Posted by Offer Tsuriel on November 6, 2009
Business loves buzzwords. These days, new words buzz their way into the language every day. Even people who have no connection with dot-coms find themselves spewing the geekspeak of computers and corporations. Pretty soon, the buzzwords become so common that people apologize for using them. For instance, every time someone uses the term, “thinking outside the box,” now, it’s followed quickly by “forgive the expression.” People recognize that “thinking outside the box” has become hackneyed. I won’t be surprised if they’re soon looking for a way to crawl back into that box, wherever it is.
This is what I call the “bunny ears” phenomenon. Remember, a few years back, when everyone would make those little quote marks in the air with their fingers? WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Offer Tsuriel on November 5, 2009
A kindly old editor once explained to me the facts of life in journalism: “Deadlines are simple. Cross the line, and you’re dead.”
Probably not an original thought, and he had a gleam in his eye when he said it, but I took it to heart. Through two decades in the news business, I rarely missed a deadline. In fact, I usually delivered my stories early. It left more time to argue with the editors.
Deadlines are more extreme in the newspaper business, but every industry has them. That’s why you see people using laptop computers at the beach. It’s why the businessman with the car phone melded to his ear nearly mowed you down in traffic this morning. And it’s one reason ulcer medications sell so well (parenting being the other reason). WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Offer Tsuriel on November 4, 2009
People who work at regular jobs often ask us who work at home, “What do you do with yourself all day?” This is an exceedingly stupid question. Folks in 9-to-5 jobs seem to think we homeoffice types have lots of time to lollygag in our pajamas and watch soap operas. This simply is not true. We perform many so-called “invisible” tasks-such as scraping lime out of toilet bowls-and those jobs take time. Most days, we barely scratch the surface of all we need to do before, whoops, it’s bedtime again.
So, as a public service, to generate understanding between wage slaves and we pajama-wearing housespouses, I’ve drawn up a typical schedule WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
