English Original
A few years ago, my sister and I were first to board a flight to Norfolk, Virginia. Just as we approached the plane, a mechanic blocked the doorway and urgently told the flight attendant, "We got problems!"
Soon, we were back in the terminal, then re-boarded. I waited for the pilot's reassuring explanation. Surely pilots are trained to calm passengers?
Unfortunately, this pilot seemed to have missed that class. His voice boomed: "Sorry for the delay. We had no power. We have a generator on the ground and will jump-start the engines. Once they're going, we'll get up in the air, head to Norfolk, and see what happens."
Click.
That was it. See what happens? Couldn't we have a better plan?
I could only laugh nervously. One woman yelled, "Oh no! We are going to crash!" A wave of anxiety swept the cabin. Thirty minutes later, the pilot returned: "Ladies and gentlemen, I know you're frustrated—so are we. We only have one engine going, and it's working double time."
Click.
A collective moan arose. We felt trapped in an aluminum casket, a vessel of doom. The pilot's plan was simply to get airborne and see what happens.
And we did. We took off. And what happened? Nothing but normal flight. Upon landing in Norfolk, applause erupted as everyone simultaneously sighed in relief.
While I prefer a more detailed plan than "see what happens" when flying, it's not a bad life strategy. Too often, people freeze, waiting for all the pieces or a guaranteed outcome. But you'll never have all the pieces. Success is never guaranteed. The best you can do is get up in the air, and see what happens. Adjustments can be made mid-flight—or mid-process.
If you want to start a business: Get up in the air, and see what happens! Don't list reasons why you can't. Don't wait for everything to be perfect. You never will.
If you want to make a friend: Say "Hello"; get up in the air, and see what happens! Don't overthink the conversation—improvise and adjust. Don't stay on the runway fearing the flight is doomed. In friendship, the only doomed flights are those never attempted.
If you want to learn a new skill: Get up in the air, and see what happens! It might be easier, or you smarter, than you think. It could be fun!
When traveling, I still hope for a pilot with a plan beyond "we will see what happens." But in life, it's a strategy worth trying.
中文翻译
几年前，我和妹妹最先登上一架飞往弗吉尼亚州诺福克的航班。就在我们即将登机时，一名机械师挡住舱门，急切地对空乘人员说：“我们有问题了！”
很快，我们回到航站楼，之后又重新登机。我等待着飞行员安抚人心的解释。飞行员肯定受过安抚乘客的培训吧？
不幸的是，这位飞行员似乎错过了那堂课。他的声音响彻机舱：“抱歉延误。飞机没电了。我们地面有台发电机，准备启动引擎。一旦启动，我们就起飞，前往诺福克，然后且行且看。”
咔嗒。
就这样。且行且看？ 我们就不能有个更好的计划吗？
我只能紧张地笑了。一位女士大喊：“哦不！我们要坠毁了！”一阵焦虑如浪潮般席卷客舱。三十分钟后，飞行员再次说道：“女士们先生们，我知道你们很沮丧——我们也是。我们现在只有一个引擎在工作，它正超负荷运转。”
咔嗒。
一片哀叹。我们仿佛被困在一个铝制棺材里，一艘厄运之船。飞行员的计划仅仅是起飞，然后看情况。
我们照做了。起飞了。然后呢？除了正常的飞行，什么也没发生。降落在诺福克时，掌声雷动，所有人同时松了一口气。
虽然坐飞机时，我真心希望计划比“且行且看”更周详，但这在生活中并非一个糟糕的策略。太多人因为等待万事俱备或 guaranteed 的结果而停滞不前。但你永远无法准备周全。成功也永远无法保证。你能做的最好的事就是先行动起来，且行且看。 调整可以在飞行中——或者说，在过程中——进行。
如果你想创业：先行动起来，且行且看！ 别给自己找不能做的理由。别等到万事俱备。你永远等不到。
如果你想交朋友：说声“你好”；先行动起来，且行且看！ 别为聊什么而焦虑——即兴发挥，随时调整。别因为感觉航行可能注定失败而停留在跑道上。在友谊中，唯一注定失败的航行是那些从未起飞的。
如果你想学习新技能：先行动起来，且行且看！ 它可能没你想的那么难，你可能比你想的更聪明。这可能会很有趣！
旅行时，我仍希望飞行员的计划不止于“我们且行且看”。但在生活中，这终究是个值得一试的策略。