CONFESSION OF A TWENTY-YEAR OLD ENTREPRENEUR

Règle : Un nom dans un groupe adjectival épithète ne prend pas de marque de pluriel. This boy is 20 (years old) = he is a 20 year old boy

Un créateur d'entreprise est quelqu'un qui  a lancé sa propre compagnie. an entrepreneur is someone who has launched/created his own firm.

(se) spécialiser to specialize in /to be specialized in >>> a specialist

libre, autonome, indépendant freelance (adj) : independant, not working for a particular company or someone else

Le capital d'une entreprise est divisé en actions qui sont achetées et possédées par des actionnaires. The capital of a company is divided into shares (UK) or stocks (US) which are bought and owned by shareholders (UK) or stockholders (US).

la mode, à la mode fashion (noun) >>> fashionable (adj) <> out of fashion, old-fashioned

l'esprit (d'entreprise) ethos : spirit

la comptabilité book-keeping [U] : accountancy <<< an accountant <<< to count

absurde, sans rapport irrelevant : not adapted to the problem ( <> relevant), not related to the topic

penser, considérer to assume : to suppose, to consider, to think, to guess (US) >>> an assumption, a thought

un maître de conférence a lecturer : a university teacher

les avantages non-salariaux fringe benefits : non-wage income such as :

        • company car
        • free housing
        • sport and health facilities
        • discounts on company products
        • paid holidays
        • holiday camps for staff children …

la transpiration sweat : perspiration <<< to sweat : to perspire >>> a sweat shirt

A famous quotation by Edison : "Genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration."

Le risque est le piment de la vie. "Risk is the spice of life" is a proverb or a motto.

feuilleter to thumb through a book / a dictionary / a (phone) directory

les relations publiques PR : Public Relations

forcer le bras à quelqu'un to twist someone's arm = to force someone to do something

un répondeur téléphonique an answer phone : a phone answering machine

du papier à entête letterhead : paper with the name of the firm printed on it.

une obligation, un engagement commitment : obligation <>to be committed to

posséder to possess [z] : to have, to own >>> possession >>> a possessor

Le principal facteur qui pèse contre lui est son manque d'expérience. The main factor that weighs against him is his inexperience.

= he is handicapped by his lack of experience.

se sentir mal à l'aise to feel uneasy / ill at ease / uncomfortable <> to feel at ease

digne de, d'une valeur de worth (adj or noun) expresses a notion of value

    Il faut prouver votre valeur par vos résultats. You've got to prove your worth by results.( = your value)

    Cette voiture vaut 20 000 dollars. This car is worth $20,000.(it costs $20,000)

    Ce livre mérite d'être lu. This book is worth reading. (it is a good idea to read it)

    Parce que je le vaux bien. Because I'm worth it (famous advertising for cosmetics)

seulement solely : merely : only : just

souligner, insister, mettre en valeur to emphasize : to stress : to insist on

viser to aim at (a target)

le but the aim : the purpose, the goal, the point

La publicité est une activité commerciale qui vise à inciter les clients à acheter davantage  en insistant sur les mérites des produits tandis  que  la renommée est le fait d'être connu. ex : Advertising [U] is a commercial activity which aims at inducing consumers to buy more by emphasizing the merits of the products whereas publicity [U] is the state of being/getting known.

un avantage, un atout an asset : an advantage <> a drawback, a liability

Avez-vous pesé le pour et le contre  du problème ? Did you weigh the pros and cons of the problem ?

= Did you consider the advantages and the drawbacks ?

un petit génie a whizz kid : a wonder boy/girl