安德鲁·卡内基/Andrew Carnegie
安德鲁·卡内基（1835—1919），美国钢铁大王，生于苏格兰邓弗姆林，1848年随全家迁至美国宾夕法尼亚州阿尔勒格尼。他从13岁起开始打工，进过棉纺厂，当过邮电员，受教育不多，自学成才，并靠个人奋斗兴办铁路，开采石油，建造钢铁厂，终于成为亿万富翁。他晚年热心于慈善事业，著有《财富的福音》等书。1919年因肺炎去世，享年84岁。
It is well that young men should begin at the beginning and occupy the most subordinate positions. Many of the leading businessmen of Pittsburgh had a serious responsibility thrust upon them at the very threshold of their career. They were introduced to the broom, and spent the first hours of their business lives sweeping out the office. I notice we have janitors and janitresses now in offices, and our young men unfortunately miss that salutary branch of a business education. But if by chance the professional sweeper is absent any morning, the boy who has the genius of the future partner in him will not hesitate to try his hand at the broom. The other day a fond fashionable mother in Michigan asked a young man whether he had ever seen a young lady sweep in a room so grandly as her Priscilla. He said no, he never had, and the mother was gratified beyond measure, but then said he, after a pause, "What I should like to see her do is sweep out a room. "It does not hurt the newest comer to sweep out the office if necessary. I was one of those sweepers myself.
Assuming that you have all obtained employment and are fairly started, my advice to you is "aim high" . I would not give a fig for the young man who does not already see himself the partner or the head of an important firm. Do not rest content for a moment in your thoughts as head clerk, or foreman, or general manager in any concern, no matter how extensive. Say to yourself, "My place is at the top. "Be king in your dreams.