Tom Peterson worked for many years to build a solid business selling television sets, stereo systems, and home appliances. He gave people good value, a full satisfaction guarantee, and friendly service. With the help of his wife Gloria, who handled the books, Tom developed an excellent reputation. He was proud of his high percentage of repeat customers.
About five years ago, Tom was approached by the owners of a competing company. They wanted him to buy them out. The price was very attractive. Everything looked good. Before making his final decision Tom asked Gloria what she thought about the purchase. She told him that even though the numbers looked good it didn't feel right to her. However, Tom was so self-confident and so convinced that this was a rare opportunity, he went ahead and made the purchase. Within months he discovered that he had made a big mistake. He had paid too much for a dying company. He tried as hard as he could to make it work out, but he couldn't turn things around. He was forced into bankruptcy. He was about to lose everything, including his original business.
Tom was embarrassed, but he is a survivor. He looked at his situation. He decided to openly admit his mistake and, rather than getting bogged down in lawsuits, he would focus his energies on saving and rebuilding his original business. He saw also that he had made a mistake by not listening to his wife, and that he needed to learn from this experience. He dealt with the crisis in a way that delighted many people and increased their respect for him. Old customers flocked into his store. He and Gloria adapted to changes in retailing and have built an even better business than before.
In the business world, it is natural for businessmen to gain and lose. Only those who regard their mistakes as gifts and learn from them attract endless profits.
【助读词汇】
-home appliance n. 家电
-guarantee n. 担保，保证书
-reputation n. 名誉，名声
-be bogged down in sth 陷入
-retailing n. 零售业
【参考译文】
汤姆·彼特森辛劳了很多年才建立起自己牢固的公司，销售电视机、立体声装置和其他家电。他向人们提供高质量的产品、包满意的售后保障和友好的服务。他妻子歌利亚管理账务，在她的帮助下，汤姆建立起了良好的声誉。他为拥有高比例的回头客感到自豪。
5年前，与汤姆竞争的一家股东与汤姆进行了接洽，并希望他能全部买下他们公司的股份。价格很诱人。一切都很合适。在做最后决定前，他问歌利亚对这笔买卖的看法。她说虽然价钱很公道，但是老觉得有什么地方不对劲。尽管如此，汤姆过于自信，深信这是个难得的机遇，所以他出手买下了那家公司。几个月后他发现自己犯了个大错。他在一个奄奄一息的公司身上花费了太多的钱。他竭尽全力希望能力挽狂澜，但是没能扭转局面。他被迫申请破产。他就要失去一切了，包括原来的公司。
汤姆窘迫不已，但是他熬了过来。他分析自己的处境，并决定公开承认自己所犯的错误，而不是陷入没完没了的诉讼中，他集中精力对原来的公司进行挽救和重建。他也认识到没听妻子的忠告也是一大失误，他得从中吸取教训。他处理这次危机的方式得到了人们的认同，也赢得了更多的尊敬。老顾客又涌进了他的店铺。他和歌利亚适应了零售业里的变化，生意做得以前还要红火。
商场上，胜败乃商家常事。只有把错误看做是礼物并从中吸取教训的人能赢得源源不断的收益。
【人生启迪】
不管做什么事情，都会有风险，都有犯错的可能。对待错误的态度决定你的最终成败。犯了错误因为怕丢面子而不愿承认，一辈子都会活在这个错误的阴影中。相反，如果从错误中吸取教训，顽强地重新站起来，你就又迈上了踏向成功的征程。