Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 54 - I managed to carve a niche for myself

Michael: Charles! What a nice coincidence! Ten years passed like a flash. I’d like to catch up on your life since then.

Charles: Well! I don’t know where to start. Anyway! After graduating, I practiced medicine for a number of years in London. I managed to carve a niche for myself as a specialist in network marketing, got married and settled down over there. Everything has been running smoothly and I’m quite satisfied. What about you?

Michael: Well! after putting together my CV and applying for jobs. I got a very tempting offer from an investment bank and accepted it. I was put on a fast-track scheme and was moving up the ladder fast.

However, as the excitement stopped, I had a change of heart and I felt I needed to get my priorities right. I decided that other aspects of my life should take priority over my work. I handed in my resignation and moved to the country.

Charles: Wow! You haven’t changed a bit! Always taking bold decisions! You know what? I’ll no longer go abroad and as from this moment I’m open to offers in New York.

Vocabulary;

coincidence: a situation in which things happen at the same time without planning.

catch up on: to learn about (recent events); to do something that you have not been able to do recently.

create a niche for oneself: to create a role or opportunity for yourself, especially at work, by doing a particular thing very well.

run smoothly: to work well, to develop without any problems, to go as planned.

put together: to create or organize something.

fast-track: a route or method which provides for more rapid results than usual.

move up the ladder: to become more and more successful or important.

a change of heart: a move to a different opinion or attitude.

take priority over: one thing is considered to be more important than something else.

hand in: to give something to an authority or responsible person.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. The fight against inflation .......... measures to combat the deepening recession.

2. She was going to sell her house but had a .......... at the last minute.

3. The network is .......... now that Bob plugged in the modems.

4. In time, he .......... for himself as a television commentator.

5. They've introduced a .......... system for brighter pupils which will allow thousands to take their GCSE exams two years early.

6. If you think you can do more than you are doing in your present position, you owe it to yourself to make the effort to ..........

7. It was a .......... that we chose the same week for vacation.

8. He reads the newspaper on Sunday mornings to ..........

9. Did you hand your application form in? I forgot to................................ .......... my test paper.

10. Please .......... an outline of your plan and have it on my desk by Friday.

1. took priority over 2. change of heart 3. running smoothly 4. carved a niche 5. fast-track 6. move up the ladder 7. coincidence 8. catch up on 9. hand in 10. put together