2013年ESL之商务英语 25 Running a Family-Owned Business

 

Running a Family-Owned Business 

When I took over the family business three years ago, I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for. My uncle, who ran the business before me, established a clear chain of command, which I thought would eliminate infighting and bickering¹. I couldn’t have been more wrong. 

Despite clear lines of authority, family members tend to take sides and play the blame game whenever anything goes wrong. In the end, they always look to me to resolve conflict, and I have no choice but to enter the fray². 

Another big problem is the hangers-on. Those are the family members who aren’t suited for this line of work, but who need jobs. What do I do with them? 

What do you do when everything falls on your shoulders? Well, I’ve developed a thick skin, and when someone inevitably³ reminds me that blood is thicker than water, I remind them that business is business. 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 fray   

v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗

参考例句：

• Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢？
• Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。

3 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。