Z is for Zeitgeist
This German word is one of my favourites and it means ‘spirit of the age’, which obviously doesn’t sound as streamlined as the German (which translates literally as time-spirit. For cognate lovers, Zeit = tide and Geist = ghost). I don’t personally think zeitgeist is a bullshit word (yet) but what else could we have […]
Y is for Yettie
You know who they are. They carry black computer bags and they are that particular irritant in airports, spouting into their phones non-stop all the way from baggage drop through boarding, and they can barely be assed to shut up on take-off. And they spout one long stream of bullshit. The Young, Entrepreneurial, Tech-based Twenty-something. […]
W is for Wow
Bullshit aside, this is absolutely one of my favourite words in the whole of the English language: it’s versatile and expressive and energy-efficient, packing a big punch with just one easy-to-utter syllable. ‘Wow’ of course was originally an interjection expressing wonder, amazement, as in ‘Wow!’ (that Facebook emoji you can click on to ‘react’ to […]
V is for Vector
Sorry, no idea what a vector is. Nor has anyone else (except, presumably, rockstar mathematicians and engineers.) Not to worry. It’s extremely versatile and sounds great. Just toss it in wherever you want, but do make sure it’s vaguely connected with movement in one dimension or direction. You can talk about vectorial-generating interfaces or cutting-edge […]
U is for Unpack
I only became aware of this one recently and then found myself using it over and again. At my last writing workshop, for example. “So, that’s a few housekeeping issues knocked on the head. Here’s an overview of what we’re going to cover today. First we’ll look at the creative process and then we’re going […]
T is for Turbocharge
I knew that a turbine was something that turned (duh), but I was driven by my passion for etymology to do further research. The word originally comes (via French) from the Latin turbo turbinis meaning “spinning top, eddy, whirlwind, that which whirls,” (cf turbid, turbulence, etc) and was originally applied to a wheel spinning on […]
S is for Storytelling
Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin. Once upon a time there was a marketing strategist who had such an overblown idea of his own awesomeness that… Now it’s your turn. Interactive is the new campfire-driven sustainable synergy, right? In my opinion, Storytelling is one of the most insufferable bullshit words and ‘concepts’ ever to […]
R is for Rockstar
That is, that pinnacle of awesomeness: who you really are, in your relationships, your business and your life. You can use Rockstar like Quantum or Ninja to sell stuff. Turbocharge Your Inner Rockstar, for example, or Rockstar your Life in Seven Easy Steps. The A-Z of Bullshit, Hype and Cool Stuff is part […]
Q is for Quantum
Use this word to shift gazillions of self-help and personal development books, audios, workshops, webinars, systems, seminars, courses, toolboxes, practices, healings, activations, attunements, ‘transmissions’ and master key programs. The A-Z of Bullshit, Hype and Cool Stuff is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2016
P is for Push the Envelope
To be honest, I got stuck with the letter P. Spoilt for choice: so many epic words to take the piss out of: portal, platform, process, paradigm, purposify, productize. How about an expression, I thought. Put out fires? Or Push the Envelope. Meaning to innovate, to go beyond boundaries. But the more I thought about […]