My Own Business [PDF]

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Interview with a Public Figure A. Useful Expressions entrepreneur landscaping business mow lawn



borrowed expand client accounts



decide resign (im)polite employ/ hire vs fire



B. Text Nick Petrovic is one of Littleton’s most successful entrepreneurs. He owns the largest landscaping business in the city. Earlier today, he took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with me and talk about his success story.



Here is the interview: 1. Reporter: Nick, why did you decide to start your own business? Why didn’t you find a job like most people do? 2. Nick: Well Pat, I never really decided to work for myself. It just happened. When I was a kid, I was very good at doing small jobs around the neighborhood. I mowed lawns and looked after younger kids. I was good at saving money. When I was a teenager, I used my savings to buy my own lawnmower. By the time I was sixteen, I was mowing about twenty lawns a week. I earned good money, and I enjoyed it.



3. Reporter: So how did you build your business from one lawn mower to the huge company you have today? 4. Nick: Good luck and hard work! When I was nineteen, I borrowed money from my parents to expand the business. I hired a friend to help me. I taught him to be very polite to clients. In business, the client is always right. You have to make the client feel special. Then they give you more business. They also tell their friends about you, so you get new clients. Your business keeps growing, and suddenly you are successful. 5. Reporter: What about all the paperwork? The accounts and taxes and insurance? How did you learn to keep accurate accounts? 6. Nick: Good question. This is one part of the business I don’t like very much. But, in a business, you must keep very accurate accounts. You must know how much money is coming in, and how much money is going out. At first I kept a notebook. I wrote everything down in that notebook, but the business became too busy. I realized I had to computerize my paperwork. Another friend helped me set up a program for accounts on the computer. This program is easy to use. I also took some college classes. I learned a lot about computers and business. Now I can’t live without my computer and my e-mail. 7. Reporter: So how many people do you employ today? 8. Nick: Spring to fall is our busiest time. I have about 40 employees during this time. In the winter, I go down to about 25. 9. Reporter: What’s the best thing about being your own boss? 10. Nick: It’s exciting! Every day is different. I meet lots of people, and I have to make a lot of decisions. I’m not the kind of guy who can sit at a desk all day! I love going to different places and talking with people. 11. Reporter: What qualities does a person need to be a good entrepreneur? 12. Nick: You must be strong, and you must believe in yourself. You need good ideas, and you must be organized. You have to enjoy working hard. In fact, after a fourteen-hour day, I sometimes think you need to be a little crazy to have your own business!



13. Reporter: What’s the worst thing about being your own boss? 14. Nick: If I make a mistake, I lose money. If I don’t work hard, I’ll lose the business. I sometimess worry something will go wrong with my business. I have a family to support. But, knock on wood, everything is going well so far. Now, excuse me, Pat, I’ve got to run. I’m meeting with a client, and I don’t want to be late. 15. Reporter: Thanks for your time, Nick. Good luck with your business.



Note: knock on wood An expression people use when they hope good luck will not become bad luck. C. Pattern Types of Question Based on the answer, there are 2 types of question : 1. Yes/No question Start with to be/ auxiliary verbs/ modal 2. W-H question What



When



Whose



Who



Where



Why



Which



Whom



How



How many How much How old, etc.



Pattern



: W-H + Aux. + Subject + Complement ?



Examples : 1. Yes/No Question a. Is this book easy and practical to study? b. Do you want to search some information in the internet ? c. Can you save this data as a web page? 2. W-H Question a. How did she make the new database with data form facility? b. What book are they reading? c. Who teaches you English? Present Tense Past Tense: Who taught you English last year? d. Whom do you teach English?



e. How much money does Toni want to save in the bank? f. What time do you usually study? g. Whose camera did U use yesterday? Exercise: 1. ________? The applicants are attending the job interview. 2. ________? Raya has run this business a few months ago. 3. ________? Prof. Yanto checks all the business units every morning. 4. ________? As a programmer, Bob always finds brilliant ideas to set up sophisticated programs for his office. 5. ________? The branch manager asked his secretary to make a report yesterday. 6. ________? The company policy allows the employees to continue their studies. 7. ________? Tina is going to work in BRI as a teller next week. 8. ________? Mrs. Tomstad has had twenty outlets since January 2019. 9. ________? His son won the first winner of National University Debating Championship (NUDC) in Medan last month. 10. ________? The new staffs are given some trainings by the experts.



D. Communication Skill 1. Role Play: Make a group of 2 persons and build up an interview session. Suppose that you are the reporter who is interviewing Nick Petrovic. Continue the interview by asking three other questions! 2. Suppose that you are Nick’s best friend who knows a lot about his family. Write down about Nick’s happy family based on the picture below!