VOA慢速英语2015 小企业主创业成功的秘诀

Young Business Owner Creates Recipe for Success 小企业主创业成功的秘诀

Like many people, Bree Britt once dreamed of starting her own business. But unlike many people, the 16-year-old American did not wait until she grew up to become an entrepreneur¹. With a sense of purpose, a plan of action and the help of her mother, she opened Bree’s Sweet Treats in Accokeek, Maryland.

For Bree Britt, nothing is more enjoyable, satisfying and calming than preparing food in the kitchen.

"I can be in the worst of moods and once I get started baking, just something turns on where I'm just in my whole other world and I'm just calm."

Being a baker² is like being an artist -- the food has to be cooked just right. She says baking enables her to be innovative³ and creative.

"I like to compare myself to an artist or painter for his canvas⁴. I'm a baker, so of course my cupcakes, cookies and all my sweet desserts are my canvas."

Bree Britt started cooking with her great-grandmother when she was five-years old.

"I can remember numerous of times when I went to my grandmother's house and one of our favorite activities was baking together. She would show me how to do it to the point where when I turned six, I was doing most of it on my own with the exception of putting it in the oven and taking it out."

A short time later, Bree perfected her great-grandmother's step-by-step directions. She then started to create her own recipes. When she was 12, Bree told her mother she wanted to open a bakery.

"She told me to really think about the sacrifices and the things I would have to go through, that I wasn't going to be just a normal teenager or a normal kid anymore. So she told me to really think about it."

Charmaine Britt is Bree’s mother. She told Bree to sell her baked goods online first to see if her daughter was serious.

"I thought it was going to fly by night, something that she was going to get tired of eventually once she saw how much work it would be. So my deal was we would start on-line you can bake and I'll deliver on weekends."

The baked goods made enough money through Internet sales that Charmaine Britt became her daughter's business partner. They signed a rental⁵ agreement for office space and opened Bree’s Sweet Treats. Charmaine is responsible for the store during the day until Bree gets out of school.

Leo Harrington owns a nearby barbershop. He comes to the store almost every day. He likes the choice of baked goods.

"The flavor, she has all great assortments⁷."

Leo Harrington also says he respects what Bree has done.

"I watch her diligence; school, then here, baking all the evening and getting ready for the next day."

Going to school is not easy when operating a business. However, Bree says doing both taught her how to make good decisions about how she spends her time.

"It has also taught me about hard work and responsibility. It has also taught me to be more aware of people, and when they come into the store, (to be) more friendly as I can say, It's taught me a lot."

Whether it is vanilla⁸ or chocolate, key lime⁹ or another fruit flavors, there is a secret behind Bree's recipes.

"Her cupcakes are made, are flavored with fresh fruits or more of the extracts¹⁰, more so than the sugar."

Sugar or no sugar, Bree's treats are sweet enough to keep them coming back for more.

Words in This Story

entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business

kitchen – n. a place where food is prepared and sometimes cooked

baker – n. someone who cooks food over dry heat in an oven;

bake – v. to cook food in dry heat

mood – n. the way someone feels

sacrifice – n. giving up something in order to get or do something else

assortment⁶ – n. a group or collection of different things

1 entrepreneur   

n.企业家，主办人

参考例句：

• The entrepreneur has become a news figure.这位企业家变成了新闻人物。
• The entrepreneur takes business risks in the hope of making a profit.企业家为追求利润而冒险。

2 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

3 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

4 canvas   

n.粗帆布，一块油画布

参考例句：

• The times that people used canvas boat have become history.人们用帆船的时代已成为历史。
• Smith painted an oil painting on the canvas.史密斯在画布上画了一幅油画。

5 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

6 assortment   

n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集

参考例句：

• This shop has a good assortment of goods to choose from.该店各色货物俱全，任君选择。
• She was wearing an odd assortment of clothes.她穿着奇装异服。

7 assortments   

分类，各类物品或同类各种物品的聚集，混合物( assortment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are wide assortments of gifts to choose from. 那儿有各式各样的礼品可供选择。
• A turban for in returning gross would putting two different assortments makes the adornment. 包包里还总会放着两条不同花色的头巾作装饰。

8 vanilla   

n.香子兰，香草

参考例句：

• He used to love milk flavoured with vanilla.他过去常爱喝带香草味的牛奶。
• I added a dollop of vanilla ice-cream to the pie.我在馅饼里加了一块香草冰激凌。

9 lime   

n.石灰，酸橙，酸橙树，粘鸟胶，钙；vt.施石灰，涂上粘性物质，沾上粘鸟胶

参考例句：

• Lime exists in many soils.许多土壤中都含有石灰。
• A broad avenue of lime trees led up to a grand entrance with huge oak doors.一条栽有酸橙树的宽阔林阴道通向巨大的橡木门的雄伟入口。

10 extracts   

摘录( extract的名词复数 )； 引用； 提炼物； 浓缩物

参考例句：

• shower gel containing plant extracts that have a stimulating effect on the skin 含有对皮肤有益的植物精华的沐浴凝胶
• These are all extracts from Chaucer. 这些都是乔叟诗抄中的精萃。