I like to refer to this strategy as addition by subtraction.The Japanese companies looked for every point of friction in the manufacturing process and eliminated it.As they subtracted wasted effort, they added customers and revenue.Similarly, when we remove the points of friction that sap our time and energy, we can achieve more with less effort.This is one reason tidying up can feel so good: we are simultaneously moving forward and lightening the cognitive load our environment places on us.If you look at the most habit-forming products, you’ll notice that one of the things these goods and services do best is remove little bits of friction from your life.Meal delivery services reduce the friction of shopping for groceries.Dating apps reduce the friction of making social introductions.Ride-sharing services reduce the friction of getting across town.Text messaging reduces the friction of sending a letter in the mail.Like a Japanese television manufacturer redesigning their workspace to reduce wasted motion, successful companies design their products to automate, eliminate, or simplify as many steps as possible.They pare down the number of clicks required to create an account.When the first voice-activated speakers were released—products like Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod—I asked a friend what he liked about the product he had purchased.He said it was just easier to say “Play some country music” than to pull out his phone, open the music app, and pick a playlist.Of course, just a few years earlier, having unlimited access to music in your pocket was a remarkably frictionless behavior compared to driving to the store and buying a CD.Business is a never-ending quest to deliver the same result in an easier fashion.Similar strategies have been used effectively by governments.When the British government wanted to increase tax collection rates, they switched from sending citizens to a web page where the tax form could be downloaded to linking directly to the form.Reducing that one step in the process increased the response rate from 19.2 percent to 23.4 percent.For a country like the United Kingdom, those percentage points represent millions in tax revenue.
I like to refer to this strategy as addition by subtraction.
我喜欢把这种策略称为“减法带来加法”。
refer to/rɪˈfɜːr tuː/
phr. 把……称为;提及
Ex: He referred to it as a breakthrough.
例句翻译:他把它称为一次突破。 分析:refer to A as B 表示“把A称为B”。
strategy/ˈstrætədʒi/
n. 策略;方法
Ex: It's a simple strategy.
例句翻译:这是个简单策略。 分析:强调为达成目标而设计的做法。
addition/əˈdɪʃn/
n. 加法;增加
Ex: Addition is basic math.
例句翻译:加法是基础数学。 分析:这里是比喻:通过减少来获得增加。
subtraction/səbˈtrækʃn/
n. 减法;减少
Ex: Subtraction reduces the total.
例句翻译:减法会减少总量。 分析:与 addition 对照,形成记忆点。
The Japanese companies looked for every point of friction in the manufacturing process and eliminated it.
日本公司会在制造流程中寻找每一个摩擦点,并把它消除掉。
looked for/lʊkt fɔːr/
phr. 寻找
Ex: They looked for the root cause.
例句翻译:他们寻找根本原因。 分析:强调主动搜寻问题点。
friction/ˈfrɪkʃn/
n. 摩擦;阻力(比喻)
Ex: Remove friction in the workflow.
例句翻译:移除流程中的阻力。 分析:这里指浪费时间与精力的阻碍点。
manufacturing/ˌmænjuˈfæktʃərɪŋ/
n. 制造业;制造过程
Ex: Manufacturing requires precision.
例句翻译:制造需要精确。 分析:指把原材料加工成产品的过程。
eliminated/ɪˈlɪmɪneɪtɪd/
v. 消除;淘汰(过去式/过去分词)
Ex: They eliminated unnecessary steps.
例句翻译:他们消除了不必要的步骤。 分析:比 reduce 更彻底:直接去掉。
As they subtracted wasted effort, they added customers and revenue.
当它们减少了无谓的努力,就增加了客户和收入。
subtracted/səbˈtræktɪd/
v. 减去;减少(过去式)
Ex: They subtracted costs from the budget.
例句翻译:他们从预算中减去成本。 分析:这里是比喻:减少浪费投入。
wasted/ˈweɪstɪd/
adj. 浪费的;无谓的
Ex: Wasted time adds up.
例句翻译:浪费的时间会累积。 分析:wasted effort 指投入了但不产生价值的努力。
customers/ˈkʌstəmərz/
n. 顾客;客户(复数)
Ex: Customers value convenience.
例句翻译:顾客重视方便。 分析:商业语境常用:购买产品/服务的人。
revenue/ˈrevənuː/
n. 收入;营收
Ex: Revenue increased this quarter.
例句翻译:本季度营收增长。 分析:财务用词,指销售带来的收入。
Similarly, when we remove the points of friction that sap our time and energy, we can achieve more with less effort.
同样地,当我们移除那些耗尽我们时间与精力的摩擦点时,我们就能用更少的努力获得更多。
similarly/ˈsɪmələrli/
adv. 同样地;类似地
Ex: Similarly, small changes matter.
例句翻译:同样地,小改变也重要。 分析:承接类比:把企业做法类比到个人习惯。
sap/sæp/
v. 消耗;削弱
Ex: Stress can sap your energy.
例句翻译:压力会消耗你的精力。 分析:比 drain 更强调“慢慢抽走”。
achieve/əˈtʃiːv/
v. 达成;实现
Ex: Achieve your goals.
例句翻译:实现你的目标。 分析:achieve more 表示获得更多成果。
effort/ˈefərt/
n. 努力;付出
Ex: It takes effort to change.
例句翻译:改变需要努力。 分析:with less effort 与前文“最省力”思想呼应。
This is one reason tidying up can feel so good: we are simultaneously moving forward and lightening the cognitive load our environment places on us.
这也是为什么整理收拾会让人感觉很好:我们一边向前推进,一边减轻环境施加在我们身上的认知负担。
tidying up/ˈtaɪdiɪŋ ʌp/
phr. 整理;收拾
Ex: Tidying up makes the room calm.
例句翻译:整理会让房间更安静。 分析:指把杂乱的物品归位,减少混乱。
simultaneously/ˌsaɪməlˈteɪniəsli/
adv. 同时地
Ex: They worked simultaneously.
例句翻译:他们同时工作。 分析:强调两件事一起发生:推进+减负。
cognitive load/ˈkɑːɡnətɪv loʊd/
n. 认知负担
Ex: Clutter increases cognitive load.
例句翻译:杂乱会增加认知负担。 分析:心理学术语:大脑处理信息所需的心智资源。
lightening/ˈlaɪtənɪŋ/
v. 减轻(现在分词)
Ex: Lightening the workload helps.
例句翻译:减轻工作量有帮助。 分析:lighten = 让更轻、更少压力。
If you look at the most habit-forming products, you’ll notice that one of the things these goods and services do best is remove little bits of friction from your life.
Meal delivery services reduce the friction of shopping for groceries.
送餐服务减少了买菜购物的摩擦。
meal delivery/miːl dɪˈlɪvəri/
n. 送餐;外卖配送
Ex: Meal delivery saves time.
例句翻译:送餐节省时间。 分析:指把餐食送到家/办公室的服务。
groceries/ˈɡroʊsəriz/
n. 食品杂货;日常食材(复数)
Ex: I need to buy groceries.
例句翻译:我需要买菜。 分析:grocery shopping 是固定搭配。
reduce/rɪˈduːs/
v. 减少;降低
Ex: Reduce the number of steps.
例句翻译:减少步骤数量。 分析:把成本降下来=更容易去做。
Dating apps reduce the friction of making social introductions.
交友软件减少了社交介绍的摩擦。
dating apps/ˈdeɪtɪŋ æps/
n. 交友/约会软件(复数)
Ex: Dating apps match people quickly.
例句翻译:交友软件能快速匹配人。 分析:app 是 application 的缩写。
introductions/ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃnz/
n. 介绍;引见(复数)
Ex: He made introductions at the event.
例句翻译:他在活动上做了引见。 分析:make introductions 指把人与人联系起来。
social/ˈsoʊʃl/
adj. 社交的
Ex: Social situations can be stressful.
例句翻译:社交场合可能有压力。 分析:强调人与人的交往互动。
Ride-sharing services reduce the friction of getting across town.
网约车减少了跨城出行的摩擦。
ride-sharing/ˈraɪd ʃerɪŋ/
n. 网约车/拼车服务
Ex: Ride-sharing is convenient.
例句翻译:网约车很方便。 分析:指通过平台叫车/共享出行。
across town/əˈkrɔːs taʊn/
phr. 穿过城里;到城的另一边
Ex: He traveled across town for work.
例句翻译:他为了工作穿城而过。 分析:强调距离不近,出行本有摩擦。
services/ˈsɜːrvɪsɪz/
n. 服务(复数)
Ex: Online services are everywhere.
例句翻译:线上服务无处不在。 分析:与 goods 对应:服务型产品。
Text messaging reduces the friction of sending a letter in the mail.
短信减少了寄信的摩擦。
text messaging/tekst ˈmesɪdʒɪŋ/
n. 短信;发消息
Ex: Text messaging is fast.
例句翻译:发消息很快。 分析:也可泛指手机文字消息。
letter/ˈletər/
n. 信件
Ex: He wrote a letter.
例句翻译:他写了一封信。 分析:传统通信方式,需要更多步骤与等待。
in the mail/ɪn ðə meɪl/
phr. 通过邮寄
Ex: The package is in the mail.
例句翻译:包裹已寄出。 分析:强调邮政系统,流程更慢更麻烦。
Like a Japanese television manufacturer redesigning their workspace to reduce wasted motion, successful companies design their products to automate, eliminate, or simplify as many steps as possible.
They pare down the number of clicks required to create an account.
它们减少创建账户所需的点击次数。
pare down/per daʊn/
phr. 削减;减少
Ex: They pared down the budget.
例句翻译:他们削减了预算。 分析:比 reduce 更形象:一点点削到更少。
clicks/klɪks/
n. 点击(次数)(复数)
Ex: It takes too many clicks.
例句翻译:需要太多次点击。 分析:互联网产品衡量摩擦的常见单位。
required/rɪˈkwaɪərd/
adj. 必需的
Ex: The required steps are minimal.
例句翻译:必需步骤很少。 分析:required to do 表示“必须做到”。
account/əˈkaʊnt/
n. 账户
Ex: Create an account.
例句翻译:创建账户。 分析:注册门槛越低,用户越容易完成。
When the first voice-activated speakers were released—products like Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Apple HomePod—I asked a friend what he liked about the product he had purchased.
当第一批语音激活音箱发布时——比如 Google Home、Amazon Echo、Apple HomePod——我问一位朋友他喜欢自己买的这个产品的什么。
voice-activated/vɔɪs ˈæktɪveɪtɪd/
adj. 语音激活的
Ex: A voice-activated assistant.
例句翻译:语音助手。 分析:通过说话触发功能,减少操作步骤。
released/rɪˈliːst/
v. 发布;推出(过去式/过去分词)
Ex: They released a new model.
例句翻译:他们发布了新型号。 分析:产品语境:上市、发布。
purchased/ˈpɜːrtʃəst/
v. 购买(过去式/过去分词)
Ex: He purchased the device online.
例句翻译:他在网上买了这个设备。 分析:较正式的 buy。
product/ˈprɑːdʌkt/
n. 产品
Ex: It's a useful product.
例句翻译:这是个有用的产品。 分析:这里指音箱设备本身。
He said it was just easier to say “Play some country music” than to pull out his phone, open the music app, and pick a playlist.
他说,与其掏出手机、打开音乐应用、再挑选播放列表,不如直接说一句“播放一些乡村音乐”更容易。
pull out/pʊl aʊt/
phr. 掏出;拿出
Ex: He pulled out his phone.
例句翻译:他掏出手机。 分析:日常动作,但累积起来就是摩擦。
playlist/ˈpleɪlɪst/
n. 播放列表
Ex: I saved the playlist.
例句翻译:我保存了播放列表。 分析:在应用里选择播放列表需要额外步骤。
just/dʒʌst/
adv. 就是;仅仅(强调)
Ex: It's just easier this way.
例句翻译:这样就是更容易。 分析:口语强调,突出差别很直观。
easier/ˈiːziər/
adj. 更容易的
Ex: The new method is easier.
例句翻译:新方法更容易。 分析:比较级,核心在于减少步骤与摩擦。
Of course, just a few years earlier, having unlimited access to music in your pocket was a remarkably frictionless behavior compared to driving to the store and buying a CD.
Business is a never-ending quest to deliver the same result in an easier fashion.
商业是一场永无止境的追求:用更容易的方式交付同样的结果。
never-ending/ˌnevər ˈendɪŋ/
adj. 永无止境的
Ex: A never-ending process.
例句翻译:一个永无止境的过程。 分析:强调持续不断,不会真正结束。
quest/kwest/
n. 追求;探索
Ex: A quest for knowledge.
例句翻译:对知识的追求。 分析:带有长期追求、不断优化的意味。
deliver/dɪˈlɪvər/
v. 交付;带来
Ex: Deliver a better experience.
例句翻译:交付更好的体验。 分析:商业语境:提供价值/结果给用户。
fashion/ˈfæʃn/
n. 方式;做法
Ex: In a simple fashion.
例句翻译:以简单的方式。 分析:in an ... fashion = 以……方式。
Similar strategies have been used effectively by governments.
类似的策略也被政府有效地使用过。
similar/ˈsɪmələr/
adj. 类似的
Ex: They had similar results.
例句翻译:他们有类似的结果。 分析:承接前文:企业也好,政府也好,都在减摩擦。
effectively/ɪˈfektɪvli/
adv. 有效地
Ex: He used time effectively.
例句翻译:他高效地利用时间。 分析:强调确实产生效果。
governments/ˈɡʌvərnmənts/
n. 政府(复数)
Ex: Governments set policies.
例句翻译:政府制定政策。 分析:说明这不是商业专属,也适用于公共治理。
When the British government wanted to increase tax collection rates, they switched from sending citizens to a web page where the tax form could be downloaded to linking directly to the form.