事业 · 创业者自述

P.T. 巴纳姆:奋斗与胜利·补录 394

P.T. 巴纳姆《奋斗与胜利》· Struggles and Triumphs · 领导

Shortly afterwards, however, I was waited upon by numerous influential gentlemen, and strongly urged to allow my name to be used. I repeatedly objected to this, and at last consented, much against my own judgment. Having been elected one of the directors, I was by that body chosen President. I accepted the office conditionally, reserving the right to decline if I thought, upon investigation, that there was no vitality left in the institution. Upon examining the accounts said to exist against the Association, many were pronounced indefensible by those who I supposed knew the facts in the case, while various debts existing against the concern were not exhibited when called for, and I knew nothing of their existence until after I accepted the office of President. I finally accepted it, only because no suitable person could be found who was willing to devote his entire time and services to the enterprise, and because I was frequently urged by directors and stockholders to take hold of it for the benefit of the city at large, inasmuch as it was well settled that the Palace would be permanently closed early in April, 1854, if I did not take the helm.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50115
定位:Additional excerpt 394 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

巴纳姆起初拒绝,后来被众多有影响力的人反复劝说,勉强同意挂名,并被选为董事和主席。但他留了一手:先有条件接受,保留调查后退出权利。调查时他发现账目混乱,有些债务被隐瞒,直到上任后才知道。他最终接受,是因为找不到合适的人全职投入,而且各方都说如果他不接手,水晶宫4月初就会永久关闭。这里的取舍是:人情和城市利益推动他接手,但他没有盲目承诺,而是先设退出条件。可执行的做法是:面对压力时,先争取调查权和退出权,再决定是否真正投入。

上下文

巴纳姆在自传中讲述自己被劝说接手纽约水晶宫协会主席的过程,当时协会已陷入财务困境。

今日一问

当别人反复劝你接手一件事时,你有没有先留出调查和退出的余地?

公版传记;原文逐字取自 Project Gutenberg,仅摘录段落并附全书链接。

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