My First Job

 

   My first real long-term job, though, was at a local diner called Mel's Place. I worked there for seven years and learned so many lessons, especially from a fellow waitress. Helen was in her 60s, had red hair, and tons of self-respect — something I was really lacking. I looked up to Helen because she was doing what she loved — serving people — and nobody did it better. She made everyone smile and feel good, customers and fellow-workers alike.
   I also learned how important it is to take pride in life's little achievements: when I helped out in the kitchen, for example, nothing made me feel better than preparing the eggs and serving them just the way the customers wanted.
   Being a waitress really changed my life. One of my regular customers, Fred Hasbrook, a salesman, always ate the same thing every day. As soon as I saw him walking towards the diner, I would put his order in without him even needing to ask.
   Thanks to the confidence I picked up from Helen, I dreamed of having my own restaurant one day. Unfortunately, when I called my parents to ask them to lend me the money, they said, "We just don't have it."
   The next day, Fred saw me and asked, "What's wrong, Sunshine? You're not smiling today." I shared my dream with him and said, "Fred, I know I could do so much more if somebody would just have faith in me."
   He walked over to some of the other regulars at the diner, and then gave me $50,000 the very next day — along with a note that I still have. It reads, "Good people with a dream should have the opportunity to make it come true."
   I quickly went to a bank, where the money was invested for me. In the meantime, I continued working at the diner, making plans for the restaurant I would one day open. Sadly, the money was not invested well, and I lost it all.
   At that time, I found myself thinking about what it would be like to be a stockbroker, and decided to apply for a job at the bank. Even though I had no experience, I was hired and ended up doing quite well. Eventually, I even paid Fred and my customers back the $50,000, plus 14-percent annual interest. Five years later, I was able to open my own firm.
   Recently, I received a thank-you note from Fred that will forever be printed on my heart. He had been sick, and wrote that the money I sent him had helped to cover his mounting medical bills. His letter read, "I'm so glad I invested in you."
   I'm so glad I had that first job.

 

 

 

我第一份真正的稳定工作其实是在当地的一个叫“梅尔之家”的小餐馆。
我在那儿干了七年，学到了很多东西，尤其是从一位女服务员海伦那里学到了很多。
海伦六十多岁，红头发，自尊心很强——这也正是我真正缺乏的东西。
我敬佩海伦，因为她在做她所热爱的事——接待顾客——而且没人比她做得更好。
她使每一个人，无论是顾客还是同事，都面带笑意，心情愉快。
我还学到了重要的一点，那就是为生活中取得的小小成就感到自豪；
比如，我在厨房里帮忙的时候，没有什么比能够完全按照顾客希望的方式做好鸡蛋、给他们端上更让我感到高兴的了。
当女服务员确实改变了我的一生。
我的一个常客，弗雷德·哈斯布鲁克，是个推销员，他每天总是吃一样的东西。
我一看到他朝小餐馆走来，就会把他想点的东西准备好，他甚至都不需要开口。
因为从海伦那里学来了自信，我梦想着有一天能拥有自己的餐馆。
可惜，当我打电话向我父母借钱时，他们说：“我们实在没钱。”
第二天，弗雷德见了我，问道：“出什么事了，我的阳光？你今天没笑容。”
我把我的梦想告诉了他，说：“弗雷德，我知道，只要有人相信我，我能做的事情会多得多。”
他朝小餐馆的其他几个常客走去，第二天就交给我50,000美元，还有一张我至今还保留着的纸条，上面写着：“拥有梦想的好人应该有机会让梦想成真。”
我很快去了一家银行，这家银行替我拿这笔钱做投资。
与此同时，我一边继续在小餐馆工作，一边盘算着自己开店。
让我难过的是，这笔钱投资失败，我血本无回。
就在这时，我开始考虑去试着做一个股票经纪人。于是决定申请一份银行的工作。
我虽然没有经验，但还是被雇用了，结果也做得挺好。后来，我甚至还把50,000美元还给了弗雷德和其他顾客，外加每年14%的利息。
五年后，我终于有能力开了自己的公司。
最近，我收到弗雷德的一封感谢信，这封信将永远地印在我的心上。
前一阵他病了，并说是我寄给他的钱帮他支付了累积拖欠的医疗费。
他在信里说：“我真高兴当时在你身上投资。”
我真高兴当时做了那第一份工作。