公司老板Jerry召集手下Lisa和Ken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 essentially 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 retool and reconfigure our operations. That way, if things do turn upwards 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。 |