星期五晚上,Jason和Wanda勸同事Larry不要老加班,應該勞逸結合。Larry卻說,手頭總有做不完的工作。
L: But I feel like I'm wasting time if I go home and watch TV...even if I'm reading a good book I still feel like I should be working!
J: You know Larry; you might be addicted to work.
L: Really? A person can get addicted to work?
J: Well, maybe it's not the same as being addicted to drugs, but many people believe you can get addicted to stress.
W: Yeah. If you find that you can't enjoy being at home and relaxing, it might be a problem.
Larry說,如果回家去看電視、讀書,就會覺得自己是在浪費時間。Jason和Wanda都覺得,他簡直是個工作狂addicted to work。原來,除了毒品會讓人上癮,addicted to drugs, 工作和疲勞同樣會讓人上癮,addicted to work and addicted to stress. Larry繼續(xù)說:
L: I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist. It irritates me when things aren't perfect.
J: Maybe you are too hard on yourself. If you were your own boss, would you demand such long hours?
L: No way...I think it would be illegal anyway.
J: Well then maybe you need to treat yourself better. You have to believe that you deserve to relax!
W: You not only deserve it, you need it. You know, I find that sometimes I have my best ideas in the strangest places.
The last time I had a really great idea, I was scuba diving on vacation!
Larry說自己的問題可能是過于追求完美。 Perfection意思是完美,后面加上-ist, perfectionist就是追求、崇尚完美的人。Jason說Larry對自己過于嚴格too hard on yourself,應該對自己好一些,treat yourself better.
L: But I want the boss to notice my devotion! The economy is not great these days and I don't want to get laid off!
W: Yeah, that's true. Some bosses do think the guy who puts in overtime is the most loyal. But smart bosses know that quantity is not as important as quality.
J: Besides, this is your job, not your life. You're too young to die of a heart attack!
L: Thanks guys! Your advice makes sense. I'm going to go home and have a nice long bath! See you on Monday!
Larry說,自己加班也是為了讓老板注意到自己的敬業(yè)精神,my devotion. Devotion is spelled d-e-v-o-t-i-o-n, devotion. Wanda卻說,聰明的老板都知道,工作數(shù)量的重要性遠遠趕不上質量。Quantity is not as important as quality. 再說了,按Jason的話說,This is your job, not your life. 這畢竟是你的工作,不是你生活的全部。Larry最后終于想通了,決定回家去,好好洗個熱水澡。