問題都愛滾雪球：別讓小問題變成大麻煩！
That one thing you didn’t put away. That one task you left half-done. That one bill you didn’t pay.
那件事你還沒放棄，那個任務也只做了一半，賬單還沒付。
All of those are small problems at first. However, they can quickly become big ones if left unchecked.
這些一開始都只是小問題。然而如果不及時覈對，就會變成大麻煩。
Big Problems Start Small
大麻煩都是由小問題堆積而成的
In fact, most problems start small. But, when you neglect them or let them sit, they become big ones.
實際上絕大多數的麻煩都來自小問題。一旦你忽視這些問題，或對小問題置之不理，它們就如滾雪球般越來越大了。
Here are several Small Problems That Can Quickly Become Big Ones:
下面是極容易變成大麻煩的小問題：
1. Cleaning Up
清理
That one thing that you sat on your desk. Add that to the afternoon you left without cleaning up. And the papers you didn’t put away. Soon, you are swimming in piles of stuff that needs to be cleaned up.
這是你坐在桌前需要處理的一件事情。如果下午你沒有清理桌子，沒有扔掉廢紙，很快你就會置身於垃圾堆中，一切都亟待清理。
2. Paying Bills
付賬單
You let that one bill sit. You forgot about it and now it is overdue. Maybe you now have to pay a late fee, too. Ultimately, it can affect your credit rating and cause even bigger problems down the road.
你有筆賬單待付，結果你完全忘記了，導致過了還款期限，現在不得不付滯納金了。最後，這還會影響你的信用度給你帶來更大的麻煩。
3. Organization
整理
You didn’t file that important paper. Now you are trying to complete something urgent and you cannot find it. Now your problem is compounded. You madly tear through your stuff looking for that one missing item.
你沒有把重要的文件整理妥當，到了要完成急事的關頭卻找不到文件了。看，問題更復雜了吧！你不得不翻箱倒櫃的找那個失蹤的文件。4. Email
郵件
You let your email pile up. Or perhaps you are using your inbox as your todo list. Now, you suddenly find yourself with hundreds (or thousands) of emails in your inbox. Important items get missed or overlooked. Soon, your email is a mess of unanswered and un-replied to messages.
你的郵件堆積如山，或許你的收件箱就是你的待辦清單，要做的事情都在裏面。但現在，你發現其中堆積了成百上千（甚至是成千上萬）的郵件。最重要的郵件要麼找不到要麼就被忽視掉了。很快你的郵件就成爲了一堆無人回覆的信息垃圾堆。
5. Relationships
關係
Small relationship problems become big ones when not addressed. Grudges grow, misunderstandings become mis-truths. And soon, what could have been addressed with a friendly conversation has turned into an adversarial situation.
人際關係中的小問題一旦不被重視也會變成大麻煩。怨恨增長，誤會就變成了僞真理。很快，有可能通過友好談話解決問題的關係，會迅速變成了敵對的情況。
6. Deadlines
最後期限
Small projects are easy until you run them up against a deadline. Suddenly a small task has become a crisis at the eleventh hour. You may find yourself without the materials or information that you need to complete it.
只要不拖到最後期限，小項目都是很容易完成的。但一旦小任務到了最後時刻，也不禁會成爲一次“危機”。你會發現自己突然找不到需要完成任務的材料或信息。
Don’t Let Small Problems Get Big
別讓小問題變成大麻煩
What small problems are you facing? Get to them before they grow into larger ones.
你正遇到哪些小問題？在它們變成大麻煩之前趕緊去解決。
You can save yourself much time and stress by addressing them early. Most problems start small… let’s keep them that way.
早點解決能給自己減少更多的時間和壓力。基本上大麻煩都是源自小問題，就把它們扼殺在搖籃之中吧。
