UNIT 1

LESSON 1 + 2

drive - here: determination and energy to succeed [determinacja, zapał]

Brian has got tremendous drive.

high-achiever - someone who is very successful in their work [człowiek sukcesu]

She was a high achiever who had started her own market research business.

set goals - to say what you or someone else will or must try to achieve [wyznaczać cele]
It’s best to set realistic goals that you can achieve.

meet goals - to achieve something that you are trying to achieve [osiągnąć cel]
It’s impossible to meet the sales targets.

oversight – 1. supervision [nadzór] 2. a mistake in which you forget something or do

not notice something [przeoczenie]
1. Anyone here want to chair the oversight on this program?
2. I assure you that this was purely an oversight on my part.

dependable - able to be trusted to do what you need or expect [niezawodny, godny zaufania]
Poland is our most dependable ally.

have a good/strong track record - all of a person’s or organization’s past achievements, successes,
which show how well they have done something in the past and how well they are likely to do in
the future [mieć dobrą reputację związaną z osiągnięciami]
We’re looking for someone with a good track record in selling advertising.

upbeat - positive and making you feel that good things will happen [wesoły, optymistycznie
nastawiony]
For all the trouble she's been through, Anna is remarkably upbeat.

acknowledge - to admit or accept that something is true or that a situation exists [przyznać, uznać]
The government must acknowledge what is happening and do something about it.
collaboration = cooperation [współpraca]
The project has involved collaboration with the geography department.

juggle the tasks - to try to fit two or more jobs, activities etc into your life, especially with difficulty
[balansować między czynnościami/obowiązkami]
It’s hard trying to juggle a job with kids and the housework.

broad skill set – a wide range of skills [szeroki zakres umiejętności]

Our skill set is constantly evaluated in line with trends in technology and our client’s needs.

agenda - a list of the subjects to be discussed at a meeting [porządek obrad, lista spraw do
rozwiązania]
Taking care of homelessness is the next item (=subject) on the agenda.

for one reason or another - used for saying that there is more than one reason for something [z jakiś
powodów]
His travel articles are always, for one reason or another, fascinating.

take the plunge - to decide to do something important or risky, especially after thinking about it for a
long time [podjąć ważną decyzję]
We took the plunge and set up our own business.

the end is in sight – reaching the goal is likely to happen soon [cel jest już blisko]

build momentum - to keep increasing, developing, or being more successful [w przenośni: nabierać
rozpędu]
The campaign for reform should start to build momentum in the new year.

raise the bar - to do, produce, or be something better than anyone before, so that other people then
feel they have to do better themselves [podnosić poprzeczkę]
He has raised the bar for other filmmakers.

have/suffer a setback - have a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than
they were [doświadczyć komplikacji, problemu, niepowodzenia]
The team’s hopes of playing in Europe suffered a setback last night.

resist the temptation - stop yourself from having a strong desire to have or do something [oprzeć się
pokusie]
Resist the temptation to buy the item until you’re certain you need it.

map out - to plan carefully how something will happen [ zaplanować/rozplanować coś]
Her own future had been mapped out for her by wealthy and adoring parents.

be on the brink/on the verge of - to be very close to being in an unpleasant or dangerous situation
[być na skraju/krawędzi czegoś]
The country was on the brink of war.

editorial intern - someone, especially a student, who works for a short time in a particular job in order
to gain experience, here in an editorial office [stażysta w redakcji]
She refused to talk to an intern and demanded to see the editor-in-chief.

pursue a degree - to continue doing an activity (here doing a degree) or trying to achieve something
over a long period of time [starać się zdobyć stopień]
Teachers convinced her to pursue a degree in opera from The University of Michigan.

be up for something - to be willing to do something or interested in doing something [zainteresowany

czymś, robieniem czegoś]
We’re going to the pub later – are you up for it?

meticulous - very careful about small details, and always making sure that everything is done
correctly [skrupulatny]
He has always been so meticulous about his appearance.

creative director - someone in a company or advertising agency whose job is to manage the
advertising and selling of a product or range of products [dyrektor kreatywny]
He took over at Gucci as creative director with the aim of taking the brand to the cutting edge of
fashion.

be on the lookout - to continuously watch a place or pay attention in order to find something you
want or to be ready for problems or opportunities [rozglądać się za czymś]
We’re always on the lookout for new business opportunities.

shake up my routine - to make changes to your routine in order to make it more effective
[zreorganizować, zmienić swoją rutynę, ustalony porządek]
I plan to shake up my routine to become even fitter.

self-help book - a self-help book is one that is written with the intention to instruct its readers on
solving personal problems [poradnik]
She had been reading a lot of self-help books but she still couldn’t cope with her problems.

adorable - someone or something that is adorable is so attractive that they fill you with feelings of
love [cudny, uroczy]
Oh what an adorable little baby!

advance (my career) – to develop, improve or move forward [posuwać naprzód, rozwijać]
Public speaking is an important skill for advancing my career.

accomplishment = achievement [osiągnięcie]

It was a major accomplishment for a player who had been injured so recently.

(advertising) copy - here: something written in order to be printed in a newspaper,

magazine, advertisement [tekst reklamowy]
Now that I’ve seen the finished copy, I’m delighted.

touch base - to talk to someone to find out what is happening about something [skontaktować się z
kimś]
It's important to touch base with our allies in this issue.