AEF3 - U2A - Reading & Speaking

6 R E A D IN G & S P E A K IN G
FROM THE STREETS

a In pairs, answer the questions. Give as much
information as you can. TO SUCCESS!
1 Think o f two people you know personally or John DeJoria, an American billionaire businessman, owns several
companies, including John Paul Mitchell Systems, a successful
have heard o f who are very rich. Did they...?
brand of hair products. However, DeJoria was not always wealthy.
a earn their money (how?) He was the second son of immigrant parents and grew up in a
b inherit their money (who from?) very poor area of Los Angeles, California. Before forming his hair
c win it (how?) product company with only $700, he was a street gang member
2 I f they earned their money, was it because...? for some of his youth, he then worked at low-paying jobs including
encyclopedia salesman, janitor, and insurance salesman, and he
a they were very lucky
was homeless twice. DeJoria's selfmade rise is an inspiring story.
b they worked very hard
c they had a special talent As a child, you were fairly entrepreneurial, weren’t you?
My first job, at 9 years old, was selling Christmas cards door-to-
b Now read an interview with a billionaire. How did door. At 10 years old, my brother and I had paper routes. We got
he become so rich? Why is his success surprising? up at 4 o’clock a.m., folded the papers, and delivered them, and
W hat does he do to help homeless people? then got ready for school.
As you got older, you continued to work. Is that right?
c Now read the interview again and number the
The job that was one of the most influential experiences you can
events in the order in which they happened.
imagine was door-to-door selling encyclopedias. Doors literally
A L?| He was homeless again. slam in your face— maybe 30, 40 doors before the first customer
B [_I He delivered newspapers. will actually talk to you and let you in.
C Ld At1investor didn’t give him the money he You’ve been homeless, haven’t you?
had promised him. Twice. Once, when I was about 22 years old. The other time was
D [_] He sold encyclopedias from door-to-door. when I started John Paul Mitchell Systems in 1980. I wasn't
getting along with my wife at the time. So I had left and had
E Q He left his wife.
given her all the money. We had a backer for John Paul Mitchell
F [_] He was homeless. Systems putting in a half-million dollars. That money was
G \T\ He sold Christmas cards from door-to-door. supposed to arrive that day. I never got a penny. So I just slept
H Q He started a hair product company with $700. in my car. And I slept in my car for the first two weeks when I
1 Ld He was able to pay his bills on time. started the company. So we started with humble beginnings.
d What do you think you can learn from John’s story? Do memories of the streets motivate you?
It sure makes you very appreciative of what you have in your
e Look at the highlighted words and phrases life. Those who are homeless— like people with kids who are
related to money and business. W ith a partner, homeless— I really have a heart for. So I participate in a lot of
try to figure out the meanings from context. charitable organizations that take the homeless off the streets.
What are the biggest problems you’ve faced in business?
f Complete the questions with one o f the The biggest problem is rejection. Any business you start, be
highlighted words and phrases. Then ask and ready for it. The difference between successful people and
answer the questions with a partner. unsuccessful people is that the successful people do all the
1 What brand o f hair product do you use? How things the unsuccessful people don’t want to do. When 10 doors
are slammed in your face, go to door number 1 1 , with a smile.
long have you used it?
2 Do you know anybody who sells encyclopedias or When did you know you had made it?
other products_______ ? What does he / she sell? I was in business two years, and we were able to pay every
Does he / she enjoy his/ her job? single bill on time. We had a couple of thousand dollars
in the bank— $4,000, to be exact. And we said, “ Man
3 If you needed a _______ to lend you money to
we made it; it’s all downhill now.” It was really hard.
start a business, who would you ask? Why? It took a couple years.
4 Have you ever experienced______ from a boss,
What was the first thing you bought yourself at
Adapted from E ntre pre neu r.com
a teacher, etc.? How did you feel?

that point?
5 Do you know anybody who has tried to I went to a restaurant. This is the first
succeed in a difficult career (like acting), but time I said I’m going to order off the left
who hasn’t ______yet? Is he / she still trying, side of the menu, not the right side. The
or has he / she given up? right side is where the prices are. Carne
asada, guacamole, whatever I wanted.
I didn't even look at the prices. That,
to me, was a pretty big deal.
Online Practice 2A 17

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6 R E A D IN G & S P E A K IN G

FROM THE STREETS

a teacher, etc.? How did you feel?

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