英文金融日記#4｜學習一項技能最快速的方式是 直接跳進去

為了學，選擇厚臉皮

數學不是我的強項，為了學習商業相關知識尋找相關工作。大學畢業後一直從事與影片製作與行銷相關的工作，自澳洲打工度假返國後，覺得自己缺乏商業知識與技能，於是毅然決然從零開始。很幸運地，沒有多久，就收到一間國際貿易公司的錄取通知，正式成為法國區國際業務。但因為太菜了，什麼都不懂，曾被刁難、也被電得很慘。已經不是社會新鮮人，為了學習，厚著臉皮從零開始。

大膽地離開舒適圈，學習業務技能，包含市場英文新聞蒐集編輯整理、開發海外客戶、詢價、報價。當初認為數學是最容易卡關的部分，結果反而是英文寫作一直卡關卡很久。記得那段日子壓力很大，為了要提早完成英文新聞編輯，每天搭最早一班的車，7點抵達公司，開始尋找市場新聞。剛開始需要花30~40分鐘，之後越寫越順，僅需要5~10分鐘就能完成。那些扎實練習而學習到的多真功夫，例如英文新聞閱讀技巧、編輯等，受用無窮。

雖然那段時間跌跌撞撞，但也因為那段日子磨練，讓我深深體會到英文寫作的重要性。

跨出領域後，因為一本書而愛上投資

很感謝那份工作，不僅開啟了我對商業的認識，也讓我在因緣際會下，發現了一本書，而開始步入投資的自學旅程。因為工作地點有點偏遠，每天需要騎車到高鐵站，再轉乘客運。那時高鐵站二樓有一間書店，也是最早開門商家。每天在高鐵站往返的我，經過書店時，會不經意地看到架上的新書。有一天看到"小資女艾蜜莉：我的資產翻倍存股筆記"，開啟了我的好奇心，也讓我從影片製作這行、轉到國際貿易，又跨到投資領域。因為數學程度不好，從未想到自己有一天可以與投資沾上邊。這樣的機運，讓我更珍惜把握每一次的學習。

總結上述於貿易公司學習到的收穫：

• 英文市場資訊蒐集、編譯
• 開發海外客戶、經營
• 詢價、報價 (成本計算、利率換算等)
• 進出口貿易概念
• 在書店遇見這本書 (讓我對被動收入有更深入了解)

後記: 下列以英文分享對於這本書的讀後感

I have been curious about how richer get richer. In 2014, while being a salesperson responsible for the French market in an international trading company, I was aware that doing a nine-to-five job was hard to save for retirement. I didn't know how to do it until I read a book.

I was at KH train station one morning on my way to work as usual. While passing by a bookstore, a book named 小資女艾蜜莉：我的資產翻倍存股筆記 suddenly caught my attention from a bookshelf. After reading over her story, I knew I found my answers.

The author Emily, just like many people, has a minimum income every month and experiences being laid off. Her story teaches people that ordinary laborers can have extraordinary life using an appropriate financial plan. It is my first book in terms of investment. Before reading, I thought the stock market was for people who were good at mathematics. With low confidence in math, I used to believe there was no way to bridge the gap between me and investment.

Nevertheless, Emily changed the way I think. In the book, she explains the profound in simple terms. Not only can I understand how to get started from ground zero, but I also learn about how she completes her financial goal little by a little while having a nine-to-five job.

I was inspired by the book a lot. Currently, I am working on it. My progress may seem slow but it is steady toward my goals.