Category: Business English
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Fixed mindset
WotD: Fixed mindset A fixed mindset is a belief that our abilities and intelligence are static and cannot change. People with a fixed mindset think that talent is everything. They often avoid challenges because they fear failure, feeling it reflects poorly on their abilities. This way of thinking can be harmful because it limits potential…
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Nadir
Word of the Day: Nadir It happens to everyone. There is always a time when we feel we have reached a nadir. When we experience a nadir, it can feel overwhelming and isolating. However, this time of struggle can also spark a powerful motivation for change and growth. The term nadir refers to the lowest…
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Unicorn
Word of the Day: Unicorn Operating in the business world is not all rainbows and unicorns. It’s even harder in Japan. In fact, in Japan, you have a better chance of finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow than you do of finding a unicorn. A unicorn is a startup company…
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Laggard
Word of the Day: Laggard When purchasing new technology, would you call yourself an early adopter or a laggard? On the technology adoption curve, I am a laggard. In the world of technology, the term laggard describes people or groups who are slow to adopt new innovations. A laggard is typically the last to embrace…
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Climb the ladder
Idiom: Climb the ladder Traditionally, the boomer generation and Generation X were known for their dedication to climbing the ladder, giving their all to reach the top of their chosen career paths. They lived in a time when loyalty to a company and hard work often paid off with promotions and job security. The idiom…
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Price-gouging
WotD: Price-gouging Price-gouging means raising prices on goods or services to an unreasonable level, often during times of crisis. This can happen when a sudden demand for certain products, such as food, water, or medical supplies, occurs due to natural disasters or public health emergencies such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Price-gouging is considered unethical…
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Gilded Age
WotD: Gilded Age The Gilded Age was a period in American history, roughly from the 1870s to the 1900s, marked by rapid economic growth, industrialization, and a surge in wealth. Despite the shiny exterior of prosperity and progress, the Gilded Age also witnessed vast social problems, including poverty, corruption, and inequality. The contrast between wealth…
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Enshittification
WotD: Enshittification In our digital age, many users have started noticing a troubling trend known as enshittification. Now, I can forgive you for immediately not taking this word seriously. However, this is a real term that the Macquarie Dictionary has recognized as its 2024 word of the year. Enshittification refers to how a once-great service…
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Buy-in
Word of the Day: Buy-in In the business world, buy-in is frequently used to mean the agreement or support that individuals or groups give to a plan, idea, or change. When people have buy-in, they are committed to making the plan successful. For example, imagine a company wishes to implement a new software program. To…
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Eat your lunch
Idiom: Eat your lunch If you are not adapting to the changing environment, someone will come in and eat your lunch. The world is going through a period of upheaval and change. When I say change, I mean everything will change. In 2022, we used to talk about going back to The Before Times, but…
