2008/12/24

貪心不足蛇吞象
Have eyes bigger than the stomach

(職人英語通)文／Dr.J.J.

有些人野心太大，沒有考量自己的能耐，看到好吃的或是美好的事物就想要，但卻從未想過這些舉動反而會招來難以想像的嚴重後果。

小時候，大家都聽說過一個故事：有隻貪心的蛇，看到了大象就想要飽餐一頓，沒想到最後反而把自己撐死了。英文裡有一句相當淺顯易懂的用法，意思是說有些人眼睛看到好吃的，卻沒想到自己的胃裝不下，換個說法，也就是說這人的眼睛長得比他的胃還要大（have eyes bigger than the stomach.），比喻這人並沒有想到要「量力而為」！

Shawn：Hey, I have some fantastic news! I just heard one of the clients is outsourcing their entire annual advertising campaigns.

Shawn：嘿，我有個很棒的好消息！我剛聽說有個客戶要把他們全年度的廣告活動都發包出去。

Christina：And what does that have to do with us?

Christina：那跟我們有什麼關係？

Shawn：We should approach and convince them to give us a try.

Shawn：我們應該要跟他們接洽並說服他們讓我們承包啊。

Christina：But Mr. CEO, do you remember how many people there are in our company? You, as the CEO and sales executive, me as the graphic designer and finance manager, there are only 2 of us.

Christina：可是總裁先生，記得我們公司有多少員工嗎？您身為總裁兼銷售，加上我美工兼財務經理，不過2個人而已。

Shawn：But it’ ll be great money!

Shawn：那可是一大筆預算耶！

Christina：Dear Mr. CEO, you have eyes bigger than your stomach. We can’ t handle that at all. We don’ t have the resources at the moment, and I really think we should build our reputation as an independent boutique agency first. Once we’ re more ready, we can recruit more staff. There are always opportunities if we prove our capability.

Christina：親愛的總裁先生，你會貪心不足蛇吞象啦，我們吃不下來的。現在我們根本沒有人力，而且我們應該要先把我們獨立精品工作室的風評建立起來。等我們準備好了，就可以多招募些人手。而只要證明我們有能力，永遠都有機會的。

Shawn：Okay, I got your point. But before I forget, you’ ll be the regional director for the Greater China once our company becomes bigger!

Shawn：好啦，我懂你的意思了。但在我忘掉這件事以前，我要告訴你，等我們公司規模再大一些時候，你呢，就是我們大中華區的總監囉！.

Christina：Ha ha, that for sure!

Christina：哈哈，那當然囉！

摘自自由電子報

◎資料來源：http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/dec/20/today-work1.htm