Comments on: Top 5 Overused Business Cliches http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/ Connecting the dots of life and business Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:29:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Christine http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Christine Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:29:26 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-638 I know this article is a year old. But my small company was just "acquired" (bought) by a large company. Large Company loves to use the terms:<br>-Workaround .... aka: solution!<br>-Champion .... aka: person responsible for the task<br>UGH I know this article is a year old. But my small company was just “acquired” (bought) by a large company. Large Company loves to use the terms:
-Workaround …. aka: solution!
-Champion …. aka: person responsible for the task
UGH

]]> By: chuckbernard http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-636 chuckbernard Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:59:54 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-636 Dear Todd,<br>I appreciate this posting. I work as a fellowships and graduate studies adviser at a liberal arts college, and I read a lot of personal statements and project proposals. Our business and econ students throw these cliches out there at a startling rate, and the problem is especially glaring when they're not applying for business positions.<br>My two favorites correspond to your top choice, synergy, in so far as they are words whose uses have wandered pretty far from their earlier ones.<br>Leverage -- I had a student recently write that she had written her senior thesis by "leveraging" the rare book collection at a local library.<br>Metric -- I'm not sure why measurement or study or whatever other terms apply here have fallen out of favor, but I see many references to metric. And in a lot of cases, it seems that people use it to discuss any sort of analysis or any part of an analysis. Some people also seem to use it to mean result or outcome, which seems even more overdone. Dear Todd,
I appreciate this posting. I work as a fellowships and graduate studies adviser at a liberal arts college, and I read a lot of personal statements and project proposals. Our business and econ students throw these cliches out there at a startling rate, and the problem is especially glaring when they're not applying for business positions.
My two favorites correspond to your top choice, synergy, in so far as they are words whose uses have wandered pretty far from their earlier ones.
Leverage — I had a student recently write that she had written her senior thesis by “leveraging” the rare book collection at a local library.
Metric — I'm not sure why measurement or study or whatever other terms apply here have fallen out of favor, but I see many references to metric. And in a lot of cases, it seems that people use it to discuss any sort of analysis or any part of an analysis. Some people also seem to use it to mean result or outcome, which seems even more overdone.

]]> By: andyswan http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-583 andyswan Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:11:18 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-583 You have to imagine that boardrooms were quite a bit more effective when men with greased hair smoked cigars and pontificated on ways to kick the shit out of the competition without dancing around the terminology.<br><br>But, maybe "circling back with terry and seeing if there is some common ground for us to use as a jump point" is working for someone, somewhere. You have to imagine that boardrooms were quite a bit more effective when men with greased hair smoked cigars and pontificated on ways to kick the shit out of the competition without dancing around the terminology.

But, maybe “circling back with terry and seeing if there is some common ground for us to use as a jump point” is working for someone, somewhere.

]]> By: andyswan http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-515 andyswan Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:11:18 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-515 You have to imagine that boardrooms were quite a bit more effective when men with greased hair smoked cigars and pontificated on ways to kick the shit out of the competition without dancing around the terminology.<br><br>But, maybe "circling back with terry and seeing if there is some common ground for us to use as a jump point" is working for someone, somewhere. You have to imagine that boardrooms were quite a bit more effective when men with greased hair smoked cigars and pontificated on ways to kick the shit out of the competition without dancing around the terminology.

But, maybe “circling back with terry and seeing if there is some common ground for us to use as a jump point” is working for someone, somewhere.

]]> By: earwood http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-514 earwood Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:11:53 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-514 Bill - I think you're speaking startup blasphemy with the first couple and I love the "its the economy" one. We all know it's terrible, but it seems many have found their scapegoat. :) Bill – I think you're speaking startup blasphemy with the first couple and I love the “its the economy” one. We all know it's terrible, but it seems many have found their scapegoat. :)

]]> By: billdotson http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-513 billdotson Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:04:01 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-513 How about "I'll pay you in equity" or "as soon as we have funding..." -- not so normal, but they are prevalent. Banks love, "we don't set the rules"...<br><br>My new favorite -- "its the economy" How about “I'll pay you in equity” or “as soon as we have funding…” — not so normal, but they are prevalent. Banks love, “we don't set the rules”…

My new favorite — “its the economy”

]]> By: earwood http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-510 earwood Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:28:37 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-510 I haven't heard "wrestle the bull", but I'm guilty of saying CMS (not the full name). Does that count as the same? I haven't heard “wrestle the bull”, but I'm guilty of saying CMS (not the full name). Does that count as the same?

]]> By: Johan Cyprich http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-512 Johan Cyprich Sat, 28 Feb 2009 07:20:13 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-512 For a few months, I was working in the same area as sales people and one phrase which I heard in every conversation with their clients was "touch base". I'd like to tell our clients, "all your base are belong to us", but not many of them have a great sense of humour. :) For a few months, I was working in the same area as sales people and one phrase which I heard in every conversation with their clients was “touch base”. I'd like to tell our clients, “all your base are belong to us”, but not many of them have a great sense of humour. :)

]]> By: bdthomas http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-511 bdthomas Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:47:54 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-511 At the end of the day, I think you hit the nail on the head. Todd, way to go after that low hanging fruit. At the end of the day, I think you hit the nail on the head. Todd, way to go after that low hanging fruit.

]]> By: Seth http://www.toddearwood.com/2009/02/27/top-5-overused-business-cliches/comment-page-1/#comment-509 Seth Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:19:31 +0000 http://www.toddearwood.com/?p=679#comment-509 How about these gems:<br><br>• I wanted to touch base<br>• "Content Management System"<br>• Change gears<br>• Wrestle this bull to the ground How about these gems:

• I wanted to touch base
• “Content Management System”
• Change gears
• Wrestle this bull to the ground

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