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Chance favors the prepared 1 Les Brown and his twin brother were adopted by Mamie Brown a kitchen worker shortly after their birth in a poverty-stricken Miami neighborhood. 2 Because of his overactive behavior and nonstop talking as a child Les was placed in special education classes for the learning disabled all the way through high school. Upon graduation he became a garbage collector. The prospective opportunities for his future looked slim to others but not to Les. He had a passion a dream a big dream that he was ready to work hard for. He was destined to be a disc jockey also known as a "DJ" one of the radio celebrities mixing music broadcasts for the whole city. 3 At night he would take a radio to bed so he could indulge his dream by listening to the local DJs. He created an imaginary radio station in his tiny bedroom. A hairbrush served as his microphone as he energetically practiced speaking his masterpieces to his imaginary listeners. 4 He aggravated his friends with his constant practicing. They all told him that he didn't have a chance and he would never be a DJ. They scorned him and said to stop dreaming and focus on the real world. Nonetheless Les didn't let their negativity stop him. He kept his goals close to his heart and remained wrapped up in his own world completely absorbed in preparing for his future preparing to live his dream as a renowned DJ. 5 One day Les decided to take the initiative and begin with this enterprise. He boldly went to the local radio station and told the station manager he understood the layout of the station and was ready to be a disc jockey. 6 The manager looked dubiously at the untidy young man in overalls and a straw hat and inquired "Do you have any expertise in broadcasting?" 7 Les replied "No sir I don't." 8 "Well son I'm afraid we don't have a job for you then" he responded bluntly. So Les' first chance at success had been a complete bust. 9 Les was determined. He adored his adoptive mother Mamie Brown and was careful with his money to try and buy her nice things. Despite everyone's discouragement she believed in him and had taught him to pursue his goals and persist in his dreams no matter what others said. 10 So in spite of what the station manager had originally said Les returned to the station every day for a week. His persistence was very persuasive and the station manager finally gave in and took Les on to do small tasks at no pay. Les brought coffee and food. He catered to their every need at work and worked overtime whenever necessary. Eventually his enthusiasm won their confidence and they would send Les in their Cadillac to pick up celebrities not knowing that he didn't even have a driver's license! 11 While hanging out with the station's real DJs Les taught himself their posture and hand movements on the control panel. He stayed around the studio soaking up whatever knowledge he could. He was disciplined; back in his bedroom at night he faithfully practiced in anticipation of the opportunity he knew would come. 12 One afternoon at work the DJ named Rock started to feel very sick while on the air. Les was the only person around and he realized that Rock was coughing and losing his voice. Les stayed close in case there was some way he might help alleviate his co-worker's distress. He also worried that the illness was sure to doom this broadcast. 13 Finally when the phone rang Les grabbed it. It was the station manager as he knew it would be. 14 "Les this is Mr. Klein. I don't think Rock can finish his program." 15 "Yes" he murmured "I know." 16 "Would you call one of the other deejays to come in and take over?" 17 "Yes sir I sure will." 18 But try as he might none of the regular DJs were available. MC Cormick and DJ Slick were both out of town for the weekend and DJ Neil was also feeling sick. It seemed that the radio station was in big trouble. 19 Frantic with distress Les called the general manager. "Mr. Klein I can't find nobody" Les said. 20 Mr. Klein then asked "Young man do you know how to work the controls in the studio?" 21 "Yes sir" replied Les grinning with the sudden opportunity. He didn't even blink before he called his mother and his friends. "You all go out on the front porch and turn up the radio because I'm about to come on the air!" he said. 22 Les rushed into the booth hoisted Rock onto a nearby couch and sat down in his place. He was ready. He flipped on the microphone and eloquently rapped "Look out! This is me LB Les Brown! There were none before me and there will be none after me. Therefore that makes me the one and only. Young and single and love to mingle. Qualified to bring you satisfaction a whole lot of action. Look out baby I'm your lovin' man." 23 Because of his preparation Les was ready. He had dazzled the audience and heard applause from his general manager. From that fateful beginning Les was propelled to become an icon in broadcasting politics public speaking and television. 机遇偏爱有准备之人 莱斯·布朗和其孪生兄弟出生于迈阿密一个异常贫困的街区，出生后不久就一起被厨工玛米·布朗收养。 由于儿时过度好动，还爱不停地说话，莱斯被送到专为学习困难儿童而设的特殊教育班，并一直读到了高中。一毕业，他就成了一名垃圾清运工。大家都觉得他将来不会有什么好前途，但他自己却不这么想。他有激情，有梦想——一个让他为之奋斗的伟大梦想。他觉得自己一定会成为电台音乐唱片节目主持人，通常也叫“DJ”，那可是电台名人，专门为面向全市的广播制作音乐节目。 一到晚上，他就带着收音机上床睡觉，这样他就可以一边听着当地DJ的节目，一边沉浸在自己的梦想里。他在自己的小卧室里营造了一个假想电台。他把梳子当麦克风，劲头十足地对着想象中的听众练习自己的杰作。 他无休止地练习让朋友们不胜其烦。他们都说他根本没有机会，永远都不可能成为DJ。他们嘲弄他，告诉他别做白日梦，要面对现实。然而，这些负面影响并没有让莱斯停止追求。他心中一直铭记自己的目标，继续沉浸在自己的世界里，全身心投入到对未来的准备中，去实现他成为著名DJ的梦想。 一天，莱斯决定主动出击，开始自己的事业。他大胆地来到当地电台，告诉经理他熟悉电台布局环境，完全可以成为一名DJ。 经理满腹狐疑地看着这个一身工作服还戴着顶草帽的邋遢年轻人，问他：“你了解播音的专业知识吗？” 莱斯回答说：“不，先生，我不了解。” “哦，孩子，那恐怕我们没法雇用你，”经理直截了当地回应。就这样，莱斯对成功的第一次尝试完全以失败告终。 莱斯十分坚定。他很爱自己的养母玛米·布朗，还精打细算攒钱为她买喜欢的东西。尽管人人都打击他，但她却十分信任他，告诉他不管别人怎么说，都要追求自己的目标，坚持自己的梦想。 因此，不管电台经理之前怎么说，莱斯每天还是会去电台，这样持续了一周。他的坚持很能打动人，电台经理终于让了步，让他做一些小事情——不过没有报酬。莱斯负责给大家提供咖啡和吃的东西。他在工作中尽力满足大家的每一个要求，而且只要有需要，任何时候都可以加班。最后，他的工作热情赢得了大家的信任，他们让莱斯开着凯迪拉克去接送名人，居然不知道他连驾照都没有。 与电台真正的DJ相处时，莱斯自学他们操作调音台的姿势和手势。他徘徊在播音间，力所能及地汲取全部知识。他非常自律，晚上一回到房间，就满怀着期待不懈地练习，他知道机遇终会降临。 一天下午，工作期间，一个名叫洛克的DJ在直播时突然病得厉害。周围只有莱斯，而他意识到洛克正在咳嗽，都快不能说话了。莱斯凑近他，看看有什么办法能帮助同事减轻痛苦。他也担心这病肯定会让广播无法进行下去。 最后，电话铃响了，莱斯抓起电话。正是电台经理，对此他已有预感。 “莱斯，我是克莱因。我觉得洛克没办法做完这期节目了。” “是的，”他低声说，“我知道。” “你能打电话叫其他DJ来接替他吗？” “好的，先生，我一定去叫。” 但他找了个遍，却发现一个正式DJ都找不到。主持人考密克和DJ斯雷克都出城度周末去了，尼尔身体也不舒服。似乎电台的麻烦大了。 莱斯无计可施，几欲抓狂，只好给总经理打电话。“克莱因先生，一个人都找不到，”莱斯说。 克莱因先生于是问道：“小伙子，你知道怎么操作播音间里的调音台么？” “我知道的，先生，”莱斯回答，为突如其来的机会笑了。他一刻都不耽搁，马上给母亲和朋友们打了电话。“你们都到前廊去，打开收音机，我马上要直播了！”他说。 莱斯冲进播音间，把洛克扶到附近的沙发上，然后坐上了他的位置。他已做好准备。打开麦克风，他流利地开始了一段说唱：“注意啦！我是莱布，莱斯·布朗！空前绝后的莱斯·布朗，独一无二的莱斯·布朗。我青春年少，单身无挂，喜爱结交；我会让你心满意足，动能无限。来吧，亲爱的，我就是你喜爱的那个人。” 正因为莱斯勤于准备，他才能一切就绪。听众为之折服，经理为之鼓掌。在那决定命运的一刻后，莱斯不断前进，成为在广播、政治、演讲和电视等领域的一位偶像级人物。 |
