What lesson can we draw from Michael Dell’s story? His success seems to suggest that education is not as important as opportunity. Is it true? If it isn’t, then why did Dell quit school? And if it is, then why does he repeatedly urge young people in the States to learn and work hard as their parents and teachers expect of them?

Michael Dell’s dream is to compete with IBM. Do you think it a worthwhile goal in life? What is your is your dream? Will you take somebody like Dell as your model? Why or why not ? Why do you think people tend to define the word “success" differently? What is your idea of “success”?

The text is taken from Reader’s

Digest and little information is

available about the author Fred

J. Eckert.

The story of Michael Dell, CEO of Dell Corp. reads like a business fairy tale.Michael Saul Dell was born on February 23,1965 in Houston, Texas. Michael Dell’s STORY BEGAN IN HIS CHILDHOOD IN Texas where from a very youthful age he was interested in making things work faster and in making money. Dell’s parents encourage him to quit the business and focus on his studies. But Dell felt that he can’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime. Eventually, to his parents horror, Dell left school, Rented a building, Hired some employees, and started a business of assembling and selling computers.

As a smart salesman, Dell sold excellent computer to people at a cost far below that of the companies such as IBM, and the word spread about the product even as Dell bid on corporate and governmental contracts in the Austin area. Like most successful entrepreneurs he saw things where other businesspersons were apparently blind. These two tools, the telephone and the internet, continue to be the mainstays of Dell’s “direct marketing” approach. The whole thing hangs on TRUST, of course. And Michael Dell became the youngest CEO of a company ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500 and is now the longest-tenured CEO in the computer industry.Michael Dell credited his own success to the fact that he was imbued by his parents with the desire to learn and the drive to work hard. He also told us that start a business because you find something unique that you love to do, you will do it better than anyone else.

The secret of Dell’s success

A. To be the first:

he is the first one to hit upon a brilliant idea, commonsense though. Success usually belongs to the person who dares to be the first, to be creative and original.

B.  Ambitious and highly moltivated:

Even when a teenager he already vows to compete with IBM. It is this goal that that gives him the strength and courage to strive so hard.

C. His tenacity:

He works hard, and never gives up. His success is the result of his toil and sweat.

D. His thirst for knowledge:

It is true that Dell did not finish school. But that does not mean that he has had no education or that he can succeed without education. He actually studies harder and with a clearer focus.

Michael Dell is the chairman chief executive officer (CEO) of DellComputer Corp. which he founded in 1984 with ＄ 1,000 and an innovative idea : sell computer systems directly to customers . By using this approach, Dell has made itself the world’s most preferred computer systems company and a chief provider of products and services needed in information technology and Internet infrastructure. In 18 years the company’s sales have grown to ＄ 31.2 billion for the past year . Because of the success of the company, Mr. Dell has been honoredmany times. He was listed as one of the 25 most influential globalexecutives in 2001 and has been named on various occasions and by many important business magazines as “Chief Executive of theYear “,” Man of the year”, “Top CEO in American Business” etc.In 1999, Dell wrote the book Direct From Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry, Which immediately became a best-seller.

Personal computer is a small, single-user computer based on a microprocessor. In addition to the microprocessor, a personal has a keyboard for entering data, a monitor for displaying information, and a storage device for saving data. It is a small, relativelyinexpensive computer designed for an individual user. In price, personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. All are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufactures to put an entire CPU on the chip. Businesses use personal computers for word processing, accounting ,desktop publishing, and for running spreadsheet and database management applications. At home ,the most popular use for personal computers is for playing games.

Personal computers first appeared in the late 1970s. One of the most and most popular personal computer was the Apple. introduced in 1977 by Apple Computer. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, new models and competing operating systems seemed to appear daily. Then, in 1981, IBM entered the fray with its first personal computer, known as the IBM PC quickly became the personal computer of best choice , and most other personal computers manufacturers fell by the wayside. One of the few companies to survive IBM’s onslaught was Apple Computer, which remains a major player in the personal computer marketplace. Over the years , IBM has lost much of its influence in directing the evolution of PCs. Many of its innovations , such as the MCA expansion bus and the OS/2 operating system, have not been accepted by the industry or the marketplace.

Language points

1) to offer

A. to hold or put to someone for acceptance or refusal

e.g. She offered her guest a cup of coffee.

e.g. He decided to work for that company because they offered a much better salary.

B. to propose; to put forward something for consideration

e.g. He just told us to do this without any explanation.

e.g. Has the government offered any comment yet about this event.

C. to volunteer to do something

e.g. He offered to teach me how to use the computer.

e.g. She was kind enough to offer to us on this issue.

Offer ( n.)

e.g. Make an offer if you are not happy with the price.

e.g. I don’t expect her to pay me a high salary. But she made a very generous offer.

to concern

A. to relate to; to affect; to involve

e.g. Don’t go away. Our discussion concerns you, too.

e.g. The talk with concern our medical care reform.

B. to worry or make someone feel anxious

You should not concern yourself with these little things.

The government is deeply concerned about the unemployment problem.

concern (n.) A. worry

Over-fishing is now becoming a matter of great concern in our coastal areas.

The growing crime rate is a big public concern.

B. responsibility; interest

This is none of our concern.

The student’s physical conditions should also be the school authorities’ concern.

C. feelings for someone

She always shows great concern for others.

The way the building is designed shows clear concern for elderly people.

to develop

A.  to (cause to) grow, increase of become more complete:

e.g. We can not develop our economy without developing our education and culture.

B.  to bring into being; to produce.

e.g. He won the Nobel Prize for economics because he developed a new theory about

investment.

C.  to convert land to a special purpose.

e.g. The local government is trying to invite foreign capital to develop their land

resources.

to launch

A.  to start something(esp if an official, public, or military activity carefully planned)

e.g. This big project will be launched next year.

B.  to make a book or new product available for sale for the first time

e.g. The company will launch another new model in the international market soon.

C.  to put a boat into the water or send something into space

e.g. It was a ceremony to launch the huge oil tanker produced in our country.

to drive A.  to operate a vehicle:

e.g. When did you learn to drive?

B.  to travel or take somebody somewhere in a car:

e.g. Dad said that he would drive me to school.

C.  to make someone feel of do something bad or unpleasant

e.g. They could do anything when they are driven by despair.

D.  to force someone of something to go somewhere

e.g. Hitler drove millions of Jews into concentration camps.

Paraphrase

1. And today, at 29, he has discovered the power of another good idea that has helped him rise in just a few years from teen to tycoon.

---And today, at 29, he has discovered the power of another good idea that has helped him become successful in just a few years from a teenager to a wealthy and powerful businessman.

2. ---he thought it might be a good idea to get high school out of the way.

---he thought it might be a good idea to finish the education by getting a high school equivalency diploma.

3. Newlyweds, he figured, were the best prospects,…

---He guessed that newly-married people were the most likely to buy the subscriptions.

4. He also knew that holding excess inventory was costly. So he bought dealers’ surplus stock at cost.

---He also knew that holding too many goods in stock cost too much money. So he bought dealers’ surplus at the price paid for its production.

5. Dell placed local advertisements offering his customized computers at 15 percent off retail price.

---Dell advertised on the local newspaper offering his computers designed particularly for customers at the price which was 15 percent lower than that of the retail.

6. It was time to come to grips with the magnitude of what he had created.

---It was time to deal with the great size of the things that he had created.

7. Dell still specialized in direct marketing of IBM PCs to which he added custom features.

---Dell still spent much more time in selling directly IBM PCs to which he added qualities designed particularly for customers.

An analysis of the text structure

Part One Paras.1-9: Brief introduction of Michael Dell andMichael Dell showed his special talent as a business wizard early in his life. He also got a knack for making money duringhis middle school life.Part Two Paras.10-28: After Michael Dell enrolled at the University of Texas, he is still interested in earning money selling his customized computers. Though his parents discourage him from that , he stuck fast to his own idea and he came to the top at last.

Part Three Paras.9-14: Description of Michael Dell’s private life. Michael Dell credited his own success to fact that he was imbued by his parents with the desire to learn and the driveto work hard. And hid success also encourage people torealize their own dreams.

Reading ComprehensionQuestions on the

text1.What do you know about Michael Dell? How did he get a knack for making money?

2. Did Michael Dell distinguish himself academically at school? What kind of student was he?

3. What did Dell really want to do with his life?

4. How did Dell come up with the idea of starting a computer company? What made his company such a stunning success?

5. What do you think of this story? Is there anything we can learn from him?

(1)It was dinnertime when he finished, and everyone else was ready to call it a day.

(2) He has become the fourth-largest manufacturer of personal computer in America and the youngest man ever to head a Fortune 500 corporation.

(6)…with the desire to learn and the drive to work hard.

(3) Still, the youngster cast the trotline far into the water, anchoring it to a stick that he plunged deep in the sand.

(4) …the manager that Dell had hired quit.

(5) From necessity , he learned accounting basics-experience that would prove invaluable in the years ahead.

Dell, a multi-billionaire and the founder of the PC company of the Dell, a multi-billionaire and the founder of the PC company of the same name, transformed a dorm room operation at the University same name, transformed a dorm room operation at the University of Texas to one of the world’s largest corporations. But what are of Texas to one of the world’s largest corporations. But what are the reasons of such great success when he first started his company?the reasons of such great success when he first started his company? Firstly, Michael had the entrepreneurial spirit. When Michael was 12 Firstly, Michael had the entrepreneurial spirit. When Michael was 12 years old, he sold stamps by advertising in stamps magazines. He years old, he sold stamps by advertising in stamps magazines. He offered a national stamps auction through the mail. Four years later, offered a national stamps auction through the mail. Four years later, he created a venture for selling newspaper subscriptions through he created a venture for selling newspaper subscriptions through target marketing, and bought a BMW with the target marketing, and bought a BMW with the ＄＄ 18000 he earned. 18000 he earned. These experiences influenced him deeply.These experiences influenced him deeply. Secondly, interested leads us to our success. Success is doing Secondly, interested leads us to our success. Success is doing what you are passionate about. Dell went to college intending to what you are passionate about. Dell went to college intending to become a doctor. Meanwhile, his hobby was working with computers. become a doctor. Meanwhile, his hobby was working with computers. At last his hobby won out..At last his hobby won out..

How do you account for Michael Dell’s success when he first started his company?

Thirdly, success is being efficient. Michael saw an opportunity Thirdly, success is being efficient. Michael saw an opportunity for bypassing the middleman, who adds little value to the for bypassing the middleman, who adds little value to the products, and sells custom-built PCs directly to end users.products, and sells custom-built PCs directly to end users. Vision is absolutely necessarily. Dell offered the first toll-free Vision is absolutely necessarily. Dell offered the first toll-free technical support and on-site service in the PC business -technical support and on-site service in the PC business -services which are now standard practice through-out the services which are now standard practice through-out the industry.industry. Opportunities and ideas gave. Dell chances to realize his own Opportunities and ideas gave. Dell chances to realize his own dreams. When he felt the rare opportunity of a lifetime was dreams. When he felt the rare opportunity of a lifetime was passing him by, he seized it with-out any hesitation.passing him by, he seized it with-out any hesitation. Hard work is important, too. Dell once credited his own Hard work is important, too. Dell once credited his own success to the fact that his parents expected their three sons to success to the fact that his parents expected their three sons to learn and work hard-and draw a lesson from this.learn and work hard-and draw a lesson from this. As the reasons mentioned above, he makes the impossible As the reasons mentioned above, he makes the impossible seem natural, and his modest demeanor mask an unimaginable seem natural, and his modest demeanor mask an unimaginable and limitless drive for success.and limitless drive for success.