How would you translate the words below in bold into English?

But watch out. We’re looking at false friends here.

False friends? Yes, words that look and sound similar to each other, but differ significantly in meaning.

You think you know the answers? If you’re reading this on my blog, post them in the comments below. And if you’re reading this in my newsletter, press reply and send them to me directly. I’ll check your answers and get back to you as soon as I can.

So let’s get started …

1. Du sprichst mit seinem Chef heute?
2. Die Speisekarte war sehr abwechslungsreich.
3. Morgen haben wir einen Termin bei einer Kundin.
4. Der Kollege wollte die aktuellen Zahlen.
5. Alle arbeiten im Homeoffice.
6. Die Antworten stehen auf der Rückseite des Blattes.
7. Wir suchen ein schönes Lokal für die Feier.
8. Der Starnberger See ist ein See in Bayern.
9. Wir spendeten an den Kindergarten.
10. Sie winkten zum Abschied.

Good luck—and good wishes from me!

The Christmas adverts are online now!

I used to work for the John Lewis Partnership in Reading many years ago, so that’s always the first video I look out for.

In this video a young man shows an unexpected guest from outer space how Christmas is celebrated.

Percy Pig comes to life in the M&S advert.

And in the Sports Direct advert, some of the biggest players in UK sport have a snowball fight.

So which one is your favourite?

We’ve spoken about procastination before, and how difficult it is to stay focused.

So what is the answer?

Look what Victor Hugo did.

Hugo promised his publisher a new book in 1829. However, he spent a year doing other things.

Frustrated, Hugo’s publisher set him a six-month deadline, demanding that the book be finished by February 1831.

And Hugo came up with a strange plan. He asked his assistant to lock up all his clothes,  leaving him with nothing but a shawl.

Unable to leave his study, Hugo  wrote nonstop for several months. His novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” was published five months later, two weeks before the deadline.

It wasn’t a such bad idea, was it? 😉

(Story about Victor Hugo via: James Clear)

When we make an ‘appointment‘, we’re usually referring to a business or more formal meeting.

I might have an appointment with my dentist or doctor, or with a client of mine.

A ‘date‘ or ‘rendezvous‘ is used for leisure meetings, such as going out for a meal with a member of the other gender, or to the cinema with your friends.

Of course, you can always quite simple say that you’re meeting some friends after work later.

I hope that helps.

“We must establish a personal connection with each other. Connection before content. Without relatedness, no work can occur.”
Peter Block

This principle ought to run through everything we do—in our conversations, meetings, projects, correspondence, presentations and so much more.

Before we get down to any serious work with others, we need to take the time to establish a relationship first.

Is this something you focus on first, too?

A speaker of American English, talking about the different levels in a building, might say that there’s a conference room on the first floor and two on the second floor.

A speaker of British English, would say that there’s one conference room on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

The British call the floor of a building at street level the ground floor (the floor in contact with the ground), whereas the Americans usually call it the first floor.

That can cause a little confusion! 😉