
她用了数年时间研究人类行为，想弄清为什么人们会这样行事。
intense adj. 密集的；激烈的
【例】intense pressure 沉重的压力
intense competition 激烈的竞争
an intense lecture 内容很多的一堂课
There are threads that connect sporting success and business success. Getting to the games requires intense dedication and hard work. Sporting excellence rests on the efforts of multiple people, not just a single individual.
体育成功和商业成功之间存在着一些联系。要参加比赛需要全身心的投入和努力。卓越的体育成绩取决于许多人的努力，而不仅仅是一个人。
what makes sb tick 让某人这样做的原因
【例】I've always wondered what makes him tick; he's so passionate about his work.
我一直很好奇他为什么对工作如此有热情。
She spent years studying human behavior to learn what makes people tick.
她用了数年时间研究人类行为，想弄清为什么人们会这样行事。
intense adj. 密集的；激烈的
【例】intense pressure 沉重的压力
intense competition 激烈的竞争
an intense lecture 内容很多的一堂课
If some of the similarities between sports and the workplace are the stuff of cliché, many of the differences are too big to be helpful. Sporting contests have the objective clarity of finishing positions; most jobs lack such simple metrics.
如果说体育和职场之间的一些相似之处是陈词滥调，那么它们之间的许多差异则太大而无法提供助益。体育竞赛有客观且明确的最后名次，而大多数工作缺乏这样简单的衡量标准。
prodigious adj. 异常的；惊人的
【例】a prodigious memory 惊人的记忆力
【近义词】extraordinary adj. 非凡的；异常的
【拓展】prodigy n. 年轻的天才；神童
【例】a musical prodigy 音乐奇才
The athletes who win medals at the games are blessed not just with prodigious determination but also immense natural gifts.
在比赛中赢得奖牌的运动员不仅具有非凡的决心，而且还拥有无比的天赋。
prodigious adj. 异常的；惊人的
【例】a prodigious memory 惊人的记忆力
【近义词】extraordinary adj. 非凡的；异常的
【拓展】prodigy n. 年轻的天才；神童
【例】a musical prodigy 音乐奇才
“I got more speed in my little finger than most people have in their whole body, and I was just born that way,” Michael Johnson, a legendary sprinter, recently told “The High Performance Podcast”, a popular show that tries desperately to extract life lessons for mortals from people with superhuman skills.
“我小拇指里的速度比大多数人整个身体里的速度都要快，我生来就是这样。”传奇短跑运动员迈克尔·约翰逊最近在“卓越表现播客”中说道，这是一档很受欢迎的节目，费尽心思地试图从拥有超人技能的人那里为凡夫俗子汲取人生经验。
extract v. 提取；选取
【例】to extract oils from plants 从植物中提取油脂
to extract a paragraph from the article 从文章中摘录一段
to extract benefit from the trip 从旅行中受益
【近义词】distill v. 蒸馏；提取；提炼
The comparisons between sports and business can raise some interesting questions, although they are not necessarily the ones you might expect.
体育和商业之间的比较可以引发一些有趣的问题，尽管它们不一定是你可能期望看到的问题。
self-defeating adj. 适得其反的；弄巧成拙的
【例】Paying children too much attention when they misbehave can be self-defeating.
孩子不听话时给他们太多关注，反而会让他们更胡闹。
【近义词】counterproductive adj. 产生相反效果的
backfire v. 产生相反效果
【拓展】self-fulfilling adj. 自我应验的
self-sufficient adj. 自给自足的
In her book “The Long Win”, Cath Bishop, a former Olympian turned consultant, describes how a rigid focus on winning can be self-defeating whether you are in a singlet or a suit.
前奥运会选手、现在从事咨询的凯思·毕晓普在她的书《漫长的胜利》中描述了，无论是穿着运动衫还是西装，过于执着地关注胜利可能会适得其反。
self-defeating adj. 适得其反的；弄巧成拙的
【例】Paying children too much attention when they misbehave can be self-defeating.
孩子不听话时给他们太多关注，反而会让他们更胡闹。
【近义词】counterproductive adj. 产生相反效果的
backfire v. 产生相反效果
【拓展】self-fulfilling adj. 自我应验的
self-sufficient adj. 自给自足的
Elite athletes increasingly like to talk about trusting in the process—focusing on the performance rather than on the results. Divorcing the way a business decision is made from its actual outcome is a discipline that companies might benefit from, too.
精英运动员越来越喜欢谈论要信任过程——专注于表现而不是结果。将企业决策的方式与其实际结果分开，这也是企业可能从中受益的一种训练。
divorce A from B 把A和B分开
【例】They believed that art should be divorced from politics.
他们认为艺术应该与政治分开。
【近义词】divide/separate A from B 把A和B分开
【反义词】marry/unite A with B 把A和B结合
cut corners 走捷径；偷工减料
【例】If you cut corners on safety procedures, you could put everyone at risk.
如果你在安全程序上减少步骤，那么你会让所有人承担风险。
She never cuts corners when it comes to her work.
她在工作上绝不偷懒。
【反义词】go the extra mile 加倍努力
The pressure on competitive sports teams to cut corners in pursuit of success can lead to toxic cultures and outright cheating, just as it can within firms.
竞技体育队伍为追求成功而走捷径，这种压力可能导致有毒文化和彻头彻尾的作弊，就像企业内部的情况一样。
divorce A from B 把A和B分开
【例】They believed that art should be divorced from politics.
他们认为艺术应该与政治分开。
【近义词】divide/separate A from B 把A和B分开
【反义词】marry/unite A with B 把A和B结合
cut corners 走捷径；偷工减料
【例】If you cut corners on safety procedures, you could put everyone at risk.
如果你在安全程序上减少步骤，那么你会让所有人承担风险。
She never cuts corners when it comes to her work.
她在工作上绝不偷懒。
【反义词】go the extra mile 加倍努力
But these parallels are not really why people listen to the podcasts or turn up at the events. They want a simple formula for success. And they want to hear what it is like to run faster, jump higher and vault better than anyone else.
但这些相似之处并不是人们收听播客或参加活动的真正原因。人们只想要一个简单的成功公式。而且他们想要听到人们描述，比其他人跑得更快、跳得更高、撑杆跳得更好是什么感觉。
parallel n. 平行线；相似情况
【例】There are many parallels between the two historical events.
两个历史事件之间有许多相似之处。
【搭配】draw a parallel between.... 在......之间找到相似点
without parallel 无与伦比
【拓展】unparalleled adj. 无双的
课后练习
What does the author think about the similarities between the workplace and sports?
A. They are too self-evident to be helpful.
B. They apply to teams rather than individuals.
C. They can teach valuable lessons to workers.
D. They are completely aligned and interchangeable.
What does the example of Michael Johnson illustrate?
A. The similarities between sports and business success.
B. The significance of natural talent in athletic success.
C. The importance of hard work in achieving success.
D. The need for better metrics in the workplace.
One of the lessons companies can learn from athletes is that ____.
A. fixating solely on winning is the key to success
B. the process can be more important than the result
C. making the right decision every time is the goal to achieve
D. cutting corners is sometimes necessary to stay competitive
What is the author's attitude towards the attempt to learn how to succeed from athletes?
A. Skeptical, as people seek overly simple solutions.
B. Supportive, as it provides valuable insights.
C. Enthusiastic, as it guarantees success.
D. Indifferent, as it has no real impact.