2. 1 WORDS OF WISDOM: LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE

wisdom

the ability to use your knowledge and experience of life to make good decisions and give good advice

wise

a wise person is able to use their knowledge and experience of life to make good decisions and give good advice

find your feet

to become familiar with and confident in a new situation

mentor

someone who advises and helps a less experienced person

do the trick

spoken if something does the trick, it helps you to succeed in doing what you want

Look on the bright side and appreciate the good things in your life.

8 SANTA SEBAG-MONTEFIORE: He meant be positive, and always be grateful for what you have.

Don't be afraid to disagree with the majority. The crowd isn't always right.

9 NOBANTU SESEKE: What I've learnt is to trust your instincts. Go with your gut feeling.

Success isn't about the hours you work; it's about getting the job done.

4 HONG BO CHIN: You're not impressing anyone working ridiculous hours. Just get the job done.

Use every chance you get.

1 JANE GOODALL: and you take advantage of opportunities.

An original idea is no use unless you work to perfect it.

7 PAOLA GAVAZZI: You are not paid to write. You are paid to rewrite.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

5 PETER BARRON: the man who never made a mistake never made anything.

Don't waste time wondering what might have been. Look to the future.

2 SIR RICHARD BRANSON: My mother always taught me never to look back in regret but to move on to the next thing.

Work hard and have confidence in your abilities.

6 STEFAN OROGOVITZ: You do all you can, never apologise, and believe in yourself.

become familiar with a new situation or experience

find our feet

use the chances you get

take advantage of opportunities

a problem that prevents or delays progress

a setback

in a position in which you quickly have to learn something difficult

on a steep learning curve

finding out how something is done in a particular place or situation

learning the ropes

changed a person deeply, e.g. the way they understand the world

had a profound effect on

believe that your feelings are correct

trust your instincts

act according to your personal feelings about something

go with your gut feeling

When were you last on a steep learning curve? What was the most difficult thing to learn?

The popular meaning of "steep learning curve" is "difficult to learn"; the technical meaning is "quick to learn".

In what situations do you always trust your instincts?

“Trust your gut” is old advice, but it turns out, it’s scientifically sound advice as well.

What opportunities have you taken advantage of?

to use a situation or opportunity to get what you want

Can you think of a great event or person that had a profound effect on you?

Colonial war in Angola.

Can you think of a situation or place in which you had to learn the ropes?

New recruits had to learn how to tie knots and manipulate the ropes that moved the sails to capture wind most effectively; this series of lessons was termed “learning the ropes.”

Can you think of a great event or person that had a profound effect on you?

a powerful/profound effect (very big); a change or result that is caused by an event or action

How long did it take you to find your feet in your current school or workplace?

find your feet to become confident in a new situation: Matt’s only been at the school two weeks and he hasn’t found his feet yet.

What's the best way to deal with a setback at work?

setback: a problem that stops you from making progress

Are you analytical when you make decisions, or do you usually go with your gut feeling?

gut feeling/reaction/instinct informal a feeling that you are sure is right, although you cannot give a reason for it:

primatologist

the branch of zoology dealing with the primates (a member of the group of animals that includes monkeys and humans).

give up

to stop trying to do something

waitressing

the occupation of a waitress.

trip

a journey to visit a place

look back in regret

Maybe we commit mistakes and unwise decisions in the past but we just have to let it go and look forward

setback

a problem that stops you from making progress

to be on a steep learning curve

We associate steepness with difficulty because it’s harder to walk up a steep incline than a shallow one.

drive/work yourself into the ground

to make yourself tired or ill by working too hard

ego

the good opinion that you have about yourself

learning the ropes

To learn or understand the basic details of how to do or perform a job, task, or activity.

figure

the symbol for a number or an amount expressed in numbers

rewrite

to write something again in a different way

profound effect

a profound effect is a deep or serious effect on a situation that could be life changing.

fog

cloudy air near the ground, which is difficult to see through

go with (one's) gut

To trust or follow an intuition or instinct, as opposed to an opinion based on a logical analysis.

Find and correct the mistakes

in sentences 1-8. There are five mistakes.

* I've only been working here for two weeks so I'm still learning ropes.

I've only been working here for two weeks so I'm still learning the ropes.

* If you're not sure, go with your guts feelings.

If you're not sure, go with your guts feelings.

*The team's hopes suffered a setback last night.

The team's hopes suffered a setback last night. (correct)

*I decided to make advantage of the opportunity.

I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

*David didn't need to think because he trusted on his instincts.

David didn't need to think because he trusted his instincts.

*That film had a profound effect on me at an early age.

That film had a profound effect on me at an early age.

*I'm still trying to find my feet in my new job.

I'm still trying to find my feet in my new job.

*It's a difficult course and Frank's on the steep learning curve.

It's a difficult course and Frank's on a steep learning curve.

motto

a short statement that expresses someone’s aims or principles