Guilty as charged!

I just came across this blog about phrases marketing people love to use and habits they have. Of course we're PR people, not marketing people, but we seem to suffer from the same illness. I thought it was hilarious to read, but - are we really this stereotypical (wow - the second post in a row that I'm using this word in)?

Anyway, here are some of my favourites:

'Keeping it high level' - I always try to keep my work on a high level, of course ;-)

'at the end of the day....' - I go home. Really, I think it's just a mollified way of saying 'at the end of the project, this will have to be done', or 'if everything worked out as intended, then...'. I just think it gives the wrong impression of a nice and relaxed sunset, when all you want to say is 'what it comes down to, is...'

'Stategies with lots of moving parts' - Meaning: 'I haven't got it figured out just yet - I have a few ideas that somehow they don't quite fit your brief, but I love them anyway, and you are just ignorant if you don't appreciate them'.

'Giving the view from 30.000 feet' - I'm sorry, I'm myopic, but this has only got to do with my eyes.

Ending emails with 'thoughts?' - As much as I'm in a hurry, I always end my emails with complete sentences. Anything else is just rude.

Leverage - waaaaah, there it is. My pet hate word. I tear my hair every time I read this in a press release I have to translate - because there simply is no appropriate German word to translate it. You have to paraphrase it, and it never sounds just right. Same with 'empower'. Terrible.

Giving 'ballpark estimates' - Meaning: throwing in a figure and hoping that the client doesn't faint. If he doesn't, we got us a good basis for negociation here.

'Low Hanging Fruit' - Don't you just love it when a client wants coverage in all Tier 1 business publications and calls it 'low-hanging fruit'? Other than that, I'd better not go into the associations that I have with this term...

Instant messaging each other when sitting next to each other - Or writing emails. People, we're in the communications business - open your mouth! Would be the correct comment regarding this, but let's admit it - it's the best way of talking about someone who's in the same room...

Sleeping with each other - Well: don't fuck the company! It's never a good idea. Actually, I just wanted to say fuck here on my blog...I hear it increases your visits ;-). Anyway, forget the moral sermon. If you're Samantha Jones, I don't care, just beware of the people IMing when sitting next to each other...

Ventis from Starbucks - I always went for Grandes...but with an extra shot or two.

Moleskin Journals - What's wrong with them!!?

You see - it does creep in. Anyone here who has never used one of this phrases, please speak up!