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RobertABelle_2021S-_消费习惯中的情绪因素_
I am an accountant with a numbers problem. 我是对数字有问题的会计师
I mean, I'm good with numbers and using them to report what's happening, but I'm also concerned with the full story behind those numbers, the part that gets lost in translation, the part that numbers can't quite tell, the story that goes deeper than mere strategies for saving and earning money. 虽然我对数字很在行,透过数字做判断 但我也在意隐含在数字中的故事 一些容易被忽略 需要进一步分析的故事 不只停留在表面 比储蓄、赚钱策略更深层的故事
accountant:n.会计;会计师; concerned with:关心;涉及;忙于;与…有关; mere:adj.仅仅的;只不过的;n.小湖;池塘; strategies:n.策略;行动计划;部署;战略;(strategy的复数)
And without that story, I don't think I'm doing my job well. 要能读出这些故事 我才认为自己有尽责
That's why I've dedicated my career to figuring out how my work as an accountant can tell stories about people, stories that will ultimately help them improve their lives. 因此我一直专注在 想办法透过会计师的职業 点出不同人的故事 藉此让人们改善他们的生活
Let me explain. 让我说给你听
It all started when someone told me, "You're obsessed with chocolate." 最初是有人跟我说「你很爱吃巧克力」
And I was like, "What? No, I'm not." 我心想「我哪有？」
But then I wondered, could I be in denial about my own obsession ? 我后来又想 「会不会只是我自己不承认？」[01:02]
dedicated:adj.献身的; v.把…奉献给; (dedicate的过去分词和过去式) career:n.职业;事业;生涯;经历; ultimately:adv.最终;最后;归根结底;终究; improve:v.改进;改善; obsessed:v.使痴迷;使迷恋;使着迷;(obsess的过去式和过去分词) denial:n.否认;否定;剥夺(应有的权利);拒不承认(令人不快、痛苦的事); obsession:n.痴迷;困扰;[内科][心理]强迫观念;
Was I actually spending a lot of money on chocolate but blind to it? 说不定我花很多钱买巧克力 却没有意识到？
Well, here was a chance for me to test this theory. 我有机会验证这个想法
Using my accountant lens , off I went tracking my spending on chocolate -- and there it was, my love for chocolate. 方法就是透过会计 我追踪了自己买巧克力的花费 结果显示 我超爱吃巧克力
I was spending about 50 dollars a month on chocolate, especially in months when I was overstressed and months when I was overjoyed . 一个月能花50美元左右来买 特别是压力大的月分 还有特别开心的月分
Analyzing my expenses helped me to understand that I had an emotional pattern where when I'm struggling or celebrating, 分析消费后我了解到 自己有个行为模式 不顺遂或太高兴的时候
lens:n.透镜,镜头;晶状体;隐形眼镜;汽车的灯玻璃;v.给…摄影; tracking:n.追踪,跟踪;v.跟踪;(track的现在分词) especially:adv.尤其;特别;格外;十分; overstressed:vt.过分强调;过分拉紧(或紧张);n.过分的强调;紧张过度; overjoyed:adj.狂喜的;极度高兴的;v.使…万分高兴;使…狂喜(overjoy的过去分词); Analyzing:adj.分析的;v.分析(analyze的现在分词); expenses:n.费用;价钱;开销;开支;花费;(expense的复数) emotional:adj.情绪的;易激动的;感动人的;
I binge on chocolate. 我都会狂嗑巧克力
I had struggled with my weight for a very long time and I was convinced that my diet was not the problem. 我一直都很想减肥 之前我都认为自己的饮食没问题
I was convinced that it was my lack of effort in exercise, and certainly not chocolate. 是运动不足才瘦不下来 而且肯定跟巧克力无关
binge:n.狂欢,狂闹;放纵;vt.放纵;vi.狂饮作乐;大吃大喝; struggled:v.奋斗;努力;争取;艰难地行进;抗争;(struggle的过去式和过去分词) convinced:adj.坚信; v.使确信; (convince的过去分词和过去式)
Tracking my spending on chocolate, though, helped me realize that I was afraid of facing myself in the mirror, literally and figuratively , and that I lack the courage to deal with the real problem, my diet. 追踪自己买巧克力的情况后 我了解到,我不敢面对镜子里的自己 实际上是、譬喻上也是 我没勇气面对真正的问题:饮食习惯
So I continued to exercise, but devoted less time to it and instead shifted my focus and energy towards developing a more healthful diet. 所以我持续运动 不过时间减少了一些 把精力转移到培养健康的饮食习惯
That year I lost 50 pounds. 一年下来我瘦了22公斤
Our relationship with money represents our relationship with life. 我们怎么花钱,反映出我们怎么过生活
literally:adv.按字面:字面上:确实地: figuratively:adv.比喻地;象征性地; devoted:adj.专心致志; v.献身; (devote的过去分词和过去式) shifted:转移;移动(shift的过去式和过去分词); healthful:adj.健康的;有益健康的;卫生的; represents:v.代表;维护…的利益;相当于;(represent的第三人称单数)
The accounting of my own chocolate behavior told me the story of my own denial. 分析自己的巧克力消费后 我体认到自己否认的心态
I realized that perhaps I could also help my clients see what they were overlooking in their own lives and help them realize their own emotional patterns through their tracking and spending of their expenses. 我想,搞不好我能幫助客户 幫他们找到没意识到的行为 理解自己的情绪模式 方法也是追踪消费习惯
So I started to pay close attention to the story behind my clients' expenses that may be hidden to them. 我开始注意客户帐本所说的故事 一些他们看不到的
One of my clients, a critical care nurse, was convinced that her personal budget was reasonable and expenses justifiable . 其中一位客户,她是重症病房护士 她认为自己的预算合理 开销也都正常
clients:n.委托人;当事人;客户机;(client的复数) overlooking:v.忽略;不予理会;俯视;眺望;(overlook的现在分词) critical:adj.鉴定的;[核]临界的;批评的,爱挑剔的;危险的;决定性的;评论的; personal:adj.个人的;身体的;亲自的;n.人事消息栏;人称代名词; budget:n.预算,预算费;v.安排,预定;把…编入预算;adj.廉价的; reasonable:adj.合理的,公道的;通情达理的; justifiable:adj.可辩解的,有道理的;可证明为正当的;
She had struggled to build up her savings and I noticed that she had minimal records of her expenses. 但她就是存不到钱 我注意到她不太记帐
I suggested to her that her lack of savings could be due to more than just a gap in her financial knowledge and offered to help identify the problem. 我告诉她,她存不到钱的原因 可能不只是金融知识的问题 我提议由我幫她找出问题
I encouraged her to start tracking and charting her expenses. 我鼓励她记帐
savings:n.节省物;节省;节约;储蓄金;存款;(saving的复数) minimal:adj.最低的;最小限度的; gap:n.差距;间隙;缺口;间隔;v.使豁裂;豁开; financial:adj.金融的;财政的,财务的; identify:v.识别:鉴定:确认:发现:
After a few months, her financial records revealed that most of her spending was on expensive clothing and shoes. 几个月后,我们看了记录 记录显示,她花大钱买昂贵的衣服鞋子
As we sat together, she was genuinely surprised to see just how much of her budget was going towards fashion. 当时,她非常惊讶 不敢相信自己花这么多治装费
She remarked , "Wow, these are impulsive purchases , aren't they? 她说「这是冲动性消费,对吧？」
I guess I didn't realize that." 「我之前都没注意到」
revealed:v.揭示;显示;露出;(reveal的过去分词和过去式) genuinely:adv.真诚地;诚实地; remarked:v.说起;谈论;评论;(remark的过去分词和过去式) impulsive:adj.冲动的;受感情驱使的;任性的; purchases:v.[贸易]购买; n.所购物;
She analyzed further and realized that she was buying clothes in an attempt to impress and appear successful to her friends. 进一步分析后 我们发现她买衣服的原因 是想让自己在朋友眼中看起来混得很好
And also when her confidence was low, buying clothes temporarily boosted it. 当她自信低落时,买衣服也能暂时缓解
She told me that buying clothing was her attempt to find meaning in life and feel valued. 她告诉我,她买衣服是想要 找到生命的意义 让自己有被重视的感觉
analyzed:v.分析(analyze的过去式和过去分词);检讨; in an attempt to:力图;试图;企图; impress:v.盖印;强征;传送;给予某人深刻印象; confidence:n.信心;信任;秘密;adj.(美)诈骗的;骗得信任的; temporarily:adv.临时地,临时; boosted:adj.升高的;升压的;加力的;v.提高,推进;宣传(boost的过去式);
She sighed, and she set a goal for herself and her finances. 叹口气之后 她给自己的人生和财务订了目标
Six months later, she called me to tell me she had saved a bunch of money by reducing her spending on shopping and instead choosing to exercise when she felt the urge to shop. 半年后她打给我,说她已经存了不少钱 方法是减少治装开支 只要有购物欲望就去运动
She's much happier around her friends. 她现在在朋友圈中更开心
Three years later, home ownership is on the horizon . 三年之后,她已经要买房了
Sometimes, though, charting expenses may not reveal something specific , as a chocolate addiction or shopping problem, but what it reveals can be just as valuable . 不过有时候 有些问题没办法从帐面一眼看出 不像巧克力成瘾、购物行为那样 但仍然有很多值得看的地方
a bunch of:一群;一束;一堆; horizon:n.地平线;(欲望、知识或兴趣的)范围; specific:adj.特殊的,特定的;明确的;详细的;[药]具有特效的;n.特性;细节;特效药; addiction:n.瘾;嗜好;入迷; reveals:v.揭示;显示;透露;展示;(reveal的第三人称单数) valuable:adj.有价值的;贵重的;可估价的;n.贵重物品;
A marketing strategist and upcoming musician needed help with her taxes. 一位行销策略师兼未来音乐家 需要我幫忙处理税务
When I met with her, I immediately took note of the fear in her face as she looked through her records and expenses. 首次见面,我就注意到她害怕的表情 她一看帐本就会出露出害怕的样子
I checked in with her and she expressed to me that some things in her life didn't quite seem to work out, including her relationships. 我关心了一下她,她告诉我 她人生中有些事就是不顺利 包含她的感情生活
strategist:n.战略家;军事家; upcoming:adj.即将来临的; expressed:v.表示;表达;显而易见;不言自明;(express的过去分词和过去式)
She was afraid of facing how much money she was about to lose after taxes. 她不敢想像缴完税后,财产会减少多少
As we continued talking about her finances, she started to notice a connection between her fear of losing money and her fear of losing relationships. 我们继续聊着财务状况 她留意到,自己害怕损失金钱 和害怕失去感情两者是有关连的
She went on to tell me that she was afraid of committing to anyone because she didn't want to get hurt. 她又告诉我她很怕投入感情 因为她不想要受伤
was about to:眼看就要;即将;正要;行将; committing:v.做出;犯罪或错等;自杀;承诺,保证;(commit的现在分词)
She expressed that she had not been close to anyone in over seven years because she feared failure. 她说她已经7年没有跟人交心了 因为她怕感情失败
And maybe she might have an avoidance strategy around both her money and her relationships. 或许这种回避策略 她不只运用在金钱,也用在感情生活中
It's been six years since I first help her chart her finances, and she's still consistently keeping up with her spreadsheet . 我已经幫她作帐6年了 她还是一直保有自己的帐册
As she confronted her personal accounting and grew her savings in advance of each tax season, she developed less fear of loss and grew more open to relationships. 还不到报税季,她就会看自己的帐 努力存更多钱 她不像以前那样害怕失去了 对感情也更加开放
avoidance:n.逃避;废止;职位空缺; strategy:n.策略;行动计划;部署;战略; consistently:adv.一贯地;一致地;坚实地; spreadsheet:n.电子制表软件;电子数据表;试算表; confronted:v.使…无法回避;降临于;处理;面对;对抗;(confront的过去分词和过去式) in advance of:超过;在…前面;
She tells me that she even has the courage to walk away from a relationship when it's not serving her. 她说她甚至有勇气 主动停止不愉快的交往
She recently told me, "My spreadsheet is basically a story of my life's progression and I can see it through the numbers.” 她最近告诉我 「我的帐本纪录了我人生的进展」 「而且都藏在数字里头」
I believe we can all do this type of audit of our own financial behavior and that we can learn surprising things about ourselves through tracking and charting our expenses. 我相信大家都能幫自己作帐 透过追踪,能发现出乎意料的自己
Here's how. 方法如下
Number one, take a look at your bank statement for the last six months and categorize the expenses by type for a more holistic view. 第一步:看一下过去半年的银行对帐单 把支出分门别类
recently:adv.最近;新近; basically:adv.主要地,基本上; progression:n.前进;连续; audit:v.审计;[审计]查账;n.审计;[审计]查账; take a look at:看一看;检查; bank statement:n.银行结单(某时期内存户存取款项的清单); categorize:vt.分类; holistic:adj.整体的;全盘的;
For example, your spending on shopping versus transport versus entertainment. 举例来说 比较各种花费,像是购物、交通、娱乐
Number two, when an expensive pattern emerges , see what that pattern says about yourself. 第二步:发现规律的大笔花费后 看这个规律怎么解释你的行为
Be curious and inquisitive . 要保持好奇、多提问
At first, it may not be that obvious , but asking yourself what led you to make that choice in a given moment can provide some clues . 一开始可能不好看出来 不过问问自己 为什么会在这情境下这么做 这个问题能幫助自己推导
versus:prep.对;与...相对;对抗; transport:n.运输;输送;运送;运输机;v.输送;传播;使产生身临其境的感觉;(旧时)流放; emerges:vi.浮现;摆脱;暴露; curious:adj.好奇的,有求知欲的;古怪的;爱挑剔的; inquisitive:adj.好奇的;好问的,爱打听的; obvious:adj.明显的;显著的;平淡无奇的; clues:n.(调查,研究等的)线索;迹象;(故事的)关键情节;(clue的复数)
Do you buy pizza every Wednesday night because that's when you're too tired to cook after a stressful weekly meeting? 你是不是每周三晚上都买披萨 因为每周三开完会后 你已经累到不想下厨了？
Number three, observe if there are any line items that you are shocked by in terms of value or volume and see what patterns emerge. 第三点:看看有没有 任何令你吃惊的项目 不管是花费上还是数量上 并找找看规律
For example, did you buy that new smartphone just before a major function or event so that your friends would notice? 像是,你买新手机的时间点 是不是都在大活动之前不久 好让朋友见面时看到？
stressful:adj.紧张的;有压力的; observe:v.观察;看到;庆祝;监视; items:n.项目;一件商品(或物品);一则,一条(新闻)(item的复数) volume:n.体积;容积;音量;响度;一册;合订本 smartphone:n.智能手机;
Or do you tell yourself you only take taxis late at night, but then realize that you're taking way more taxes every month than you thought? 或是你答应自己 只在很晚时才搭计程车 看帐目时却发现 一个月来你比预想的多搭了好几次
Are you working late more than you thought? 你是不是比自己想的 更常工作到很晚？
There's so much that we can learn about ourselves if we take the time to look. 我们可以观察到好多自己的事 只要我们花时间看帐本
And sometimes our money knows us better than we know ourselves. 我们的钱有时比我们更懂我们
Tracking our finances can reveal what we are in denial of, our hidden biases , our fears and what might be holding us back. 追踪自己的帐务 能发现我们自己否认的事 或是潜藏的成见 能看到我们的恐惧 还有绊住我们向前迈进的事
Though it can be difficult and uncomfortable to take a good, hard look at our financial behavior, it can reveal some deep emotional truths. 虽然可能有点困难,有点难为情 但确确实实地看自己的消费行为 可以发现我们深藏的情绪事实
Some truths that can help us re-evaluate our careers , our relationships and our priorities . 这些事实能幫助我们重新思考职涯 重新檢视交友关系和生活重心
biases:n.偏差,偏见(bias的复数形式);v.偏见(bias的三单形式); re-evaluate:重估; careers:n.职业(career的复数);事业;职业生涯;v.全速前进(career的三单形式); priorities:n.优先事项;优先权;重点;(priority的复数)
So give it a try. The payoff could be huge. 试试看吧,很可能会大有收获
Thank you. 谢谢
payoff:n.报酬;结果;发工资;结算;adj.支付的;决定性的;产生结果的;