There are many special terms in the world of business. The following story is about a womanwho has a business making signs. She tells us about a recent sweetheart deal. She made a dealwith a friend, and they both made a profit.
Here is Faith Lapidus with that story.
I had started a small company several years ago. I worked hard to make it successful. It was asign-making business. It was a small company, not a blue chip company. It was not knownnationally for the quality of its signs. It did not make millions of dollars in profits. And it wasprivate. It was not a public company with shares traded on the stock market.
Still, I worked hard building up my business. I did not work only a few hours each day -- nobanker's hours for me. Instead I spent many hours each day, seven days a week, trying togrow the company. I never cut corners or tried to save on expenses. I made many cold calls. Icalled on possible buyers from a list of people I had never seen. Such calls were often hardsells. I had to be very firm.
Sometimes I sold my signs at a loss. I did not make money on my product. When thishappened, there were cut backs. I had to use fewer supplies and reduce the number ofworkers. But after several years, the company broke even. Profits were equal to expenses. Andsoon after, I began to gain ground. My signs were selling very quickly. They were selling likehotcakes.
I was happy. The company was moving forward and making real progress. It was in the black, not in the red. The company was making money, not losing it.
My friend knew about my business. He is a leader in the sign-making industry – a real big gun, if you know what I mean. He offered to buy my company. My friend wanted to take it public. Hewanted to sell shares in the company to the general public.
My friend believed it was best to strike while the iron is hot. He wanted to take action at thebest time possible and not wait. He offered me a ball park estimate of the amount he would payto buy my company. But I knew his uneducated guess was low. My company was worth muchmore. He asked his bean-counter to crunch the numbers. That is, he asked his accountant totake a close look at the finances of my company and decide how much it was worth. Then myfriend increased his offer.
My friend's official offer was finally given to me in black and white. It was written on paper andmore than I ever dreamed. I was finally able to get a break. I made a huge profit on mycompany, and my friend also got a bang for the buck. He got a successful business for themoney he spent.
And that is the end of our business story. But even if you're not in business, some of theseexpressions can be used in other situations.
For example, you can cut corners or get a break anywhere. Let's say you are planning a partyand don't have enough money. You might have to cut corners on the food you serve. Or youcould get a break by winning $100 on free food at your local grocery store!
The expression black and white can also mean a very clear choice that leaves no confusion. Sometimes we use it in the negative. Politics, for example, is not as black and white as somepeople may think. There are often shades of gray when dealing with complicated politicalissues and how they affect government policy.
And that's all for this Words and Their Stories.
After listening to this story, you should strike while the iron is hot! While the expressions arestill fresh in your mind, practice using them in a business conversation.
词语掌故：1.make a profit 盈利
His purpose was to make a profit by improving the company's performance.
他的目标是通过提高公司的业绩来实现盈利。
2.cut corners 走捷径
You have no reason to hurry, no reason to cut corners or to try to do too many things at once.
你没有理由匆忙，没有理由走捷径，也没有理由一次做太多的事情。
3.cold calls 电话推销；冷不防的电话；冷不防电话
You should refuse to meet anyone who cold calls with an offer of financial advice.
你应该拒绝和那些贸然打电话提供理财建议的陌生人见面。
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