One midnight, a little girl woke up to pass water. She by herself got up and down her bed, walked to the bedroom door and opened it. She looked outside and walked back, for it was so dark in the hall that she feared.
Her mother said, “Don't be afraid, honey. Take courage!”
“What's courage?” she asked, running to her mother's bed.
“Courage is the brave breath,” her mother answered.
“Mum, do you have courage?”
“Certainly.”
The girl held out her little hands, saying, “Mum, blow some of your breath of courage to me.”
After her mother blew out two mouthfuls of breath into her little cold hands, the little girl clenched her fists(握拳) nervously, afraid that the “breath of courage” would run away. Then with her fists clenched, she walked out of the bedroom towards the bathroom with nothing to fear.
Her mother said to herself, “It will be nice if someone can blow some kind of ‘breath' to me. Then I can hold it in my hands too when I feel terrified or lost.”
In fact, mostly, what we are terrified of is nothing but the fear in our mind. Who we should defeat(战胜) is nobody but ourselves.

    The following are some tips for becoming a successful businessman by Michael Bloomberg. They are based on his experience of building a company from the ground  up, leading New York City as mayor（市长）, and so on.

Take Risks

    Life is too short to spend your time avoiding failure.

    In 1981, at the age of 39, I lost my job. The next day I took a big risk and began my own company. In 2001, when I was debating whether to run for mayor, most people advised me not to do it. But one person said, “If you can imagine yourself giving a concession（败选）speech, then why not go for it?” That was the best advice I received, and I followed it.

    In order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail— and you must have the courage to go for it anyway.

    Make your own luck

    Luck plays a part in success. The harder you work, the luckier you get.

    Whatever you choose to do, even if it's not the job of your dreams, always work hard at it. Be the first person at work in the morning and the last to leave at night. Hard work creates chances.

    Never stop learning

    The most powerful word in English language is “why”. There is nothing so powerful as an open, inquiring mind（探究精神）. Whatever field you choose for starting a business — be a lifelong student.

    Give back

    You are responsible for your success and failure, but you only succeed if you share the reward with others.

    My first donation was a $ 5 check to my alma mater （母校） . And while the checks（支票）may be bigger today, they come with the same spirit.

    You don't have to be wealthy to give back. You can give back by giving your time and talents.

    Eric and Doris King Turner are packing their bags for New Zealand. They're busy deciding what to pack and what to leave behind in Britain and are making plans to extend their new home in Nelson. Doris is looking forward to getting the garden into shape and Eric has his heart set on a spot of fly fishing. The difference is that Eric is 102, Doris is 87. Eric thinks he's Britain's oldest emigrant.

    In January next year Eric King Turner and his wife of 12 years will wave goodbye to their neighbors, and set sail from Southampton on the voyage of a lifetime. The ocean liner(远洋客轮)Saga Rose will take six weeks to get to Auckland and the couple are expecting a red-carpet welcome from family.

    Doris was born in New Zealand but gave up her homeland when the couple met and married in the late 1990s. But New Zealand is close to both their hearts and the attraction of family and friends, and the good fishing helped to persuade them to move.

    Doris, who has five children and nine grandchildren, supported her husband's application to settle in New Zealand. The paperwork took five months. Eric says." We not only had to produce a marriage certificate(证书)but we had to produce evidence that we were in a long and stable relationship! "He also said he was not asked about his age but had to show that he could support himself financially(财政上)in New Zealand.

    "I like New Zealand. The way of life is very much the same as it is here but it is not so crowded. "His wife has always been" a little bit homesick" but has never complained. Now the couple are in the middle of the task of sorting out possessions and selling their flat.

    Miss Evans was going to give a speech on Friday afternoon. But on Thursday night she was told that she had to go to an important meeting the next day at the same time. "No one can be in two places at the same time. What should I do?" She thought. But soon, she had an idea.

    At five to three on Friday afternoon, Miss Evans went to the lecture room. There were twenty students waiting for her. "I'm sorry," she said, "I won't be able to give my speech today." The students looked surprised. Miss Evans explained that she had an important meeting. "However," she went on, "though I can't be with you myself, my voice can." Then she put a small recorder on the desk," You see, I've recorded my speech and you can listen to it without me." Miss Evans turned on the recorded and left.

    The meeting ended a little early. Miss Evans decided to go back to her students. She stood for a moment outside the room, listening to her own voice. Then she opened the door. To her surprise, the room was empty. As she looked around, she saw a number of small recorders "listening" to her speech!

    "Well." she thought, "If I can be in two places at the same time, why can't they?"