ESL Podcast 924 – Getting Access to Important People

 　　Camile: That is a really good idea.

　　Nathan: Thanks, but there’s no way I can get past all of the gatekeepers in this company to get access to the president. He’s the only one who can green-light a project like this.

　　Camile: Can’t you present it to your boss first?

　　Nathan: If I bring the idea to my immediate¹ supervisor², she’ll either take it over or nix it.

　　Camile: What you need to do is to get the ear of one of his advisors³ and do an end-run around the other managers.

　　Nathan: I’m not sure how I can do that. I don’t know any of the advisors in the president’s inner circle. We don’t exactly travel in the same circles, you know.

　　Camile: How’s your jump shot?

　　Nathan: Why do you ask?

　　Camile: My cousin works at the same gym where that the company president goes to exercise. Sometimes he likes to play a game of pick- up basketball, often one-on-one. If you got a call from my cousin when he’s there, you might be able to be get there quickly and be in the right place at the right time.

　　Nathan: You mean talk business on the courts?

　　Camile: Sure, isn’t that how real deals get made?

　　Nathan: You might have an idea there.

　　Camile: Yes, but one piece of advice: Let him win!

　　Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 supervisor   

n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师

参考例句：

• Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说，我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
• He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。

3 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网