我的成功源于中国的传统文化 ——钟彬娴

（单词翻译）

My success is from traditional Chinese heritage——Andrea Jung

Good afternoon, everyone. I can't tell you how honored I am to be here with you to talk aboutmy thoughts on leadership and to share my experiences as one of only a handful of women todayrunning a major global corporation.

As I look out at all of you…some at the beginning stages of your careers…some well alongthe road to your future…wherever you are on your own personal path , I can promise you a worldof opportunity and excitement. Anything you choose to do is within your reach. How far you gowill depend on how high you set your dreams and how hard you work to achieve them. Butwhatever path you take, the foundation provided by a good education will make success come thatmuch easier, I promise you.

I have shared my experiences on leadership with many different groups of people all over theworld. But being here in the country where my parents and grandparents were born-a country towhich I continue to feel strong emotional and intellectual ties-is an enormous privilege and adream comes true.

I consider myself a relatively¹ recent member of a new generation of business leaders facedwith a dizzying pace of change and a global economic and political environment that areredefined by the day in this tumultuous 21st century.

I was offered the job as CEO of Avon four years ago, and it has certainly been an experienceof a lifetime for me ever since. We've had a spectacular success, modernizing² everything aboutthe company from top to bottom.

With sales that this year will top $6.7 billion USD and a stock price which is at an all-timehigh, we've certainly had some incredible results. Avon has been named one of Fortunemagazine's most admired companies and we've made Business Week's list of the world's mostvaluable brands for three years in a row.

You may not realize this, but Avon does business in 143 countries and we sell our productsthrough more than four million independent sales representatives through our now-famous directselling distribution model.

Of all the countries where Avon does business, China is without doubt our fastest growingmarket. Avon entered China in 1990, and we were the first international direct selling company toopen our doors here. Over the years we have adapted our selling techniques to the unique needsof the Chinese consumer. Today, we sell our products in a variety of different ways, with broaddistribution through 5,000 independent Beauty Boutiques, owned and operated by entrepreneurswho are building successful Avon businesses.

(Pause)

As I look back to all that we have accomplished³ over the past decade and particularly overthe past four years, it has been a real period of breakout success for our company…breathtaking ,but also exhausting . The roller coaster ride has opened my eyes to many things…about theincreasingly complex demands of running a business today, about my own competencies and theneed to constantly challenge and renew my own commitment to being a better leader.

I had no idea at the moment I became CEO that I would experience such great fortune andsuch great challenge both at the same time…and how enormously my life would change as aresult. No idea what privilege yet, what responsibility comes with being the first woman to leadthe company, to be constantly scrutinized⁴ as one of less than a handful of women CEOs today,what it would be like to balance my Chinese cultural background, what the responsibilities of theoffice would entail⁵ in this unparalleled environment. And what it would mean to be a businessleader that could distinguish him or herself in today's world where the game is changing by theminute.

As I reflect on my rapid rise to the top as one of the few women running a major globalcorporation, I have found myself thinking a great deal about my Chinese heritage and howenormously fortunate I am to have been given this very precious gift.

I was raised in a traditional Chinese family where achievement was not demanded, butexpected. My father, born in Hong Kong, was a successful architect . My mother, born inShanghai, was the first female chemical engineer in her graduating class at the University ofToronto in Canada. They arrived in America not speaking a word of English, but through hardwork, both were able to fulfill⁶ their full potential, and their success has set a wonderful examplefor me.

My parents were always and continue to be today the single biggest influence in my life.

They raised my brother and I with a respect for the values and traditions of our Chinese heritage,yet also with an unwavering commitment to bring us up with all the opportunities for highereducation and a desire to prepare us to adapt to American society and to succeed in this world ofgreat change.

My brother and I were given all the opportunities of our American friends-the same schools,the same tennis lessons, the same piano teachers…but we had the wonderful advantage in mymind of a cultural heritage that we were always taught to be proud of. Mom and Dad alwayswanted us to be proud of being Chinese-my brother and I smile today when we reminisce ongrowing up in our house. We grew up believing that being Chinese was the greatest advantage inlife; in our house, everything important in life came from China, was invented in China, owed allto the Chinese.

We went on elementary school field trips to pulp⁷ plants, where they taught us how paper wasmade. Paper was invented in China, Mom said, after we relayed the process in awe⁸ . Our favoriteneighbors were Italian and invited us over for spaghetti . When we came home and raved⁹ , Dadwould remind us that Marco Polo brought pasta home from China. Not Italian…Chinese…and soit went. And how wonderful they were to instill in us the sense of pride in our heritage that wehave never forgotten.

When I first became CEO, a famous American television journalist interviewed my dad andasked him if he always knew I would be successful in business. No, he said, quite to the contrary,he worried for years that raising me to be a respectful Chinese daughter would hinder my abilityto compete in a world with what he considered the aggressive , cut- throat traits of typicalAmerica CEO's. In fact, he passed on a letter to me that I keep, translated from Chinese to English,in my desk drawer. The letter reads:

"Remember, there are distinctive¹⁰ qualities that set apart the successful Chinese…strive toexcel in all you do; be a superb parent willing to curtail¹¹ your own pleasure for the sake of betternurturing your children; be generous , fair, tolerant , eager to learn from other cultures whilesharing your own. But beyond these attributes, remember to have an absence of arrogance¹² andboastfulness; have unfailing courtesy, forbearance, sensitivity of others' feelings and above all, theability to diffuse¹³ your anger and grievance¹⁴, not by surppressing them but by transforming theminto helpful, positive emotions. In an age and environment of pretension¹⁵ , you have a preciousChinese cultural heritage which we are proud to pass down to you…"(Pause)

And so, with my parents definition of distinguished¹⁶ leadership in my drawer at all times, Ihave pushed forward to redefine aggressive as assertive¹⁷ , yet hopefully never abrasive¹⁸, to insurethat I'm tough enough to make the hard decisions, but never unfairly, always treating peoplewell...reminding myself at all times to have the humility¹⁹ and sensitivity which is expected in theChinese culture, adapted to the needs of the pressing business environment which requires ahealthy dose of outwardly expressed confidence and courage.

In fact, over my career, I have come to believe that there are indeed some very specialqualities that distinguish all leaders-and help them stand out in today's competitive arena²⁰.

First is Passion . You have to love the work you do. You have to be excited to come to workevery day. They taught us the four principles of marketing²¹ when I went to school: product, price,place, promotion²². But they didn't teach us the fifth, most critical principle which as far as I'mconcerned is Passion, the key to being truly successful as a leader over the long run.

No matter what career path you choose, I believe you have to love what you do. My ownpersonal experience proves this point. There was a time in my Avon career when I was passedover for a promotion to be the CEO. I had a job offer to be the head of another company, but awoman I respected gave me some good advice. She told me always to follow my heart, not myhead. So I followed my heart and stayed at Avon. In the end, I got the promotion, but mostimportant, I have always loved my work, and that has made all the difference.

The next distinguishing quality of leadership is Compassion²³ -caring about people. In my fouryears as CEO at Avon, I've had to make some tough decisions and difficult calls-eliminating jobsand closing factories. Actions that affect good people. The horrible part of the job. But I believewe demonstrate compassion and treat people fairly, with respect and dignity during those toughdecisions. And it is the responsibility for those of us wanting the privilege of being tomorrow'scorporate leaders to honor the commitment to compassion and the protection of the human spirit,in spite of the pressures and demands of business today.

Along with compassion comes Humility. Many people are surprised to learn this is one ofAvon's core values. None of us has all the answers. And all of us must listen to each other,because listening makes us stronger. One of the things I've learned about myself is that I tend to beimpatient in solving problems. Instead of listening to the opinions of others, I try right away tofind solutions. I have had to learn that other people can give me valuable input²⁴ and that listeningmakes me a better leader.

Balance is another essential leadership quality in today's complex world, and it's a qualitythat is especially critical for women who are juggling²⁵ many and sometimes competing roles. Iconstantly struggle with the issue of balance.

There are two final qualities of distinguished leadership that I want to share with you today.

These may be the most important qualities of all and how lucky we are that both are a fundamentalpart of our Chinese culture-something we all learn from our parents virtually from the day we areborn.

First is Perseverance²⁶ . I'm talking about simple hard work and a commitment to stay thecourse even when times are tough. In today's fast- pace business environment, unexpectedchallenges come at you from all directions, with no end in sight. Sometimes I read articles aboutmyself and my career path and it makes it sound so easy. But believe me, it hasn't been easy for asingle day. I work far harder now than I ever have in my life. I've had to embrace constant change,and every time I think I've finally mastered the situation, a new challenge comes along I hadn'tanticipated .

There will be many days when the challenges each of you confront will seem overwhelming. We all have those days; they go with the territory when you are trying to achieve somethinggreat.

Perseverance and hard work will see you through the tough times. My parents instilled²⁷ thesequalities in me and it has made all the difference. Sometimes I watch young Americans quit whenthings are difficult, and I always advise them to try again…and again…and again. Never give upuntil you achieve your goal. That's what distinguishes those who make it to the top from thosewho don't.

Hard work is essential…but all the hard work in the world won't take you anywhere unlessyou know where it is you want to go.

That's why it's so important to have a dream. This is the final important quality of leadership.

Everything great that has ever happened in this world began with a dream.

Avon has big dreams. In fact our company theme this year is "Dream Bigger". We want to benumber one in beauty worldwide and number one in satisfying our customers and salesrepresentatives. We want to be the best place to work. We want to be the leader in philanthropy .

And we want to be one of the world's most successful companies.

I have a personal dream as well. My dream is to make a real difference for women all overthe world and to help transform lives. Every time a woman opens an Avon Beauty Boutique, weare making her dream of business ownership come true. This is the dream of unlimitedopportunity. This is the dream of hope. It is also the dream of China-where everything is possibleand success can be as great as the size of your imagination.

In many ways the dream of China is really the biggest dream of all-and it's a dream we allshare. And we're not alone. The dream of China has captured the world's imagination since thebeginning of history. From Columbus to Marco Polo, explorers have traveled long and far tounlock China's mystery and discover its riches.

The dream of China is a gift given to each of us as part of our cultural heritage. As Chinaemerges as one of the world's leading powers, this dream grows stronger and brighter every day.

The world is looking on in awe. And nothing makes me prouder than to watch this growth andsuccess. Nothing makes me prouder than to know that this is my culture. Like all of you, I am veryproud to be Chinese, and very grateful that I have been given the gift of this wonderful heritage. Itis a gift that serves as a source of strength and as a guiding compass every single day in my lifeand in my career.

(Pause)

In closing, I encourage all of you to take full advantage of the gifts you have been given.

You have the benefit of a precious cultural heritage, including a respect for the value of hardwork. You know what is important and you work to achieve it. And you are tenacious²⁸ in pursuingyour goals.

As you pursue these goals, I encourage you to aspire²⁹ high. Dream big dreams. Dream bolddreams. Dream as far as your imagination will take you.

Whatever it is you dream of, there is no doubt in my mind you can do it. The world is open toyou. So go out there and make all your dreams come true.

参考译文

我的成功源于中国的传统文化

——钟彬娴

各位，下午好！我感到无比荣幸能来到这里和大家探讨对领导力的认识，并分享我作为目前管理着一个主要跨国企业的为数不多的女性所经过的历程。

我现在注视着你们大家，你们中间有些人正处在职业生涯的起点，有些人已经在通向未来的道路上前进了。不管你在自己的道路上走了多远，我向你们保证前面有无数的机会和令人兴奋的东西等待着你。不管你想做什么你都可以做到。你能走得多远取决于你有多大的梦想和为了实现它们付出多大的努力。但无论你选择哪条路，我保证，有良好的教育背景作为基础，成功会来得容易得多。

我曾和来自全世界不同的人群分享过我的经历。但是在这个我父母和祖父母出生的国度，这个我一直被强烈的情感和文化纽带所维系的国度，能同各位分享我的成功感受是我极大的荣幸，也圆了我的一个梦。

我认为自己属于相对新一代的商业领导者，我们面对的是令人目眩的变化节奏以及被充满动荡的21世纪重新定义的全球经济和政治环境。

四年前我被任命为雅芳的首席执行官，开始了改变我一生的经历。我们获得了令人瞩目的成功，全方位地将整个公司推向现代化。

今年的销售将达67亿美元，我们的股票达到了历史新高，我们的确取得了骄人的业绩。雅芳被财富杂志评选为最令人敬佩的公司之一，并连续三年被商业周刊评为全球最有价值的品牌。

大家可能还不知道的是，雅芳已在143个国家开展业务，我们运用直销模式，通过超过四百万独立销售代表销售我们的产品。

在雅芳开展业务的所有国家中，中国毫无疑问是发展最快的市场。雅芳1990年进入中国，是最早采用直销模式在此地经营的跨国性企业。这些年来，雅芳不断改变销售方式来适应中国市场和消费者的特殊需求。今天我们的产品通过5000家独立的产品专卖店进行销售，这些专卖店的拥有者都是极具魄力的本地企业家，是她们推动了雅芳业务的成功。

当我回首过去十年尤其是最近四年中获得的成就，的确是雅芳获得突破性成功的阶段，惊险刺激，同时也付出了很多辛劳。乘坐过山车似的感觉令我见识了很多当今对经营企业越发复杂的要求，关乎我自身能力和常常挑战自己的需要，以及要做一个更好的领导人的不断更新的自我期望。

在我刚成为CEO的时候，从未想到过会有这么大的幸运，同时又接受这么大的挑战，以及它们会给我的生活带来如此大的变化。我不知道作为领导这家公司的第一位女性意味着怎样的特殊性和责任；或者是作为当今为数不多的女性CEO怎样为我的华裔文化背景取得平衡、并时刻处于被审视之中；或者是在前所未有的环境下担任这一职位所肩负的责任；还有在今天这个每时每刻都在变化的世界里做一名优秀的商业领袖所代表的意义。

作为极少数领导着全球性企业的女性中的一员，在我回想我迅速成长的过程中，我发觉自己不断地想到我的中国文化传统这一宝贵的赠与所带给我的极大幸运。

我在一个传统的中国家庭里成长，家人不强求我成功，但期望我成功。我父亲出生在香港，是一名成功的建筑师。我母亲生于上海，是当时加拿大多伦多大学研究生班里培养出来的第一位女性化学工程师。他们刚到美国时一句英语都不会，但他们勤奋工作，都充分发挥了自己的潜力。他们的成功为我树立了非常好的榜样。

我的父母从过去到现在始终是我唯一和最大影响的来源。在教育我和我弟弟时他们尊重我们的观点和传承的中国文化，但也不遗余力地把握所有让我们接受教育的机会，以及帮助我们适应美国社会并在这个变化不断的世界里获得成功。

我和我弟弟与我们的美国同龄人获得的机会是均等的：同一个学校、同样的网球课、同一个钢琴老师……但我们被中国传统文化熏陶的思想是一个很大的优势，我们为此感到骄傲。父母亲一直教导我们要为自己是中国人感到自豪，今天我和我弟弟回想在家的成长历程还会由衷地微笑。我们始终相信作为中国人是生命中最大的优势，在家里所有重要的东西都是中国来的，在中国发明的，都是中国人的。

我们念小学时去纸浆厂参观，教我们纸是怎么生产的。我们回家崇拜地描述一番后，母亲说，纸是中国人发明的。我们最喜欢的邻居是意大利人，他们邀请我们去吃意大利面。我们兴奋无比，父亲会提醒我们马可·波罗是从中国把面团带回去的，不是意大利的，而是中国的……不断如此。我们永远无法忘记他们是如何教导我们为自己的传统感到自豪。

当我最初成为CEO的时候，一个著名的美国电视记者采访我的父亲，问他是否早就知道我会在商界获得成功。不，他回答，正相反，他好多年一直担心教育我成为一个孝顺的中国女儿会妨碍我在美国CEO们的圈子里和别人竞争一个他认为充满了攻击性和残酷无情特性的圈子。实际上，他写了封信给我，我还保存在我办公桌抽屉里。信是由中文翻译成英文的，信里这样写道：

“记住，成功的中国人具有和其他人不同的特质……所有事情都要努力做得最好；做一个愿意为培育子女放弃自己的快乐的杰出母亲；慷慨、公正、宽容、和人分享你的文化还要热情学习别人的文化。但除此之外，记住远离傲慢和自吹自擂；保持礼节、容忍、理解对别人的同情心。还有最重要的，要化解你的怒气和悲痛，不是压抑它们，而是把它们转变成有帮助的、正面的情感。在虚伪的年代和环境中，你有一个珍贵的中国文化传统，我们为能把它传递给你而骄傲……”

（停顿）

于是，伴随着我抽屉里我父母对杰出的领导力的定义，我敢于将攻击性重新定义为决断性，但希望永不具有伤害性，来确保我在做出硬性的决定时能足够强硬，但又不失公正，始终善待别人……提醒自己既要具有中国传统所鼓励的谦卑和感性，同时也要有商界高压力环境所要求的外显的自信和勇气。

其实，回想我的职业生涯，我逐渐相信的确有一些非常特殊的要素决定了哪些人会成为领导者，并帮助她们在今天高度竞争的环境中显露锋芒。

首先是热情。你必须热爱你的工作。你为每天去工作感到兴奋。我念书的时候老师教我们市场营销的四P原则：产品（Product），价格（Price），地点（Place）和促销（Promotion）。但他们没有告诉我们第五个，就我的体会也是最重要的原则：热情（Passion）——这是成为一个真正的长期成功的领导者的关键。

不管你选择哪一条职业发展之路，我相信你必须热爱你所做的。我的个人经历证明了这一点。在雅芳我曾经错过了一次晋升为CEO的机会，那时我可以得到一份领导另一家公司的工作。但一位我所尊重的女性给了我很好的建议。她让我听从内心的选择，而不是头脑的选择。于是我听从了内心留在了雅芳。最终，我获得了晋升，但最重要的是，我始终热爱我的工作，这才是最主要的。

第二个领导力的特质是同情心：关心别人。我在雅芳任CEO的四年里，不得不做出一些很难做出的决定和通知，例如取消某个职位和关闭一个工厂。这些都会伤害别人，这是工作残忍的一面。但我相信在这些决定中我们表现出了同情心和公平性，以及对人的尊严的尊重。尽管面临着环境的压力和要求，但那些希望成为明天的企业领导者的人有这个责任承担起这份同情心和维护人的尊严。

同情心和谦卑是相通的。许多人在得知这是雅芳的价值观之一时感到很惊讶。我们没有人能回答所有问题。我们必须相互倾听，因为倾听让我们更强大。我在解决问题时会很不耐烦，我直接去寻找解决方案而不是先听别人的意见。我必须要学习，其他人能给我有价值的建议，而倾听使我成为更好的领导者。

在当今复杂的世界中，获取平衡是另一个主要的领导能力，尤其对于女性，挣扎于许多有时还相互矛盾的角色中。我经常在如何求得平衡中摸索。

我今天和你们分享的最后两点优秀的领导力特质可能是所有特质中最重要的，而我们如此幸运因为它们都是我们中华民族文化的根基，是我们几乎从出生那天起就开始向父母学习的。

第一是坚持。我所谈的是最基本的努力工作和在困境时也能如此的信念。在今天快节奏的商业环境下，意料之外的挑战来自四面八方，看不到尽头。有时候我读一些写我和我的职业生涯的文章，看上去好像一切都很容易。但相信我，没有一天是容易的。我现在要比以前任何时候都努力工作。我必须接纳不断地变化，每次我认为终于掌握局面的时候，一项新的没有预计到的挑战就会冒出来。

很多时候你们会感觉，面对的挑战令人无法招架。我们每个人都会有这样的阶段。当你试着努力做出一些成就的时候，它们就会无影无踪了。

坚持和勤奋会帮助你度过困境。我的父母给我灌输了这些特质，的确很不一样。有时候我看到年轻的美国人在遇到困难时就放弃了，我总是建议他们再试一次，再一次，再一次。没有达到目标决不要放弃。这就是为什么有人能够到达顶峰，而有人却没有。

勤奋工作是最基本的，但是光勤奋不会有用，除非你知道自己的目标要往哪里去。

第二是梦想。这是领导力的最后一个要素。这个世界上所有的伟大成就都始于一个梦想。

雅芳有很大的梦想。其实我们公司今年的主题就是“拥有更多的梦想”。我们想在美容方面成为世界第一；在客户和销售代表满意上也成为第一；我们想成为最佳的雇主；我们想成为慈善事业的领导者；我们想做世界最成功的企业。

我个人也有一个梦想。我的梦想是为全球的女性带来一个全新的体会，帮助改变生活。每次一位女性开设一家雅芳产品专卖店，我们就在帮助她实现创业的梦想。这是一个无限机会的梦想。这是希望的梦想。这也是中国梦：没有什么是不可能的，成功将和你的想象力一样大。

很多意义上，中国梦的确是最大的梦想，这是一个我们共有的梦想。我们不是孤独的。自从有历史以来，中国的梦想吸引着世界的想象力。从哥伦布到马可·波罗，探险家长途跋涉为的是揭开中国的神秘面纱和发现这里的财富。

中国梦是我们有幸从传统文化中继承下来的。在中国逐渐成为世界性的大国时，这个梦想成长得更快更明确。全球都投以崇敬的目光。我为能目睹这样的成长和成功而感到无比自豪，为这是我自己的传统文化而无比自豪。和你们一样，作为中国人我很骄傲，也为拥有这样美好的传承而无比感激。这是我的生活和事业中指引我方向的根源。

（停顿）

作为结束，我鼓励你们大家充分利用你们拥有的这个优势。

你们拥有这份宝贵的传承，包括对勤奋工作的价值的尊重。你们知道什么是重要的并且努力实现它们。你们在追求目标的时候会坚持不懈。

在你们追求这些目标的时候，我鼓励你们树立更高的理想。梦想更多的东西。大胆地梦想。发挥你们的想象力可以达致任何的高度。

不管你梦想什么，我毫不怀疑你们可以做到。世界向你们展开。所以尽管去实现你们的梦想吧。