They say it’s best to start with something small when you’re trying to build a business. So I started with belt buckles. It’s a good building block for a clothing business. Fortunately, I had a buddy already in the business so he helped me to set up a store.
他們說(shuō)當(dāng)你要建立一個(gè)企業(yè)時(shí),最好先從小事做起。于是,我開始做皮帶扣生意,這是服裝生意的一大基礎(chǔ)。幸運(yùn)的是,我有個(gè)哥們是搞這生意的,于是他幫我開了一家商店。
The buckles I sell are made out of bronze. Bronze is a brownish colored metal that matched every color of clothing including brown garments. They’re not at all brittle. In fact, they are strong and long lasting. My buckles are made in ffice:smarttags" />Spain by the best craftsmen alive since the Bronze Age. I save a lot of money by exporting them in bulky contains that are filled to the brim.
我賣的皮帶扣是銅質(zhì)的。銅是一種呈棕色的金屬,它能搭配各種顏色(自然包括棕色)的服裝。我賣的皮帶扣絕不是一碰就碎的東西,相反它結(jié)實(shí)耐用。我的皮帶扣由青銅器時(shí)代以來(lái)最優(yōu)秀的工匠在西班牙制成。我將滿載皮帶扣的巨大集裝箱出口,從而攢了不少的錢。
The clothing business is very competitive and it can be brutal at times. I suppose it’s better than selling light bulbs. Some customers are rather brusque and don’t seem to like conversation. It doesn’t bother me. I try to run a brisk business by selling most of my products in bulk at a discount. As long as I keep to my budget, I can make a profit,
服裝業(yè)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)激烈,有時(shí)競(jìng)爭(zhēng)相當(dāng)殘酷。我想這還是比賣燈泡好。有些顧客相當(dāng)粗魯,也不愿多說(shuō)話。不過(guò)我不在乎。通過(guò)以優(yōu)惠價(jià)批量出售大部分產(chǎn)品,我努力把企業(yè)辦得興旺發(fā)達(dá)。只要我嚴(yán)格按照預(yù)算行事,就能盈利。
My goal is to broaden my business by the end of the year by adding belts and hats to my product line. I also want to publish a brochure of my goods. If I succeed at making a good profit, maybe I can buy that house by the brook that I’ve always wanted.
我的目標(biāo)是到年底擴(kuò)大經(jīng)營(yíng)范圍,將皮帶和帽子加入生產(chǎn)線。我還想出版一本產(chǎn)品介紹手冊(cè)。如果我能大筆盈利,也許我會(huì)買下小溪邊我夢(mèng)寐以求的房子。
Every time I feel exhausted by the demands of my business, I close my eyes and dream of that house. I think of the cool water coming from the nearby brook. I imagine the sweet smell of flower buds in the garden. And I picture myself sitting in a big bathtub full of bubbles.
每當(dāng)我被生意上的種種需求折騰得筋疲力盡時(shí),我就會(huì)閉上眼睛,夢(mèng)見那棟房子。我想到屋旁小溪里的溪水的清涼;我想象著花園里蓓蕾的芬芳;我想象著自己坐在一個(gè)滿是泡泡的大浴缸里。
Words:
brim n. 邊;邊緣;n. 滿溢
brisk adj. 活潑的,輕快的;興隆的,繁忙活躍的
brittle adj. 易碎的
broaden vt. 放寬,變闊,擴(kuò)大
brochure n. 小冊(cè)子
bronze n. 青銅,銅像;古銅
Bronze Age 青銅器時(shí)代
brook n. 小河
brown n./adj. 褐色的,棕色的;vt. (使)成褐色,曬黑
brownish adj. 呈褐色的
brusque adj. (指人及人的舉止等)粗暴和唐突,無(wú)禮的
brutal adj. 野蠻的,殘忍的,冷酷無(wú)情的
bubble n. 氣泡,水泡
buckle n. 帶扣;v. (使)變彎曲
bud n. 芽,蓓蕾;vi. 發(fā)芽
buddy n. 密友,伙伴
budget n. 預(yù)算
building block 積木;基礎(chǔ)材料
bulb n. (花)球莖,球形物
bulk n. 大批;大部分;大小,體積
bulky adj. 龐大的;笨重的