📙 Part 2: Describe a person who makes plans a lot and is good at planning

This episode's vocabulary

Stand out (phrasal verb) – to be much more impressive or important than others. → The one that stands out the most in my mind right now is actually my dad.

On the ball (idiom) – to be quick to understand and react to things. → He needs to be pretty on the ball so he doesn't let people down.

Tick list (noun) – a list of items to be done or considered, which one marks as completed. → He's always been someone with a tick list of things to be done for the day.

Mainstay (noun) – the most important part of something, providing support for the rest of it. → He also checks out the calendar on and off, but those first two are the mainstays.

Revolve around (phrasal verb) – to have someone or something as the main or most important interest or subject. → The plans he makes usually revolve around helping people.

House chores (noun phrase) – routine tasks done in the home, such as cleaning and cooking. → The plans also relate to the house chores like taking the rubbish out on time.

In advance (phrase) – before a particular time, or before doing a particular thing. → They also include things like being organized in advance for birthdays.

Emulate (verb) – to copy someone's behavior or achievements because you admire them. → I've tried my best to emulate that with my own organizational efforts.

Aspire to (phrasal verb) – to have a strong wish or hope to do or achieve something. → It's good to have something to aspire to, isn't it?

Miss out on (phrasal verb) – to lose an opportunity to do or have something. → I think I would have missed out on the chance to develop some pretty good habits.

On and off (idiom) – happening sometimes, but not regularly or continuously. → He also checks out the calendar on and off.

Keep track of (idiom) – to stay informed about something. → He keeps track of things on post-it notes.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Describe a person who makes plans a lot and is good at planning. You should say who he she is, how you know them, what plans he she makes, and explain how you feel about this person.

Rory: Well, I come from a family of planners, but the one that stands out the most in my mind right now is actually my dad. In terms of who he is, aside from the fact he's one of my parents, he's also done a lot to help people over the years in the local area and at work. So, that sort of effort takes a lot of organization and planning, and he needs to be, well, pretty on the ball so he doesn't let people down. I think that's just the kind of person he is, someone that likes helping others. To tell you a bit about how I know him, well, obviously he's my father, so we've known each other my whole life. And in that time, he's always been someone with a tick list of things to be done for the day, week and even the month. He used to have them in a diary like I do now, but I think he just keeps them on Post-it notes and the small general purpose notebook nowadays. He also checks out the calendar on and off, but those first two are the mainstays. With regards to the plans he makes, like I said, they usually revolve around helping people who, well, live in the local area or live nearby. But they also relate to the house chores like taking the rubbish out on time, and taking family members to and from various appointments. Oh, not only that, but they also include things like being organized in advance for birthdays and other celebrations. When it comes to how I feel about him, I'm pretty impressed with all the effort he goes to to make people's lives easier, and I've tried my best to emulate that with my own organizational efforts. I don't think I'm quite as flexible with my timing as he is, but it's good to have something to aspire to, isn't it? If I didn't have him as my dad, I think I would have missed out on the chance to develop some pretty good habits for life, and I'm very grateful that that didn't happen because I quite like my life right now.