沸腾文学

第17部分（第2页）

〃Someday；　I　would　like　to　be　a　best…selling　author　like　you；〃　she　said。　I　had　seen　some　of　the　articles　she　had　written　for　the　paper；　and　I　was　impressed。　She　had　a　tough；　clear　style　of　writing。　Her　articles　held　a　readers　interest。

〃You　have　a　great　style；〃　I　said　in　reply。　　〃What　holds　you　back　from　achieving　your　dream？〃

〃My　work　does　not　seem　to　go　anywhere；〃　she　said　quietly。　〃Everyone　says　that　my　novels　are　excellent；　but　nothing　happens。　　So　I　keep　my　job　with　the　paper。　At　least　it　pays　the　bills。　Do　you　have　any　suggestions？〃

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　I　said　brightly。　　〃A　friend　of　mine　here　in　Singapore　runs　a　school　that　trains　people　to　sell。　He　runs　sales…training　courses　for　many　of　the　top　corporations　here　in　Singapore；　and　I　think　attending　one　of　his　courses　would　greatly　enhance　your　career。〃

She　stiffened。　　〃Are　you　saying　I　should　go　to　school　to　learn　to　sell？〃

I　nodded。

〃You　arent　serious；　are　you？〃

Again；　I　nodded。　　〃What　is　wrong　with　that？〃　I　was　now　backpeddling。　She　was　offended　by　something；　and　now　I　was　wishing　11　had　not　said　anything。　In　my　attempt　to　be　helpful；　I　found　myself　defending　my　suggestion。

〃I　have　a　masters　degree　in　English　Literature。　Why　would　I　go　to　school　to　learn　to　be　a　salesperson？　I　am　a　professional。　I　went　to　school　to　be　trained　in　a　profession　so　I　would　not　have　to　be　a　salesperson。　I　hate　salespeople。　All　they　want　is　money。　So　tell　me　why｜　I　should　study　sales？〃　She　was　now　packing　her　briefcase　forcibly。　The　interview　was　over。

On　the　coffee　table　sat　a　copy　of　an　earlier　best…selling　book　I　wrote。　I　I　picked　it　up　as　well　as　the　notes　she　had　jotted　down　on　her　legal　pad。　｜　〃Do　you　see　this？〃　I　said　pointing　to　her　notes。

She　looked　down　at　her　notes。　　〃What；〃　she　said；　confused。

Again；　I　pointed　deliberately　to　her　notes。　　On　her　pad　she　had　written　〃Robert　Kiyosaki；　best…selling　author。〃

〃It　says　best…selling　author；　not　best　writing　author。〃

Her　eyes　widened　immediately。

〃I　am　a　terrible　writer。　You　are　a　great　writer。　I　went　to　sales　school。　You　have　a　masters　degree。　Put　them　together　and　you　get　a　best…selling　author　and　a　best…writing　author。〃

Anger　flared　from　her　eyes。　〃Ill　never　stoop　so　low　as　to　learn　how　to　sell。　People　like　you　have　no　business　writing。　I　am　a　professionally　trained　writer　and　you　are　a　salesman。　It　is　not　fair。〃

The　rest　of　her　notes　were　put　away；　and　she　hurried　out　through　the　j；　large　glass　doors　into　the　humid　Singapore　morning。

At　least　she　gave　me　a　fair　and　favorable　write…up　the　next　morning。

The　world　is　filled　with　smart；　talented；　educated　and　gifted　people。　We　meet　them　every　day。　They　are　all　around　us。

A　few　days　ago；　my　car　was　not　running　well。　　I　pulled　into　a　garage；　and　the　young　mechanic　had　it　fixed　in　just　a　few　minutes。　He　knew　what　was　wrong　by　simply　listening　to　the　engine。　　I　was　amazed。

The　sad　truth　is；　great　talent　is　not　enough。

I　am　constantly　shocked　at　how　little　talented　people　earn。　I　heard　the　other　day　that　less　than　5　percent　of　Americans　earn　more　than　100；000　a　year。　I　have　met　brilliant；　highly　educated　people　who　earn　less　than　20；000　a　year。　A　business　consultant　who　specializes　in　the　medical　trade　was　telling　me　how　many　doctors；　dentists　and　chiropractors　struggle　financially。　All　this　time；　I　thought　that　when　they　graduated；　the　dollars　would　pour　in。　It　was　this　business　consultant　who　gave　me　the　phrase；　〃They　are　one　skill　away　from　great　wealth。〃

What　this　phrase　means　is　that　most　people　need　only　to　learn　and　master　one　more　skill　and　their　ine　would　jump　exponentially。　I　have　ment