a Lego Brick.

這一小塊樂高積木

But have you ever wondered how it all started

但你是否想過這一切從何開始

and why it's called Lego?

還有爲什麼取名爲樂高？

Actually, the name is much older than this plastic brick.

其實，樂高這名字遠比積木悠久

Are you curious?

好奇嗎？

Let me tell you how it all began.

讓我娓娓道來

Many years ago

許多年前

there was a skilled and hard-working carpenter named Ole Kirk Christiansen.

有位勤奮又經驗老道的木匠，名爲奧里·科克·克里斯金森

Ole was a respected carpenter with his own company,

他擁有自己的工廠，且備受尊敬

but times were hard. So he didn't have much money

不過時機不好，日子過得並不充裕

and had to dismiss his last worker.

奧里只好被迫辭退他最後一位員工

Ole: "Come on in".

奧里：「請進」

Worker: "I have closed down the workshop and packed my things".

員工：「我已經關閉工廠，東西也打包好了」

Ole: "Thank you. I suppose I'd better write you a paycheck".

「謝謝！我想我應該付你薪水」

Ole: "Take care."

「保重！」

Ole: "Well, that was the last one.

「唉～他是最後一個了」

I just didn't imagine that it would come to this".

「真難想像事情會發展到這一步」

Wife: "I know. It's hard to understand, but at least now it can't get much worse."

奧里太太：「我知道這令人難以接受，但至少不會再更糟了」

But it did get worse. Shortly after, Ole lost his wife.

但情況確實變得更糟-- 不久後，奧里的太太去世了

But Ole was a special person.

但奧里是一個特別的人

He wasn't the type that gave up.

他不輕言放棄

And with the responsibility of his four sons, he had to think of something.

背負著養育4個兒子的責任，奧里必須想想辦法

Ole had gotten an idea

他突然想到了一個點子

and for him, it never took long to put an idea into action.

對奧里而言，將想法付諸行動從不是件難事

Ole's little invention made his boys so happy that he thought maybe he should start making toys.

他的小發明逗得4個兒子好開心，他想也許可以靠賣玩具維生

Ole decided to give it a try.

奧里決定放手一搏

Luckily, he had saved up a lot of wood from the carpentry production.

幸運地，他保留許多木匠工廠的木材

He could now use it to make toys.

現在可以利用這些木材製作玩具

Time passed by

日子一天天過去

and even though Ole was a skilled carpenter and had a good eye for quality and detail,

雖然奧里的木工技藝精湛，對品質與細節的要求也獨具慧眼

sales were very slow.

玩具的銷售量仍然低落

Luckily, one of his sons, Godtfred, started helping out his dad after school.

幸好，歐力的其中一個兒子古弗雷德，開始在放學後幫爸爸的忙

Together, they just barely managed to keep up the production.

兩人同心協力，玩具生意勉強過得下去

Eventually, word began to spread that the wooden toys of the finest quality were being made from that little workshop in Billund.

終於，大家開始口耳相傳這家位於比隆小鎮的工廠生產最優良的木製玩具

One day, a man drove into town.

某天，一名男子開車來到鎮上

A man who would change Ole's future.

即將改變奧里命運

He was a wholesaler from factory shop.

他是玩具工廠的批發商

'I heard that you are making some very nice wooden toys'

「聽說你製作的木製玩具非常精良」

Ole: 'Well, one does his best'.

「噢，我只是盡力而爲」

The wholesaler was very impressed with all the wooden toys.

批發商對奧里的木製玩具非常滿意

And placed big order before he left.

並在離開前下了大筆訂單

Ole: 'Now there's finally someone who can see the opportunities and what we are doing'

「終於有人看見商機也看見我們的努力了」

'Look at this. The wholesaler wants to put a lot of our toys into his store for the holidays

「你瞧，這次節日他想訂購好多我們的玩具在店裡賣呢！」

it's going to be a good Christmas this year

好一個聖誕節

that will be busy".

我們今年可有得忙了

Now, there was a lot to do with the little workshop

現在工廠裡有許多事要做

and Ole could rehire his former workers.

奧里也有能力重新雇用以前的員工

Ole only used the highest quality wood

他只選用上好的木材

which was hand-picked and very carefully prepared

每一批都是手工挑選，並且小心翼翼的處理

They worked day and night to get the order finished

為了完成訂單，他們日以繼夜趕工

So the wholesaler could get the toys out in stores before Christmas.

好讓批發商在聖誕節前夕 將玩具放在店裡賣

Godtfred: "Is there something wrong, Dad?"

「爸爸，發生什麼事了？」

Ole: "I'm afraid that we are in big trouble".

「我想我們麻煩大了」

In the middle of their work, Ole received a letter saying that the wholesaler had filed for bankruptcy

生產進行到一半，奧里收到批發商來信告知自己面臨破產

and couldn't buy the toys that he had ordered

所以無力負擔他先前訂購的玩具了

Godtfred: "What are you gonna do? What about Christmas?

「我們該怎麼辦？聖誕節怎麼過？」

Now we can't even afford food?"

「我們現在甚至買不起食物了」

Ole: "I'll do it".

「交給我吧」

Godtfred: "What are you gonna do, Dad?"

「爸爸，你要怎麼做？」

Ole: "I'll do it myself. I'll drive around selling the toys"

「我自己來賣，我會開著車四處賣玩具」

There was no time to lose. Ole packed the car with all the toys and drove off.

時間所剩無幾，奧里將所有玩具放進車裡便啟程

Ole was a very good toy-maker but was not a very good salesman.

奧里擅於製作玩具，但對於如何銷售卻不怎麼在行

He didn't like praising himself or talking about how carefully the toys have been made

他不喜歡自誇玩具製作得多麼精緻

but he had to keep trying

他只能繼續努力

Ole: "This is going to be a blast. Is there anything you were interested in?"

「這一定會引起潮流，你有喜歡的嗎？」

'It looks exciting but i don't have a lot of money right now. Maybe we could trade in and call it even.'

「看起來令人興奮，但我現在錢不多，也許我們能以物易物」

Ole: "Well, i would prefer money"

「噢~我比較希望是錢」

'but'

「但好吧」

In the end, he succeeded in selling all the toys.

結果，奧里成功地賣出所有玩具

He didn't receive as much money as he had hoped. But the family managed and they had plenty of food for Christmas

雖然錢賺的沒有預期的多，但得以維持家人生計，而且還換了許多食物過聖誕節

Time passed by

時光飛逝

But the toys didn't sell as quickly as they had expected

玩具賣得沒有想像中的快

Ole thought perhaps the company needed a good name

奧里想也許公司需要個好名字

'What should it be? It has to be short word. I wanted to convey playing well'

「叫什麼好呢？一定要簡短，我想要傳達好玩的感覺」

In Danish, `playing well` is called `LEG GODT`

「玩得好」的丹麥文是LEG GODT

'What should it be? What should it be?'

「該取什麼？該取什麼呢？」

'If only i could get some sort of a sign'

「如果這時來點靈感就好了」

'LEGO'

「LEGO」

As you can see, Ole himself ended up finding a very suitable name.

如你所見，奧里自己想到了一個合適的名字

But what he didn't know was that in latin, the word 'LEGO' means 'I put together'

但他不知道「LEGO」拉丁文的意思正好是「我來組合」

The name 'LEGO' was well received.

新名字「LEGO」廣受歡迎

And the company slowly started to move forward.

公司也逐步向前邁進

Godtfred: "We have made 3000 krones this year. And we more orders than usual"

「我們今年賺了3000克朗，訂單比以往還多」

Ole: "Did you say 3000 krones. Then you need to see what i've been looking at"

「你剛剛說3000克朗嗎？那你得看看我手上的東西」

Even though Godtfred wasn't comfortable spending money on a milling machine.

雖然古弗雷德對於花大錢在研磨機上有些擔心

He could see that it was useful and that the quality of the toys improved

他明白機器的好處，能改善玩具的品質

'Could you finish the last batch and get it ready for shipping?'

「你能處理完最後一批然後裝箱運送嗎？」

'I will'

「沒問題」

'Dad.... dad, i saved a lot of money for the company today'

「爸，我今天幫公司省了一大筆錢耶」

Ole: "Really? how?"

「真的嗎？為什麼？」

Godtfred: "I figured we could save money in the locker. It's like only coated the duck twice instead of three times"

「我想到可以在塗料上省錢，比如說只給鴨子上兩層漆，而不是三層」

Ole: "You what?"

「你做了什麼？」

Unfortunately, Godtfred's idea didn't go over well with Ole.

很不幸地，奧里無法接受古弗雷德的點子

Ole made Godtfred unpacked all the ducks himself

奧里吩吋古弗雷德拆解那些鴨子

gave them the last layer of locker and bring them back to train station.

上過最後一層塗料之後再帶回火車站

Ole believes in high quality and not cheating his customers

奧里堅信品質與誠信的重要

when Godtfred returned, Ole explained that wasn't the way to create a good brand.

古弗雷德返家後，奧里告訴他投機無法建立好名聲

This little lesson opened Godtfred's eyes to the fact that every detail matters

這次小教訓開拓了古弗雷德的眼界，讓他明白細節不容忽視

and only the best is good enough.

最高水準才是唯一標準

In the late 1930s, LEGO was making a profit even when the second world war broke out.

在1930年後期，即使歷經第二次世界大戰樂高仍有盈餘

They tried to make the best out of a difficult time.

他們設法在困境中創造奇蹟

It seemed nothing could go wrong.

一切似乎一帆風順

But a stormy night in 1942 changed their luck.

不過，1942年一個暴風雨的夜晚改變了他們的好運

'There's a fire. The workshop is on fire.'

「失火了，工廠失火了！」

But when the firemen arrived, they were unable to save the workshop

當消防人員趕到，一切已經太遲了

it burned to the ground and all the drawings and models were destroyed.

工廠被夷為平地，所有的草圖與模型都已燒毀

Ole was beginning to lose hope.

奧里開始失去希望

All that he had worked for was gone and he almost lost his company

這些年的心血全付之一炬，還差點失去工廠

but being responsible for his children and workers inspired him to rebuild LEGO

但對孩子及員工們的責任感，激勵他重新打造樂高

A new factory was constructed

新工廠開始建造

Soon the production of the wooden toys started again

不久後木製玩具也恢復生產

The little company fought it way back into the market

這家小公司突破困境重返市場

Gradually, the LEGO factory began to run smoothly and Ole started looking for new challenges

樂高營運漸入佳境，奧里開始尋求新的挑戰

One day, he went to Copenhagen to look at a new machine that had just arrived in Denmark.

某天，他去哥本哈根看一款剛抵達丹麥的新機器

It was a plastic moulding machine and Ole was very excited about it

這是一款塑膠鑄型機，奧里對此感到非常興奮

Ole: "Should we buy it? i'm sure it's a good bargain and it would give us a lot of opportunities"

「我們該買嗎？我相信非常值得，一定會帶來很多商機」

Godtfred: "Well, it does sound interesting but it is a lot of money"

「聽起來是很有趣，但這可是好大一筆錢」

Ole: "I'll take that as a Yes"

「我就當你答應了」

When the plastic moulding machine finally arrived, Ole started making little plastic teddy bears and raddles.

塑膠鑄型機抵達後，奧力開始生產塑膠泰迪熊

But he still had the plastic brick that he had received at the fair.

但他還保留著從展覽會上拿到的塑膠積木

There was something about that he couldn't stop thinking about.

不知怎麼的，他對這些小積木念念不忘

And even though no one else could see the potential in them.

即使沒有人看見它們的潛力

Ole decided to redesigned and put them into production.

奧力決定重新設計小積木並投入生產

But it was when LEGO first launched the great Ferguson tractor, that the plastic toys became a success.

當樂高首度推出牽引機系列時，塑膠玩具也獲得成功

Unfortunately the sales were dropped during the summer

很遺憾地，銷售量在夏季下滑

and the company had too many toys in stock.

公司裡太多玩具賣不出去

Godtfred: "This can't be right. Of course, our products can be sold the whole year, not only for Christmas"

「不可能的，我們的產品一定能全年銷售，而不是只為了聖誕節」

Godtfred decided that he would go out and sell the toys himself.

古弗雷德決定親自出門賣玩具

Godtfred brought his wife as a company and moral support

他帶著太太作伴，當作自己的精神支柱

"If you can't get cash,we need butter and eggs"

「如果沒辦法拿到現金，換點奶油跟雞蛋」

Well, it wasn't that bad.

情況不至於那麼糟

Godtfred was a success in his trip around the country which helped LEGO to get out of its financial crisis.

古弗雷德這趟全國之旅很順利，成功地帶領樂高走出財務危機

They reached home just in time for Ole's birthday party.

他們到家時正好趕上奧里的生日派對

Ole turned 60 and the whole family was gathered to celebrate with him.

奧里的60歲生日，整個家族聚在一起替他慶生

Ole: "Well, I guess it was a long trip along the country"

「嗯，我想旅途很累人吧」

"Hey, I got an idea. Eh, listen. Listen. What about a picture with the three generations"

「嘿，我有個點子！大家聽好，不如來個三代同堂的合照吧！」

Everyone thought that was a good idea. And we were placed on the sofa with all the presents and flowers around us.

大家覺得這真是好點子，接著全家坐在沙發上與禮物和鮮花一起拍照

On a business trip to England, Godtfred met the head of a big shopping center on his way home.

一趟去英格蘭的旅途上，古弗雷德在回程途中遇見一位大型購物中心的老闆

They discussed the toy industry. And the conversation would be very important to the future of LEGO.

他們談到玩具產業，接下來的對話將是樂高未來轉變的關鍵

"Damn that industry. I just think that toys are no good nowadays"

「該死的產業，我覺得玩具沒有任何前景」

Godtfred: "What do you mean? I think they are working very well".

「怎麼說？我認為玩具產業發展的很好啊」

"Oh, they work fine. Sure, but there's no system in anything"

「噢當然發展的很好，不過毫無系統可言」

Godtfred: "System?".

「系統？」

Godtfred: "System? Hmm. There isn't any system".

「系統？的確沒有系統」

Ole: "What in the world are you doing, Godtfred?"

「古弗雷德，你到底在做什麼？」

Godtfred: "There isn't any system.

「我們的做法毫無系統」

The toys need an idea and a system built around it.

我們需要新創意 系統化製作這些玩具

I want to put system in the play. Children have only been offered ready-made solutions.

我想將系統融入遊戲，孩子們現在只能照既定的規則玩遊戲

They need something different that will strengthen their imagination and creativity".

他們需要全新的玩法，才能激發想像力與創造力

Ole: "So, you are trying to put LEGO into a system? Interesting".

「所以，你想幫樂高建立系統？這倒新鮮」

That same year, LEGO started producing the first LEGO system of play.

同年，樂高開始生產首批系統玩具

Children could now build houses from the LEGO bricks.

孩子們現在能用樂高積木蓋房子

The town planned gave play a realistic town setting and with this, children learned about traffic safety.

以真實的小鎮場景設計的樂高玩具，孩子能從中學習規劃交通安全

My sister and I could play with the new LEGO system for hours.

我和姊姊玩新樂高，一玩就是好幾個小時

Some people said we were the luckiest children in the world.

有人說我們是全世界最幸福的小孩

Because we grew up in a toy factory.

因為我們在玩具工廠裡長大

It was a huge breakthrough.

有了這次突破性的進展

And Godtfred decided to try selling it outside of Denmark.

古弗雷德決定要將玩具賣到國外

The system of play was so popular that they managed to sell it to many countries.

系統玩具大受歡迎，所以他們設法將玩具銷售至更多國家

"Look what I just built".

「看看我蓋了什麼」

"That is really nice, Cal".

「卡爾，你做得真棒！」

Even though LEGO was meant for only building houses, there was still a lot of opportunities.

雖然樂高原本只設計用來蓋房子，其實有更多用途

There was just one problem.

問題只有一個...

"Hmm, I can't lift it up. It keeps falling apart".

「我沒辦法拿起來，它會一直倒下」

That made Godtfred wondered. He wanted to find a way to make the LEGO bricks stick together.

這讓古弗雷徳開始思考，他想找出方法固定積木

But that was easier said than done.

但說來容易做來難

Godtfred noticed that the LEGO bricks got a better clutch powers with tooth inside.

後來古弗雷徳發現如果積木內設計成齒狀，就能穩穩的固定住

Now, it was no longer just bricks but a whole construction system with endless possibilities.

現在，樂高不再是普通積木，而是包含無限可能的建築系統

This was ground breaking for the LEGO product.

也是樂高前所未見的創新產品

With a child's imagination, LEGO could be anything in the world over and over again.

積木隨著孩子們的想像力，不斷變幻成各式各樣的物品

The imagination is the limit.

樂高的極限 如想像力般無限

"Look, Dad. Now, I can build everything"

「爸，你看！現在我什麼都做的出來」

Unfortunately, Ole never got to see how successful the little bricks actually became.

可惜，奧里永遠無法知道樂高最終獲得多大的成功

Godtfred was left on his own and he had to go through another fire at LEGO that destroyed most of the wood production.

古弗雷徳獨擔重任，其間還歷經另一次大火催毀了大部分的木製玩具

Just like his father, Godtfred knew that he had to try to get the best out of any situation and never give up.

就像他爸爸，古弗雷徳在困境中盡其所能，絕不放棄

Godtfred took the hard times with his head held high.

他終究昂起頭來挺過困境

As sales grew, the company also got bigger.

隨著業績成長，公司也逐漸擴大

He had to think ahead and he decided not to resume the production of wooden toys and to only focus on the LEGO system.

古弗雷徳必須預先設想，他決定不再生產木製玩具並全心投入系統積木

And it turned out to be great decision. Many new models were built and LEGO got stronger in the toy industry.

事實證明這是個正確的決定 樂高研發更多玩具模型，在業界的地位也與日俱增

Staff: "Sir, which one of these do you think is the best?"

「老闆，你認為哪一個最好？」

Godtfred: "Hmmm, Err, that one".

「嗯～那一個」

Even though it got busier at LEGO, Godtfred still had bigger plans.

雖然日漸忙碌，古弗雷徳還有更大的目標

Now, he wanted to build an airport.

現在，他想蓋一座機場

So, it would be easier to sell his toys to the whole world.

這樣就更容易把玩具賣到世界各地了

Like father, like son.

有其父必有其子

It didn't take long to put his ideas into action.

將想法付諸實行對他不是難事

Only three years later, Billund airport was opened.

三年過後，比隆機場落成營運

Then many guests and business connections who visited the company always wanted to see their modeling department.

許多公司訪客及商業夥伴都想參觀模型部門

Gradually, it got so crowded that it was hard for the employees to keep up their work.

公司逐漸擁擠，以至於員工無法趕上工作進度

Godtfred: "I think we'd better wait a while".

「我想我們最好等一下」

Godtfred could see that something had to be done.

古弗雷徳明白問題有待解決

He needed a bigger place to display the LEGO models.

他需要更大的空間展示樂高模型

Employee: "Er, I don't want to interrupt. So, I'll just put this package of our new LEGO train on the table".

「呃～無意打擾，我只是把最新的樂高火車放您桌上」

Godtfred: "Jut put it there".

「就放那吧！」

The idea grew quickly from an exhibition room to an amusement park.

很快地，這個點子從展示間變成了主題公園

Godtfred: "And then, we could have a tower so you could look over the whole park from above, the whole town. It would be land made out of LEGO, LEGO land".

「然後，我們可以蓋座高塔俯瞰整個園區與小鎮，這將是一座由樂高組成的天地，樂高樂園！」

"Well then, it looks interesting. But how many visitors are you actually counting on?"

「是滿有趣的，但你指望有多少遊客會來？」

"Well, I guess eh two hundred three hundred thousand".

「嗯～我想大約2、30萬人吧」

"Three hundred thousand?"

「30萬人！」