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[11]But Starbucks held an inexplicable attraction for me. During the year after my first visit, I found reasons to get back to Seattle several times. Then in the spring of 1982, Jerry and Gordon invited me to meet board『董事會』member Steve Donovan.
[11]但是，對我來說，明星咖啡連鎖公司有不可言喻的吸引力。其后我在一年之內又找借口去了西雅圖幾趟，到1982年春天，巴登和博格邀我去會晤公司董事史蒂夫·坦南瓦爾德。
[12]The meeting went exceptionally well. I told them how I had served Starbucks coffee to my friends in New York, how enthusiastic『極感興趣的』they had been. Starbucks could be so much bigger, I argued. It could grow beyond the Northwest. It could become a national company.
[12]會晤時氣氛極好。我告訴他們，我曾經用明星咖啡連鎖公司的咖啡招待紐約的朋友，嘗過的人都贊不絕口。我又指出，這公司其實可以大展宏圖，沖出西北部發展成為全國大企業。
[13]The partners seemed inspired『振奮；感動』by my vision『構想；見解』. Back in New York the next day, I eagerly awaited Jerry's call. But they had decided not to hire me. "Your plans sound great," Jerry said. "But that's just not the vision we have for Starbucks." Instead of charming『吸引』them, I had spooked『使受驚嚇；使膽怯』them.
[13]三位股東似乎欣賞我的見解。第二天我回到紐約，急切等候巴登的電話。但是他們決定不雇用我。巴登說："你的計劃好極了，只可惜不符合我們經營明星咖啡連鎖公司的方針。"
A Trip to Italy
意大利之行
[14]I still believed so much in the future of Starbucks that I couldn't accept "no" as a final answer. I had to join this company.
[14]我對明星咖啡連鎖公司的前途仍深具信心，不甘就此罷休。
[15]The next day I called Jerry back. "Jerry," I protested, "this isn't about me. It's about your company." I spoke and he heard me out, then fell silent. "Let me sleep on it," he said. "I'll call you tomorrow."
[15]第二天我又打電話過去。"巴登，"我說，"這不是為我自己著想，而是為你們公司…?quot;他耐心傾聽，然后沉默了一陣。"讓我再想一晚，"他說，"明天給你回音。"
[16]Perhaps he slept; I certainly didn't.
[16]也許他睡了一覺，可是我卻整夜未眠。
[17]The next morning I picked up the phone on the first ring. "You have the job, Howard," he said. "When can you come?"
[17]次日早晨，電話鈴一響我就拿起聽筒。"我們決定雇用你，"巴登說，"什么時候來上班？"
[18]So many times I've been told something can't be done. But if I believe in it, I can't let it go. Part of my determination comes from my enthusiasm, and part is fear of failure. The example of my dad was always in my mind. An honest man who worked hard and loved his children, he was never able to take control of his life and climb out of the hole of blue-collar jobs-truck driver, factory worker, cabdriver-that left him a beaten man.
[18]許多人一遇到障礙就打退堂鼓。但是我不會這樣；我一旦有了目標，就必然鍥而不舍，全力以赴。我能如此堅毅，一方面是憑著滿腔熱誠，另一方面是畏懼失敗。我常常想起父親坎坷的一生。他為人誠懇、工作勤奮、愛護兒女，卻一直不能掌控自己的人生方向，不能擺脫藍領工人的地位--卡車司機、工廠工人或出租汽車司機--以致抱撼終身。
[19]After I had been at Stabucks for a year, I had an experience that changed my life. I went to Milan to attend an international housewares show. On my first morning I noticed a little espresso『濃咖啡』bar. Behind the counter a tall, thin man was cheerfully greeting customers.
[19]進明星咖啡連鎖公司一年之后，由于另一件事，我的人生又有了大轉變。我去意大利米蘭參觀國際家庭用品展覽，第一天早晨便注意到會場里有個小小的蒸餾咖啡吧。柜臺后面有個高高瘦瘦的男人在笑吟吟地招呼顧客。
[20]"Espresso?" He asked, holding out a cup. After three sips it was gone, but I could still feel its warmth and energy.
[20]"蒸餾咖啡?" 他問，然后遞給我一杯。我啜吸三口就喝光了，不過咖啡的香濃溫暖我卻至今難忘。
