节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-02-10
难易度:High
关键字:discomfort, screech, extremely, obligated, bring to a halt


























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Most people think that when you see a friend getting a lot of money or driving
fancy cars, you should be happy for them.
However, that is rarely the case.
Usually people start to develop a feeling of jealousy.
But you shouldn't do that.
Instead of feeling jealous of your friends, start to learn how they have become
financially successful.
Use that knowledge to help improve your own financial situation.
OK. Let's take a look at how you can avoid some more problems with Money,
Friends and Family on page 24, line 14.
Friends, Family and Money.
You may feel put out by requests for discounts, but friends and family may
resent feeling obligated to support your business.
One way to deal with these problems is to establish a clear policy for dealing
with friends and family before problems begin.
Set terms and discount rates you are comfortable with.
Then when Cousin Fred comes looking for a deal, you will be ready.
You can explain, for example, that while you offer a discount to friends and
family, you must give priority to regular clients.
If Fred's project is urgent, he can pay full price or look elsewhere.
OK. So the situation we're looking at has to do with you owning a business and
your friends and family wanting discounts,
which means they want money taken off of the bill.
You may feel put out by requests for discounts, but friends and family may
resent feeling obligated to support your business.
So there's two sides to the argument.
"You may resent it." That means you may feel bad about it.
It may make you angry that they ask for a discount.
Right. And that is basically the same meaning as the phrase "put out." And of
course, you don't want to feel "obligated" to give them a... a discount.
And that means that you feel like you are made to do it; you have to do it.
You are forced to do it if you are obligated.
Well, that's our Grammar on the Go sentence.
So let's check in with Liz.
Friends, how are you doing?
My name is Liz, and it's time for Grammar on the Go.
Today I'm in our Studio Classroom Bookstore in Banciao.
Now the question is: What should we do when our world of relationships crashes
into our world of business?
Maybe our friends and relatives are asking for discounts, and you feel
uncomfortable about this.
But you may not be the only one feeling uncomfortable.
Our friends and relatives may feel uncomfortable too just because they feel
obligated to support your business.
We read in today's article:
You may feel put out by requests for discounts, but friends and family may
resent feeling obligated to support your business.
That's our Grammar Tip sentence.
Notice the phrase, put out.
We normally use "put out" to mean stop, like to put out a fire.
But in the case of today's sentence, "put out" means to be upset or irritated.
In other words, you may feel upset by all these requests for discounts from your
friends and family members.
A person would feel put out when they're facing something inconvenient.
For example, let's say Sara was told that she had to open her house for the
dinner party for her office co-workers.
This would be a huge inconvenience for her, so we can say:
Sara felt put out by the idea of having the dinner party at her house.
Or let's say you want to ask your friend to help you do something, but you also
want to make sure that you're not creating problems for your friend.
So you can tell him: If it's too much trouble for you to help me, please tell
me.
I don't want you to feel put out by this.
If you'd like to see some more example sentences, they're available in today's
Grammar Tip section in your magazine.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go, signing off. Bye-bye.
OK, so you don't want to feel like you have to give your friends and family
discounts.
One way to deal with these problems is to establish a clear policy for dealing
with friends and family before the problems begin.
Now this is a brilliant idea.
If you have something set up ahead of time, then you don't have to deal with
each person individually.
You can treat everyone equally.
And I think, Ryan, that's what makes people happy.
Right. You should have a policy, have a plan so that you can make everyone
happy.
So set terms and discount rates you are comfortable with.
And that will help you too because you can treat everyone the same.
And because you set up the policy, you set up the discount rates and the terms,
meaning the rules around the discounts,
then you can be comfortable with them and make them what you and your business
works best.
Right, because even though your family might want money taken off of the bill,
you yourself would still need to earn money too.
So it goes both ways.
You want to make sure you are both comfortable.
Then when Cousin Fred comes looking for a deal, you will be ready.
This is just using an example of a friend, of a cousin who might come in and you
could give him the discount.
But there's a little bit more to the set rate.
Right. You can explain, for example, that while you offer a discount to friends
and family, you must give priority to regular clients.
What does that mean?
That means even though we want to help and I can give you a discount because
you're family, people that are paying full price get to go first.
Priority means they are first.
Well, if Fred's project is urgent, he can pay full price and get priority or
just look elsewhere.
Right. So now he can make a decision based off of your policy.
Well, right now let's go take a look at the skit.
My business is doing extremely well.
Look! I'm making money.
And money makes the world go round. Ha-ha!
Well, hello, hello.
Oh, no.
Here comes Cousin Fred.
Hey... it's your favorite Cousin Fred.
He's always asking for huge discounts and special services.
Now listen, I'm here to support your business.
Oh, that's nice, Cousin Fred, but...
Now here's a list of things that I want to buy.
That is a long list.
Yes, I need a lot of things.
And I expect to save a lot.
So you're looking for a deal?
Well, yeah, I expect a huge discount.
After all, we're family.
OK, Cousin Fred, I'll give you a discount of ten percent.
Ten percent?
That's not a very big discount.
Well, I have a policy with dealing with friends and family.
A policy?
That's right.
I set terms and discount rates that I'm comfortable with.
The family discount is ten percent.
Only ten percent?
Yes, but don't feel obligated to buy from me.
You can shop somewhere else.
I can't do that.
I'm your Cousin Fred.
So here's what I'll do.
I'll pay 40 percent.
That's fair.
Now hurry.
Just deliver the groceries and everything to my house in 30 minutes, all right?
No, wait! My regular customers are...
Don't be late! It's urgent.
Priority.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
Thank you very much, Michelle, for your helpful tips.
So, hey, Steve, I just wanted to let you know that I started my business without
your help.
I found another friend who was willing to lend me the money.
Well, that's great, Ryan.
I hope everything goes well for you.
Oh, it already has.
Course Creations has taken off.
It's an overnight success.
Well, that didn't take very long, did it?
It sounds more like an "over-hour" success.
Actually, Ryan, I'm really happy for you.
Oh, thanks, Steve.
Yeah. Oh, you know what, I might be interested in using your business actually.
But since we're friends, do you think I could use your service for free?
Free? Oh... Actually, Steve, I don't think that would be a good idea.
But I can offer you a discount.
A discount? Is that it?
But I thought we were friends.
We are friends.
But why can't I use your service for free, Ryan?
I don't feel like I want to be obligated to support your business.
Oh. Sorry, Steve. But I have to charge you and I have to give priority to
regular clients.
What? I don't get priority either?
OK. Why don't you join us, friends, tomorrow while Ryan and I finish discussing
this over coffee.
Bye-bye, everybody. Bye-bye.Oh, good. You can buy me coffee.