温馨夜读II PART1 1.A Million Dollar Lesson

（单词翻译）

 

[00:00.83]Reflections on Life

[00:04.21]You are the only one in a sea of infinity¹! 

[00:08.02]Your dearest possession is life, and it is given to you but once. 

[00:13.02]Life gives every one his opportunities, 

[00:16.07]but it doesn’t send them into his hands. 

[00:18.80]Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do, it’s truly up to you. 

[00:24.35]You are the artist that paints your future with the brush of today!

[00:28.93]1.A Million Dollar Lesson 

[00:34.16]A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson on customer satisfaction and expectation. 

[00:41.02]Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars to impart his kind of training 

[00:46.35]to corporate² executives and staff. 

[00:48.64]It cost me a $12 taxi ride.

[00:52.56]I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on a client. 

[00:57.79]Time was of the essence and my plan included a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. 

[01:05.52]A spotless cab pulled up.

[01:07.81]The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me 

[01:10.97]and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed the door. 

[01:15.21]As he got in the driver’s seat, 

[01:17.28]he mentioned that the neatly³ folded Wall Street Journal next to me was for my use. 

[01:22.40]He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type of music I would enjoy.

[01:27.96]Well! I looked around for “Candid Camera!” Wouldn’t you? 

[01:32.96]I could not believe the service I was receiving! 

[01:36.67]I took the opportunity to say, “Obviously you take great pride in your work. 

[01:42.33]You must have a story to tell.”

[01:44.18]“You bet,” he replied, “I used to be in Corporate America. 

[01:49.08]But I got tired of thinking my best would never be good enough. 

[01:53.00]I decided⁴ to find my niche⁵ in life where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.”

[01:59.43]“I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but I love driving cars, 

[02:04.32]being of service and feeling like I have done a full day’s work and done it well. 

[02:09.01]I evaluated my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.”

[02:14.69]“One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business I could simply meet the expectations of my passengers. 

[02:23.00]But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED the customer’s expectations! 

[02:28.80]I like both the sound and the return of being ‘great’ better than just getting by on ‘average’.”