美國普渡大學每年舉辦飛蛋比賽,參賽者(高中生為主)設計投蛋器,瞄準25公尺外目標,蛋著陸不破,愈靠近紅心者獲勝。本活動甚具知名度,許多高中生衝著它選擇就讀普大。
不落俗套,才能吸引年輕人。在他們看,一切事情都可能發生(anything is possible) ,也認為有心,就能把事情做好(Nothing is impossible)。
不久前,鞋商adidas打廣告促銷,還特別將本句改為"Impossible is nothing."(不可能又怎樣!)用做廣告詞,以投年輕人所好。
例:"Hey anything is possible these days. Last week we won the Egg Launch Competition!" 「什麼事都有可能!上周我們贏了飛蛋比賽。」
有心就有路 肯幹變能幹
"When you are eager, keen and determined, nothing is impossible to your willing heart." 「有心就有路,肯幹變能幹。」
想法另類(think outside the box),挑戰極限(push the envelope),是年輕人本色。不願被框框侷限(think inside the box),原因有二,一是他們沒有包袱,二是按老套辦事,成功機率本來就低。
英文有句耐人尋味的話:"If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.",指很少人能把事情做得又快又好;絃外之音其實是:不落俗套,困難才能迎刃而解。
例:"You won't come up with good ideas if you think only inside the box."「想法陳腐,哪能有什麼好主張。」
"The winner certainly push the envelope, and they do a very good job of it."「他們挑戰極限,果然贏得冠軍寶座。」
"They thought outside the box and found a better solution."「他們另闢蹊徑,找出更妥善的方案。」
美國海軍陸戰向以「不撤退」為傳統。韓戰某師被打的七葷八素,師長下令「轉進」,遭屬下質疑。師長火大,吼道:"Retreat hell, we're just attacking in a different direction."(撤退個頭啦,我們只是換個方位攻擊!)
靈活應變 換個方位進攻
這和孫子「覆軍殺將,必以五危」,二者有異曲同工之妙,因為指揮官太固執己見,不知變通,會危及整體。
勇於接受挑戰,敢讓想像力天馬行空,為找出最佳方案,本末倒置一下(putting the cart before the horse)又何妨?俗話:「需求為發明之母」(necessity is the mother of invention ),這說明:一般人束手無策之際,正是高手大顯身手的時候。
例:"He worries about being able to steal 2nd base. He is always putting the cart before the horse because he hasn't gotten to 1st base yet. But his aggressiveness helps to get a leg up on his competition."「還沒上一壘,就擔心盜二壘不成,說他本末倒置也對,這種積極心態,總能讓他捷足先登。」
"We were at a loss as to how to proceed, but we really needed to get the contract so we improvised. You know what they say necessity is the mother of invention."「需求為發明之母:為了把這張訂單抓到手,我們花大力氣進行改善,終於達成目標。」
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