Topic 50 Doing same things vs. Trying new things

Without Christopher Columbus's global navigation five hundred years ago, we can never know the existence of the American continent. Without the first brave man who tasted the poisonous "love apples" which are called tomatoes today, we can never have the delicious tomato & pea soup (гороховый суп) on our dinner table. And to a person, without jumping into the water, he can never become an excellent swimmer. So, when it comes to doing only what you already do well or trying new things and taking risks, I appreciate more the latter one.

While, the idea of doing what you have already been good at is without advantages. Probably, the most reasonable benefit of this behavior is that, one can make sure to be successful and never lose face. Success is important. For example, if you are an employee of a large competitive company, are you reluctant (неохотный; вынужденный) to drop every precious (драгоценные) promotion opportunity to show your failure to your department manager? Or will you be tolerant to losing a job because of an unintentionally tiny error (непреднамеренная крошечная ошибка)? The answer is possibly not. And doing the things one has already done well can also become a protection to a sensitive selfesteem. This may account for why a considerable number of people seldom speak a foreign language to the native speakers.

I was very reluctant to agree to their conditions, - Мне очень не хотелось соглашаться с их условиями,

Nonetheless (Тем не менее), pound for pound, I reckon that (считаю, что) trying new things has more advantageous. First of all, there is no doubt that this is a sufficient way to perfect one a lot. It is just the failure (провал) that points out (который указывает) where he is inadequate (недостаточный) and not developing well. And it is also the experience of failure that teaches him where to avoid making the same mistake as before.

Second, a little forward step (шаг вперёд) always leads (всегда приводит) to a meaningful important discovery. In science, physicists insist on researching to explore the unknown mysterious substance cosmos and chemists seek out new useful materials through the results of millions of thousands of chemistry experiments. To some extent (В какой-то степени), we can say that stop exploring stop progressing.

Hurdle - hə:dl - побороть, победить; превозмочь, преодолеть (трудности, препятствие)

Although there may be tremendous risks and masses of difficulties (огромные риски и масса трудностей) waiting us on the exploring way, we can really not stop our forward step. Given the factors I have outlined (Учитывая факторы, которые я изложил), I believe that a person who is full filled with the courage to try something he doesn't do well is more likely to overdo himself and enjoy a more and more colorful world.

Topic 50 Doing same things vs. Trying new things

Doing something already done well is really easy for almost everyone, it's reasonable to choose this other than try new things and take risks. But for me, I firmly stick (Я твердо придерживаюсь) to do something I haven't done before, for these sorts of things can really prove my ability (доказать свою способность), give me more experiences, and make my life full of fun and excitement.

First, choosing a different thing to do needs a person's courage. When we come to a completely new thing, almost everyone will feel hard to start, which is common but it strengthen our wills (волю) and determinations (решимость). In fact, the beginning of a task is a real challenge for everyone, and its importance may directly bring about the result. At this very moment, courage is the thing we really need, but it is also the thing we do not always possess. To conquer the difficulties (Чтобы победить kɔŋkə трудности) along with the risks (вместе с рисками) will certainly bring you courage and pride (гордость) that you never have before.

Second, the things you have already done successfully are of less interest and excitement than that of the new thing. Here's a simple example. Getting the right answer of one plus one, compared to working out an untaught new math problem, which means more to you? Definitely it is the latter! Or you may rather stay at a certain level without try to achieve any higher and being outstanding (быть выдающимся).

Lastly, to the human being, standing at the side of (на стороне) the society's evolution, the whole world needs new things to be invented, new areas to be explored, new ways to be tried out, and all these are the right things to make progress and build a better tomorrow.

I chose to try new things, and I will continue to make my new days in the future.

Topic 51 Taking risks vs. planning

Once upon time, a man pleaded a piece of land from a tribe chief. The chief

gave the man a pole and told him that if he could insert the pole in a place from

which he could come back before the sunset, the land between tribe station and

the pole would belong to him. The man was so greedy that he exhausted to

death on the way back. From this story we can see that although the man had

his goal and action, he had no plan. A good plan is essential for success. It can

quantify the task and make it possible for a man to arrange his time effectively.

First, by means of planning a man quantifies his task. He divides his final target

into several periodic ones. Thus, he could average the pressure and see his

progress during each period. A good plan encourages a man to fulfill his

destination positively rather than passively. Actually, all successful people have

their careful plans. For example, an excellent student must have a study

schedule that include how to learn new knowledge and how to review old

contents; an outstanding businessman needs a rational marketing plan that

defines the best avenues to reach his target customers and then assigns a

reasonable budget to his efforts. If one could execute his periodic target

successfully every time, he could easily achieve his ultimate target. More

significantly, during this process a man will acquire a lot of qualities that are

essential to success.

Secondly, the advantage of good planning is that one can dispose his time and

energy more effectively. It occurs very often in life that one should do a lot of

things simultaneously. To take care of his children, to work, to spend enough

time with his family and friends, only by a careful planning can a man

accomplish his several targets in a short time.

Let us come back to the former story. If the man were a coward he would

always fear that he could not come back before the sunset. The answer must be

that he got much less than what he could have. Therefore success, to some

extent, needs risk. But I think a careful plan is more important because it

changes success into a routine and it helps a man use his time more effectively.

Topic 51 Taking risks vs. planning

According to the words of Salustius "One is a creator of his own fate." Some

people believe that success in life always comes unexpectedly and that's why it

is only due to taking risks or chances. On the other hand, others are more

inclined to planning their own lives. In my opinion, planning is the better

approach for one who strives for success in life because it gives him an

assurance in his future success and makes it possible for one to use his time

more efficiently and to be more cautious regarding the difficulties that may

appear on the way to success.

Success in life comes from careful planning and hard-working. To plan means

to pursue some aim and to be confident that it will come some time inevitably.

In this way, one acquires a bigger faith in his own abilities and become more

urgent in pursuing that aim.

Another important priority of planning is that one can predict some of the

difficulties that may arise during his work and in this way he can be better

prepared for them. For instance if one desires to gain a better assignment within

his office he must clarify his aim and plan everything in advance before taking

great pains in pursuing it.

Other advantage of planning is that one can dispose of his time in the most

appropriate way in order to fulfill everything that is related to his views of

success. It occurs very often in life that one should do a lot of things

concomitantly - to look after his children, to work, to spend enough time with

his dears and relatives, to find time for rest, etc. Thus only careful planning can

make it possible for one to complete many tasks in a short time.

Of course, both careful planning and mere taking risks have their strong and

weak points but the former is more likely since it gives one more confidence in

future success in his work, it helps one to overcome every impediment more

easily and use his time in full value.

Topic 51 Taking risks vs. planning

Every day, new businesses are created. Some of these businesses will succeed,

but many will fall by the wayside. Some ventures may be on shaky ground at

the start, but with perseverance and careful planning, they will prevail in the

end. Hopefully a careful plan will not lead to a surprise but rather an expected

result and success.

There is a tide in the affairs of men

Which, taken at the flood, leads on the fortune

Omitted, all the voyage of their life

Is bound in shadows and in miseries.

—By Shakespeare

Admittedly, chance can sometimes help a man to succeed. But on the other

hand, not everyone will have such luck. How can a businessman who succeeds

by taking risks sustain his dealing with his business when he is suddenly out of

luck? Most likely, their company will be out of business if they have not made

an all-rounded plan.

Nevertheless, chance favors a prepared mind. The opportunity is equal to all the

people. The key to success is not waiting for a chance, but seizing it. Obviously,

careful planning will guide a man definitely, from which, he cannot only find a

destination and prevent him from aimlessness, but also assist him to grip the

chances on his way to success. For instance, an entrepreneur should understand

the power of a cautious plan which may help him define his business concepts,

estimate costs, predict sales, control risks, and even increase the chances of

succeeding. The plan may tell him what he should do and how to do it. Going

into business without a plan is just like having an expedition in the extensive

ocean without a compass.

In the second place, a comprehensive plan is also a reliable backup. Although

the original plan is followed, suffering may come for some unpredictable

occasions. In that way, a well-considered plan that mentions all the possibilities

can be very helpful.

From what has been discussed above, chances and taking risks may be

unavoidable, but success results primarily from careful planning. A

comprehensive schedule, similar to a guide in explorations, is a necessity for

achievement.

Topic 51 Careful planning

Gorge Barton, the famous American general in the Second World War, was

well-known for his bold plan and his ability to grasp chances to strike the

enemy in an unexpected way. However, few people know that Barton was also

very careful with the battle plans, taking into consideration all the details and

making preparation for any sort of accidents. I think in a modern society

success often comes from taking risks or chances, but careful planning is vital

for us to attain our goals.

No matter what good ideas or big ambition we have, we need to make careful

plans in which every step is to be considered. Otherwise, these ideas or

ambition will remain "something in the air" which may never be realized. In

China, a person who likes to take risks and is hasty in making his decisions is

often criticized by others as one who is bold and immature. From early

childhood, we are encouraged to take careful considerations before doing any

thing important.

Confucius, the ancient Chinese scholar, told his disciples that he would think it

over for many times before making any decision. However, on the other hand,

in today's fast changing world, we should try to find new ways and come up

with new ideas in our work. If we are contented with what we have and always

follow the same routine everyday, we may face the risk of being surpassed by

others.

As an old Chinese saying goes, "a wise man should have a careful mind as well

as a bold spirit." In order to achieve success, we should not be afraid of taking

risks and try to grasp chances, but at the same time our efforts must be based on

careful planning.