Unit 11 Recognizing a Good Idea 第11单元 认清这是个好点子

The first rule to be successful is to recognize a good idea and do something with it. 成功的首则是，认清这是个好点子，并采取相关行动，

That is exactly what Scott Adams, the inventor of Dilbert, did. 《呆伯特》的创作者史考特·亚当斯确实奉行。

Dilbert is very popular cartoon character that graces over 2,000 newspapers, 《呆伯特》是非常受欢迎的漫画人物，

appears on a variety of licensed¹ products and has 29 printed books. 不仅让两千种报纸增色不少，还出现在各种授权产品，并出版了29本书。

Dilbert first appeared one day while Adams was entering himself during a boring business meeting. 呆伯特最先出现在亚当斯无聊会议期间的自娱之作。

As usual, Adams was doodling rather insulting characters of his co-workers， 那天亚当斯和平常一样，以他的同事与上司为对象，

and bosses and there in front of him was Dilbert. 带点戏谑地乱画，而产生了呆伯特。

Adams thought Dilbert might have potential as a comic strip. 亚当斯认为《呆伯特》有潜力可以成为连载漫画，

In 1988, he made up a few strips with his new charater and mailed them out to some of the major cartoon companies. 因此一九八八年，他以这个新角色创作了连载漫画，并寄给几家主要的卡通公司。

Dilbert was selected out of thousands that were recieved and Adams was given a contract. 《呆伯特》在上千个作品中雀屏中选，而亚当斯也获得了一纸合约。

Adams didn't quite his day job until 1995. 亚当斯一直到一九九五年才辞掉白天的工作，

He decided² that for Dilbert to really take off, he needed to give him full attention. 他决定若要让《呆伯特》真正成名，就必须全神贯注，

It paid off! Now, Dilbert is recognized in 65 different countries. 而他也的确成功了！现在有六十五个国家都知道《呆伯特》。