What Chewing Gum Can do to Your Career?

口香糖能為你的職業生涯做些什么？

陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作。他到辦公室去找美國同事Amy 。

(Office ambience)

CH: Hi Amy. 幾天不見，來看看你。

A: That's nice of you. I'm fine.

CH: 你有幾分鐘的時間嗎？

A: Certainly. Have a seat, please.

CH: 你要不要口香糖？

A: Thank you, Chen Hao, but I don't believe so.

CH: 這是一種新口味。我今天早上去買咖啡的時候順便買的。

A: I personally don't like chewing gum.

CH: 真的嗎？為什么呢？

A: Chewing gum is a personal preference. Where and when you chew it is NOT. I see too many people chewing gum at inappropriate times and places.

CH: 嚼口香糖還有規定的時間和地點嗎？我不太明白你的意思。

A: I'll be happy to explain what I mean later. Right now I have to prepare for a meeting.

CH: 那我們下班后一起走？

A: OK. I'll meet you at the exit at 5:30.

兩人下班后一起去地鐵站。

CH: Amy, 你上午說嚼口香糖還有規矩？

A: Yes. If you like to chew gum, that is your business, but chewing gum does not belong in the workplace.

CH: 為什么不？

A: It is totally unprofessional anywhere in the business environment.

CH: 我在電腦前面工作的時候最喜歡嚼口香糖。這樣可以讓我放松。

A: I understand, but what if the boss walks up at that moment and starts a conversation with you?

CH: 那我就裝作嘴里沒有口香糖。

A: Why would you hide it if you think its okay?

CH: 我想老板看見我嚼口香糖，心里一定不高興。

A: See. You already know that chewing gum is not a good idea in certain professional situations.

CH: 可我還是不明白為什么我獨自工作的時候就不能嚼口香糖。

A: You never know who will walk up to your desk or call you on the phone. If you are caught smacking, it could affect your current job or the career move you had planned for.

CH: 影響前程？你說得太嚴重了吧？

A: I don't think so. Chewing gum is a leisure activity at best. At its worst, it can make you look sloppy and incompetent.

CH: 我知道你說的有道理，可我還是覺得獨自工作的時候可以嚼口香糖。

A: Well good luck. If it gets to be a habit, consider this. One day you will have gum in your mouth when you walk into a meeting. I've seen it happen.

CH: 有過先例？那結果呢？

A: The poor fellow who forgot about his gum got stuck. Every time someone asked him a question, he tried to hide his gum in his cheek. Finally he decided to swallow it.

CH: 我也聽說過這件事，后來成了全公司的笑料。我以后一定注意，在辦公室里絕不再嚼口香糖。