商务礼节美语第69期:首次公开募股(3)

　　公司老板Jerry召集手下Lisa和Ken¹开会，商量公司上市的问题。Lisa问Jerry，是不是真的下定决心了。
L: But Jerry, have you really thought this through? You would essentially² be giving up the company that your great-grandfather built.
J: I intend to keep key family members on the Board of Directors and I intend to remain as CEO. This company is important to me. But if we really want to become the largest frozen food company in the country, it's time to move beyond mom-and-pop operations and play hardball.
针对Lisa提出的疑问，Jerry回答说，他并没打算将祖辈开办并经营至今的家族企业就这么拱手送给别人，他打算让重要家庭成员进董事会，然后亲自担任 CEO, Chief Executive officer, 首席执行官。Jerry 说，公司对他十分重要，但要想扩大规模，成为全国最大的冷冻食品公司，就要 move beyond mom-and-pop operations and play hardball. 这里所说的 mom-and-pop operations 是指家庭规模的小买卖，play hardball 意思是采取果断大胆的行动。
L: Well, it's an exciting idea...and also a bit terrifying. But....you know that old saying: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
K: At least the markets have been getting better recently; the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 10,000 points the other day. This could be the beginning of an economic recovery.
Lisa说，公司上市的想法既令人兴奋，又让人害怕。但是英语里老话说，nothing ventured, nothing gained. 意思是不承担风险，就不会取得成就。Ken 说，好在现在市场正在走高，道琼斯工业指数前几天突破了万点大关，topped 10,000 points. 这可能意味着经济复苏的开始，the beginning of an economic recovery. Lisa接着说，
L: I think the smart thing is to use this down time to retool³ and reconfigure our operations. That way, if things do turn upwards⁴ we'll be in a stronger place than our competitors.
J: Exactly! So, I want you all to consider this idea... do the research and figure out if this is truly in our best interests. Let's meet again on Thursday to make a final decision.
Lisa说，她认为明智之举是用现在市场不是特别活跃的时期调整公司的经营运作。这样的话，一旦市场开始上扬，We'll be in a stronger place than our competitors. 跟竞争对手相比，我们就会居于更加有利的地位。Jerry 表示赞成，让大家回去都好好想想，星期四再开会最后决定。

1 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

2 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

3 retool   

v.改组，重新装备

参考例句：

• Each time the product changes,the machines have to be retooled.每次更换产品，就得重新装备机器。
• In the computer industry,engineers have to retool frequently.在电脑业中，工程师必须经常以新知识充实装备自己。

4 upwards   

adv.向上，在更高处...以上

参考例句：

• The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
• The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。