I'm so over 'buzzness' words....

for many you folks out there you work for small businesses, large corporations or nonprofits (like me). There's a culture in the work place where the words you say can make or break you. It seems after a conference, training or meeting people come away with, what I like to call, 'buzzness' words. Buzz words used to impress business-type folks.

Below are a few examples... mind you I work for a nonprofit so I know some words, but i'm sure many you out there know way more than I do. If you just pay attention in a meeting you'll hear your colleagues, especially those that like to hear themselves talk, share those lovely 'buzzness' words. Or, perhaps you can actually read work related emails for once and pick-up on that work lingo/jargon/buzz words! Better yet, just watch The Apprentice they are all about those words.

'Buzzness' words

1. synergy (or synergize) - so dumb! what does it really mean? "we need to create some synergy around this [whatever]... " so over that word!
2. seamless (e.g. "we want to make this a 'seamless' transition... ") what? are we a tailor or seamstress now? okay then, i'm going to knit this project, so no worries.
3. organic - maybe this is a Colorado thing?
4. expedite - yup, totally over it!
5. disseminate - so yeah, again, done with this one! e.g. we need to disseminate this information...
6. critical - really? how critical is it?
7. strategic - i'm sooo guilty of using this one!
8. leverage - again, guilty!
9. implement - oh geez, super guilty here!
10. integrated - well, crap! i LOVE that one, but i'll have to let this word go, just like the rest of them!


I could go on and on, but I won't; please feel free to list your 'buzzness' words on the comment section. It's okay to admit that you use these words, too. Like me, I know firsthand how using 'buzzness' words make you actually sound like you know what the heck you're talking about it. Seriously, I do.
I challenge you guys to go through a meeting, presentation, etc and not use a 'buzzness' word.

cringing, ralphing and confessions of chunk

remember the scene in goonies when chunk confesses everything he ever did? he basically spills his guts. most memorable is when he confessed that he made a fake ralphing noise then dropped fake puke over the balcony at the movie theatre... for some reason i think of that scene as i think of myself things i've said and the way i acted and responded to life, people, etc it makes me cringe. and at times i want to chuck all over the place. lovely thought, isn't it?

i cringe at the mere thought of not loving people the way i've been called to.... that's probably the reason why i cringe at so many things...

i cringe at the stupid things i've said on dates... or to guys i've crushed on... or the reasons why i stopped liking someone...

i cringe at the way i've treated my family over the past 25 years or so... they are the hardest for me to love...

i cringe when i think of how many times i pretend not to see the homeless guy on the corner holding a sign that reads: "Anything Helps! God Bless"

i cringe when i throw away tons of rotten food; i didn't eat all of it and it went sour. millions are dying of starvation in africa and here i am throwing away spoiled food... i suck!

i cringe when i remember someone from my childhood that i chose to ignore or make fun of... i had no idea how mean i was then... how we were then... how i can be... how we all can be. mean people suck!

i cringe when i think of how many hours i've wasted looking for things on craigslist... i'm always looking for something... car, housing, furniture, etc. will i ever be content with the things i already have?

i cringe... oh, how i cringe at so many things...

i know many of you are reading this and are thinking, steph, this is all forgiven, quit beating yourself up already! SHEESH!!! you're right... but i confess all of this because i know if i don't then it will continue to make me cringe and puke. maybe chunk's confessions were far from being contrite, he just didn't want his fingers to be blended to death or chopped off. i like my fingers and I don't want them blended either, but i must say it feels good get these off of my chest! i hope you all know i'm not beating myself up, i know my shortcomings and i believe in the power of redemption and healing. i really do!

please feel free to confess your cringes, if you will.

i'm off to sunny socal in a.m. for the week... we'll see if there's time to blog.