When you first meet a successful person, it’s easy to believe that he must have been born with wonderful gifts. In reality, there are numerous examples. Animation pioneer Walt Disney was told that he had “no original ideas” by the newspaper that fired him, and Oprah Winfrey was once told that she “wasn’t fit for television.” 【小题1】 It’s hard work and perseverance (毅力) that finally pay off.

What happens when someone is told that they are talented? Sometimes, they will lose their motivation to improve themselves. For example, kids who are told throughout high school that hey are naturally smart might assume that they will breeze through (轻松完成) college. They might never bother to develop the skills needed to learn new material. 【小题2】 They might find themselves struggling to cope (成功地应对). However, someone who has been told that they are in no way gifted or talented might become discouraged. 【小题3】

To call someone “talented” can also be an act of rudeness. It suggests that the person did not have to rely on their own hard work to achieve success. 【小题4】 After all, if someone else is talented and you are not, why even bother trying to achieve a similar level of success? If someone ever does label you “ talented “, be sure to remind him that it was hard work that made all the difference.

【小题5】 The very idea that some people are born better than others is not constructive.

Learning should never stop. The same way applies for self-improvement, 【小题1】. Here are four reasons why self-improvement is important regardless of your age.

Increase self-awareness

Self-awareness is an ongoing journey. 【小题2】, which make you more aware of your personality, thoughts and feelings. So, in order to be on the path of self-improvement, it is important to never lose touch with yourself.

Enhance strengths

Self-improvement lets you identify your personal strengths, from relationships to careers—knowing your strengths is important for every aspect of your life. It gives you a better understanding of what you are seeking and where you are likely to be more excellent. 【小题3】. After all, you can only achieve what you want when you know what you want.

Overcome weaknesses

【小题4】, you should come to terms with your weaknesses. Don’t be ashamed of them, look at them as areas of improvement. We all have strengths and weaknesses that shape our personality. It is these imperfections that make us humans.

【小题5】

Choosing to work on improving yourself requires you to take your trip out of comfortable areas. It lets you face your fears, try new things, take risks and challenge yourself. There will be times when you will discover a new side of your personality but there will also be times when you will fail.

When you need to find a solution to a design problem, you could ask yourself, “What animals or plants face a similar problem in their lives, and how do they handle it?”【小题1】 Termites (白蚁) in Africa control the temperature and air currents in their nests by having thick walls and air spaces in the top part. The Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe was designed in a similar way, with thick overhangs shading the windows, and all the offices connected to a big chimney letting hot air escape. This allows it to stay cool while using much less air-conditioning.【小题2】

Engineer Nakatsu also asked himself the same question.【小题3】 A keen birdwatcher, Nakatsu realised that kingfishers also experience an abrupt pressure change when diving into the water, but their beaks allow them to pierce through the water smoothly. His team found that putting a long, pointed nose on the train greatly reduced the loud booms in the tunnel and allowed it to run faster.

Having a big picture of the world we live in also helps us understand how technology can be used to protect instead of destroy it.【小题4】 On the other hand, plastic packaging creates a lot of waste and pollution. One company has come up with an alternative material made of com husk waste and some big companies are starting to use it.

【小题5】 Nakatsu worries that children today do not have the opportunity to touch and feel nature. He advises that students in university should study more than one narrow field so that they do not just have one fixed way of thinking.