work one's way up

It’s self-evident that watching and thinking about movies would be an important way to learn about making movies—especially in the absence of the traditional path to movie-making, which was to get a job in the business and work one’s way up.

You may not acknowledge to yourself what has driven you into those ranks, but I will tell you how it is: to be a clever engineer, and gradually work one's way up to be chief-engineer, is an honorable career, but much too modest a one for a man of a disposition like yours.

What an opportunity to work one's way up to a proposal.

What an opportunity to work one's way up to a proposal.

What an opportunity to work one's way up to a proposal!