Text 1

The Credibility Principle

About the author:

    Best-selling author Robert L. Shook has been working full-time as an author since 1978. Widely known as one of America's premier business writers, he is the best-selling author of four books, published in eight languages and holds over 100 weeks on the best-selling lists. He is co-founder and past chairman of the board of Shook Associates Corporation, American Executive Corporation and American Executive Life Insurance Company. A former contributing editor of Success Magazine, he specializes in writing nonfiction, business-related books.

About the selection:

    Like many other established personages who admonish the world with their successful stories or experiences, Robert Shook enthusiastically uses his own experiences, or that of the persons he knows, to illustrate to us the importance of abiding by the Credibility Principle. With his vivid and somewhat exaggerated way of narrating, we are brought to the realization that the Credibility Principle is blessing or curse of one's career.

Language notes:

1. In view of Dwight's past performance record, it's always advisable to call him prior to sending a secretary over to pick up the contract.

In view of: in consideration of; on account of.
  e.g. In view of recent development, we do not think this step advisable.

2. Chances are that when you do, his receptionist will say, "Oh, Mr. Knight is tied up in conference until noon."

Chances are that: it is likely that.
  e.g. Chances are she has already heard the news.

3. By Friday you're fit to be tied, and when he finally does allow you to be put through on the phone, he meekly mumbles,
Fit to be tied: outraged.

4. As he hems and haws, there is no possible explanation he can give you that will be acceptable ─ he failed to meet the deadline.

Hem and haw: avoid giving a clear answer; be evasive in speech.
   e.g. The principal asked Mary why she was late to school and she only hemmed and hawed.

5. "and we'll have Mr. Shook in and out in no time flat!"

In and out: thoroughly; completely.
In no time flat: in a very short time.
  e.g. When the entire class worked together they finished the project in no time flat.

6. To date, I have been blessed with excellent health and have only had to miss one day's work in the last fifteen years because of sickness.

To date: up to the present time or moment; so far.

7. Everybody has dealt with people who constantly stretch the facts when they project what they're going to do.

Stretch the facts/ truth: exaggerate the truth.

Text 2

Nurture Your Nature

About the article

    When you weigh too much, you go on a diet. But what will you do when you want success in life? You can also go on a "diet"! -A "Thought Diet" is what Annette Foglion prescribes to those eager young men and women who want success in their lives. Although the idea is fanciful, it is very instructive.
    "Success is not a contest, nor is it a mountain you must struggle to climb. Success is your birthright. It is your natural state of being." -thus the authoress says in her article. The seeds of success are in you. You only have to find it and nurture it.

Language notes:

1. He served his customers like the leader would. They came back for more and referred their friends to Tim.

Refer sb to: direct sb to (a fact, event or thing by drawing attention to it or pointing it out).
    e.g. She wrote him at once, referring him to the paragraph she had read.

2. Tim did not ride a wave of auto-motive opportunity.

Auto-motive here means "come of itself".

3. And make sure that the actions, traits, and goal are compatible.

Make sure: ensure (that sth happens).

   e.g. Father makes sure that all lights are off before he goes to bed.

4. On side two of his "thought diet card" the author commits to taking minimum daily actions in eight categories in order to build the traits.

Commit to: hold (sb or oneself) to a promise or duty to (sb, sth, or doing sth).
   e.g. You must commit yourselves to working for peace.

5. Study the patterns in your life and align yourself with your potential strengths. Use the thought diet to study the course.

Align oneself with: adopt a common position with, come or bring into agreement.

   e.g. They align themselves with the forces resisting aggression.

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