Many think the only way to succeed is through education. While piling on the degrees can earn you piles of dough -- and debt -- it's not the only option.
However, some of today's most successful people don't have a college degree. But what they lack in academic credentials, they make up for in tenacity, brains, guts and strong business sense.
Richard Branson
In 1970, Richard Branson founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer, and not long afterward he opened a record shop in London. Two years later, the first Virgin artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded "Tubular Bells." Since then many household names, including Ben Harper, Fatboy Slim, Perry Farrell, Gorillaz, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson and The Rolling Stones have helped to make Virgin Music one of the top record companies in the world. Branson sold the equity of Virgin Music Group -- record labels, music publishing and recording studios -- in 1992 in a $1 billion deal, but he remains chairman of Virgin Group.
Matt Drudge
Pundit, blogger and radio personality Matt Drudge is best known as the proprietor of the Drudge Report Web site. "The only good grades I got in school were for current events," he has said of his education. Drudge opted out of college and floated among a number of odd jobs including convenience store clerk, book salesman and grocery store sales assistant. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles and took a job in the gift shop of CBS studios, eventually working his way up to manager. The inside scoop he learned while in this position was allegedly part of the inspiration for founding his gossip rag The Drudge Report. The tabloid made gained notoriety when it was the first to break the news of a relationship between White House intern Monica Lewinsky and President Bill Clinton in 1998.
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray's career started at Macy's department store, first at the candy counter and then as the manager of the fresh foods department. Ray quickly followed with stints in gourmet markets and restaurants in New York. At gourmet food market Cowan & Lobel, she began a series of cooking classes -- 30 Minute Meals. Those classes became so popular that she was soon doing weekly segments for the evening news. Today, Ray is an Emmy-winning television personality who hosts a nationally syndicated talk show and four different programs the Food Network, publishes her own magazine, and has written multiple cookbooks.
Jeff Valdez
Named one of AdAge's Marketing 50 in 2005, Jeff Valdez grew up the youngest of nine children in a housing project in Pueblo, Colorado. As a young adult, he moved through several jobs and ended up as a drummer with a lounge band called Wildfire. Valdez later returned to Colorado after about 10 years of touring and opened a comedy club where he did stand-up. In 1990, he threw his hat into the political ring and made a failed bid for mayor of Colorado Springs. But in 2004, he launched Si TV, the first all-English language network targeting a Hispanic audience.
Are the following statements true or false?
1. More than a half of the today´s sucessful people do not have a college diploma.
2. Richard Branson started his enterprise with wholesale.
3. Richard Branson got rid of Virgin completely in 1992.
4. Matt Drudge was first to report one of the White House´s biggest scandals.
5. Rachael Ray started at a grocery store.
6. Matt Drudge never attended university.
7. Jeff Valdez is a hispanic immigrant.
8. All four people are connected by activities in TV business.
KEY
TRUE: 4, 8
FALSE: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
MAKE FRIENDS WITH TENSES
Complete the sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
1. If you´d phoned the police, you (not be).................injured.
2. He´ll come to the party, if you (invite)............him.
3. I (make)................the tea if you make the sandwiches.
4. I´m sorry you didn´t come. You (enjoy)................it.
5. Tell me if anything strange (happen). ............... .
6. Why isnt´s Sue here? She (have)..................a great time!
7. If someone rings the bell, (answer).................it.
8. They (be)...................exhausted if they´ve been travelling all night.
9. The machine (stop)................if you turn this key.
10. If I (be)..........................you, I wouldn´t do that.
KEY
1. wouldn´t have been
2. invite
3. ´ll make
4. would have enjoyed
5. happens
6. would have had
7. answer
8. ´ll be
9. stops
10. were
COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS alebo slová, ktoré si často mýlime
between - medzi, v strede – vo vzťahu k dvom ľuďom/veciam. (That man likes to lurk between the trees and listen in on others' conversations.)
among - medzi, v obklopení – vo vzťahu k viac ako dvom ľuďom/veciam (John chose a house nestled among trees.)
classic - vzorný, vzorový, reprezentujúci štandard (Paris Hilton likes to flaunt her classic wardrobe.)
classical - klasický, vo vťahu k antickému Grécku (Many students like to bury themselves in classical literature and art.)
dependent - závislý – nútený spoliehať sa na tretiu stranu (Young birds are dependent on their parents for nourishment.)
dependant - podstatné meno – osoba, ktorá je na niekom/niečom závislá, vyživované dieťa
Contracts
Learn the vocabulary in English to talk about job contracts:
A 'binding contract' is one which cannot be legally avoided or stopped.
We have a legally binding contract and you must supply us with these services.
• You can't walk out on your binding contract just because you have received a better offer elsewhere.
An 'exclusive contract' is one which prevents the person from working with other people.
• You have an exclusive contract to work with us and you cannot take on work for anybody else.
• I think we should offer her an exclusive contract so that she only works for us.
A 'renewable contract' is one which can be continued after it has finished by a new one. The opposite of this is a 'non-renewable contract'.
• To work on this project, we can offer you a non-renewable contract of one year.
• The contract is for one year, renewable for a second year if we are satisfied with your work.
A 'temporary contract' is one that is not permanent.
• We can give you a temporary contract for six months.
• You'll start on a temporary contract and we may then offer you a permanent one.
A 'valid contract' is one that has legal force.
• This contract is not valid until it is signed by both parties.
• This letter is not a valid contract. I want a proper one.
A 'breach of contract' is when the person does something which breaks the terms of the contract.
• If you don't agree to move to Paris, you will be in breach of your contract.
• If you refuse to work on Sunday, that is a breach of contract and we will dismiss you.
The 'terms of contract' are the conditions contained within the contract.
• Under the terms of your contract, you have to work on some Sundays.
• You are asking me to do something which is not in the terms of my contract.
If you 'draw up' a contract, you prepare it.
• I'll draw up a contract for you and you can sign it tomorrow.
• I'll get a new contract drawn up including the new terms and conditions.
If you 'get out of' a contract, you are no longer bound by it.
• I'm not happy in my job and need to find a way to get out of my contract.
• I think she's being difficult because she wants to get out of her contract with us.
If you 'go through' a contract, you look at it in detail.
• We need to spend a few minutes going through your contract.
• Make sure you go through your contract carefully before you sign it.