美国万事达高管转行送外卖

据《商业内幕》报道，曾任职万事达与IBM，并在万事达工作八年担任副总裁的杰伊·曼德尔（Jay Mandel），为维持生计转行成为外卖员。他说，送外卖的经历让他学会了谦卑，也让他认识到额外的付出并不总能得到回报。

今天你练听力了吗？

🤔️小作业：

1. Which of the following best captures the central purpose of the article?

A. To criticize the business model of food delivery platforms

B. To describe a career downgrade caused by economic instability

C. To reflect on how gig work reshaped the writer's views on work and status

D. To argue that corporate experience offers little advantage in gig work

无注释原文：

I'm delivering for Uber Eats after decades in corporate marketing. It's helped me make money — and stay humble.

From: Business Insider

I worked most of my career in corporate America in digital marketing.

The highlight of my career was my eight years at MasterCard, where I worked my way up to lead global social media as a vice president. I've also worked at IBM. More recently, I've worked as a marketing consultant and an adjunct professor, but this hasn't generated enough income. Right now, I'm raising money to build my own company.

The idea of starting gig work came from my therapist, who said it would do wonders for me to see how others live.

I avoided it for several months. I went to Columbia University. I have a master's degree. I talked to people that I love, and they were like, "You shouldn't have to resort to this."

Eventually, in October, I delivered my first Uber Eats order.

Extra effort isn't always rewarded in gig work

Early on, I got the feeling that I was invisible to most people. For one order, I had to go pick up a cake. It turned out the bakery didn't have the cake the customer wanted, so I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the customer while I spoke with the bakery to find something else that would work.

When I finally made the delivery, the woman who ordered the cake had a blank look on her face — no "thank you," no extra tip, or anything. In my past jobs, putting in extra effort usually resulted in some sort of recognition. With delivery work, I haven't felt that a lot of times.

Then I realized that these companies charge so much money for these deliveries. It shouldn't be the customer's responsibility to tip.

I also don't always feel like I have a choice about which orders I can take. Sometimes, it doesn't work for me to pick up or drop off in the Bronx, and I usually don't want to pick up McDonald's orders.

I've done deliveries for Uber Courier, which involves delivering items between regular people. In one case, it was a backpack. Another time, it was a charger. It's a really valuable service, and I wish that Uber leaned into more of those deliveries.

Uber Eats pays the bills, but I don't feel in control

I use the money I earn from Uber — often a few hundred dollars a week — to make sure that my kids have a great weekend, like going out to dinner.

Overall, my experience working for Uber Eats has been humbling. I don't see myself as any better than other delivery people. I try my best to smile and be the bright moment in someone else's day. I also have fun, get to visit new restaurants, and see neighborhoods I would never go to otherwise.

It's so tough to figure out how common my experience is as someone turning to gig work to pay the bills while still nurturing professional ambitions. The unemployment numbers don't capture people like me who do gig work. I never thought I'd struggle as much as I have financially, and it feels like more of my friends than not are in my situation.

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注：完整题目见本文开头；中文文本为机器翻译并非一一对应，仅供参考

含注释全文：

I'm delivering for Uber Eats after decades in corporate marketing. It's helped me make money — and stay humble.

From: Business Insider

I worked most of my career in corporate America in digital marketing.

我职业生涯的大部分时间都在美国企业从事数字营销工作。

The highlight of my career was my eight years at MasterCard, where I worked my way up to lead global social media as a vice president. I've also worked at IBM. More recently, I've worked as a marketing consultant and an adjunct professor, but this hasn't generated enough income. Right now, I'm raising money to build my own company.

职业生涯的高光时刻是在万事达卡工作的八年，我一路晋升，做到副总裁，负责全球社交媒体业务。我也曾在IBM工作过。最近，在做顾问和兼职教师，收入并不理想。目前，我正在筹集资金创办自己的公司。

consultant /kənˈsʌl.tənt/ 表示“顾问；咨询师”，英文解释为“someone who advises people on a particular subject”如：a management / financial / computer consultant 管理 / 财务 / 计算机顾问。

表示“兼职教授，客座教授，副教授”，An adjunct professor is a type of academic appointment in higher education who does not work at the establishment full-time.

The idea of starting gig work came from my therapist, who said it would do wonders for me to see how others live.

开始打零工的想法来自我的心理治疗师，他说，去看看别人是如何生活的，对我会有很大帮助。

gig /ɡɪɡ/ 1）表示“（尤指临时的）工作”，英文解释为“a job, especially a temporary one”

2）表示“现场演出；现场演奏会，现场演唱会；现场喜剧表演”，英文解释为“A gig is a live performance by someone such as a musician or a comedian.”举个🌰：The two bands join forces for a gig on February 8. 这两支乐队将于2月8日联手举行一场演出。

work/do wonders表示“产生奇妙的作用”，英文解释为“to have a very good effect”举个🌰：Doctors have discovered that keeping a pet can do wonders for your health. 医生们发现，养一只宠物会对你的健康产生奇妙的作用。

I avoided it for several months. I went to Columbia University. I have a master's degree. I talked to people that I love, and they were like, "You shouldn't have to resort to this."

我把这个念头压在心底好几个月。身为哥伦比亚大学硕士，我也问过亲朋好友，他们都劝我：“你还不至于要走这条路。”

Master's degree /ˌmɑː.stəz dɪˈɡriː/ 表示“硕士学位”，英文解释为“an advanced college or university degree”举个🌰：An MA and an MSc are both Master's degrees. MA（文科硕士学位）和 MSc（理科硕士学位）都是硕士学位。

表示“（别无办法的情况下）诉诸，依靠，采用”，英文解释为“to do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of achieving something”举个🌰：I had to resort to violence/threats to get my money. 为了拿到我的钱，我被迫诉诸暴力/采取威胁的手段。

Eventually, in October, I delivered my first Uber Eats order.

最终，十月份，我送出了第一单外卖Uber Eats。

Extra effort isn't always rewarded in gig work 做零工，额外的付出并不总能得到回报。

Early on, I got the feeling that I was invisible to most people. For one order, I had to go pick up a cake. It turned out the bakery didn't have the cake the customer wanted, so I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the customer while I spoke with the bakery to find something else that would work.

一开始，我就感觉自己对大多数人来说是“隐形”的。有一次我去取一块蛋糕，结果发现面包店没有顾客想要的款式，我一边和店家沟通，一边和顾客打电话，花了20分钟才找到替代方案。

bakery /ˈbeɪ.kər.i/ 表示“面包房”，英文解释为“a place where bread and cakes are made and sometimes sold”

When I finally made the delivery, the woman who ordered the cake had a blank look on her face — no "thank you," no extra tip, or anything. In my past jobs, putting in extra effort usually resulted in some sort of recognition. With delivery work, I haven't felt that a lot of times.

当我最终把蛋糕送达时，那位女士面无表情，没有一句“谢谢”，也没有额外的小费。过去的工作中，额外付出通常会得到认可，但送外卖时，我经常感受不到这一点。

作名词表示「小费」大家比较熟悉，也可以表示“（尤指细长物体的）末梢，末端，尖；（尤指细长物体的）顶端附加物”，英文解释为“the usually pointed end of something, especially something that is long and thin”举个🌰：We had asparagus tips for dinner. 我们晚饭吃了芦笋尖。

tip在花滑将禁止17岁以下选手参赛文中出现：Valieva, who had been tipped for a gold medal, finished fourth. 曾被看好获得金牌的瓦里耶娃获得了第四名。这里作动词，也是熟词僻义，表示“称…有可能成功”，英文解释为“to say that someone is likely to be successful or achieve something”举个🌰：He is being tipped as the next prime minister. 据称，他有可能成为下一任首相。

Then I realized that these companies charge so much money for these deliveries. It shouldn't be the customer's responsibility to tip.

后来我意识到，这些平台本身已经收取了高额配送费用，付小费本就不该成为顾客的责任。

I also don't always feel like I have a choice about which orders I can take. Sometimes, it doesn't work for me to pick up or drop off in the Bronx, and I usually don't want to pick up McDonald's orders.

而且我并不总是能自由选择接什么单。有时候在布朗克斯取送并不现实，我也通常不想接麦当劳的订单。

I've done deliveries for Uber Courier, which involves delivering items between regular people. In one case, it was a backpack. Another time, it was a charger. It's a really valuable service, and I wish that Uber leaned into more of those deliveries.

我也做过Uber Courier的配送，主要是帮普通人之间送物品，比如背包、充电器。这是一项很有价值的服务，我希望Uber能更多发展这一块。

backpack /ˈbæk.pæk/ 表示“（尤指徒步旅行或登山时背的）旅行包，背包”，英文解释为“a large bag used to carry things on your back, used especially by people who go camping or walking”

charger /ˈtʃɑː.dʒər/ 表示“充电器，充电机”，英文解释为“a device that is used to recharge a battery (= fill it with electricity), for example the battery in a mobile phone”

Uber Eats pays the bills, but I don't feel in control 送外卖的工作能维持生计，但我丝毫感觉不到其中的主动权。

I use the money I earn from Uber — often a few hundred dollars a week — to make sure that my kids have a great weekend, like going out to dinner.

我用送餐赚来的钱——通常每周几百美元——让孩子们能过一个愉快的周末，比如一起外出吃饭。

Overall, my experience working for Uber Eats has been humbling. I don't see myself as any better than other delivery people. I try my best to smile and be the bright moment in someone else's day. I also have fun, get to visit new restaurants, and see neighborhoods I would never go to otherwise.

总体来说，送外卖的经历让我学会谦卑。我不觉得自己比其他配送员更高一等，我尽量微笑，希望成为别人一天中的一束亮光。我也能享受过程，发现新餐厅，走进平时不会去的社区。

It's so tough to figure out how common my experience is as someone turning to gig work to pay the bills while still nurturing professional ambitions. The unemployment numbers don't capture people like me who do gig work. I never thought I'd struggle as much as I have financially, and it feels like more of my friends than not are in my situation.

很难判断像我这样一边靠零工糊口、一边仍怀抱职业理想的人有多普遍。失业数据并未涵盖我们这类人。我从未想过自己会在经济上如此吃力，而且身边似乎越来越多朋友也处于同样境地。

nurture /ˈnɜː.tʃər/ 表示“促进；扶助；培养”，英文解释为“to help a plan or a person to develop and be successful”举个🌰：As a record company executive, his job is to nurture young talent. 作为唱片公司主管，他的职责是培养有才华的年轻人。

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