公室的人際關系太煩人,家里瑣事多沒法專心工作,于是有的人就會尋找和開辟自己的third workplace(第三工作場所),它可以是提供無線網絡的咖啡廳,也可以是與他人合租的寫字樓開間,在那里沒人認識你,你可以充分享受安靜的空間。Adam看準了這個商機,做起了為他人提供第三工作場所的生意。
Third Workplace
Adam: Hey Brit, can I ask you a personal question? Well, it’s actually work related, so it’s not too personal.
Britney: Sure. What’s on your mind?
Adam: I, uh, decided to quit my job.
Britney: Is everything alright?
Adam: Yes and no. I was wondering if the company 1)scaled back your hours the same way they did mine.
Britney: Yeah, they did. ①I was about to ask you if that was why you decided to cut and run.
Adam: Ah, just as I suspected, which leads me to this follow up question: do you plan on sticking it out here or searching elsewhere for new and better opportunities?
Britney: ②For the time being, I was basically just gonna keep my ear to the ground for any 2)rumblings. You know, bide my time till something better comes along.
Adam: So no other offers pending?
Britney: Not yet. Why? You got a new 3)gig for me?
Adam: ③Well, I’ve been working on this little side project in my free time, and our shifts being cut gave me the kick-inthe-butt I needed to devote myself to this new endeavor.
Britney: Alright, now I’m thoroughly 4)intrigued. Tell me more.
Adam: Check this out. I’ve been looking into renting space at a third workplace.
Britney: A third workplace? You mean having three jobs at one time?
Adam: No, no, no. ④A third workplace gives you a flexible work environment with all the advantages of a professional office in convenient community locations, which is perfect for people on-thego, with open workspaces, private offices, and conference rooms equipped with the latest technology. Plus, you can rent by the hour or on a monthly basis, at significantly discounted rates.
Britney: So, if you don’t have an office to go to, or have some hours to spare during the day, you can rent out space at one of these third workplaces.

Adam: Simple, huh?
Britney: And much easier than trying to get any work done at a coffee shop or lounge, cuz that’s next to impossible.
Adam: That’s right. And just wait till you see it: lightning-fast WiFi, modern furniture, video conferencing, printing, highspeed copier, faxing, and even free refreshments. You get all the benefits of a professional office space without the commitment: no credit checks, and no leases.
Britney: Are there any other young start-up companies there like yours?
Adam: It’s actually great for companies of all shapes and sizes, small ones like mine and giant ones too, so as our little 5)fledgling grows, the space can adapt to grow with us.
Britney: Sounds like an amazing opportunity. We need to hammer out a few more details, but you can count me in.
Adam: Awesome! Welcome to the team!
Britney: Thanks! So, when can I start?
亞當:嘿,布里特,我能問你個私人問題嗎?呃,實際上是跟工作有關,所以也不算太私人。
布里特妮:可以。你想問什么?
亞當:我,呃,決定辭職。
布里特妮:一切都還好嗎?
亞當:是也不是。我想知道公司是不是像對我一樣對待你,縮減了你的工作時間。
布里特妮:沒錯,是的。我正要問你那是不是你決定逃離的原因。
亞當:啊,正和我猜的一樣,讓我想起了接下來的問題:你打算繼續留在這里還是另覓別處新的更好的機會?
布里特妮:眼下我基本上只是想要留意周圍各種謠傳。你懂的,更有利的消息出來之前我都按兵不動。
亞當:那么沒有其他待定的工作機會嗎?
布里特妮:還沒有。怎么啦?你有新工作介紹給我嗎?
亞當:嗯,我在業余時間已經從事著這份小小的副業,而我們工作班次的縮減給了我很大的動力,我需要全身心投入到這份新的事業中。
布里特妮:很好,我現在完全被迷住了。告訴我更多信息吧。
亞當:看看這個。我一直在調查關于在第三工作場所租用場地的情況。
布里特妮:第三工作場所?你的意思是同時做三份工作嗎?
亞當:不不不。第三工作場所給你一個靈活的工作環境,它擁有便利社區里專業辦公室的所有優勢,是繁忙人士的最佳選擇;擁有開放式的辦公區,私人辦公室以及配備先進技術的會議室。另外,你可以按小時或按月租賃,后者還能得到大大的折扣優惠。
布里特妮:所以,一天當中如果你沒有辦公室可去,或有幾小時的空余時間,你可以在這些第三工作場所租用辦公空間。
亞當:很簡單,是嗎?
布里特妮:比起想要在咖啡廳或旅館的休息室里完成工作要容易得多,因為在那些地方完成工作幾乎是不可能的。
亞當:說得對。你就等著瞧吧:閃電般的網速、現代家具、視頻會議、打印機、高速復印機、傳真機,甚至還有免費點心。你無須作出任何承諾就可以享受專業辦公室給予的所有好處,無須信用核查,無須租賃合同。
布里特妮:那里有其他像你們那樣的剛起步的公司嗎?
亞當:事實上對于所有規模的公司都合適,包括小到像我的那些,還有規模巨大的那些。只要我們這些菜鳥公司在不斷成長,公司場地就會隨之擴大來適應我們。
布里特妮:聽起來是個很棒的機會。我們需要推敲出更多一些細節,但你可以把我計算在內了。
亞當:太好了!歡迎加入我們的團隊!
布里特妮:謝謝!那么,我什么時候可以開始?
Smart Sentences
① I was about to ask you if that was why you decided to cut and run.
我正要問你那是不是你決定逃離的原因。
cut and run: leave an unsettled and difficult situation(急忙離去,逃走)。例如:
While others cut and run, Jim and Ted stayed with the company through hard time and triumphed in the end.
其他人都逃走了,但吉姆與泰德留下來與公司共患難,并最終勝利了。
② For the time being, I was basically just gonna keep my ear to the ground for any rumblings.
眼下我基本上只是想要留意周圍各種謠傳。
for the time being: temporarily, used to indicate things will remain the same until sth. else happens(眼下,暫時)。例如:
The mood in the office is calm for the time being.
辦公室里的氣氛目前是平靜的。
keep sb.’s ear to the ground: devote attention to watching or listening for clues as to what is going to happen(注意人們想的和說的,留意周圍動靜)。例如:
The market is unusually quiet; we all need to keep our ears to the ground for any signs.
現在市場異乎尋常地平靜,我們要留意各種動靜,看會出現什么跡象。

③ Well, I’ve been working on this little side project in my free time.
嗯,我在業余時間已經從事著這份小小的副業。
side project: a subsidiary project(次要項目,次要工作)。例如:
I don’t have more time for any more side projects. This one is killing me already.
我沒有富余的時間做其他工作了,手頭上的工作已經累死我了。
④ A third workplace gives you a flexible work environment with all the advantages of a professional office in convenient community locations, which is perfect for people on-the-go, with open workspaces, private offices, and conference rooms equipped with the latest technology.
第三工作場所給你一個靈活的工作環境,它擁有便利社區里專業辦公室的所有優勢,是繁忙人士的最佳選擇;擁有開放式的辦公區,私人辦公室以及配備先進技術的會議室。
on-the-go: always busy and active(忙個不停,活躍)。例如:
My husband is now a man on-the-go after being promoted last year to sales manager.
我丈夫自從去年晉升為銷售經理后,就忙個不停。