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怎样最终把事情做好(上)
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海军上将威廉·麦克雷文曾在得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校对2014届毕业生说："如果你想改变世界，就从铺床开始吧。"
双语精读
How to get things done--eventually
怎样最终把事情做好
"If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed," Admiral William McRaven told the graduating class of 2014 at the University of Texas, Austin.
海军上将威廉·麦克雷文曾在得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校对2014届毕业生说："如果你想改变世界，就从铺床开始吧。"
What the US Navy counts as "making your bed"--square corners, centred pillow, blanket neatly folded at the foot of the rack--is idiosyncratic.
美国海军所说的"铺床"----四角方正、枕头居中、毯子整齐地叠在床架底部----显得有些与众不同。
Yet the admiral's broader point is universal: whether you are a sailor, a salesperson or a CEO, "if you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day." His commencement speech went viral.
但这位海军上将更广泛的观点是具有普适性的：无论你是水手、销售人员还是首席执行官，"如果你每天早上整理床铺，你就完成了一天的第一项任务。"他的毕业典礼演讲风靡一时。
Everyone must battle the temptation to temporise every now and again; millions of beds go unmade each morning even on a looser definition than the navy's.
每个人肯定都会时不时地与拖延的诱惑做斗争；即使按照比海军更宽松的标准来看，每天早上也有数百万张床没有整理好。
That is also true of people who, like your columnist, a guest Bartleby, more often suffer from the inverse affliction--having trouble putting things off even if they probably ought to be.
像本期撰文的巴托比专栏作家这类人也是如此，他们遭受的折磨通常与普通人相反----即使有些事情很可能就应该晚点再做，他们也很难拖延。
Still, as someone with a perennial itch for completion, she has some tips for self-professed dawdlers who wish to make their lives more naval. Start off by not calling yourself a procrastinator. Indeed, if you do, you are probably already the opposite.
尽管如此，作为一个常年渴望完成任务的人，本文作者有一些建议，想献给那些自称懒散又希望自己活得像海军一样更有条理的人。首先，不要称自己为拖延症患者。事实上，如果你这样自诩，你很可能已经与拖延症患者截然相反了。
In "Out of Sheer Rage" (1998), Geoff Dyer elevates dilly-dallying to an art form. The book chronicles how the author was wasting his time instead of writing a study on D.H. Lawrence.
在1998年出版的《一怒之下》中，杰夫·戴尔将拖拖拉拉拔高成一种艺术形式。这本书记录了作者是如何没有写成一篇关于D.H.劳伦斯的研究，而是浪费了时间的故事。
"All over the world people are taking notes as a way of postponing, putting off and standing in for," Mr Dyer writes, including supposedly about himself. If only he could make a start, he laments.
戴尔写道："全世界的人都把记笔记作为拖延、推迟和替代正经任务的一种方式。"据推测他也是其中之一。他哀叹道，要是他能写出开头就好了。
Given that he managed not just to start but also complete, publish and market a brilliant book--even if the subject matter was less lofty than intended--the lamentations were in fact cogs of productivity.
而他不仅写出了开头，还写完、出版并卖出了一本杰出的书----尽管主题没有预期的那么崇高----由此可见，这些哀叹实际上是生产力的齿轮。
The easiest way to get things finished is to get going in the first place. The reason busy people never stop moving is because their constant movement generates further momentum.
要想把事情做完，最简单的方法就是从一开始就开干。忙碌的人之所以从不停止行动，是因为他们持续不断的行动会产生更大的动力。
This is, obviously, easier said than done--especially if you find a task unpleasant. The more objectionable something seems, the more time you spend thinking about just how awful it is.
显然，这说起来容易做起来难----当你发现一项任务令人不快的时候尤其如此。一件事情看起来越令人反感，你就会花越多时间来思考它有多让人厌烦。
That in turn makes you even less likely to broach it--and so on. Being aware of this vicious circle does not guarantee you will break out of it. But it is, well, a start.
这反过来又会让你更不可能开始处理这件事----就这样形成一个循环。意识到这一恶性循环并不能保证你能够打破它。但这至少是一个开始。
词汇预习
obviously [高考]
美[ˈɑːbviəsli] | 英[ˈɒbviəsli]
adv.明显地
definition [高考]
美[ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn] | 英[ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn]
n. 定义；阐释；清晰度
productivity [高考]
美[ˌprɑːdʌkˈtɪvəti] | 英[ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti]
n. 生产率；生产力
temptation [高考]
美[tempˈteɪʃn] | 英[tempˈteɪʃn]
n. 诱惑；引诱物
completion [高考]
美[kəmˈpliʃən] | 英[kəmˈpli:ʃn]
n. 完成；结束
columnist [高考]
美[ˈkɑləmnɪst] | 英[ˈkɒləmnɪst]
n. 专栏作家
eventually [高考]
美[ɪˈventʃuəli] | 英[ɪˈventʃuəli]
adv. 最后；终于
aware [高考]
美[əˈwer] | 英[əˈweə(r)]
adj. 知道的；意识到的
battle [高考]
美[ˈbætl] | 英[ˈbætl]
n. 战斗；争斗 v. 与 ... 作战；与 ... 竞争
guarantee [高考]
美[ˌɡærənˈtiː] | 英[ˌɡærənˈtiː]
n. 保证；保证书；担保；担保人；抵押品 vt. 保证；担保
constant [高考]
美[ˈkɑːnstənt] | 英[ˈkɒnstənt]
adj. 不变的；经常的 n. 常数；恒量
brilliant [高考]
美[ˈbrɪliənt] | 英[ˈbrɪliənt]
adj. 卓越的；灿烂的；美妙的；杰出的；才华横溢的 n. 宝石
ought [高考]
美[ˈɔːt] | 英[ˈɔːt]
aux. 应该；应当；本该 vi. 应该，应当；大概
blanket [高考]
美[ˈblæŋkɪt] | 英[ˈblæŋkɪt]
n. 毯子，毛毯；厚层，覆盖层；气氛，氛围；障碍，障碍物 v. 覆盖，盖住，笼罩；消除（声音），使（声音）模糊不清 adj. 总括的，全面的，通用的
self [高考]
美[self] | 英[self]
n. 自己；本性；自我 pron. 我自己；你自己；他或她自己 adj.同一的；纯净的；单一的 v. 近亲繁殖；自花授粉
pillow [高考]
美[ˈpɪloʊ] | 英[ˈpɪləʊ]
n. 枕头 vt. 枕；搁；垫
navy [高考]
美[ˈneɪvi] | 英[ˈneɪvi]
n. 海军；船队；海军蓝 adj. 深蓝色的；海军蓝的
break out [高考]
美[breɪk aʊt] | 英[breɪk aʊt]
（战争、火灾等）爆发； 逃脱
in turn [高考]
美[ɪn tɜːrn] | 英[ɪn tɜːn]
依次；轮流；反之；反过来
in the first place [高考]
美[ɪn ðə fɜːrst pleɪs] | 英[ɪn ðə fɜːst pleɪs]
起初； 首先
start off [高考]
美[stɑrt ɔf] | 英[stɑ:t ɔf]
出发； 动身； 开始
thinking [高考]
美[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ] | 英[ˈθɪŋkɪŋ]
n. 思考；思想 adj. 好思考的；有理性的
further [高考]
美[ˈfɜːrðər] | 英[ˈfɜːðə(r)]
adv. 更远地，再往前地；进一步；此外，而且 adj. 更多的，进一步的；（距离上）更远的，较远的 v. 促进，推进
ought to [高考]
美[ˈɔːt tə] | 英[ˈɔːt tə]
应该；应当
naval [四级]
美[ˈneɪvl] | 英[ˈneɪvl]
adj. 海军的；军舰的
rack [四级]
美[ræk] | 英[ræk]
n. 行李架；（放衣物、碗碟等的）架子；拷问台；折磨；（比赛开始前固定球位置的）三角框 vt. 使痛苦；把...放在架子上；累计取得
supposedly [四级]
美[səˈpoʊzɪdli] | 英[səˈpəʊzɪdli]
adv. 推测地；大概
neatly [四级]
美[ˈnitlɪ] | 英[ni:tlɪ]
adv. 整洁地；熟练地
salesperson [四级]
美[ˈseɪlzpɜrsn] | 英[ˈseɪlzpɜ:sn]
n. 售货员，销售员
vicious [四级]
美[ˈvɪʃəs] | 英[ˈvɪʃəs]
adj. 恶毒的；恶意的；剧烈的；堕落的
aware of [四级]
美 | 英
知道的, 察觉到的, 意识到的
commencement [四级]
美[kəˈmɛnsmənt] | 英[kəˈmensmənt]
n. 开始；毕业典礼
momentum [六级]
美[moʊˈmentəm] | 英[məˈmentəm]
n. 势头；动力；（物理）动量
lofty [六级]
美[ˈlɔːfti] | 英[ˈlɒfti]
adj. 高的；崇高的；高尚的；傲慢的
out of [六级]
美[aʊt ʌv] | 英[aut ɔv]
prep. 离…一段距离；从…里；离开 ...；出于
accomplished [专四]
美[əˈkɑːmplɪʃt] | 英[əˈkʌmplɪʃt]
adj. 完成的；有成就的；娴熟的；有造诣的；有教养的
inverse [专四]
美[ˌɪnˈvɜːrs] | 英[ˌɪnˈvɜːs]
adj. 倒转的；相反的 n. 倒数；相反的事物；(数学)逆反函数；负数
viral [专八]
美[ˈvaɪrəl] | 英[ˈvaɪrəl]
adj. 病毒的 n. 病毒式传播；【经】病毒式营销
standing [专八]
美[ˈstændɪŋ] | 英[ˈstændɪŋ]
n. 持续；地位 adj. 永久的；不动的；直立的；不流动的
itch [专八]
美[ɪtʃ] | 英[ɪtʃ]
n. 痒；渴望；疥癣 v. （使）痒；渴望
objectionable [考研]
美[əbˈdʒɛkʃənəbəl] | 英[əbˈdʒekʃənəbl]
adj. 该反对的；讨厌的；有异议的
重点讲解
How to get things done--eventually
怎样最终把事情做好
start off
1. 首先进行；（以某种方式）开始
（英文释义：to begin by doing or being sth）
【例】We started off by introducing ourselves.
我们一开始先自我介绍。
2. 一开始是（后来有变化）
（英文释义：to be a particular thing or have a particular quality at the beginning of something, especially when this changes later）
【例】The games start off as a social event, but players soon become competitive.
游戏一开始是个社交活动，但玩家们很快就开始互相竞争。
【拓展】start sb off 帮助某人开始（某事）
【例】His father started him off farming.
他父亲指点他做农活儿。
"If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed," Admiral William McRaven told the graduating class of 2014 at the University of Texas, Austin.
海军上将威廉·麦克雷文曾在得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校对2014届毕业生说："如果你想改变世界，就从铺床开始吧。"
start off
1. 首先进行；（以某种方式）开始
（英文释义：to begin by doing or being sth）
【例】We started off by introducing ourselves.
我们一开始先自我介绍。
2. 一开始是（后来有变化）
（英文释义：to be a particular thing or have a particular quality at the beginning of something, especially when this changes later）
【例】The games start off as a social event, but players soon become competitive.
游戏一开始是个社交活动，但玩家们很快就开始互相竞争。
【拓展】start sb off 帮助某人开始（某事）
【例】His father started him off farming.
他父亲指点他做农活儿。
What the US Navy counts as "making your bed"--square corners, centred pillow, blanket neatly folded at the foot of the rack--is idiosyncratic.
美国海军所说的"铺床"----四角方正、枕头居中、毯子整齐地叠在床架底部----显得有些与众不同。
go viral 像病毒一样快速传播的；迅速流行
（英文释义：used to describe something that quickly becomes very popular or well known by being published on the internet or sent from person to person by email, phone, etc.）
【例】Within days the film clip went viral.
短短几天内，这个电影片段就迅速传播开来。
Yet the admiral's broader point is universal: whether you are a sailor, a salesperson or a CEO, "if you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day." His commencement speech went viral.
但这位海军上将更广泛的观点是具有普适性的：无论你是水手、销售人员还是首席执行官，"如果你每天早上整理床铺，你就完成了一天的第一项任务。"他的毕业典礼演讲风靡一时。
go viral 像病毒一样快速传播的；迅速流行
（英文释义：used to describe something that quickly becomes very popular or well known by being published on the internet or sent from person to person by email, phone, etc.）
【例】Within days the film clip went viral.
短短几天内，这个电影片段就迅速传播开来。
Everyone**** must**** battle**** the temptation**** to**** temporise every now and again;**** millions**** of**** beds**** go**** unmade**** each**** morning even**** on**** a looser**** definition**** than**** the navy****'s.****
每个人肯定都会时不时地与拖延的诱惑做斗争；即使按照比海军更宽松的标准来看，每天早上也有数百万张床没有整理好。
That**** is**** also**** true**** of**** people**** who,**** like**** your**** columnist,**** a guest Bartleby****,**** more**** often suffer**** from**** the inverse affliction****--having trouble putting things**** off even**** if**** they**** probably**** ought to**** be****.****
像本期撰文的巴托比专栏作家这类人也是如此，他们遭受的折磨通常与普通人相反----即使有些事情很可能就应该晚点再做，他们也很难拖延。
Still, as someone with a perennial itch for completion, she has some tips for self-professed dawdlers who wish to make their lives more naval. Start off by not calling yourself a procrastinator. Indeed, if you do, you are probably already the opposite.
尽管如此，作为一个常年渴望完成任务的人，本文作者有一些建议，想献给那些自称懒散又希望自己活得像海军一样更有条理的人。首先，不要称自己为拖延症患者。事实上，如果你这样自诩，你很可能已经与拖延症患者截然相反了。
dawdler 拖延的人；懒汉；游手好闲的人
【例】The bus is coming. We can’t wait any longer for the dawdlers.
公交要来了。我们不能继续等那些磨磨蹭蹭的人了。
【拓展】dawdle v. 拖延；磨蹭
In "Out of Sheer Rage" (1998), Geoff Dyer elevates dilly-dallying to an art form. The book chronicles how the author was wasting his time instead of writing a study on D.H. Lawrence.
在1998年出版的《一怒之下》中，杰夫·戴尔将拖拖拉拉拔高成一种艺术形式。这本书记录了作者是如何没有写成一篇关于D.H.劳伦斯的研究，而是浪费了时间的故事。
dilly-dally v. 磨蹭；犹豫
【例】Stop dilly-dallying and get dressed!
别磨磨蹭蹭了，快把衣服穿好！
【拓展】Shilly-shally 犹豫不决，扭扭捏捏
【例】Don’t shilly-shally around a decision. Just choose one.
不要老是在犹豫了，就选一个吧!
"All over the world people are taking notes as a way of postponing, putting off and standing in for," Mr Dyer writes, including supposedly about himself. If only he could make a start, he laments.
戴尔写道："全世界的人都把记笔记作为拖延、推迟和替代正经任务的一种方式。"据推测他也是其中之一。他哀叹道，要是他能写出开头就好了。
stand in for 代替；顶替
（英文释义：to do something that someone else is supposed to do or usually does, because they are unable to do it）
【例】My assistant will stand in for while I'm away.
我不在期间，由我的助手顶替。
make a start 开始做；开始（某件事）
【例】She's moving abroad to make a fresh start.
她要移居国外，开始新的生活。
【拓展】make a start on sth 动手做某事
【例】I'll paint the ceiling if you make a start on the walls.
你要是动手刷墙，我就刷天花板吧。
Given that he managed not just to start but also complete, publish and market a brilliant book--even if the subject matter was less lofty than intended--the lamentations were in fact cogs of productivity.
而他不仅写出了开头，还写完、出版并卖出了一本杰出的书----尽管主题没有预期的那么崇高----由此可见，这些哀叹实际上是生产力的齿轮。
stand in for 代替；顶替
（英文释义：to do something that someone else is supposed to do or usually does, because they are unable to do it）
【例】My assistant will stand in for while I'm away.
我不在期间，由我的助手顶替。
make a start 开始做；开始（某件事）
【例】She's moving abroad to make a fresh start.
她要移居国外，开始新的生活。
【拓展】make a start on sth 动手做某事
【例】I'll paint the ceiling if you make a start on the walls.
你要是动手刷墙，我就刷天花板吧。
The easiest way to get things finished is to get going in the first place. The reason busy people never stop moving is because their constant movement generates further momentum.
要想把事情做完，最简单的方法就是从一开始就开干。忙碌的人之所以从不停止行动，是因为他们持续不断的行动会产生更大的动力。
momentum n.
1. 冲力；势头
【例】The vehicle gained momentum as the road dipped.
那辆车顺着下坡越跑冲力越大。
2. 动力；势头
【例】The conference will develop a momentum that will overcome the obstacles.
会议将产生克服障碍的动力。
This is, obviously, easier said than done--especially if you find a task unpleasant. The more objectionable something seems, the more time you spend thinking about just how awful it is.
显然，这说起来容易做起来难----当你发现一项任务令人不快的时候尤其如此。一件事情看起来越令人反感，你就会花越多时间来思考它有多让人厌烦。
easier said than done 说时容易做时难
（英文释义：to be much more difficult to do than to talk about）
【例】 But that is easier said than done when one considers the kind of situation we are coming from.
考虑到我们所处的这种情境，这做起来就比说起来难了。
That in turn makes you even less likely to broach it--and so on. Being aware of this vicious circle does not guarantee you will break out of it. But it is, well, a start.
这反过来又会让你更不可能开始处理这件事----就这样形成一个循环。意识到这一恶性循环并不能保证你能够打破它。但这至少是一个开始。
broach v.
1. 打开（酒桶或瓶子等）
【例】Shall we broach another cask of wine?
我们要再开一桶酒吗？
2. 开始谈论；开始提及（某个困难的问题）
【例】I hate to broach the question of dismissal.
我不想开始讨论解雇的问题。
break out of sth
1. 逃离某地
【例】Several prisoners broke out of the jail.
几名囚犯越狱了
2. 摆脱某种情况
（英文释义：to escape from a situation）
【例】She needed to break out of her daily routine and do something exciting.
她需要从日常事务中解脱出来，找点有意思的事做。
课后练习
Admiral William McRaven’s speech tells people that ____.
A. experience is accumulated from small things
B. living an organized life helps build character
C. self-discipline is demonstrated in daily routine
D. great success is made by finishing the tasks
The example of Geoff Dyer is used to illustrate that ____.
A. putting things off can be beneficial
B. making a start is the first step to getting things finished
C. postponing tasks is a form of self-deception
D. procrastination is caused by perfectionism
Busy people never stop moving because ____.
A. they are pressed by a tight schedule
B. they have the ambition to succeed
C. they are driven by constant movement
D. they don’t regard themselves as procrastinators
One of the reasons of procrastination is ____.
A. the aversion to the task itself
B. bad time management
C. the lack of motivation
D. the habit of overthinking