Category: Business English
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Guiding principle
WotD: Guiding principle Definition of guiding principle A guiding principle is a fundamental idea or rule that helps direct actions, decisions, and behaviour. It acts as a compass, providing a clear path when facing challenges or making choices. In simple terms, a guiding principle is a core value or belief that shapes how individuals, organizations, or groups operate. For example, honesty is…
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Carrot and stick
Idiom: Carrot and stick Sometimes you give a carrot; other times, you have to use the stick. Carrot and stick is a popular English idiom used to describe a motivational approach that combines rewards and punishments. The “carrot” stands for a reward, such as praise, bonuses, or other positive outcomes. The “stick” represents a punishment or negative consequence, like criticism or…
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Little wins
Word of the Day: Little wins In our pursuit of big goals, we often forget the value of little wins. Let me remind you about the importance of remembering your little wins. Little wins are small achievements or minor successes that happen during our daily routines. They may seem unimportant on their own, but when you add…
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Skin in the game
Phrase: Skin in the game Have you noticed people make smarter choices when something important to them is at stake? This idea is called skin in the game. Skin in the game means personally sharing the outcomes of decisions. If things go well, you benefit. If not, you bear the cost. Your money, reputation, or future is…
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Act of God
Idiom: Act of God The phrase act of God is often used in legal and business contexts. An act of God means a natural event that humans cannot control or prevent. Examples of acts of God include earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, and other extreme natural disasters. These events are not caused by people and cannot be stopped by human actions.…
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Cartel
Word of the Day: Cartel At the end of February, Mexico erupted into violence after Mexican authorities killed an important and powerful cartel leader. Everybody understands this guy was a drug lord. But do you know what a cartel is? Sometimes, criminal organizations form a cartel to control illegal activities, such as drug trafficking. In…
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Instant gratification
WotD: Instant gratification We live in an instant gratification world. We all want what we want immediately. Without considering the consequences of our impatience, we think, “Bigger, better, faster, more, give it to me now!” With just a click, we can order food, watch movies, or buy products online. This easy access makes waiting harder,…
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Whistleblower
WotD: Whistleblower Every now and then, you see it on the news: a whistleblower has come forward with shocking information that often becomes a nine-days’ wonder. A whistleblower is a person who exposes information or activity within an organization that is illegal, unethical, or incorrect. The word whistleblower comes from the idea of someone blowing…
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Freemium
Word of the Day: Freemium Freemium is a popular business model used by many digital companies today. The word freemium is a portmanteau of “free” and “premium.” In this model, a company offers a basic product or service for free, but users must pay for advanced features or extra content. Freemium is widely used in…
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Race to the bottom
Phrase: Race to the bottom A race to the bottom happens when companies, countries, or organizations try to win more business by lowering their standards, prices, or quality. They hope to attract more customers or investments, but this kind of competition usually ends up hurting everyone. This is what had been happening in Japan for…
