This is one of the core reasons why it is so hard to build habits that last.People make a few small changes, fail to see a tangible result, and decide to stop.You think, “I’ve been running every day for a month, so why can’t I see any change in my body?”Once this kind of thinking takes over, it’s easy to let good habits fall by the wayside.But in order to make a meaningful difference, habits need to persist long enough to break through this plateau —what I call the Plateau of Latent Potential .
If you find yourself struggling to build a good habit or break a bad one, it is not because you have lost your ability to improve.It is often because you have not yet crossed the Plateau of Latent Potential.Complaining about not achieving success despite working hard is like complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated it from twenty-five to thirty-one degrees.Your work was not wasted; it is just being stored. All the action happens at thirty-two degrees.
When you finally break through the Plateau of Latent Potential, people will call it an overnight success.The outside world only sees the most dramatic event rather than all that preceded it.But you know that it’s the work you did long ago—when it seemed that you weren’t making any progress—that makes the jump today possible.It is the human equivalent of geological pressure.
This is one of the core reasons why it is so hard to build habits that last.
这是为什么建立持久习惯如此困难的核心原因之一。
Core reasons[kɔːr ˈriːzənz]
核心原因
Ex: The core reasons for the company’s success are innovation and teamwork.
例句翻译：公司成功的核心原因是创新和团队合作。
Hard to build habits that last[hɑːrd tə bɪld ˈhæbɪts ðæt læst]
难以建立持久的习惯
Ex: It’s hard to build habits that last, but persistence pays off in the end.
例句翻译：建立持久的习惯很难，但坚持终会带来回报。
People make a few small changes, fail to see a tangible result, and decide to stop.
人们做了一些小的改变，却未看到明显的结果，最终决定放弃。
Make a few small changes[meɪk ə fjuː smɔːl ˈʧeɪndʒɪz]
做出一些小改变
Ex: She made a few small changes to her diet and felt better.
例句翻译：她对饮食做了些小改变，感觉好多了。
Fail to see a tangible result[feɪl tə siː ə ˈtænʤɪbl rɪˈzʌlt]
未能看到明显的结果
Ex: If you fail to see tangible results from your efforts, it can be discouraging.
例句翻译：如果你看不到努力带来的明显结果，可能会感到沮丧。
Decide to stop[dɪˈsaɪd tə stɒp]
决定放弃
Ex: He decided to stop working on the project after facing many obstacles.
例句翻译：在遇到许多障碍后，他决定放弃继续做这个项目。
You think, “I’ve been running every day for a month, so why can’t I see any change in my body?”
你会想：“我已经每天跑步一个月了，为什么身体没有任何变化？”
Been running every day[bɪn ˈrʌnɪŋ ˈɛvri deɪ]
每天跑步
Ex: He’s been running every day to improve his fitness.
例句翻译：他每天跑步以提高自己的健康水平。
Why can’t I see any change[waɪ kænt aɪ siː ˈɛni ʧeɪndʒ]
为什么我看不到任何变化
Ex: Why can’t I see any progress despite working so hard?
例句翻译：为什么我尽管努力工作，却看不到任何进展？
Once this kind of thinking takes over, it’s easy to let good habits fall by the wayside.
一旦这种想法占据了主导地位，放任良好习惯自我放弃就变得容易了。
Take over[teɪk ˈoʊvər]
占据主导地位
Ex: The new manager will take over the team next week.
例句翻译：新经理下周将接管团队。
Fall by the wayside[fɔːl baɪ ðə ˈweɪsaɪd]
被抛到一边，放弃
Ex: Many good intentions fall by the wayside when people face difficulties.
例句翻译：当人们面临困难时，许多好意图会被抛到一边。
But in order to make a meaningful difference, habits need to persist long enough to break through this plateau—what I call the Plateau of Latent Potential.
但为了产生有意义的变化，习惯需要持续足够长的时间，才能突破这个瓶颈——我称之为潜在潜力的瓶颈。
In order to make[ɪn ˈɔːdə tə meɪk]
为了做
Ex: In order to succeed, you must work hard.
例句翻译：为了成功，你必须努力工作。
Meaningful difference[ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl ˈdɪfrəns]
有意义的变化
Ex: A meaningful difference was made when they introduced the new policy.
例句翻译：当他们引入新政策时，产生了有意义的变化。
Break through[breɪk θruː]
突破
Ex: The scientist finally broke through in their research after years of hard work.
例句翻译：科学家经过多年的努力，终于在研究中取得了突破。
If you find yourself struggling to build a good habit or break a bad one, it is not because you have lost your ability to improve.
Ex: She found herself struggling with her studies after the move.
例句翻译：搬家后，她发现自己在学习上感到挣扎。
Build a good habit / Break a bad one[bɪld ə ɡʊd ˈhæbɪt / breɪk ə bæd wʌn]
建立好习惯 / 打破坏习惯
Ex: It’s hard to build a good habit but even harder to break a bad one.
例句翻译：建立好习惯很难，但打破坏习惯更难。
Lost your ability to improve[lɔːst jɔːr əˈbɪləti tə ɪmˈpruːv]
失去改进的能力
Ex: She hadn’t lost her ability to improve, just her motivation.
例句翻译：她并没有失去改进的能力，只是失去了动力。
It is often because you have not yet crossed the Plateau of Latent Potential.
这通常是因为你还没有跨越潜在潜力的瓶颈。
Crossed the Plateau of Latent Potential[krɒsð ðə plæˈtəʊ əv ˈleɪtənt pəˈtɛnʃəl]
跨越潜在潜力的瓶颈
Ex: The athlete hadn’t crossed the plateau of latent potential yet, but was getting closer every day.
例句翻译：这位运动员还没有跨越潜在潜力的瓶颈，但每天都在接近。
Complaining about not achieving success despite working hard is like complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated it from twenty-five to thirty-one degrees.
尽管努力工作却没有成功的抱怨，就像抱怨冰块在从25度加热到31度时没有融化一样。
Complaining about[kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ əˈbaʊt]
抱怨
Ex: She was complaining about the long wait in the queue.
例句翻译：她抱怨队伍中的长时间等待。
Not achieving success despite working hard[nɒt əˈʧiːvɪŋ səkˈsɛs dɪsˈpaɪt ˈwɜːkɪŋ hɑːd]
尽管努力工作却未成功
Ex: Many students complain about not achieving success despite working hard on their exams.
例句翻译：许多学生抱怨尽管在考试上努力工作，却没有取得成功。
Like complaining about an ice cube not melting[laɪk kəmˈpleɪnɪŋ əˈbaʊt æn aɪs kjuːb nɒt ˈmɛltɪŋ]
就像抱怨冰块在加热过程中没有融化
Ex: It’s like complaining about a plant not growing despite watering it every day.
例句翻译：就像抱怨一棵植物每天浇水却没有长大一样。
Your work was not wasted; it is just being stored. All the action happens at thirty-two degrees.
你的工作没有浪费；它只是被存储起来了。所有的行动发生在32度时。
Not wasted[nɒt ˈweɪstɪd]
没有浪费
Ex: All your efforts are not wasted; they will pay off in the end.
例句翻译：你的所有努力并没有浪费，最终它们会得到回报。
Being stored[ˈbiːɪŋ stɔːd]
被存储
Ex: The data is being stored in the cloud for future use.
例句翻译：数据正在云端存储，以供未来使用。
All the action happens at thirty-two degrees[ɔːl ðə ˈækʃən ˈhæpənz æt ˈθɜːti-tuː ˈɡriːz]
所有的行动发生在32度时
Ex: The real change happens when the situation reaches its tipping point.
例句翻译：真正的变化发生在情况达到临界点时。
When you finally break through the Plateau of Latent Potential, people will call it an overnight success.
当你最终突破潜在潜力的瓶颈时，人们会称之为一夜成名。
Break through[breɪk θruː]
突破
Ex: The scientist finally broke through in their research after years of hard work.
例句翻译：科学家经过多年的努力，终于在研究中取得了突破。
Plateau of Latent Potential[plæˈtəʊ əv ˈleɪtənt pəˈtɛnʃəl]
潜在潜力的瓶颈
Ex: The Plateau of Latent Potential is a phase where you see little progress despite consistent efforts.
例句翻译：潜在潜力的瓶颈是一个阶段，尽管持续努力，但几乎看不到进展。
Overnight success[ˈəʊvəˌnaɪt səkˈsɛs]
一夜成名
Ex: His rise to fame was not an overnight success; it was the result of years of hard work.
例句翻译：他成名的过程并非一夜成名，而是多年努力的结果。
The outside world only sees the most dramatic event rather than all that preceded it.
外界只看到了最戏剧化的事件，而忽视了所有先前发生的事情。
Outside world[ˈaʊtˌsaɪd wɜːrld]
外界
Ex: The outside world does not know what happens behind closed doors.
例句翻译：外界并不知道门背后发生了什么。
Most dramatic event[məʊst drəˈmætɪk ɪˈvɛnt]
最戏剧化的事件
Ex: The most dramatic event of the year was the team’s unexpected victory.
例句翻译：这一年最戏剧化的事件是球队的意外胜利。
Rather than[ˈrɑːðə ðæn]
而不是
Ex: She chose to stay home rather than go out.
例句翻译：她选择待在家里，而不是出去。
But you know that it’s the work you did long ago—when it seemed that you weren’t making any progress—that makes the jump today possible.
但你知道，正是你很久以前做的工作——当时看起来你并没有取得任何进展——才使得今天的突破成为可能。
The work you did long ago[ðə wɜːrk jʊ dɪd lɔːŋ əˈɡəʊ]
你很久以前做的工作
Ex: The work you did long ago has shaped the person you are today.
例句翻译：你很久以前做的工作塑造了今天的你。
Making any progress[ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈɛni ˈprəʊɡrəs]
取得任何进展
Ex: She struggled to make any progress in her project despite her hard work.
例句翻译：尽管她努力工作，但在项目中没有取得任何进展。
Makes the jump today possible[meɪks ðə dʒʌmp təˈdeɪ ˈpɒsɪbəl]
使今天的突破成为可能
Ex: The efforts you put in today will make your success tomorrow possible.
例句翻译：你今天付出的努力将使你明天的成功成为可能。
It is the human equivalent of geological pressure.
这就是人类版的地质压力。
Human equivalent[ˈhjuːmən ɪˈkwɪvələnt]
人类版的等效物
Ex: The human equivalent of this animal's behavior is not fully understood.
例句翻译：这种动物行为的人类等效物尚未完全理解。
Geological pressure[dʒɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl ˈprɛʃər]
地质压力
Ex: Geological pressure is what causes the formation of mountains over millions of years.