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Part 1 Β· Episode 23 A2-B1

I’m Going to Change Everything

πŸ“ be going to (plans)

Steve Jobs Β· 1997: Jobs returns πŸ“– 4 min read

Episode 23: I’m Going to Change Everything

be going to: plans β€” Steve Jobs, 1997 (A2-B1)

Grammar Box

Meaning: Be going to shows plans we already made and predictions based on evidence we can see now.

Form: am/is/are + going to + base verb

Example 1: I’m going to visit Paris next month. (existing plan)

Example 2: Look at those clouds! It’s going to rain. (evidence-based prediction)

Common mistake: Wrong: I’m going to studied. Better: I’m going to study.

The Question

Luna looks at her planner. “Tomorrow I will study. Next week I’m going to visit my friend.” She stops. “Wait. When do I use ‘will’? When do I use ‘going to’?” The watch glows bright. Professor Wisdom smiles. “Both talk about the future. But they feel different. Let me show you.”

The Journey

The light changes. Luna stands in a large office. The room feels tense. Men in suits sit around a table. They look worried. “Where are we?” Luna whispers.

“Apple headquarters, 1997,” the Professor says. “The company is dying.”

A thin man with round glasses enters. Steve Jobs. He had created Apple twenty years ago. But the company fired him in 1985. For twelve years, he worked elsewhere. He built new companies. He learned hard lessons. He failed. He grew.

Now Apple is desperate. They’re losing money. They’re losing customers. They’re losing hope. They asked Jobs to return. He agreed. But he has conditions.

Jobs stands at the head of the table. His eyes are intense. “We’re going to change everything,” he says. “We’re going to make fewer products. Better products. We’re going to focus.”

The executives look nervous. Jobs continues. “I’m going to cut seventy percent of our products. We’re going to stop doing what doesn’t work. We’re going to think different.”

One executive interrupts. “But those products make moneyβ€”” Jobs cuts him off. “They’re confusing customers. I’m not going to let that continue.”

Before Jobs returned, Apple made dozens of products. Nobody understood what Apple meant anymore. After Jobs’ plan, Apple would become clear again. Simple. Focused. The iMac. The iPod. The iPhone. Each one perfect.

Luna smells coffee and stress. She hears papers rustling and pens clicking. She feels the electricity of a plan forming. Jobs isn’t guessing. He has a vision. He’s going to make it real.

“Listen to his words,” Professor Wisdom says. “‘I’m going to change.’ ‘We’re going to focus.’ These aren’t sudden decisions. They’re plans he’s already made.”

The Insight

“‘Be going to’ shows plans,” the Professor explains. “You already decided. You prepared. You see the future clearly.”

“‘Will’ is for promises and instant decisions. ‘I will help you!’ You decide right now. But ‘going to’ is different. ‘I’m going to help you.’ You already planned it.”

“‘Going to’ also shows predictions based on evidence. Look at those dark clouds. It’s going to rain. You see the signs. The future is visible.”

“Jobs said ‘We’re going to change everything.’ Not a sudden idea. A plan. Clear. Ready. Already in motion.”

Practice Zone

More Examples:

  1. “I’m going to start a new job next month.” β€” Plan already decided.
  2. “Look at that car! It’s going to crash!” β€” Prediction from evidence.
  3. “We’re going to visit Paris this summer.” β€” Travel plan made.
  4. “She’s going to be angry when she finds out.” β€” Prediction based on knowledge.
  5. “I’m going to learn Spanish this year.” β€” Intention and plan.
  6. “The company is going to hire more people.” β€” Announced plan.

Exercises:

  1. Fill in the blank: I bought tickets yesterday. I ___ (go) to the concert tomorrow. (Use going to)

  2. Choose the correct:
    a) I will study tonight. (You just decided)
    b) I’m going to study tonight. (You planned it earlier)

  3. Match:
    – “I’m going to quit my job.” β†’ Plan already made
    – “I will help you with that.” β†’ Instant decision

  4. Complete: Look at those black clouds! It ___ (rain) soon.

  5. Your turn: Write about your weekend plan using “going to.” Example: “I’m going to…”

Answer Key:

  1. am going to go (or: ‘m going to go)
  2. Both correct! a) = instant decision. b) = existing plan.
  3. First shows a plan you already decided. Second shows you’re deciding now.
  4. is going to rain (or: ‘s going to rain)
  5. Check: Did you use “am/is/are going to” + base verb? Does it show a plan?

The Lesson

Luna returns home. She looks at her planner again. “Tomorrow I will decide” means she’ll choose then. “Tomorrow I’m going to study” means she already chose. Same future. Different feeling. Plans have power. They turn dreams into steps.