高考英语话题阅读素材：Unit68HowAveragePeopleExcel.docVIP

Unit 68　　How Average People Excel　　Why do ordinary individuals often seem to achieve more than those talented fast-trackers, who tend to plateau after initial eye-catching achievements. To find out, I interviewed over 190 men and women in my work as a corporate consultant. I determined tat average people who excel:　　Learn self-discipline. You dont need talent to succeed. All you need is a big pot of glue. You smear some on your chair and some on the seats of your pants, you sit down, and stick with every project until youve done the best you can do. Average achievers stay glued to their chairs and postpone pleasure so they can reap future dividends. Many fast-trackers, on the other hand, expect too much too soon. When rewards dont materialize instantly, they may become frustrated and unhappy. According to Dr. Vailant, a psychiatrist, average achievers have a crucial mental habit -- the capacity to postpone -- but not give up -- gratification.　　Bring out the best in people. Many fast-trackers couldnt tolerate getting help from others or sharing success, often because of an overpowering ego. Collaboration is the key, and one of the best collaborators Ive met is Marilyn, who supervises 10 people for the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Many of them are more intelligent than I am, she says, Im there to manage their conflicts and motivate them to do well.　　Build a knowledge base. Average achievers are not looking at the top job, as many fast-trackers tend to do -- but at the job one step above. So they often broaden their knowledge base in a way many fast-trackers dont.　　Develop special skills. There are at least 7 basic intellectual skills: mathematical, logical, linguistic, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic and two types of personal intelligence -- how we understand others, and how we deal with our own dreams, fears and frustrations. So while you may not be good at math, you may have an aptitude for design; or you may have an ability for persuading people.