击在餐桌上的那一拳

                 译/尹玉生

    亨利福特，这位将人类带进汽车时代的汽车工业巨擘，曾经多次感慨地表述过这样一句话：善于鼓励他人的能力，是一个人一生中最美好的财富。
    在福特汽车事业的开端，年轻的福特历经辛苦绘制出一幅新型发动机的草图，但在那个时代，绝大多数的业内人士都一致认为并坚信，电气车辆才是未来车辆的流行潮流。为此，企图改良汽车发动机的福特遭受到了无数的白眼和嘲讽。
    得不到理解和支持的福特为此烦恼不已，几欲放弃。但一次晚宴上的幸遇，给福特以巨大的鼓舞，使他以坚定的信心坚持下来，并最终成为引领汽车行业的带头人。
    在那次晚宴上，大名鼎鼎的大发明家爱迪生也应邀参加了。福特在餐桌上向距离他最近的一位出席者苦口婆心地讲解自己的发动机设想，福特注意到，距离几把椅子以外的爱迪生也在侧耳倾听，并不断挪动椅子向福特这边靠近，最后，这位大发明家索性直接走到福特身边，请他画出发动机的草图。
    福特既紧张又兴奋，匆匆几笔就画出了简略的草图，爱迪生全神贯注地研究着这张草图，突然，爱迪生将拳头在餐桌上重重一击，“年轻人，”大发明家显得非常兴奋：“就是它了，你已经得到它了！” 
    多年以后，福特回忆说：“击在餐桌上的那重重一拳，对我而言，它的价值等同整个世界。”

Henry Ford once said that the ability to encourage others is one of life's finest assets. The auto inventor an manufacturer knew the power of encouragement. He had learned of it as a young man.

Memorable to him was the time, at the beginning of his career, when he made a drawing of his newly built engine for Thomas A. Edison. Young Ford had endured criticism and ridicule. Most mechanical experts of that day were convinced the electric carriages would be the popular passenger cars of the future.

But attending a dinner one evening at which Edison was present, Ford began explaining his engine to men nearest him at the table. He noticed that Edison, seated several chairs away, was listening. Finally the great man moved closer and asked the young inventor to make a drawing.

When the crude sketch was complete, Edison studied it intently, then suddenly banged his fist on the table. "Young man," he said, "that's the thing! You have it!"

Years later, Ford recalled "the thump of that fist upon the table was worth worlds to me."