罗楚琦 广东外语外贸大学南国商学院
Good morning/afternoon, everyone!
I am sure most of you have eaten in a fine-dining restaurant. Or, you may have an unforgettable dish that by just thinking of it now, your mouth turns watery. Have you ever wondered what it took to create those appetizing meals?
The greatest pleasure of a chef is when his dish becomes a gourmet’s delight! It is the ultimate recognition of his ability to mix ingredients to create magic. Today, however, I’m going to talk about a different kind of cooking. Not of fine-dining, but of a life lived well. In life as in cooking, three factors come together – Ingredients, Recipe, and the Cook himself.
Today’s young people experience huge pressure long before entering college. Parents have hopes, and even rely on their children to bring them out of poverty. In an increasingly materialistic society, success is measured by houses and cars. But are you really successful if you live in an upscale condominium or drive a BMW?
What are the real ingredients to reach success? I say, drive and determination. Consider the young migrant workers called ant-tribe. There are millions, mostly living in big cities. In Beijing alone, there could be a hundred thousand of them, flocking in villages like Tangjialing. They live in squalor and earn barely for basic needs; yet, they press on and never give up their dreams to make it big one day. Some of them make it because of their dogged pursuit for a better life.
Like a good chef who follows a recipe to create a great meal, one must also adopt a game plan. This game plan is about choice. But, many simply copy others of what is hip and trendy. The best game plan is one that plays to your strength and passion. If your heart is for charity, go for it. Follow the example of Chen Shuju, a vegetable vendor. This 61-year-old spinster had lived in poverty and regretted that she couldn’t afford to save her dying parents. But she capitalized on what she was good at. Coupled by determination and patience, she became so successful that she later donated 10 million Yuan to charity to help the poor. Her choice of occupation may not appeal to young graduates armed with diplomas and certificates, but the lesson is clear – you can be successful whatever your line of work may be.
Lastly, no great meal comes out from nowhere. A cook is needed and you, my friends, are your own cook. To be successful in life, you must hone the ingredients of drive and determination, and carefully follow your chosen game plan. There will be failures along the way, but the one who presses on with passion will claim victory.
Pursuing a dream is more like a marathon than a 100-meter dash. One must break goals into small targets and work on them with passion. Like a dolphin coming out to the surface after a long dive to the ocean’s depth, you must also pause for breaks to reflect on where you fail or succeed. This helps you constantly revise your plan and make it better.
To recap, the keys to success are passion, determination, and a good game plan. They are the ingredients that have made Chen Shuju and individuals who got out from the ant-tribe. They are examples of a life lived well.
Now that you know the recipe for success, are you ready to cook? Let’s get started!
