FUBAR - Our Language Languishes

In 2012, the American Oxford Dictionary, Word of The Year (WOTY), was GIF; verb, "to GIF a picture". That's right - "GIF".

NO, I'M NOT YELLING. 

You see, GIF, is always written in all capital letters. Why? Because it's not really a word - it's an acronym, for Graphic Interchange Format - like JPEG, or FUBAR. That's right. The WOTY for 2012, according to the keepers of our language, is not a word.

Let that sink in - as we observe a moment of silence.

The systematic butchering of our language it nothing new - it has become so apparent that Weird Al Yankovic, God help us, has become the de facto spokesman for the proper use of language and grammar. As shown by this 3-minute video, in defence of language, that has over 11 million views as I write this post.

I've written on a lot of topics since starting this blog, in 2012 - the year of the 'GIF', but more than anything, this blog is a reflection of my love for writing. It is a forum for expression of ideas - for sharing experience, strength, and hope as a writer, father and husband.

Written content is the heartbeat of the World Wide Web. From the mid 90's, to the beginning of the new Millennium, we saw virtual arteries clogged with SEO trickery, conversational writing, jargon, lazy short-hand and plagiarism.

In the last decade, we've seen a remarkable reversal, from keyword-stuffing-algorithm-gaming content, flung onto webpages by overnight successes, and mid morning failures, to a revolution of ideas, driven by well written, thoughtful, authentic, content.

Content is King - welcome to the Content Revolution!

It would be nice to claim that this Content Revolution is the product of the Humans and their inherent integrity and protection of all things sacred. Sadly, the Royal Resurgence of language, rising on the back of content is a product of circumstance, rather than virtue. 

It is the monetization of content that is driving this Revolution.

In 2014, content marketing is the hottest trend for corporate sales - and this trend is growing. And it's not only the eBusinesses that are leading the charge. Businesses of all types - from accountants to landscapers - have found new markets and increased sales on the internet.

My favourite content marketing evangelist is Marcus Sheridan, the Sales Lion - and his core business is selling swimming pools. Over five years, he brought his business from the edge of ruin to prosperity, on a platform of content marketing. Marcus promotes a refreshing return to traditional values - like being helpful and communicating. 

We've gone full circle, in this Age of Information - the same forces responsible for launching guerilla warfare on our language with GIF, L8er and OMG - now form the foundation of a Digital Renaissance led by Content Marketing.

What does the future look like for our language? 

Well, the WOTY for 2013 is "selfie". At least it's a word - which is progress. But maybe it's not the lexicographers, and academics, who hold the keys to  our language - but rather, the executives, and shareholders of the corporate world.

Content marketing is driven by economic - not artistic, or cultural - metrics. The end result is the free exchange of new ideas, and furtherance of the quality of contemporary writing. If the consumer is attracted to content, and this attraction results in visits to a brand website, and these visits translate into sales - then there is real, economic, motivation to maintain high quality written content.

So, if Content is King, then the Consumer, who drives the demand, must be Queen - long live the Queen

And if a dopey song by Weird Al helps carry this message to the masses - so 'b' it.

Best, Sam Edge

For more about Content, eCommerce and Business Strategy, visit my information site: The Edge on Strategy

Dealing with difficult people (Including yourself)

"It's better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you a fool than speak and remove all doubt." Mark Twain et. al.


I attributed the quote above to "Mark Twain et. al." because there is some debate as to who said it - but it sounds like Mark Twain to me. Regardless of origin, this little pearl of wisdom has served me well. When I am unsure of where I stand or, more frequently, when I am not fit for Human consumption, I try to listen more and speak less.

I learned this lesson only after many years of conflict, trial and error.

For most of my thirties I worked in an office with twenty-five employees. I was one of only two men. I worked there for seven years. I was in a senior management position. Obviously, any authority I had over my employees was an illusion that I was allowed to entertain from time to time. Up until this time in my life I was allowed to believe that men were the stronger sex - not so.

Any true managing that I was able to achieve was through the art of strategic submission. I leaned more about how to get along with the Humans during those years than all the combined years before and since. I also learned a lot about true strength.

I managed to play well with the other kids - for the most part.

There were a few conflicts which I chose to engaged in with way too much enthusiasm.The delicate art of assertively setting and maintaining boundaries was foreign to me. Rather, I spent many nights plotting revenge on those who I was convinced were picking on me. Ultimately, I resorted to guerilla tactics.

I would spend an entire week crafting an e-mail to be concise, hard-hitting and full of double meaning and deniability. I fuelled fires with phrases such as: "I understand how difficult ... I am happy to assist with ... complex issues for a person of your .... given your limited ..."

My objective was to exact revenge while maintaining deniability.

At exactly 4:25 - five minutes before quitting time on Friday afternoon - I would send the e-mail, turn off my computer and go home for the weekend. I would be the last this the recipient would see before their weekend. They were left unable to respond. Monday they would be apoplectic.

Yes, I was a little, little man

Photo Credit: www.peanuts.com

Ultimately that job crashed into a mountain and I was the first to be eaten in the ensuing weeks. I will always be grateful for that experience. As a result I have never since found a personality conflict I am unable to rise above. From this experience, I developed the single best strategy to promote peaceful relations with the Humans.

I sleep on it - that's it.

I don't react in the moment I go home and let it sit for a night. Most of the time the problem resolves itself as I sleep. When it doesn't, I am able to find a way to resolve it with out bloodshed or viscous e-mail campaigns.

I still write e-mails to resolve resentments but I have my wife proofread them first.

Today I play well with the other kids. Life is too short for petty resentments and feuds. I need all the energy I have to be the best husband and father I can be. I don't have the luxury of nursing resentments.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Best, Sam Edge

The Edge On Strategy