In 1972，Nola Ochs was widowed on her wheat farm in the town of Jetmore，Kansas (population 1000). She tended to her farm with the help of her children. In 1978，she realized she wanted more from life. Aged 68，she signed up for a tennis class at the nearest community college.
After ten years studying everything from agribusiness to the Bible，she was told that she was one class away from an associate degree. All she must do was complete college algebra.
With an associate degree she was pleased but not fulfilled. College algebra would not be the end of her scholarly career. Several years later she decided to make the two hour trek to Fort Hays State University. Enrolling at age 94，she lacked only 30 class hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. In May 2007，at 95，she became the world’s oldest college graduate.
Is it time to sit back and enjoy the framed diploma on the farmhouse wall? Not yet. She started a Master’s Degree.
Cliff Burgess—The Marathon Man
In 1993，Cliff Burgess was 55 years old. He was tired of his potbelly and vowed to start walking. Cliff hits the pavement in his suburban Texas town. A walk around the block turns into twice around the block. Walking feels good，but he knew he can pick up some speed. The weight starts to come off as he signs up for 5km and 10km races. In less than a year，he entered in the San Antonio marathon thinking of it as a training run in preparation for his first marathon—42km (26.2 miles). He feels good during the race，and he crossed the finish line faster than expected.
Averaging 15 marathons per year，he completed his 100th marathon six years later at the age of 62.
Reaching 100 marathons isn’t the final goal. He finds himself in Finland，France，Romania，China，Argentina，Brazil，25 other countries，and nearly all of the 50 states of the USA in a record 15 years.
“Nothing happens unless first we dream.”
—Carl Sandburg
Action summary
* There’s never a perfect age to live your dreams. The perfect age is right now.
* Make your goal known. Travel one step at a time.
* Keep your dream alive. Long-term goals exist because they take a long time.
* Success and determination are intimate siblings. Talent is merely success’s distant cousin.
调查显示，企业家认为29岁是创业的理想年龄。可实际上，企业家创业的平均年龄是35岁 。
要开始实现你的梦想，根本没有什么理想的年龄。年龄大小都不是理由，最佳时机就是现在，马上开始吧。
这些企业家就是这样做的。
诺拉·奥克斯——较劲的学生
1972年，诺拉·奥克斯寡居在堪萨斯州杰特摩尔镇（人口1000 ）一个种植小麦的农场。她在子女的帮助下照管农场。那是在1978年时，有一天她突然意识到生活应该多姿多彩。于是她在68岁时，去附近的社区学院报名参加了一个网球班。
10年下来，从农业综合经营到圣经，她学了一样又一样。后来，她被告知再修一门课程就可以拿到大专文凭了——学完学院的代数课程。
取得大专学位，她很高兴，但并不满足。因为在她看来，拿下高校的代数课，并不意味着她的学习生涯就此结束。几年后，她决定驱车两小时去上富特海斯州立大学。入学时，她已94岁，只差30个课时就能获得学士学位。到2007年5月，在她95岁时 ，她成为世界上年纪最大的大学毕业生。
现在该坐下来欣赏挂在农舍墙上，嵌在相框里的一纸文凭了吧？还是不行。她又开始了硕士学位的攻读。
克里夫·伯吉斯——马拉松赛场上的老者
1993年，55岁的克里夫·伯吉斯开始对自己的啤酒肚越来越厌烦，发誓要通过散步减肥。他的家位于得州小镇的郊外，他决定在附近的柏油路上散步。慢慢地，在街区里的行走，由一圈变成走了两圈。散步的感觉很好，但他知道自己的速度还能再快点。当体重有所下降时，他报名参加了5公里和10公里的比赛。不到一年，他进了圣·安东尼奥马拉松队，心想把这种跑步当作首次马拉松比赛——42公里（ 26.2英里）的训练。在比赛中，他感觉良好，冲过终点的速度比他预想的还要快。
他平均每年要参加15场马拉松比赛，一跑就是6年。62岁那年，他跑完了第100场马拉松赛。
跑完100场马拉松比赛并非最终目标。后来发现这15年来，他在芬兰、法国、罗马尼亚、中国、阿根廷、巴西等25个国家，以及美国差不多50个州里，都有参赛纪录。
“除非我们梦想在先，否则一事无成。 ”
——卡尔·桑德伯格
行动总结
●没有什么实现梦想的理想年龄。起步的最佳年龄就是现在。
●亮出你的目标。一步步来。
●持续您的梦想。确定长期目标，因为实现它们需要很长时间。
●成功和决心紧密相连。天分所占的比重少之甚少。
核心单词
associate [E5sEuFieit] v. 使联合，使结合
enroll [in5rEul] v. 参加；入学，注册
vow [vEu] n.誓言，誓约
exist [ig5zist] v. 存在；生存
intimate [5intimit] adj. 深入的，详细的
财经知识一点通
存款准备金（deposit-reserve ratio）
是指金融机构为保证客户提取存款和资金清算需要而准备的在中央银行的存款，中央银行要求的存款准备金占其存款总额的比例就是存款准备金率。一般情况下，存款准备金率上升，利率会有上升压力，这是实行紧缩的货币政策的信号。存款准备金率是针对银行等金融机构的，对最终客户的影响是间接的；利率是针对最终客户的，比如你存款的利息，影响是直接的。
存款利率（deposit rates）
指客户按照约定条件存入银行账户的货币。有活期利率和定期利率之分，有年/月/日利率之分。
翻译行不行
Being too young or too old is no excuse. The perfect time to start is right now.
With an associates degree she was pleased but not fulfilled.
Keep your dream alive. Long-term goals exist because they take a long time.
