Astronauts, Space Food and Four-Letter Words These four-letter words have no business in business Michael Collins
Was the future simpler in the past, or was I? When I was a kid everything astronauts did was fascinating. I drank Tang, even though it tasted like slightly tart dishwater because that's what the astronauts drank. I ate the astronaut's "Space Food Sticks," which were kind of like Tootsie Rolls but in assorted flavors like peanut butter or caramel. I kept waiting for them to come out with "turkey & dressing," or "Salisbury steak" and was surprised when they never did.
But what does any of this have to do with business in the present? Really nothing unless you want to consider the success of our Space Program and the lessons learned from mistakes they made in the past. Do you remember Space Ice Cream?
Sometime ago I received a junk email that contained a list of four-letter words. I wish I could give the author credit, but I don’t know who it was. These four-letter words have no business in business, and I have subsequently learned to not use them in my business. I'm not talking about profanity; that's a given. These are everyday words that should be eliminated from anyone's vocabulary that want their business to succeed. Let me share some of the most offensive. I've even included their use in sentences so that you can avoid these common mistakes.
Can't. As in "We can't do that" or "You can't expect us to meet that deadline." Your customers come to you because they think you can do what they ask.
Busy. "I'm too busy to do that now" or "I'll call you when I'm not so busy." The last thing your customers want to know is that they rank at the bottom of the food chain.
Bore. "This project is such a bore" or "Don't bore me with the details." Unemployment is boring. Try to find something to love about every job or project you do.
Same. "We've done it the same way for years" or "Same old, same old." If you've been doing something the same way for years, it's a good sign you're doing it the wrong way.
Safe. "Let's play it safe." Safe is important in baseball, but in business you must be prepared to take some risks. The scary part about taking risks is that they don't always work, but I'll take a good, calculated risk any day of the week over the boring, same, safe way.
Rude. No sentence example needed here. There is never, ever an excuse to be rude to a coworker, customer, or a stranger on the street.
Mean. Your lawyer should be mean. Your tennis serve might be mean. You can't afford to be mean. You are dealing with customers whose business and referrals will determine where your kids go to college and what kind of retirement you can look forward to.
Isn't. "That isn't my job." Maybe your job description doesn't include every last chore that's required to finish a project, but someone has to do those things. You need to take your turn.
Fear. "I fear that we may be moving too fast" or "My biggest fear is that we can't do this" only demonstrate one fact: you haven't done your homework.
Last. "Nice guys finish last." I consider myself a nice guy, and I hate to finish last. But I've had to lose a few times in order to win the next round. I've learned something from every last-place finish.
I'm still waiting for a Chili Burger-flavored Space Food Stick. Maybe next year. Until next month, “May the Future be with you Today.”
Respectfully,
Michael Collins President
November 22, 2004
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