【BBC六分钟英语】为什么年轻的企业家无处不在？

【英文脚本】

Alice
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Alice…

Rob
… And I’m Rob.

Alice
So Rob, did you have a part time job while you were at university?

Rob
Yes, I worked in the student bar.

Alice
Did you learn anything from the experience?

Rob
I learned how to pull a decent pint.

Alice
Did you learn anything else?

Rob
Yes, I learned how to add up.

Alice
Didn’t they teach you that at school?

Rob
I wasn’t good at doing sums in my head, you know, mental arithmetic. But I got pretty good at it as a barman. They didn’t have computerized cash registers in my day, you see.

Alice
I didn’t realize you were that old, Rob! Anyway, the subject of today’s show is young business entrepreneurs. So, can you answer this question: How young were the founders of Facebook and Microsoft when they first set up their companies? Were they… a) junior high-school students b) high-school students Or c) university students?

Rob
And Alice in case you think I don’t know, Facebook is an online social networking service and Microsoft is a computer software company. OK?

Alice
Well done!

Rob
Well I’m going to say they were b) high-school students.

Alice
We’ll find out if you chose the right answer later on in the programme. But let’s talk now about what drawbacks, or disadvantages, there are for young entrepreneurs. What do you think, Rob?

Rob
Hmm. Well, I suppose one of the drawbacks of being young and your own boss is that everyone who works for you is older than you!

Alice
Is that a drawback?

Rob
Well, let’s consider a real case. Young British entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie started his first company when he was 17, followed by another business shortly afterwards. Then whilst studying chemistry at university he started his third company, an online version of the pound shop, or dollar store in the US, where everything in the shop is priced at one pound. Let’s listen to Suleman Sacranie talking about his company.

Suleman Sacranie, founder of online wholesaler 99pwholesaler.com
I’m actually quite fortunate now, compared to what I was six months ago because now I’ve got two additional directors who have grey hair. It actually… commercial meetings are excellent now, you know. But before that I think I came across quite professional but you could still tell they were thinking in the back of their heads, ‘I’ve got a kid sitting in front of me.’

Rob
So young entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie has got two grey-haired directors working with him now.

Alice
That’s right, but how does having grey-haired executives on board help, Rob?

Rob
Well, ‘executives’ are people who run a business and on board means being part of a team. Well, to answer your question, Alice, they bring experience to the table. I have a few grey hairs you know, you could learn a lot from me.

Alice
I do, Rob. Everyday. And if you bring something to the table it means you provide something useful. Well, what do you bring to the table, Rob?

Rob
Well, bad jokes, peanuts, crisps, cups of coffee, that sort of thing…

Alice
I was going to say a keen mind, in other words, a well-developed mind, and… great business acumen!

Rob
Come on, you weren’t going to say that!

Alice
You’re right, I wasn’t. Acumen means good judgement. But don’t worry, you have an abundant enthusiasm that makes up for it. But moving on now, do you think that school prepared you well for working life?

Rob
No, not really. I studied Latin at school, and I don’t use that much. And maths, well, I never use trigonometry or calculus. So I’m not sure how useful maths lessons were…

Alice
Yes, and you only learned to add up in the university bar after all…

Rob
Yes, but I am very good at it! And the point is that I’ve got a fantastic job now. And if you’re really interested in something you can always acquire, or get, the skills you don’t have. Let’s listen to successful young entrepreneur Jessica Rose talking about her experience. She works with jewellery.

Jessica Rose, owner of a jewellery making business
I didn’t need all these previous skills and experience to go out there and start on my own. When I first started I had no business training whatsoever, no jewellery training whatsoever, but I kind of woke up one day and thought I’d really love to be a jewellery designer. Which is kind of a tricky position to be in, because it’s you know, a lot of people would say and did say, well, you know, you’re mad.

Alice
So Jessica Rose used her savings to learn jewellery making and then set up her own jewellery-making business.

Rob
And despite setting out with no business experience and no jewellery training, her enthusiasm for the article paid off.

Alice
And that means it was successful.

Rob
A bit like me…

Alice
Yes. OK, I think it’s time for the answer to today’s quiz question. I asked: How young were the founders of Facebook and Microsoft when first set up their companies? Were they… a) junior high-school students, b) high-school students or c) university students?

Rob
I said b) high-school students.

Alice
And you were wrong, I’m afraid, Rob. Sorry.

Rob
Again.

Alice
Yes. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates were both university students when they started their companies. Zuckerberg was studying at Harvard in the US when he launched Facebook in 2004. And Bill Gates took a break from Harvard to launch Microsoft in 1976, but never returned to his studies.

Rob
Both at Harvard, that’s a coincidence. I wonder if the bar there was any good… Now can we hear the words we learned today?

Alice
Yes. OK. They are: drawbacks executives on board bring something to the table keen (business) acumen acquire paid off

Rob
Thanks, Alice. Well, that’s the end of today’s 6 Minute English. We hope you’ve enjoyed the new vocabulary we brought to the table.

Alice
Very good.

Rob
Please join us again soon!

Both
Bye.

【中英文双语脚本】

Alice(爱丽丝)
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Alice…
您好，欢迎来到 6 Minute English。我是 Alice…

Rob(罗伯)
… And I’m Rob.
…我是罗伯。

Alice(爱丽丝)
So Rob, did you have a part time job while you were at university?
那么罗伯，你在大学期间有没有一份兼职工作？

Rob(罗伯)
Yes, I worked in the student bar.
是的，我在学生酒吧工作。

Alice(爱丽丝)
Did you learn anything from the experience?
你从这次经历中学到什么了吗？

Rob(罗伯)
I learned how to pull a decent pint.
我学会了如何拉出一品脱像样的品脱。

Alice(爱丽丝)
Did you learn anything else?
你还学到了什么吗？

Rob(罗伯)
Yes, I learned how to add up.
是的，我学会了如何加起来。

Alice(爱丽丝)
Didn’t they teach you that at school?
他们不是在学校教过你吗？

Rob(罗伯)
I wasn’t good at doing sums in my head, you know, mental arithmetic. But I got pretty good at it as a barman. They didn’t have computerized cash registers in my day, you see.
我不擅长在脑子里算数，你知道的，心算。但作为一名酒保，我做得相当擅长。你看，在我那个时代，他们没有电脑收银机。

Alice(爱丽丝)
I didn’t realize you were that old, Rob! Anyway, the subject of today’s show is young business entrepreneurs. So, can you answer this question: How young were the founders of Facebook and Microsoft when they first set up their companies? Were they… a) junior high-school students b) high-school students Or c) university students?
我没意识到你这么老了，罗伯！无论如何，今天节目的主题是年轻的商业企业家。那么，您能回答这个问题吗：Facebook 和 Microsoft 的创始人刚成立公司时有多年轻？他们是……a）初中生 b）高中生还是 c）大学生？

Rob(罗伯)
And Alice in case you think I don’t know, Facebook is an online social networking service and Microsoft is a computer software company. OK?
爱丽丝，如果你觉得我不知道，Facebook 是一家在线社交网络服务，而 Microsoft 是一家计算机软件公司。还行？

Alice(爱丽丝)
Well done!
干的好！

Rob(罗伯)
Well I’m going to say they were b) high-school students.
好吧，我要说他们是 b）高中生。

Alice(爱丽丝)
We’ll find out if you chose the right answer later on in the programme. But let’s talk now about what drawbacks, or disadvantages, there are for young entrepreneurs. What do you think, Rob?
我们将在稍后的计划中了解您是否选择了正确的答案。但是现在让我们谈谈年轻企业家有哪些缺点或缺点。你怎么看，罗伯？

Rob(罗伯)
Hmm. Well, I suppose one of the drawbacks of being young and your own boss is that everyone who works for you is older than you!
嗯。嗯，我想年轻和你自己的老板的缺点之一是，为你工作的每个人都比你年长！

Alice(爱丽丝)
Is that a drawback?
这是缺点吗？

Rob(罗伯)
Well, let’s consider a real case. Young British entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie started his first company when he was 17, followed by another business shortly afterwards. Then whilst studying chemistry at university he started his third company, an online version of the pound shop, or dollar store in the US, where everything in the shop is priced at one pound. Let’s listen to Suleman Sacranie talking about his company.
好吧，让我们考虑一个真实案例。年轻的英国企业家 Suleman Sacranie 在 17 岁时创办了他的第一家公司，不久之后又创办了另一家公司。然后在大学学习化学时，他创办了他的第三家公司，一家在线版的英镑商店，或美国的一元店，店里的所有东西都定价为 1 英镑。让我们听听 Suleman Sacranie 谈论他的公司。

Suleman Sacranie, founder of online wholesaler 99pwholesaler.com(SulemanSacranie，在线批发商99pwholesaler.com的创始人)
I’m actually quite fortunate now, compared to what I was six months ago because now I’ve got two additional directors who have grey hair. It actually… commercial meetings are excellent now, you know. But before that I think I came across quite professional but you could still tell they were thinking in the back of their heads, ‘I’ve got a kid sitting in front of me.’
与六个月前相比，我现在其实很幸运，因为现在我又多了两个白发导演。它实际上……你知道的，现在的商业会议非常好。但在此之前，我认为我给人的感觉相当专业，但你仍然可以看出他们在脑海中想，’我面前坐着一个孩子。

Rob(罗伯)
So young entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie has got two grey-haired directors working with him now.
因此，年轻的企业家 Suleman Sacranie 现在有两位白发苍苍的董事与他合作。

Alice(爱丽丝)
That’s right, but how does having grey-haired executives on board help, Rob?
没错，但罗伯，白发苍苍的高管们加入公司有什么帮助呢？

Rob(罗伯)
Well, ‘executives’ are people who run a business and on board means being part of a team. Well, to answer your question, Alice, they bring experience to the table. I have a few grey hairs you know, you could learn a lot from me.
嗯，“高管”是经营企业的人，加入公司意味着成为团队的一员。好吧，为了回答你的问题，Alice，他们带来了经验。我有一些白发，你知道的，你可以从我身上学到很多东西。

Alice(爱丽丝)
I do, Rob. Everyday. And if you bring something to the table it means you provide something useful. Well, what do you bring to the table, Rob?
我愿意，罗伯。每天。如果你带来了一些东西，那就意味着你提供了一些有用的东西。那么，罗伯，你带来了什么？

Rob(罗伯)
Well, bad jokes, peanuts, crisps, cups of coffee, that sort of thing…
嗯，坏笑话、花生、薯片、咖啡，诸如此类的事情……

Alice(爱丽丝)
I was going to say a keen mind, in other words, a well-developed mind, and… great business acumen!
我本来想说的是敏锐的头脑，换句话说，一个发达的头脑，还有……出色的商业头脑！

Rob(罗伯)
Come on, you weren’t going to say that!
拜托，你不会这么说的！

Alice(爱丽丝)
You’re right, I wasn’t. Acumen means good judgement. But don’t worry, you have an abundant enthusiasm that makes up for it. But moving on now, do you think that school prepared you well for working life?
你说得对，我不是。敏锐意味着良好的判断力。但别担心，你有充沛的热情来弥补它。但现在继续前进，您认为这所学校是否为您的工作生活做好了充分的准备？

Rob(罗伯)
No, not really. I studied Latin at school, and I don’t use that much. And maths, well, I never use trigonometry or calculus. So I’m not sure how useful maths lessons were…
不，不是真的。我在学校学了拉丁语，我不怎么用。数学，嗯，我从不使用三角学或微积分。所以我不确定数学课有多大用处……

Alice(爱丽丝)
Yes, and you only learned to add up in the university bar after all…
是的，毕竟你只是在大学酒吧里学会了加起来……

Rob(罗伯)
Yes, but I am very good at it! And the point is that I’ve got a fantastic job now. And if you’re really interested in something you can always acquire, or get, the skills you don’t have. Let’s listen to successful young entrepreneur Jessica Rose talking about her experience. She works with jewellery.
是的，但我非常擅长！关键是我现在找到了一份很棒的工作。如果你真的对某件事感兴趣，你总是可以获得或获得你没有的技能。让我们听听成功的年轻企业家 Jessica Rose 谈论她的经历。她从事珠宝工作。

Jessica Rose, owner of a jewellery making business(JessicaRose，珠宝制造公司的老板)
I didn’t need all these previous skills and experience to go out there and start on my own. When I first started I had no business training whatsoever, no jewellery training whatsoever, but I kind of woke up one day and thought I’d really love to be a jewellery designer. Which is kind of a tricky position to be in, because it’s you know, a lot of people would say and did say, well, you know, you’re mad.
我不需要所有这些以前的技能和经验，就可以走出去，自己开始。刚开始的时候，我没有接受过任何商业培训，也没有接受过任何珠宝培训，但有一天我醒来后觉得我真的很想成为一名珠宝设计师。这是一个有点棘手的处境，因为你知道，很多人会说，而且确实说，嗯，你知道，你疯了。

Alice(爱丽丝)
So Jessica Rose used her savings to learn jewellery making and then set up her own jewellery-making business.
因此，Jessica Rose 用她的积蓄学习了珠宝制作，然后创办了自己的珠宝制作公司。

Rob(罗伯)
And despite setting out with no business experience and no jewellery training, her enthusiasm for the article paid off.
尽管没有商业经验，也没有接受过珠宝培训，但她对这篇文章的热情得到了回报。

Alice(爱丽丝)
And that means it was successful.
这意味着它成功了。

Rob(罗伯)
A bit like me…
有点像我……

Alice(爱丽丝)
Yes. OK, I think it’s time for the answer to today’s quiz question. I asked: How young were the founders of Facebook and Microsoft when first set up their companies? Were they… a) junior high-school students, b) high-school students or c) university students?
是的。好的，我想现在是回答今天测验问题的时候了。我问道：Facebook 和 Microsoft 的创始人刚成立公司时有多年轻？他们是……a）初中生，b）高中生还是 c）大学生？

Rob(罗伯)
I said b) high-school students.
我说 b）高中生。

Alice(爱丽丝)
And you were wrong, I’m afraid, Rob. Sorry.
恐怕你错了，罗伯。不好意思。

Rob(罗伯)
Again.
再。

Alice(爱丽丝)
Yes. Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates were both university students when they started their companies. Zuckerberg was studying at Harvard in the US when he launched Facebook in 2004. And Bill Gates took a break from Harvard to launch Microsoft in 1976, but never returned to his studies.
是的。马克·扎克伯格（Mark Zuckerberg）和比尔·盖茨（Bill Gates）创办公司时都是大学生。扎克伯格在 2004 年推出 Facebook 时正在美国哈佛大学学习。比尔·盖茨（Bill Gates）从 1976 年从哈佛大学休学，创立了 Microsoft，但再也没有回到他的学业中。

Rob(罗伯)
Both at Harvard, that’s a coincidence. I wonder if the bar there was any good… Now can we hear the words we learned today?
两人都在哈佛，那是巧合。我想知道那里的酒吧有什么好用吗……现在我们能听到今天学到的话语吗？

Alice(爱丽丝)
Yes. OK. They are: drawbacks executives on board bring something to the table keen (business) acumen acquire paid off
是的。还行。它们是：缺点高管们带来了一些东西敏锐的（商业）敏锐度得到了回报

Rob(罗伯)
Thanks, Alice. Well, that’s the end of today’s 6 Minute English. We hope you’ve enjoyed the new vocabulary we brought to the table.
谢谢，Alice。好了，今天的六分钟 English 到此结束。我们希望您喜欢我们带来的新词汇。

Alice(爱丽丝)
Very good.
非常好。

Rob(罗伯)
Please join us again soon!
请尽快再次加入我们！

Both(双)
Bye.
再见。