英语散文:我怎样白手起家
2008-05-14来源:
[11]But Starbucks held an inexplicable attraction for me. During the year after my first visit, I found reasons to get back to Seattle several times. Then in the spring of 1982, Jerry and Gordon invited me to meet board‘董事会’member Steve Donovan.[11]但是，对我来说，明星咖啡连锁公司有不可言喻的吸引力。其后我在一年之内又找借口去了西雅图几趟，到1982年春天，巴登和博格邀我去会晤公司董事史蒂夫·坦南瓦尔德。[12]The meeting went exceptionally well. I told them how I had served Starbucks coffee to my friends in New York, how enthusiastic‘极感兴趣的’they had been. Starbucks could be so much bigger, I argued. It could grow beyond the Northwest. It could become a national company.[12]会晤时气氛极好。我告诉他们，我曾经用明星咖啡连锁公司的咖啡招待纽约的朋友，尝过的人都赞不绝口。我又指出，这公司其实可以大展宏图，冲出西北部发展成为全国大企业。[13]The partners seemed inspired‘振奋；感动’by my vision‘构想；见解’. Back in New York the next day, I eagerly awaited Jerry's call. But they had decided not to hire me. "Your plans sound great," Jerry said. "But that's just not the vision we have for Starbucks." Instead of charming‘吸引’them, I had spooked‘使受惊吓；使胆怯’them.[13]三位股东似乎欣赏我的见解。第二天我回到纽约，急切等候巴登的电话。但是他们决定不雇用我。巴登说："你的计划好极了，只可惜不符合我们经营明星咖啡连锁公司的方针。"A Trip to Italy
意大利之行
[14]I still believed so much in the future of Starbucks that I couldn't accept "no" as a final answer. I had to join this company.[14]我对明星咖啡连锁公司的前途仍深具信心，不甘就此罢休。[15]The next day I called Jerry back. "Jerry," I protested, "this isn't about me. It's about your company." I spoke and he heard me out, then fell silent. "Let me sleep on it," he said. "I'll call you tomorrow."[15]第二天我又打电话过去。"巴登，"我说，"这不是为我自己着想，而是为你们公司…?quot;他耐心倾听，然后沉默了一阵。"让我再想一晚，"他说，"明天给你回音。"[16]Perhaps he slept; I certainly didn't.[16]也许他睡了一觉，可是我却整夜未眠。[17]The next morning I picked up the phone on the first ring. "You have the job, Howard," he said. "When can you come?"[17]次日早晨，电话铃一响我就拿起听筒。"我们决定雇用你，"巴登说，"什么时候来上班？"[18]So many times I've been told something can't be done. But if I believe in it, I can't let it go. Part of my determination comes from my enthusiasm, and part is fear of failure. The example of my dad was always in my mind. An honest man who worked hard and loved his children, he was never able to take control of his life and climb out of the hole of blue-collar jobs-truck driver, factory worker, cabdriver-that left him a beaten man.[18]许多人一遇到障碍就打退堂鼓。但是我不会这样；我一旦有了目标，就必然锲而不舍，全力以赴。我能如此坚毅，一方面是凭着满腔热诚，另一方面是畏惧失败。我常常想起父亲坎坷的一生。他为人诚恳、工作勤奋、爱护儿女，却一直不能掌控自己的人生方向，不能摆脱蓝领工人的地位--卡车司机、工厂工人或出租汽车司机--以致抱撼终身。[19]After I had been at Stabucks for a year, I had an experience that changed my life. I went to Milan to attend an international housewares show. On my first morning I noticed a little espresso‘浓咖啡’bar. Behind the counter a tall, thin man was cheerfully greeting customers.[19]进明星咖啡连锁公司一年之后，由于另一件事，我的人生又有了大转变。我去意大利米兰参观国际家庭用品展览，第一天早晨便注意到会场里有个小小的蒸馏咖啡吧。柜台后面有个高高瘦瘦的男人在笑吟吟地招呼顾客。[20]"Espresso?" He asked, holding out a cup. After three sips it was gone, but I could still feel its warmth and energy.[20]"蒸馏咖啡?" 他问，然后递给我一杯。我啜吸三口就喝光了，不过咖啡的香浓温暖我却至今难忘。
意大利之行
[14]I still believed so much in the future of Starbucks that I couldn't accept "no" as a final answer. I had to join this company.[14]我对明星咖啡连锁公司的前途仍深具信心，不甘就此罢休。[15]The next day I called Jerry back. "Jerry," I protested, "this isn't about me. It's about your company." I spoke and he heard me out, then fell silent. "Let me sleep on it," he said. "I'll call you tomorrow."[15]第二天我又打电话过去。"巴登，"我说，"这不是为我自己着想，而是为你们公司…?quot;他耐心倾听，然后沉默了一阵。"让我再想一晚，"他说，"明天给你回音。"[16]Perhaps he slept; I certainly didn't.[16]也许他睡了一觉，可是我却整夜未眠。[17]The next morning I picked up the phone on the first ring. "You have the job, Howard," he said. "When can you come?"[17]次日早晨，电话铃一响我就拿起听筒。"我们决定雇用你，"巴登说，"什么时候来上班？"[18]So many times I've been told something can't be done. But if I believe in it, I can't let it go. Part of my determination comes from my enthusiasm, and part is fear of failure. The example of my dad was always in my mind. An honest man who worked hard and loved his children, he was never able to take control of his life and climb out of the hole of blue-collar jobs-truck driver, factory worker, cabdriver-that left him a beaten man.[18]许多人一遇到障碍就打退堂鼓。但是我不会这样；我一旦有了目标，就必然锲而不舍，全力以赴。我能如此坚毅，一方面是凭着满腔热诚，另一方面是畏惧失败。我常常想起父亲坎坷的一生。他为人诚恳、工作勤奋、爱护儿女，却一直不能掌控自己的人生方向，不能摆脱蓝领工人的地位--卡车司机、工厂工人或出租汽车司机--以致抱撼终身。[19]After I had been at Stabucks for a year, I had an experience that changed my life. I went to Milan to attend an international housewares show. On my first morning I noticed a little espresso‘浓咖啡’bar. Behind the counter a tall, thin man was cheerfully greeting customers.[19]进明星咖啡连锁公司一年之后，由于另一件事，我的人生又有了大转变。我去意大利米兰参观国际家庭用品展览，第一天早晨便注意到会场里有个小小的蒸馏咖啡吧。柜台后面有个高高瘦瘦的男人在笑吟吟地招呼顾客。[20]"Espresso?" He asked, holding out a cup. After three sips it was gone, but I could still feel its warmth and energy.[20]"蒸馏咖啡?" 他问，然后递给我一杯。我啜吸三口就喝光了，不过咖啡的香浓温暖我却至今难忘。
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