This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2030.
Get off to a flying start with today's episode.
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Hey there, Michelle.
How's it going?
Hi, Lindsay.
Good, good.
Yeah, this summer is off to a flying start, don't you think?
A flying start.
A flying start.
Yeah, we both went on trips.
We have so much going on.
A flying start.
And I think this episode is off to a flying start too, don't you think?
I think so.
I mean, by some people's definition, we're already halfway through the summer by today.
I don't know.
Oh, that's true.
It depends on when your summer starts and ends, right?
Some people, I mean, when I was in school, we didn't get out of school until the end of June.
So it still would have been early summer. by the end of July or middle of July.
But some people, I think Aubrey's kids come back like August.
So they're almost done with summer.
It's so crazy.
Yeah.
My mother-in-law always says that she feels like, wait, is it July 4th?
She always feels like, oh, July 4th marks like already starting the end of summer.
I'm like, that's so sad.
That's a sad way to think about it.
I always thought like July 4th was midsummer but that didn't feel fair because in school that was like week three of summer vacation.
Right.
I know.
I know.
I'm always like, wait, we just started.
Yeah.
July 4th is the best holiday, in my opinion.
I know.
I know.
I know you love July 4th.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well Michelle, before we get into today's episode, where we're going to talk about a flying start, this expression and a few other interesting things, right.
I do want to remind our listeners to hit follow now.
Guys, the best way to make sure you build that habit and build connection in English is to go ahead and hit follow on this podcast.
So you listen four days a week.
That way you don't have to check back with us.
We'll just drop an episode into your your deck, into your collection of podcasts, when one is available, right?
So much easier.
Yes, definitely.
So we have a great listener question today.
I bet you can guess what it's about.
Lindsay, could you read the question for us?
All right.
So we don't have a name on this listener, but... Oh, we do.
We do.
At the end.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
From Mehran.
So Mehran says, you guys are amazing.
One of the best podcasts I've ever heard.
Wow.
That's a big compliment.
Thank you.
Yeah.
He says, keep going.
Great.
I want to know what is the meaning of taking something off to a flying start?
Thanks a lot, Mehran Asghari from the United States.
Five-star review.
Love it.
Thank you.
I love it.
Thank you so much.
We really appreciate it.
We really do.
So what does it mean to be off to a flying start?
I mean, this is basically an excellent beginning.
That's what I think of, right?
Like things are going well.
There's a lot of momentum, enthusiasm.
What do you think?
Yeah.
Yeah, things are you're starting off strong.
And we do use this a lot.
I'm excited for what our other examples are today.
Other things we could say.
But yeah, it just means you're starting strong in whatever you're doing.
And if you want to get your game nights in English off to a flying start, listen to episode 1372, which is how to succeed at game night in English.
Yeah, you know, Michelle.
One quick thing is we've been doing kind of a version of game night in our fluency parties lately.
So once a month, any student who is in an All Ears English course can is invited to a fluency party.
The next one, well, usually they happen at the end of the month.
You're gonna get invited if you're in a course, but it's fun because we usually play a game for part of the session and then part of the party.
And then we have kind of a conversation socializing topic.
And it's a really fun way to play games together fluency games that help us think faster in English.
It's pretty cool.
That's great.
Oh, that's awesome.
That's good.
So this flying start, would you say that's more formal or informal?
I think it's neither.
I think it's just.
I guess you could say it's informal, but I wouldn't say I couldn't use it at work or in any formal situations.
It's just descriptive.
It's descriptive.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's very conversational.
So let's go over some examples.
Lindsay, you want to do the first one?
Yes.
So this game is off to a flying start.
The score is already 15 to 20.
All right.
Yeah.
Or this the vacation is off to a flying start.
We've already gone surfing and ridden all the rides on the boardwalk.
That's always a good feeling when you're you're starting strong and you're getting a lot done in the beginning.
Right.
Yes.
Yes.
The meeting got off to a flying start because everyone started off by telling their favorite jokes.
Nice.
So when I hear that, it sounds a little bit like not just productivity.
It's like mood is good.
Like, would you say when we say off to a flying start, does that mean we're getting a lot done?
Or does that mean like things are good?
Like people are feeling good about the work?
I think it can mean either based on the context.
I think overall, like, it's definitely a positive expression, unless you use it sarcastically.
Like, oh, I had a flying start.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
Right.
Like, oh, so like last week, I was talking about stubbing my toe and everything for my vacation.
And then, yeah, yeah, like, right.
Right.
When I fell down the stairs, Michelle, like I said, you're having a bad month for your body.
Like things are not going well.
And I like I still I still have a bruise.
And this is like over a month ago.
No, no, no, no, no.
Weeks ago.
But like my.
Yeah.
When I when I fell down the stairs right away.
I mean, we literally we got to we got to say it in an Airbnb.
We were like checked in, like, all right, now let's go explore the area.
And then I fell down the stairs.
Oh, wow.
Interesting.
By the way, what part of Paris did you stay in?
Where was your Airbnb in Paris?
We were like near Le Marais.
Oh, I love that neighborhood.
That's kind of the bohemian, cool area.
Oh, it's awesome.
Do you know, did you ever at the Pompidou Center?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
We were like right next to it.
Okay, cool.
Lots of little cafes, little bars, art galleries, I imagine.
It's still kind of bohemian there or it was when I studied there.
Did you ever go to the Luxembourg Gardens?
Yes, all the time.
Yeah.
We did that.
They have a thing where little kids can like you can rent like boats and yeah, and and they can just push them in the water and yeah, and they did a pony pony ride.
It was so amazing, amazing there.
Oh really, what a beautiful city i love.
There's nothing like paris, nothing in the world like paris.
Shout out to our listeners in paris, but it's fantastic.
So anyway, we'll come back to that, i'm sure, i'm sure.
Okay um, how important is a flying start lindsey, like how, how do you like, do you think the beginning of something echoes how it's going to go?
Like Like, if something gets off to an awkward start, is there much chance of a recovery?
I mean, this could be in different scenarios.
I do.
This reminds me of when we talked a little bit about a vicious cycle or a virtuous cycle when it came to learning Arabic.
For me, right.
I think it's really important, if you can control it, to set up certain checks and balances to make sure you feel that you are gaining that endowed progress effect right.
Like if you go into a well-designed online course we don't have this in our online course, but I wish we did is that progress bar, where you see how much you've already completed?
And it's like a mental thing.
You're like, oh my gosh, I'm off to a flying start.
I've already completed 25% of this lesson.
Even if it's just like a few things you've done, it's a mental thing.
So yes, it's absolutely crucial.
Yeah, how you start something.
Yeah, it's important.
Yeah, so I think, yeah, that's a really good expression to use.
So let's talk about another expression.
So one is on the right foot or on the wrong foot.
Okay.
Yeah, so it's just funny.
Like what, like on the right foot?
I don't know.
It's just so funny.
But you can use this to say like things got a good start or not good, such a good start right like oh sorry, I mean I'm thinking so I, I became one of my best friends from college um, who unfortunately then later it didn't work out.
But we, we were, we met in high school and I had, we had just auditioned for a play and I um, we were, I went to look at the cast list and I had no, I didn't know her.
And I went to look at the cast list and I was listed as like, agent number three, and i looked at it.
I was like, oh and?
And so i heard this other guy come and he was like oh, i'm agent number two.
And she goes oh well, at least you're not agent number three, and that's how you became friends.
No, and then i didn't like her, of course, so that would be we.
We got off on the wrong foot, right?
Yeah, that's a good example, um.
And then, and then later we became very close.
But like anyway, that's funny.
Yeah, that can happen.
Right.
People make a comment.
They don't know someone's there listening or they don't know who they're offending.
And then things do get off on the wrong foot.
Sure.
Yes.
Yes.
So that's so you could say, let's start off.
Let's start on the right foot with a group dinner.
Maybe you want to do something for your employees, something like that.
Yeah.
I mean when we designed the Urban Adventure, where we had our amazing students who, by the way, like we've heard from some of them lately and such good memories from that program.
We invited them.
We got things off on the right foot.
There was, uh intentional thinking behind this by putting together a really nice low commitment happy hour at the very weekend remember michelle friday night in new york and in boston, uh and so they had a chance to come, let's see who else is in the program, let's have a drink it was more standing up, mingling kind of thing let's take some photos and then let's go home and get some rest for the big weekend ahead.
And that did get us off on the right foot of socializing and connecting.
Yeah Lindsay, do you remember what happened to me that day?
Yeah, kind of.
Yeah, there was something with the train.
There was an appointment.
No, it was because I was teaching at Columbia University.
So that was like all the way up down.
And my plan was to stay in the city.
And I was pregnant at the time with my son.
And I fell.
Um, and I got, I like fell on the stairs.
What is up with all this falling?
Um, and I remember, so then I, I, um, I, that really started things off on the wrong foot.
And, um, I, I called my doctor and they were like, Oh, just come in to be safe.
But so then I had to go, um, all the way home.
And then I had to come and then I and then I came back and it was like, so fast.
And it was crazy.
So anyway, yeah, but luckily, everything was fine.
And yeah, I think it's healthy.
And you're able to join up with us after that.
But yeah, that was a great time for sure.
Yeah, rough start.
So yeah, that is another one, a rough start or a slow start, right?
So what's the difference between a rough start and a slow start?
I think rough start is more blatantly bad.
Like something bad happened.
Like with that for you.
Maybe you saw that as a rough start to the weekend for you personally.
Right,
With the falling, having to go to the doctor, taking the train out of Manhattan back into Manhattan.
This is a big mess.
But a slow start would be.
Maybe, for example, if all the students showed up and no one's talking.
Everyone's shy.
And I'm thinking, oh, things got off to a slow start.
I'm a little worried of how this group is going to connect.
Yeah, that's a slow start.
A slow start.
So that's more a rough start and slow start.
So we got off to a rough start, but we recovered and we're best friends now.
Or... I love it.
Or... The semester... Oh, go ahead.
Okay.
I'll just say it.
The semester got up to a slow start.
But once the teacher got to know the class, things got a lot better.
So that just means there wasn't much connection in the beginning between the teacher and the student.
So things felt like they were lagging, like it was slow, maybe boring classes, right?
Yeah.
Yes.
Right, right, right.
So, Lindsay, is your day off to a rough start, a flying start, a slow start?
What do you think?
And what do you do to ensure success in the morning?
Well, every time I record with you, it's always off to a flying start, of course.
I got to start my day at 8am today with you recording which honestly, that is the best thing I do in my mind.
It's the most fun thing I do at All Ears English.
So that starts my day off in a really good way.
But what do I do?
I go for a dog.
I go for a dog.
I go for a dog.
I go for a walk with my dog in the mornings.
A dog for my walk.
Yeah.
I go for a dog for my walk.
Yeah.
No, I go for a walk with my dog in the mornings.
And then I get my body moving, have a good breakfast, shower.
And I'm at my desk at eight.
I'm usually feeling pretty good.
Yeah.
What about you?
What do you do?
Sorry.
What time do you get up for that?
I get up at six 30 and I'm at my desk by eight.
Okay.
Um, so is, uh, let's see.
My days are usually off to a crazy start.
I know that's not one of the words, but oh my gosh, it is, it is a marathon.
It is something because I have to like get, I have to get my son ready for school and oh, the kids have been waking up at five in the morning because of the jet lag.
So then I had to get the baby and my son and like make sure lunch is packed and blah, blah, blah.
And then if the babysitter's coming, I also make the baby a lunch.
And so it's just like, It's something like you should see it.
But we're here.
We're here.
Yeah, I can imagine, once you have kids, like the peace and quiet of your mornings, like owning your mornings, is gone right.
It's completely gone.
And that's hard to stomach when I think about having kids.
I'm like, I don't know, I can give up my mornings, but hopefully it's worth it, right?
Yeah, it's worth it.
It's worth it.
I have fun.
All right Michelle, do we have a role play here for our listeners?
Let's do it.
So here we are colleagues, and you just started at the company a month ago.
All right, here we go.
All right, so here we go.
Uh, so you are really off to a flying start here.
How are you liking the job?
Yeah, it's great.
The first day i had a rough start because my apartment flooded that morning, but everyone was so warm here that i quickly felt better.
Oh wow.
Yeah.
I had a slow start here, actually.
I didn't like it at first and there weren't too many projects for me, but now it's the best.
I'm glad we started off on the right foot, though.
We got along right away.
Definitely.
Nice.
Okay.
So all about starting.
So here you said so you're making a comment to me because maybe you're seeing that I'm doing some good work right initially and things are going well.
You say, hey, you're really off to a flying start here.
Now, how are you liking it?
Nice.
Good opener.
And then you said the first day I had a rough start because my apartment flooded.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then you said, oh, wow.
Yeah.
I had a slow start here, actually.
I didn't like it at first.
There weren't too many projects, but now it's the best.
Yes.
And then you said, well, I'm glad we started off on the right foot, though.
We got along right away.
Yeah.
So ending, coming back to our motto guys of connection, not perfection.
It's nice to affirm a relationship, right?
First with this coworker, you're talking about the job, how did it start?
But then in the end you're kind of affirming a relationship which further deepens that connection, which is really nice.
Yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, exactly.
I love it.
So yeah.
Oh my gosh.
We've, we've discussed a lot of things today.
Yeah.
Yeah, this is great, guys.
You can open up a conversation with colleagues about this, talking about how you start things, how certain things got started.
There's so much, Michelle, that our listeners could do with today's episode, don't you think?
Right, right, right.
Yeah, this can be used really for anything to talk about friendships relationships work, vacations.
It's about mindset, right?
And I think overall, we have to have positive mindset to achieve success.
So we gave you some expressions to use, but we hope that your day is off to a flying start and just gets better from here on out.
I love it.
Good stuff.
Another episode, Michelle and our listeners should hit follow to make sure they get this one.
We should talk about the expression right out of the gate, right out of the gate.
I think that is, I hear that all the time and I love it.
I think it sounds cool.
I think of horse racing.
Right.
And it just, it's kind of in line with this idea, but we could do a whole episode on that.
Right.
All right.
That is a TBD coming soon.
All right.
Good stuff.
All right, Michelle, thanks for hanging with me today and have a good rest of your day.
Thank you.
You too.
Bye.
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