The paradox of starting your own business lies in the simultaneous challenge and reward, making it an experience unlike any other. So many businesses fail, and most entrepreneurs exclude themselves from the possibility. The tragic reality is that when businesses fail, the passion often dies with it. By following some sound advice and being prepared for the process, you will decrease your chances of losing a lot more than you bargained for. I have recently started a business and have learned some crucial lessons in the process that I feel privileged to share with you.
1.Identify your motivation. Why do you want to start your own business?To have more time ? To make more money ? To be your own boss ? To have creative control over what you love to do ? Write out all of your motivating factors and prioritize them. When you see them listed, you might see a pattern in that youre just unhappy at your current job and starting your own business isnt the answer.
2. Identify your passion. What do you love to do ? What skills and knowledge do you uniquely bring to the table ? What gets you excited about your work ? Keep that passion at the forefront of your business plan, your marketing strategies, and your daily routine. If you keep your passion in plain sight, you will stay focused on the purpose of your business and not solely on the logistics.
3. Identify your market. If you are starting your business locally, research your competitors. Determine if there is room in the market for your business. What will you do differently to draw in customers ? What niche market are the other businesses missing ? If you are starting an Internet company, research the requirements for your own unique Web presence. Your business cannot survive without customers, so do enough research on the front end to determine of there are enough potential clients to keep your business alive.
4. Identify your finances. If you have even purchased a new home, you know that the financial obligations extend beyond the down payment and the mortgage. You have to buy furniture, trash ans, a garage door opener, light fixtures and landscaping equipment, and before you know it, youve far exceeded your financial boundaries. That can happen just as easily in a business. Do exhaustive financial planning. Meet with a financial advisor or someone at your bank to examine the financial viability of your business and the process of getting it up and running. Plan wisely and do not assume the best about your business. Be prepared for financial loss and get advice on how to alleviate that burden in the future.
5. Identify your support system. Seek out advice from seasoned business owners, even those in your own field.Develop relationships with people who can offer sound advice and criticism that you might not see. If there is a business owner in your community or in your network that you aspire to model, examine his or hers business practices and how they handle various situations. Ask for counsel before big decisions, and even create your own makeshift Board of Directors to help guide you in the planning and start-up process.
Once you have all of these elements in place, you are prepared to start the process of developing a business plan, applying for a license, establishing a marketing presence, etc. Owning your own business can be unparalleled in the professional world, and if you surround yourself with wise counsel, you can have a career that daily feeds your passion.
1. The tragic reality is that the passion often dies along with the failure of the business.
2.If you want to start your own business, you should take advertising into consideration.
3. That you are unhappy with your current job might be the reason for you to start a business.
4. When making business plans, you should not give too much consideration to your passion.
5.To keep your business alive, you should cooperate with your competitors.
6.In starting a business, youd better follow the model in your own field.
7.Starting your own business brings in challenge and reward.
8.Your business cannot survive if you dont have enough potential clients.
9.Taking your passion into consideration, you will stay focused on the logistics.
10.You should establish relationships with people who can offer sound advice and criticism.
第二篇（Unit 7 p238）
At a dinner party in New York, one of the guests, a woman who had inherited money, was eager to make a pleasing impression on everyone. So had squandered a modest fortune on sables, diamonds and pearls. But she hadnt done anything whatsoever about her face. It radiated sourness and selfishness. She didnt realize what everyone knows: namely, the expression one wears on ones face is far more important than the clothes one wears on ones back.
Actions speak louder than words, and a smile says, I like you. You make me happy. I am glad to see you. That is why dogs make such a hit. They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. So, naturally, we are glad to see them.
A babys smile has the same effect.
Have you ever been in a doctors waiting room and looked around at all the glum faces waiting impatiently to be seen ? Dr. Stephen K. Sproul, a veterinarian in Raytown, Missouri, told of a typical Spring day when his waiting room was full of clients waiting to have their pets inoculated. No one was talking to anyone else, and all were probably thinking of a dozen other things they would rather be doing thanwasting time sitting in that office. He told one of our classes:
There were six or seven clients waiting when a young woman came in with a nine-month-old baby and a kitten. As luck would have it, she sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little distraught about the long wait for service. The next things he knew, the baby just looked up at him with that great big smile that is so characteristic of babies. What did that gentleman do ? Just what you and I would do, of course; he smiled back at the baby. Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grandchildren, and soon the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were converted into a pleasant and enjoyable experience.
The ancient Chinese were a wise lit----wise in the ways of the world; and they had a proverb that you and I ought to cut out and paste inside our hats. It goes like this, A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.
Your smile is messenger of your goodwill. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. Especially when that someone is under pressure form his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realize that all is not hopeless----that there is joy in the world.
1.The woman with inherited money made a pleasing impression on people at the party.
2.Dogs are so popular because they always show us that they are glad to see us.
3.People in the waiting room worried about their pets and never talked to each other.
4.The young woman went to see the doctor because her baby was ill.
5. The gentleman in the waiting room had grandchildren.
6.The ancient Chinese were good at making good impression on others.
7.Dr. Stephen k, Sprouls waiting room was full of people waiting to have themself inoculated.
8.The gentleman in the waiting room was annoyed by the long wait for service.
9.The babys smile made everyone in the room be quiet.
10.Your smile brightens the lives of people who see it and conveys your goodwill.
阅读选择冲刺练习题
Friendship and Loyalty
When the terrorist attack on September 11th caused people to flee the building, Avremel Zelmanowitz risked his own chance of escape by staying behind with his friend and colleague, Ed Beyea, who was confined to a wheelchair due to a paralysis known as quadriplegia(四肢截瘫). Both men lost their lives, but the story of Avremels love and devotion to his friend conveys a life-giving message to all.
Avremel never married, and he shared a house with his brother and his family. He was a loving uncle to his brothers children, and he was devoted to caring for his aging parents. He was a “family man in every sense of the word. At the same time, he had his own life, his Torah classes, his varied interests, and a job and friends to which he was characteristically devoted.
When the tragedy occurred, Avremel was age 55, and his friend, Ed Beyea, was age 42.Ed became disabled after a diving accident at age 22, but he managed to work 14 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield since his injury. Both he and Avremel were program analysts who worked on the 27th floor of the World Trade Center.
Avremel had joined the office two years after Ed was hired, and the two became very close friends. They both loved books and music - often trading books and tapes, and they both served as the special uncle of their respective families. Like Avremel, Ed had no children of his own, but he was a father figure to his two nephews after their father died. Both friends had a great sense of humor, although Ed was strong and outgoing, while Avremel was the more quiet of the pair.
On the morning of September 11th, Ed wanted to wait until he could be securely carried down by several rescue workers, as it was dangerous for someone with his disability to be moved. Avremel wouldnt allow his friend to wait alone when everyone else was fleeing the building, and he stayed with him.
In the days that followed, the media learned about Avremels selfless act, and the story began to spread. President Bush, in his national prayer address to the American people, referred to Avremels act as one of the many “eloquent(有说服力的)acts of sacrifice that were demonstrated by Americans during this crisis.
11. What happened to Avremel and Ed during the September 11th terrorist attacks?
A. Avremel rescued Ed at the cost of his own life.
B.Both Avremel and Ed gave up their chance of escape.
C. Both Avremel and Ed were finally rescued.
D. Avremel stayed with Ed and both lost their lives.
12. Avremel and Ed were similar in that_______.
A. both of them were in their 50s B. both of them loved books and music
C. both of them were disabled D. both lived with their brothers’ families
13. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
A. Avremel took care of Ed’s life after work. B. Avremel liked diving when he was young.
C. Ed became disabled after a driving accident. D. Ed was not able to get down stairs himself.
14.Why did Avremel choose to stay when others were fleeing?
A. Because he expected the rescuers to help him. B. Because he tried to carry Ed downstairs.
C. Because he didnt want to leave Ed behind. D. Because he found it safer to stay inside.
15. The word “address” in the last paragraph means_______.
A. speech B. solution C.information D.title
Student Loans
Federal Student Aid is an office of the US Department of Education that provides student loans for education beyond high school. The US government clearly understands the importance of post-secondary education in positively impacting the nation. It therefore ensures that each eligible student in the United States is able to receive financial assistance for higher education.
Although parents can opt for private funding through sources like banks and other financial institutions, the rates of interest can be prohibitively high in most cases. On the other hand, the interest rates of federally funded student loans are much less in comparison. It is therefore imperative that parents take all steps necessary to apply for student loans available through the federal government.
Federal Student Aid is actively involved in educating students and their families on the exact procedure to obtain student loans. Once the applications are received, it processes them by the millions before the start of each academic year. It also pays out billions of dollars through schools to fund the education of students who have applied for financial aid.
The first step in applying for financial aid is to fill and submit the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The name of the student should be entered exactly the way it is written on the students social security card. The format used is “first name, “middle initial” and “last name. Since the analysis bureau will be linking up the FAFSA with the social security number, the names should match precisely for the application to be approved. A mismatch in the names could result in the application being sent back for correction. This would cause a delay and end up pushing the applicant to the back of the line. Since most financial aid is provided on a first-come-first-served basis, it is important to be at the head of the line. Even a minor error on the FAFSA can result in a loss of thousands of dollars in financial aid.
Therefore, it is important that families have all the proper income and tax records ready before applying for financial aid. This will help avoid submitting inconsistent, incomplete or mistaken information while filling out the FAFSA forms.
The CSS PROFILE is the FAFSA equivalent that is most often required for aid through private universities. It could be a little more complicated than filling out the FAFSA form.Going through the entire process with the help of a certified college planner would be a good idea.
No matter what their credit rating, parents should still submit their applications for financial aid.Learning about the different options available to them is the first step in the process.Doing it right will enhance their chances of getting student loans for their childrens higher education.
11.Federal Student Aid provides student loans for________.
A. high school education B. secondary education
C. higher education D. pre -secondary education
12. Federally funded loans are preferred to private funding for________.
A. their easy accessibility B. their high reliability
C. their lower interest rates D. their wide availability
13. Federal Student Aid educates students on________.
A. how to apply to ideal universities B. how to obtain student loans
C. how to process the applications D. how to meet their financial needs
14. The first step in applying for financial aid is to ________.
A. fill out and submit application forms B. apply for a social security number
C. enter the applicant name in the right format D. submit all the proper income and tax records
15. To succeed in applying for student loans, you are advised to ________.
A. enhance academic performance B. resort to a certified college planner
C. avoid submitting a CSS PROFILE D. turn in income and tax records afterwards
Why Lack of Sleep Could Be Making You Fatter
Sleepless nights dont just ruin your mood the next day - they could also damage your waistline. According to new research in the August issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, sleep deprivation can cause people to pack on extra pounds.
Researchers at the New York Obesity Nutrition Research Centre at St.Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital found that sleep-deprived people seem to burn the same number of calories as the well- rested, but they consume about 300 more calories a day. Given that it takes just 3,500 calories to add a pound to your body, those calories can quickly turn into extra weight.
But there are several other reasons that sleep loss could lead to weight gain, says sleep disorder specialist Michael Breus. When we get too little shut-eye, our metabolism(新陈代谢) slows down to conserve energy. That slowdown triggers the release of the hormone cortisol (荷尔蒙皮质醇),which increases appetite. Your body thinks it needs more energy, so it asks for more food.
In a vicious cycle, sleep loss also causes our bodies to release more ghrelin, another hormone that signals hunger, and less leptin, the hormone that tells your stomach that its full. With your hormones no longer working in the normal way, your body wants more food and lacks the sensitivity to know when to stop eating. Not to mention that being awake more hours gives you more time to snack.
“The later youre up at night, the greater the likelihood that youre going to eat,”Breus says, and “youre more likely to eat high-fat, high - carb foods.”
One other contributing factor to such weight gain is that the body burns the most calories during REM sleep, a deeply restful phase. Less sleep means less time in REM.
For optimal health, experts say you should try to get 7.5 hours of sleep a night. If you have trouble sleeping, stick to a nightly routine, exercise during the day, banish worries to a journal, and keep pre - bedtime activities relaxing.
11. This passage is mainly about________.
A. the influence of sleep loss on weight B. the effect of sleep deprivation on mood
C. the release of the hormone cortisol D. the implications of a new research finding
12. Sleep-deprived people consume more calories, which will________.
A. make them energetic B. turn into extra pounds
C. damage their mood D. cause them to feel sleepy
13.According to Michael Breus, sleep loss can________.
A. decrease peoples appetite B. slow down energy conservation
C.trigger the need for more food D. lead to a vicious cycle
14. The word optimal”in paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to________.
A.best B. positive C.optional D.appropriate
15. To attack sleep troubles, you can________.
A. exercise regularly at night B.do more pre- bedtime activities
C. keep a journal at night D. follow a set routine every night
答案及解析：
1.答案：错
解析：题目“那个继承了遗产的女人给聚会上的人留下了愉快的印象。”，根据第一段可知表述错误。
2.答案：对
解析：题目“狗很受欢迎，因为它们总是向我们展示它们很高兴见到我们。”定位至第二段“They are so glad to see us that they almost jump out of their skins. So, naturally, we are glad to see them.”，可知表述正确。
3.答案：错
解析：题目“候诊室里的人们担心他们的宠物，彼此之间从不说话。”定位至“No one was talking to anyone else, and all were probably thinking of a dozen other things they would rather be doing than"wasting time" sitting in that office.”可知表述错误。
4.答案：没有提到
解析：题目“那位年轻妇女去看医生，因为她的孩子病了。”，文中只提到了她带着孩子来了这个兽医这里，并未提到为什么过来，孩子有没有病也未可知，故选NG。
5.答案：对
解析：题目“候诊室里的那位先生有孙子孙女。”，定位至“Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grandchildren”，可知表述正确。
6.答案：对
解析：题目“古代中国人善于给别人留下好印象。”根据文中提到的中国谚语“不笑莫开门”可以知道表述正确。
7.答案：错
解析：题目“斯蒂芬医生候诊室里挤满了等着给自己接种疫苗的人。”，定位至“was full of clients waiting to have their pets inoculated.”是给宠物接种疫苗而不是自己。
8. 答案：对
解析：题目“候车室里的那位先生因等待服务时间太长而恼火。”定位至“ she sat down next to a gentleman who was more than a little distraught about the long wait for service.”可知表述正确。
9.答案：错
解析：题目“婴儿的微笑使房间里的每个人都安静了下来。”定位至“ Soon he struck up a conversation with the woman about her baby and his grandchildren, and soon the entire reception room joined in, and the boredom and tension were converted into a pleasant and enjoyable experience.”可知表述错误。
10.答案：对
解析：题目“你的微笑照亮了看到你的人的生活，并传达了你的善意。”定位至“Your smile is messenger of your goodwill. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. ”可知表述正确。
阅读选择解析：
第一篇：
11.D 定位“Both men lost their lives”，可知两个人都失去了生命，故选D。
12.B 定位“They both loved books and music”可知B正确。
13.D A文中并未提到，B和C定位“Ed became disabled after a diving accident at age 22”，只说了是因为潜水事故致残，并没有说喜欢与否，也不是因为driving accident致残，D定位“Ed wanted to wait until he could be securely carried down by several rescue workers, as it was dangerous for someone with his disability to be moved.”可知需要人抬着才能下楼，故D正确。
14.C 定位“Avremel wouldn't allow his friend to wait alone when everyone else was fleeing the building”同义于C项。
15.A 根据句子理解就可以知道是一场演讲，故选A。
阅读选择第二篇
11.C 定位“Federal Student Aid is an office of the US Department of Education that provides student loans for education beyond high school”，beyond high school是高中毕业后，故选C，根据常识大家也应该选出来。
12.C 定位第二段，知道私人贷款利率相对联邦政府资助高很多，故选C。
13.B A.如何申请理想的大学；B.如何获得学生贷款；C.如何处理申请；D.如何满足他们的经济需求，定位“Federal Student Aid is actively involved in educating students and their families on the exact procedure to obtain student loans.”，可知选B。
14.A 问“申请经济援助的第一步是什么？”，定位“The first step in applying for financial aid is to fill and submit the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. ”可知选A，先填写表格。
15.B “为了成功申请学生贷款，我们建议你 ”定位至“Going through the entire process with the help of a certified college planner would be a good idea.”可知选B。
阅读选择第三篇
11.A 问文章主要关于什么？A.睡眠不足对体重的影响；B.睡眠剥夺对情绪的影响；C.荷尔蒙皮质醇的释放；D.一项新研究发现的含义，根据题目“Why Lack of Sleep Could Be Making You Fatter”就可以知道选A。
12.B 题目是“睡眠不足的人会消耗更多的卡路里，这将 ”，根据文章第二段内容可知选B。
13.C 根据文章第3段，“Your body thinks it needs more energy, so it asks for more food.”可知睡眠缺乏会导致对食物的需求增加，故选C。
14.A best最好的，最佳的；positive积极的，乐观的；optional 可选择的，选修的；optional 合适的，相称的，应为最佳睡眠时间，故选A。
15.D 为了解决睡眠问题，你可以这样做 ，A应该是白天锻炼而不是晚上，B是“keep pre - bedtime activities relaxing”而不是更多的睡前活动 ,C在文中说的是“把烦恼写在日记里”，这样晚上就不会因为烦恼而失眠，C项却说的是晚上写日记，不对，D项和文中“stick to a nightly routine”是同义转换，故选D。
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