礼节美语 Business Etiquette 141 Social Networking (3)

　　Jimmy因为天性腼腆，所以每逢社交活动，一律能推就推。同事Brad和Pam想帮他克服这个障碍。Pam问 Jimmy,
P: When you are walking down the street, do you judge the people you see?
J: Not really. Maybe only if they're wearing something really weird¹.
P: Right! So it helps to remember that others are usually not judging you.
J: Yeah, that does sort of help.
P: Another important point is that practice makes perfect. I sometimes make public speeches, but the first couple of times
I did it I was nervous and sweating² and I thought I was going to die!
Jimmy承认，自己走在街上，不会过份注意别人。那同样的，别人其实也不会盯着你没完没了地看。
Pam还说，practice makes perfect熟能生巧。比如说，家长经常会告诉孩子，钢琴要天天弹，因为practice makes perfect. Pam说，自己以前很怕当众发言，每次讲话前，都特别紧张，要死要活的，I thought I was going to die! Jimmy说，
J: But after a couple times it got better, right?
P: Yep. These days I actually enjoy making speeches!
B: I suggest you just jump right in and say, "yes" whenever you have a chance to socialize. You never know what you might find.
P: Yeah, I've found friendship, business opportunities and even romance³ in the most unexpected⁴ places.
结果还真应了那句话，practice makes perfect. Pam现在居然很喜欢当众讲话了。
Brad建议Jimmy, 只要有机会出去社交，就应该jump right in，立即欣然接受。Pam也在一边帮腔说，她就曾经在最意想不到的地方交到过朋友、碰到过商业机遇，甚至还找到过爱情的火花！ The most unexpected places，意思是最意想不到的地方。比如说，我朋友生病住院的时候认识了她现在的先生。我们就可以说，She met her husband in one of the most unexpected places.
B: But if you don't jump in, you'll never have a chance.
K: Thanks guys! I'm going to make a greater effort to network and overcome my shyness. And yes, I'd love to join you at the bar this evening and I'd be happy to play volleyball for your team on Saturday. I'll even come to dinner this Sunday!
B: That's the spirit!
P: See you later!
就是啊，如果你不去尝试体验，就永远不会有机会。 Jimmy最后终于被说服了。他保证要加倍努力去network, 克服自己胆怯的障碍。
他还说，愿意下班一起去酒吧，星期六也愿意去打排球，甚至表示要去参加部门经理的晚餐会。Brad听后很高兴，That's the spirit! 意思是，这就对了。That's the spirit，是一句经常用来鼓励别人的话。比如说，孩子比赛输了虽然沮丧，但表示会再接再励，家长就可以说，That's the spirit! 这就对了。再比如，如果有人找工作，面试没有被录取，但表示不灰心，继续找，我们也可以说，That's the spirit!

1 weird   

adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的

参考例句：

• From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来，他好像有点怪。
• His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。

2 sweating   

n.发汗v.（使）出汗( sweat的现在分词 )；（使）流汗；（使）发汗；焖

参考例句：

• We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture. 我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• When the spasm passed, it left him weak and sweating. 一阵痉挛之后，他虚弱无力，一直冒汗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 romance   

n.恋爱关系，浪漫气氛，爱情小说，传奇

参考例句：

• She wrote a romance about an artist's life in Tokyo.她写了一个关于一位艺术家在东京生活的浪漫故事。
• They tried to rekindle the flames of romance.他们试图重燃爱火。

4 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。