Leave these words alone, folks!

With a new era comes new phrases that are beaten into the ground...

...grunt, ugh, cringe...lol

Over the past couple months, the ubiquity of the following words have been undeniable:

“Pivot” and “New Normal.”

It probably took me about a week before I was ready to never read or hear these words ever again. 

Why? 

Because EVERYONE has been saying them to the point that my eardrums and eyes are looking into filing a police report from the beatings they’ve both received. 

These words have driven me up a wall, to say the least. 

And based on many conversations that I’ve had with clients, colleagues and mentors, I’m not the only one who shares this particular distaste. 

But recently, I’ve pondered why specifically they’ve annoyed me to no end. 

I mean, there are other choice words and phrases that business owners, including myself, have used on a rolling basis, and those never draw any negative attention. 

So why are these particular words so triggering? Here’s how I figure it:

Words create worlds within the context in which they’re created. 

If we focus on labeling the present moment as something uncharted, heightened or precarious, we might react in a way that might not be in our best interests. 

We might be more hasty in our decision making. 

We might be less empathetic towards others.

We might be more reckless and less grounded in reality. 

We might act solely out of sheer desperation. 

Words like “pivot” and “new normal” in the pre-corona era were celebrated because it signified growth and change.

Now, these words are synonymous with survival.

Is there anything inherently wrong with these words? Not at all.

But in this era of everyone trying to figure their shit out, it’s important to pay close attention to the words we use and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of the world.

And, to keep our emotional triggers in check.

We’re adding anxiety to the mix every time we label something as “new normal” or “pivoting” and not simply an adjustment to our everyday lives. 

Almost every single time I have heard the phrase “new normal” and “pivot” being used recently, it has been within the context of creating an expectation to rise above and beyond, to be fearless and superhero-like, to succeed despite a seemingly insurmountable challenge, every second of every day.

The prospect of living life this way is exhausting, if not utterly unrealistic and impossible.

So, what’s the solution? 

Acknowledge that challenges that lay ahead, yes, but be mindful of the words you choose to describe how you’re feeling towards your business and life.

These words run games in your mind, whether you realize it or not. If you inject words that trigger worry thoughts, guess what?

You’re going to start to worry…

...and your actions will inevitably follow.  

My advice would be to focus less energy on labeling this time in your life with these words and focus more on being present in the moment with your friends and family.

And when it comes to your work, don’t think of it as “pivoting,” think of it as what it truly is - solving a specific set of problems for the audience you serve. 

And that’s it - that’s all it EVER is.  

Just put one foot in front of the other because that’s all we can control. 

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