TED演讲:来自阿拉伯女商人的成功经验(6)

 One thing to know about the Middle East 关于中东需要知道的一件事,

is that nearly every family has access to affordable¹ domestic² help. 就是几乎每个家庭都能找到可负担费用的家务代理。

The challenge therefore becomes how to recruit³ effectively. 难题因此变成如何有效地召募(家务代理人)。 

Just like I would in my business life, 就如同在我的商业生活中，

I have based the selection⁴ of who would support me with my children while I'm at work on a strong referral. 我很大程度上根据谁能在我工作时够帮助我打理孩子来挑选。 

Cristina had worked for four years with my sister Cristina曾与我姐姐一同工作4年， 

and the quality of her work was well-established. 而她工作的质量是受到公认的。

She is now an integral⁵ member of our family, 她现在是我们家庭中不可或缺的一员， 

having been with us since Alia was six months old. 从Alia六个月大的时候就跟我们在一块了。 

She makes sure that the house is running smoothly⁶ while I'm at work, 她确保当我在工作时我们家庭运作顺畅，

and I make sure to empower her in the most optimal⁷ conditions for her and my children, 而我保障她对她和我的孩子来说在最佳的状况下。

just like I would my best talent at work. 就像我用最好的天赋在工作一样

This lesson applies whatever your childcare situation, 这个经验很通用，无论你的小孩的照护状况事怎样的，

whether an au pair, nursery, part-time nanny that you share with someone else. 也不管是年轻女性的换工互惠生，托儿所，你与某些人共享的临时保母。 

Choose very carefully, and empower. 请特别小心地选择，然后赋予他们自主权。

If you look at my calendar, 如果你检阅我的行事历，

you will see every working day one and a half hours from 7pm to 8:30pm UAE time blocked and called "family time." 你会看到每个工作日，从晚上7点到8点30的一个半小时的阿拉伯联合酋长国时间被占据了而且称作“家庭时间”。

This is sacred time.  这是个神圣的时刻。

I have done this ever since Alia was a baby. 我从Alia还是婴儿的时候就这么做了。 

I do everything in my power to protect this time 我竭尽所能地去保留这段时间，

so that I can be home by then to spend quality time with my children, 所以我可以在这个时间前回到家与我的孩子们共度宝贵时光，

asking them about their day, checking up on homework, 问问他们的日常，检查他们的作业，

reading them a bedtime story and giving them lots of kisses and cuddles. 给他们读睡前故事，然后给他们许多的吻和拥抱。

If I'm traveling, in whatever the time zone, 如果我正在旅行，无论在哪个时区，

I use Skype to connect with my children even if I am miles away. 我用Skype与孩子们联系，即使我在数里之外。

1 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

2 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。

3 recruit   

n.招聘，新兵，新成员；v.恢复，补充，招募

参考例句：

• The country's first act would be to recruit for the navy.国家的第一个行动是为海军征募新兵。
• This is a nationwide campaign to recruit women into trade unions.这是一次吸收妇女参加工会的全国性运动。

4 selection   

n.选择，挑选，精选品，可选择的东西

参考例句：

• We left the selection of the team to the captain.我们把挑选队员的工作交给了队长。
• The shop has a fine selection of cheeses.那家商店有各种精美乳酪可供选购。

5 integral   

adj.必不可少的，构成整体所必需的

参考例句：

• She is our best player,who is integral to our team.她是我们最好的球员，我们队离不开她。
• That's an integral part of the country.那是构成国家所必需的一部分。

6 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

7 optimal   

adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的

参考例句：

• What is the optimal mix of private and public property rights in natural resources?私人和国家的自然资源产权的最适宜的组合是什么？
• Optimal path planning is a key link for the sailing contest.帆船最优行驶路径规划是帆船比赛取胜的关键环节。