In Africa they can learn the ropes in a region where competition is weak.

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They can help you learn the ropes, give you a place to vent and help you avoid their mistakes.

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Once someone gives you an opportunity then make it worth their while: show up to work on time, be enthusiastic, be independent, learn the ropes.

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To help me learn the ropes of the program, I met Arkesha Darensbourg, who has been on and off food stamps over the past few years.

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They dispatched Miyauchi, the University of Washington-educated son of a Japanese lumber merchant, to learn the ropes at U.S. Leasing International (now part of Ford's financial arm).

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Flexon was among those passed over, but he agreed to leave his job as finance chief at NRG to run Foster Wheeler's U.S. division, where he was to learn the ropes and compete for the top job.

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How one confronts the challenges of regulation makes all the difference as to whether a career as a regulator only initially flounders in response to the need to learn the ropes or ultimately founders because one could not navigate the dangers.

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It's probably not right to say what type of style I would take if I were to become the captain - I've had so little experience I don't know - but you have to learn the ropes as you go along and really only find out once you're in the job.

BBC: Paul Collingwood column