Thursday, January 8, 2015

When do buzz words become a turn off?

Having been a self-care advocate for going on 10 years now, I feel like the buzz word has lost its shine, and perhaps even turned the corner to become a bit of a turn off. 




This definitely impacted my recent re-branding efforts as I not only wanted to make my message clear and authentic, but obviously attractive as well. 


I think the best word I can come up with to encompass the change I feel has occurred with the phrasing is glib. 

Having spent almost 15 years in a very standard corporate environment, I was subjected to plenty of stereotypical managers who throw the latest buzz words out in every email and at every meeting, sometimes not even knowing the meaning. 

I look at the phenomenon of copyright loss with brands like Kleenex and Xerox where the brand name becomes so commonplace it replaces the original generic words (tissue and copier).

So, while I still feel there is extreme importance and value in taking time to care for yourself, I have changed my phraseology from self-care to self nourish.

I'd love to hear your thoughts? What do you think of when you hear "self-care"? Are there buzz words in your business or industry that have lost their shine?  


24 comments :

  1. There are tons of buzz words in the blogging community, but it is what it is I suppose. I never really gave it much thought to be honest.

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  2. Every buzz word has lost it's shine for me. If you come at me with a buzz word or phrase, I'm immediately tuning you out every time.

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  3. Oooh! I like self-nourish. Care evokes images of brushing teeth and cleaning between my toes. But nourish! Nourish is eating well, exercising, drinking enough water. Much better!

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  4. I think "self nourishing" sounds better, also love that meme!

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  5. I agree that "self nourishing" sounds better than self care, which makes me think that I have to make my own soup when I am sick. I visualize myself, with my eyes bulging out of my head, cooking the soup. I'm dressed in a ratty nightgown and my hair is standing on end... and, by the time that the soup is done, I don't want it anymore... and I keel over from dehydration.
    Oh my. My journalism teacher said that I have a feverish imagination, and he was right.
    Self nourish... now I am imagining the delicious meals that I will make and share!

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  6. Self care... Hmmm. It makes me think of when I'm old and trying to avoid the nursing home! So true about the buzz words, there are so many in teaching and I want to poke my eyes out some days when people spout them.

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  7. I can't think of any buzz words. I never thought about hte copy right for Kleenex and Xerox. I even have called other brands Kleenex before.

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  8. I think there are a lot of buzz words that have lost their shine. I really like self nourish as well! Sounds a lot better.

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  9. I love the point you made about Xerox and Kleenex. I have not looked at the whole buzz word thing like this but you have made some great points.

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  10. I love self nourish much better. Self-care inplies that you are wounded or ar wrong and need repairing. Where as self-nourish sound like you are going to feed your mind, body and soul what it needs.

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  11. Ha! I agree their are many buzz words floating around. I guess after awhile I do turn them off and do my own thing.

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  12. It is such an interesting thing to think about, buzz words losing their 'buzz'. I've seen it happen many times.

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  13. I agree with you! It's so true and this happens all the time. I love the word self-nourish, it sounds so much better.

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  14. I think self-nourish sounds a lot better than self-care. I think when buzz words are overused they lose their shine.

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  15. I can't say I pay too much attention to buzz words, at this point they really just become a part of every day life. But I do agree, some phrases do sound better than others.

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  16. I don't really pay much attention to what the buzz words are. But, some words are much more marketable than others. I do like self-nourish. I think self-care sounds more like you are making products yourself - like essential oil beauty and health products.

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  17. There are some buzz words that make me say, ugh because people say them too often. Polar Vortex instantly comes to mind.

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  18. Hahaha! I hear you. Buzzwords are everywhere and new ones take their spot daily. I like them both.

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  19. Omg there really are aton of buzz words out there.... I may be guilty of using some ;-) I can't help it though.... Its the basic white girl in me ;-)

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  20. Though many buzz words are doing rounds, the truth is most of them are not as effective as they used to be. It is always better to come with our own thing indeed. Thanks for sharing.

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  21. I've been working at home since the age of 17 (now almost 30), so I have never had the experience of hearing these words thrown around in a corporate environment, nor have I ever seen the aforementioned phrases online. Self-care sounds like a word that someone would use if they're into naturopathy. :)

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  22. "think outside the box" is one of my phrases I can't stand.

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  23. Buzz words are really becoming common and is continuously losing its value. I do think self-care has lost its shine.

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