Individuals in the clabody, do not neglect your own existence, you are in claevery body part. You know, what you say will affect the class, everyone's heart.
Morning, you usually do not change with the same clothes, not a deliberate show, has long been greet others eyes, while she (he) did not show the share of excitement you might expect; noon, you buy the dumplings and not usually eat rice, this time, you certainly will not find other people's attention quietly into the heart of the Harbour; evening, you may have noted that you in the sports arena in robust posture from time to time lead to her (his) eyes appreciation ; lying about the meeting, or you are the central topic of the night. You know, you group everyone in love with you! They were destined to become a good friend in life your life.
Do not ignore the people around you who care about you? As long as you have them as your friend. If you experience any difficulties, think of friends around, think about the people around you that care, think about organization, think about your father, mother, think about your counselor, think about time for you hard working people. They are good-hearted, they are helpful, they are caring of others. These setbacks, the difficulties faced by them, they would lend a helping hand. Person's life will encounter this difficulty, he might not be completely resolved out, this time must remember the people around for help, for help. Think of what you are willing to help others, others will be quite willing to help you. Open your mind, free your mind, love is always around us.
Birth, the first cry cry out, but everyone laughed. Why? Because the new life brought a different dynamic. From then on, you will have a new meaning of life, mother, your father, your grandparents, your grandparents, your relatives and friends, your teachers, your counselor, your friend, your roommate, your spouse, your children, you all all. See all around us people are concerned about you, love you all, because of their concern for life, it is particularly meaningful, life also because of their concern and it is particularly exciting. For themselves, and to others, so that the release of your life more colorful light, because people care about you, for them, you have to cherish your life, you need to get beautiful life together.
In modern life we have many inventions.Thesemachines are very useful.Theycan make things better and faster than people.
A washing machine can help us wash clothes.We have more time to do that wewant to doduring this time.A printing machine prints a lot of books,newspapersand other things qiickly.
Buses,bikes,cars,trains,planes and shipshelr us travel faster thanbefore.The compter is wonderful machine.
It is one of the most important inventions.Today it is used in manyways.
It can store innformations and work out math problems millions of timesfaster than a person can.
In a few years,the computer may touch the lives of everyone.Even people infaraway villages.
the life of people and countless setbacks are inevitable. nietzsche said,we have no right to be pessimistic. frustration can be relaxed, without setbacksto enlarge. some small things make you very pessimistic. so life isn't occupiedby pain?
in the face of setbacks, anita mui chose to continue struggle, while lesliecheung chose suicide. encountered setbacks, the choice of summing up experience,continue to forge ahead? or indulge in frustration and pain, inextricably boggeddown in? many history and experience tell us: frustration is inevitable, youmust learn lessons, correct shortcomings, make up for deficiencies, and enhanceself-confidence, you can succeed. on the contrary, it will fall forever. youmust calm down and face the frustrations of life with an ordinary and optimisticheart.
everyone will succeed, success will bring happiness, frustration will bringpain. in the face of setbacks, some people worry, some people look forward totomorrow, people have lost forever lost, some people get lost again as.frustration is coming, it means that you want to test. several actors best showin 20__ the spring festival gala avalokitesvara, they are deaf. but they didn'tbecome pessimistic because of their own physical defects, but they workedharder, and finally achieved success at the spring festival gala.
avalokitesvara the actor is not deaf? small zhouzhou not artist has thecongenital defect? they were unlucky in life on the road tsunami, but by virtueof their firm and indomitable spirit and indomitable indomitable will, not onlydid not flinch, but also did not give up, carefully and patiently experience,rational and comprehensive lessons, and diligent efforts to build the new worldof their own, and succeed.
there is such a person, his family was very wealthy, his father is alatifundistas. but when he was 7 years old, my motherland changes. the wholefamily fled to miami. in order to survive in a foreign country, he worked withhis father when he was 15 years old. his life was bitter, but he always listenedto his father's instruction: whatever he wanted, he should be strong and good.he worked as a waiter, salesman and the driver of the car did. because he wasdiligent, studious and unpaid, the boss introduced him to a better company. fromthen on, he eventually became the united states department of commerce bepromoted step by step, minister, he is carlos gutierrez.
i admire carlos gutierrez, his fate is bumpy, but he remember his father'steachings, to create their own world with their own hands. he is not veryclever, do not have business acumen, but his self, good, finally succeeded. lifeis negative for 7 years old no, but for now he is sure yes.
unremitting self-improvement, social commitment, this is the motto oftsinghua university, to teach people to be self. life is always facing setbacksand it will bring pain. but you just have to take the frustration as the furnacethat makes you stronger, and face it correctly. let us smile in the face ofsetbacks, in the heart of the sun to resolve this ice setback!
On New Year's Eve, our class had a party. The atmosphere was good. It was out of the ordinary from the very begining. The boy student from one bedroom gave an unusual performance. We saw a boy named Li Xinmin turn off all the lights in a sudden snap. Then with three resounding crow of a cock echoing in the hall, the hall was again brightly lit in a snap.
Then, the representative of the bedroom Zhu Guozhang asked us to guess a line of a poem related to the above situation. He added that Li Xinmin alone was born in the year of the dog and the other three were all born in the year of the chicken. They left us all in confusion. And it was our monitor who was quickwitted. He shouted our, “The day breaks as the cock crows three times at dawn.” The hall After that, they had another item.
This time Li Xinmin was placed in the middle of the circle. While he was standing there, the other three stood around him, each bowing down to him at an angle of 120 degrees. It was an idiom. This time I got it right:“The dog stands out among a group of chickens.”
Then we all sang and played games until it was eleven o'clock at night. The old man on night watch came to turn off the lights. We had to tear ourselves away from the party.
From this activity, I discovered that many of our classmates are really talented singers.
友谊
Every one of us, rich or poor, should at least have one or two good friends. My friends will listen to me when I want to speak, will wipe my eyes when I cry, will take care of me when I am sick, and my friends will go together with me side by side through this journey of life.
我们每个人,不论富裕还是贫穷,至少应该有一个或两个好朋友。我的朋友会听我说,如果我想说话,要擦去我的眼睛当我哭泣,会照顾我在我生病时,我的朋友将与我一起肩并肩在这人生旅程。
Friendship is a kind of treasure in our lives. It is actually like a bottle of wine, the longer it is kept, the sweeter it will be. It is also like a cup of tea. When we are thirsty, it will be our best choice, but when we have enough time to enjoy ourselves, it is also the most fragrant drink.
友谊是一种财宝在我们的生活。它实际上是像一瓶酒,越久保留,这将是更香甜。它就像一杯茶。当我们口渴时,这将是对我们最好的选择,但当我们有足够的时间去玩得很开心的,它也是最芬芳的饮料。
All of us have to spare some time for personal lives. We have to find the chance to express our emotion and love. When staying with our friends, we can release ourselves completely. We can do whatever we want, we can laugh together, talk together, and even cry to-gether. I should say that being together with our best friends is the most wonderful moment of our lives.
我们所有的人都要花点时间来个人的生活。我们必须找到机会来表达我们的感情和爱。当住在我们的朋友,我们可以放松自己完全。我们可以做任何我们想要的,我们能一起大声笑,一起交谈,甚至哭泣下。我应该说,是我们最好的朋友一起是最精彩的时刻,我们的生活。
As we know, we would feel lonely if we didn't even have a friend. But it doesn't mean we could depend on our friends all the time. There is a famous motto saying that “A friend is like a quilt with cotton wadding, but the real thing that keeps you warm is your own temperature.” It is really true. We have to work hard together with our friends, encourage each other and help each other. When we receive love and friendship, we should repay as much as we can.
正如我们所知道的,我们会感到寂寞,如果我们还没有一个朋友。但这并不意味着我们可以依靠我们的朋友。有个著名的格言说:“一个朋友就像一个棉花棉丝被子,但真正的东西,是使你暖和是你自己的温度。“这是真的。我们必须努力同我们的朋友,互相激励,互相帮助。当我们能收到更多的爱与友谊,我们应该偿还高达就可以了。
Finally, let's pray together now that one day, all of us could find the person we want to find, and could enjoy a real beautiful friendship in our lives. Let's pray the flower of friendship be-tween our friends and us would always bloom brightly in our hearts
最后,让我们一起祈祷了,有一天,我们都能找到我们想找的人,就可以享受一段美好友谊的真正左右我们的生活了。让我们一起祈祷友谊之花却成为我们的朋友,我们将永远绽放鲜艳的在我们的心中.
Christmas Day-December 25-which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion, is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the Christian World.
According to the Bible, the holy book of Christians, God decided to allow his only son, Jesus Christ, to be born to a human mother and live on earth so that people could understand God better and learn to love God and each other more. "Christmas"- meaning "celebration of Christ "- honors the time when Jesus was born to a young Jewish woman Mary.
Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter, but before they came together, she was found to be with child. Because Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
Although the exact date of the birth of Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago is not known, the calendar on the supposed date divides all time into B.C. (Before Christ )and A.D. ( a Latin phrase, Anno Domini, "in the year of our Lord.") For the first 300 years, Jesus' birthday was celebrated on different dates. Finally, in the year 354, church leaders chose December 25 as his birthday.
Most of people think we can do anything if we have money.If youhave muchmoney, you are thought to be successful.If you have no money, you willbelooked down upon.
Money can make us live a rich life, but not necessarily a happylife.Sometimes some people do some bad things in order to make money.So theyaren'thappy because they are always afraid.
We should make money and spend it in a reasonable way.
大多数的人认为如果有钱我们能做任何事。如果你有很多钱，人们会认为你事业有成。如果你没有钱，你会被人看不起。
钱能使我们过上富裕的生活，但我们不一定会快乐。有时有些人为了挣钱会做坏事，因为他们总是害怕，所以他们不快乐。
我们应以合理的方式挣钱和消费。
Money is necessary in our life.We will have a rich life when we havemuchmoney.
Most of people think we can do anything if we have money.I don't thinkso.Some people aren't happy though they have much money, because their moneyisobtained by unjust means.They always live a frightened life.Money oftenmakespeople do bad things, even illegal activities.
We must make money and spend it in a reasonable way.We will be happy.
钱是我们生活中必不可少的东西，当我们有许多钱的时候，我们才能过上富足的生活。
大多数认为只要有钱，我们能做任何事。我认为不是这样。一些人虽然有钱但他们不快乐，因为他们的钱是以不正当的方式得来的，他们总是生活在恐惧中。钱经常使人去做坏事，甚至是违法的行为。
我们必须以合理的方式挣钱、消费，这样我们才会快乐。
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen:
When I was in the primary school, I have a dream. I want to invent a device which could bring you from one place to another in no time at all. When I was in the secondary school, my dream was to study in my ideal university. And when eventually I got into the university, my dream was to graduate.
How pathetic! When we grow up, we dream less and become more realistic. Why? Why do we have to change our dreams, so, so in order to let it be
Ladies and gentlemen, the reality is not real. It is a barrier keeping us from all the possible fantasies. Flying, for example, had been a dream to mankind for thousands of years. A hundred years ago,
People say that our future is a battle between the reality and our dreams. And if, unfortunately, Mr. Reality wins this war, then I see no future of mankind at all. AIDS will never be curable as this IS the reality; People living in the undeveloped countries will suffer from starvation forever as this IS the reality; 4)Disputes among different countries would never be settled as this misunderstandings and intolerance IS the reality.
Ladies and gentlemen, how many of you have a dream of being able to make a lot of money? Please raise your hands. Oh, quite a number of you! Actually, ladies and gentlemen, this is not a dream, but a task. Every one of us has to make a living, right? Anyway I hope your task will be accomplished. How many of you think that you have already fulfilled your dream and that you don't dream anymore? Dear 5)adjudicators, what do you think? C.S. Lewis once said,
Now that I am a university student, my goal is to graduate with excellences. But at the same time, I have a dream deeply rooted in our future. One day, people living in the areas now 6)sweltering with the horror of wars will be able to sit with their families and enjoy their every moment. One day, people from the rich countries are willing to share what they have with those from the poor countries
and those from the poor countries will eventually be able to make their own happy living themselves. One day, different cultures in this age of globalization will coexist with tolerance and the unfriendly confrontations among them will be 7)eliminated. One day, the globe will share the dream with me and we will all contribute to making our dream come true. One day, our dream will defeat the reality!
Thank you very much.
我们的未来:梦想与现实之间的斗争
下午好,女士们,先生们:
当我在小学,我有一个梦想。我想发明一种装置可以带给你从一个地方到另一个在任何时间。当我在中学时,我的梦想是在我理想的大学学习。最终,当我进入大学,我的梦想是毕业。
多么可怜啊!当我们长大,我们的梦想越来越变得更为现实。为什么?为什么我们必须改变我们的梦想,所以,为了让它
女士们,先生们,现实是不真实的。这是一个障碍阻止我们所有可能的幻想。飞行,例如,几千年来一直是人类的梦想。一百年前,
人们说我们的未来是我们的梦想和现实之间的战斗。如果,不幸的是,现实先生赢了这场战争,那么我没有看到人类的未来。艾滋病不会治愈,因为这是现实,人们生活在不发达国家将永远遭受饥饿,因为这是事实;4)不同国家之间的争端不会解决这个误解和不宽容的现实。
女士们,先生们,你们中有多少人有一个梦想能赚很多钱吗?请举起你的手。哦,相当多的你!事实上,女士们,先生们,这不是一个梦想,但一个任务。我们每个人必须谋生,对吧?不管怎样,我希望你的任务会完成。你们中有多少人认为你已经实现了你的梦想,你没有梦想吗?亲爱的5)退休审核人员,你认为呢?C.S.刘易斯曾经说过,
现在我是一名大学生,我的目标是毕业与优点。但与此同时,我有一个梦想深深扎根于我们的未来。一天,人们现在生活的地区6)闷热的恐怖战争能够和家人坐在一起,享受每一刻。有一天,人们从富裕国家愿意分享他们与贫穷国家
和那些来自贫困国家将最终能够让自己的快乐生活。一天,不同的文化在这个全球化的时代将共存,宽容和它们之间的不友好的对抗将7)消除。总有一天,世界会与我分享的梦想,我们都将有助于使我们的梦想成真。总有一天,我们的梦想会打败现实!
非常感谢。
Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I'd like to start with a group of pictures.
“Modern and advanced”? This society forgets, and ignores the other two thirds of human beings. It's far from the ideal! We call ideal as a utopian, a place where reality does not exist. A few people still look forward to the ideals. We make fun of them, considering they are naive. Will we still be content to live in such a society, if misfortune drops to us? No! Of cause not!
When we feel the warmth of the sun, these people, endure great sorrows and pains. Can we imagine that? They are our brother and sisters!
Facing them, will we still complain about our own misfortune?
Facing them, will we still have the mood shouting for our own freedom? Facing them, will we still want to have more and more unnecessary stuff?
They are unable to meet their needs, even the basic needs of survival! Everyone, as a member of humanity, shouldn't feel ashamed? Our luxury deprived their lives, our indifference violated our soul, and our barbarity destroyed human civilization!
What's the ideal society? It's a society no one worries about their living, a society no one is refused from education, a society everyone can pursue his/her own happiness! The ideal society is filled with love, joy and kindness. In that society, we can touch the other's hearts, we can share our dreams and most important, we can just be the true men!
Let's break the ethnic divide, bridge the gap between rich and poor, hand in hand, to build a Great wall, protecting us from evil; to construct a steady bridge, connecting reality to the ideal society! Let's pursue for that, that's the only way to the bright future! They are watching us! Thank you!
Hello, i'm JackMa, founder and chairman of Alibaba Group.
大家好，我是马云，阿里巴巴集团的创始人和董事会主席。
(创始人founder，主席chairman)
15 years ago, 18 founders in my apartment had a dream,that someday we can build up a company ,that can server millions of small business. Today , this remain our mission to make easy to do business anywhere.
2019年前，在我的公寓里，18位创始人有了一个梦。这个梦想就是，在某一天我们能够创立一个为成千上万小企业主服务的公司。这个梦想，从始至终都没有改变过，让天下没有难做的生意。
(小企业主small business，让天下没有难做的生意make it easy to dobusiness anywhere)
At Alibaba, we fight for the little guy,the small businessmen and women and their customers. our role is simple, through our ecosystem,we help merchants and customers find each other and conduct business on their terms and in ways that best serve their unique needs. We help merchants to grow, creat jobs and open new markets, in ways that were nervier before possible.
在阿里巴巴，我们为一些小的生意人奋斗，和他们的客户在不懈努力。其实，我们的目标非常简单：能够帮助商家和客户找到彼此，并按照他们独特的需求方式来开展服务。我们帮助这些小生意人成长，创造出前所未有的工作机会，开拓出崭新的市场。
(生态系统ecosystem，商家和客户merchants andcustomers)
Today, 15 years passed. We’ve grown so significantly and have become a household name inChina. And soon, we are ready for the world to know us.
如今，2019年过去了。我们再中国已经成了一个家喻户晓的名字。现在，我们也已经准备好让全世界来认识我们。
You will hear details fromour business later. But first let me take you on a journey around China,to see some of the real people,real stories that Alibaba has impact on them.
稍后，您将听到我们公司商业上经营的细节。不过，首先让我带您开启一段走遍中国的旅程，让我们透过一些真实的人们以及他们的真事，看看阿里巴巴对他们产生了什么影响。
I am proud to share with you these stories that show the heart and sprit of Alibaba.
我深感荣幸，能和你们分享这些故事，能为您展示阿里巴巴的精神与核心。
I’m proud that we ignite innovation,creat jobs benefit customers and help entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams.
让我感到更加自豪的是，我们能够点燃创新、创造机会、造福客户、并且能给创业者圆梦。
With Alibaba’s platforms,people are improving their lives today, and have hope for a better tomorrow.From our humble beginnings and throughout the past 15 years. Alibaba has changed commerce inChina.Our business has grown, but we never lost sight of our customers, focusing on solving their problems,leads to the best outcome for our business.
通过阿里巴巴这个平台，人们能够改善他们现有的生活，并且能够憧憬一个更好的未来。从我们最初很单纯的一个小期望开始，如今2019年过去了。阿里巴巴已经改变了中国电子商务的模式。我们的业务不断发展壮大，但是我们从未丢失对于客户第一的理念。我们始终专注于帮助客户解决问题，基于这点，也成就了我们最好的业务结果。(客户第一Customer first，本段为整齐用never lost sightof our customers.)
Alibaba has come a long way,but we want to be a company that can last 102 years. We still have 87 years to go,and we believe one thing, “Today is difficult, tomorrow is more difficult,but the day after tomorrow is beautiful ” . So web have to work very hard in order to survive the long journey.
阿里巴巴已经走过了一段不短的旅程，要让阿里巴巴成为一家持续发展102的企业，还有87年的时间需要我们努力。我们深知，今天很不易，明天更加困难，但是未来是无限美好的。因此，我们必须更加努力，才能够在未来的漫漫征程中赢得胜利。(今天很不易，明天更加困难，但是未来是无限美好的。Today isdifficult, tomorrow is more difficult ,but the day after tomorrow isbeautiful.)
The family is one of the best things in the world, it is spring, moistensdry up your mind, it is light, light the way forward for me, it is a cup of tea,warm me.
If nature is used to describe the family, the love is the sun in thewinter, it's warm. No matter you are what kind of injustice, the family will notlaugh at you, it will comfort you, when you meet with difficulties, it willimmediately give you hope and the power, let you solved.
The final exam approaching, nature is a tension, teacher than a studentstill nervous. The most obvious evidence, homework more.
Recently, English became my sorrow. Recite the text is my nightmare. Thenight, the wind has not respected bone, I stay up late to work overtime tobecome commonplace.
Back home, first thing is to review. As time goes by, the window is atnight, when others are fast asleep, lang lang came home, national who issurprised, remembered that is yourself. Father woke up, sleepy, fear to say:"the child hard, go to bed early." I nodded slightly, but let me have morepower.
The family is warm in the winter the sun, you warm me, you gave meunlimited power and hope. You are my life the fine night, the lowest in mylife.
life is not perfect, so be optimistic, face setbacks. optimism is a beaconin the night, to bring you confidence; optimism is an oasis in the vast desert,give you hope; optimism is a warm winter charcoal, make you out of trouble,brave to face setbacks.
optimistic in the face of setbacks will be successful, life is like theocean, sometimes in smooth water, sometimes billowing, life is like a boatfloating in the sea, but also often a totally wrecked boat. however, despitethese unsatisfactory life, also have to discard the optimism of sailing, you canride the wind and waves, see the beautiful rainbow. when the moving light, likea beautiful singing fish late. you will see that the harbor has been waiting foryou, as the continued life of the song, sometimes low melodious, sometimes hairhakata, you are a musician, with optimistic notes compose melodies of life.
lincoln, the famous president of the united states, made greatcontributions to the american civil war. who knows his struggle is so hard? heran for the eight time and lost eight times. the two election, the twobankruptcy. he was in a trance. but he never gave up, optimistic facefrustration, setbacks, hard work pays off, he eventually succeeded.
the eight election, the eight defeat. two times in business, two failures.through several decades, by virtue of their optimistic attitude, standingproudly on the president of the united states forest impressively. be optimisticabout setbacks, and you can get rid of setbacks. if lincoln after setbacks andhow to be unable to get up after a fall, today's brilliant achievements? lifeended up with too much imperfection, too many setbacks. if you sink intofrustration, it will only make you more difficult and unable to extricateyourself. because of optimism, you can go farther from your dreams. optimism isa star shining in the universe, it will lead you out of the dark, towards thedawn; optimism is shining on the sea of beacon lights, it will guide the lostship, to the harbor. as the saying goes, every bean has its black. life is notperfect and beautiful, if you face it, do not be discouraged, you will see adifferent way of harvest experience, gorgeous scenery, make you success by theweak to strong, from failure, riding the train of life to the dreamdestination.
in ancient times and at home and abroad, such examples abound.
sima qian suffered after castration, not discouraged, by virtue of theirpositive attitude, write the first history of the historical records; hongzhanhui, a poor, was lost parents, but also with a four year old sister, but heis still optimistic, finally admitted to the ideal university. jobs, apple corpceo, who once was fired by his company, but he still actively face setbacks,once again become a member of the apple corp.
thus, an optimistic person, will get rid of the plight of success, withlife in the face of setbacks, disappointments in life actively. we as studentsshould be more positive, optimistic in the face of the exam, make efforts tostruggle, let the brilliant smile on the face, to win better grades in seniorhigh school entrance examination time.
if winter comes, can spring be far behind? yes, optimistic face setbacks,you will enter the success of the palace, for youth painting a completestop.
i wanna welcome everybody here in this cheer team. thank you for coming here this morning to stand on my side cheering me on. it’s my dream to have the opportunity to challenge all the foreign athletes to the championship at this great occasion: 20xx olympic games. now, the dream came true. as an athlete of china, i’m here to win the gold medal of orienteering for our motherland.
i’m so proud of being one of the best players in the world. but could you believe i had been a lazy girl when i was in junior high. i’m not kidding! at that time, running was my last favorite. i really don’t know how to describe the first time i was on the track. it was horrible. when i started to run, i was simply out of breath. and while i touched the finishing line, i really didn’t know if i was still alive. it’s so funny, huh? but it’s true, i did.
well, something happened and changed the situation. we won the right of holding the olympic games in 20xx. after that, sports became a kind of game in campus. and there are many sports clubs in school. one day someone asked me:“are you gonna try one of those?”first i felt so wired.
“try to get into sports clubs? are you kidding?” i said. and she goes: “why not it’s not hard at all, and so fascinating!” so i did tried one and i was so lucky to become one of those who did orienteering. that is a fantastic sport! you need to run and find where to go just by using a map and a compass. it’s wasn’t popular in china at first. but when we heard it might become a new event in 20xx, we did practiced hard, and aimed to win the first champion of orienteering in the world. when we practiced, there were a lot of troubles. you know, sometimes you need to go with your feet, but sometimes you need to go with your heart. in some situations, we faced the difficulties and problems. and we need to solve that through teamwork and strong willpower. so we can run faster, go higher and be stronger. that is what we say—olympic spirit.
now the dream came true. i’m standing here with all my body and my heart put in sports. so do the people from all over the world to here at the olympic games. it’s the olympic games that make us together. we are here for a big day of sport; we are here for a dream of sports. we are here for a spirit of sport that encourages us to face the difficulties of today and tomorrow.
who and groups famously follow the opinions of the most dominant or charismatic person in the room, even though there's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas -- i mean zero. so ... (laughter) you might be following the person with the best ideas, but you might not. and do you really want to leave it up to chance? much better for everybody to go off by themselves, generate their own ideas freed from the distortions of group dynamics, and then come together as a team to talk them through in a well-managed environment and take it from there.
now if all this is true, then why are we getting it so wrong? why are we setting up our schools this way and our workplaces? and why are we making these introverts feel so guilty about wanting to just go off by themselves some of the time? one answer lies deep in our cultural history. western societies, and in particular the u.s., have always favored the man of action over the man of contemplation and “man“ of contemplation. but in america's early days, we lived in what historians call a culture of character, where we still, at that point, valued people for their inner selves and their moral rectitude. and if you look at the self-help books from this era, they all had titles with things like “character, the grandest thing in the world.“ and they featured role models like abraham lincoln who was praised for being modest and unassuming. ralph waldo emerson called him “a man who does not offend by superiority.“
but then we hit the 20th century and we entered a new culture that historians call the culture of personality. what happened is we had evolved an agricultural economy to a world of big business. and so suddenly people are moving from small towns to the cities. and instead of working alongside people they've known all their lives, now they are having to prove themselves in a crowd of strangers. so, quite understandably, qualities like magnetism and charisma suddenly come to seem really important. and sure enough, the self-help books change to meet these new needs and they start to have names like “how to win friends and influence people.“ and they feature as their role models really great salesmen. so that's the world we're living in today. that's our cultural inheritance.