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Monday, October 31, 2011

The 7 Iconic, Transparent, Empowering Business Buzzwords That Need To Die




An excellent peice written by Tim Phillips about these annoying so called 'business buzzwords' that organisations go on and on about with no meaningful weight to it.

•”Issue”
When did we stop having problems and decide to have “issues” instead? The ratio of problems to issues in our magazines and newspapers show that there are about three times as many issues per problem as there were 10 years ago. Are we really so fragile? After all, if we can’t call what’s happening to the economy at the moment a “problem,” we’re setting the bar pretty high for the problems of the future.

•”Passion”
The CEO of a firm emailed me to ask why all his interviewees claimed to be “passionate about marketing” these days. A quick Google check on what people are claiming to be passionate about in the last 24 hours: secured loan leads; transformation; rubbish; logistics; plankton. The recruiter’s question: “Are you passionate about…?” is now just a test to see how well we fake it. At least “passionate about plankton” would make a good T-shirt.

•”Unique”
As a Brit I can be proud that HMS Unique was, confusingly, built as one of 49 identical submarines. Don’t let anyone tell you that we didn’t ruin the language first. Yet, as I write, there have been 826 press releases claiming that something is “unique” in the last seven days. Everything, we must conclude, is now special in its own exquisite way.

•”Iconic”
We’re supposed to find a person or thing desirable, but we don’t know why. Iconicness seems to be a 21st-century phenomenon: Since 2000, we’re about eight times as likely to find something “iconic” in the press. Two areas in which this growth rate has been twice as fast: accountancy and solid waste. You can’t make it up.

•”Role”
Our parents had jobs or, if they were lucky, careers. We entertain ourselves by claiming we have roles, as if our work is a personal soap opera. During the long boom, the ratio of roles to jobs went from 10:1 to about 4:1. You will not be surprised to learn that, since 2007, this ratio has returned to pre-2001 levels.

•”Transparency”
Six times as popular in the business press as it was in 2002; about one in 40 press releases claim it. It’s taking over “honesty” and “integrity,” maybe because you can claim transparency without any suggestion you’re doing something that improves anyone’s life. Note: The glass industry uses “transparency” in marketing less than the average, but the audit industry uses it ten times as often. Draw your own conclusions.

•”Empowerment”
Not a bad word in itself–but if I buy something from you, you are not “empowering” me. It’s a sneaky way of dodging what the wafflers call the brand promise: They didn’t say the jeans would make me a better person; their clothes just “empowered me” to lay claim to my own betterness. I get it: If my life is as crappy as it was before, it’s my fault. If it improves, all hail the denim.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Beautiful Reminder


The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

Evening thought




Ever went through a very brief phase where you want to disconnect from everything and everyone just to be on your own to put your mind at ease from the overwhelming speed of information, incedents and duties (be they personal, work or school?) that are consuming your brains?
I suppose mankind is rarely satisfied with what Allah has bestowed upon him. I honestly say elhumdellah almost everyday but there are times I sit alone and wonder...now what? What is my purpose? Will this balance the joy ofw hat I want and what the society expects of me hence inner peace? Is all that I'm doing is to find purpose for myself or impress others with my achievements? Will all that i'm doing will leave a positive mark for my family and society? Am I too ambitious for my own good in a society that still raises an eyebrow upon a single lady who is trying to build herself because she has nothing else to do (asides from loving and being with her parents)?
I suppose these questions plague me tonight because I found out that the closest to me were the backstabbers who spoke ill behind my back and I do not wish to expose it to them because I prefer to keep them in the dark (i suppose that's the strategic politician in me). Initially it did hurt. Then it rendered me angry and less trusting of people.
Now I am merely amused by the nature of mankind and strongly believe in God's plan of what goes around comes around.

phew! Right I feel a bit better now after clearing my thoughts here...perhaps I'll be able to find the answers to some of these questions sooner or later inshAllah.


Noora

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Have a Terrific Tuesday friends!

Evening Thought


hmmm, what do you do when you find out that the backstabber is someone close to you? Do you cut them off because your hurt emotions dictate it so? Do you bring them closer with kindness because it's the right thing to do and you're a true believer of keeping ones enemy close?

.........No, I think I will keep them close and treat them with kindness.
I'd be lying if I said that it is due to my overflowing love for them, but I hope oneday that I will be able to forgive them. In the meantime I'll keep a close watch and be a silent as the grave. I thiunk it's safer not to speak to people alot. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being social but I choose to be more of a listener than a speaker, not because I have nothing to say, but because I do not trust how people will interpret what I'll say.
Honestly sometimes I feel one needs to be as alert as a wolf in a winter night...
Good night friends,

Noora

Sunday, October 16, 2011

My Name is 7IND !: Kim Kardashian in Dubai

My Name is 7IND !: Kim Kardashian in Dubai: I am very disappointed and upset by the reaction of so many people to the arrival of Kim Kardashian in Dubai. People are heralding her as ...

Why in God's name are many raving about Kim Kardashian, personally i find it shameful that a surgically enhanced celebrity who had a s*x tape being leaked doing some nasty things be treated like a famous director, actor or designer who actually acheived something! This country needs to stop catering such people and greet more refined artists who are not a waste of media and space. Beauty? trust me, we have Emarati and Arab women who are jaw dropping stunning mashAllah compared to her. thank you.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Escape

With the overwhelming amount of office work, school work and committee work. I'd like to switch off and be here right now. Looks heavenly to me

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Friday, October 7, 2011

New Blog

I'm considering starting a new blog that I can jot down my thoughts and leave this one for image inspirations (focusing on words of wisdom and inspiring images)...I think I'll give it a show next week inshAllah. Still trying to figure out what to name it though. At first I was thinking Unconventional Mind, but then I felt the name portrayed this Emarati who is so different (which is not always a grand thing for me to be honest), it just didn't click for me.
I want it to portray someone learning to have a positive perspective towards life and people even if I will occasionally rant about an issue. I also want to post about some interesting intellectual articles from my studies (not the very academic ones though), raise awareness on some issues and promote interesting people and brands around the UAE (very rarely though I don't want to lean toward the commercial side for this blog, old or new). InshAllah khair. If you have a recommendation for a name let me know. Thank you : )

Noora

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Beautiful

Switched off



Today I couldn't go to work nor to school. I just switched off mentally. Couldn't get out of bed today and didn't want to do anything. Physically and mentally tired. Decided to stay home catch up on my reading, update my blog and get on the cross trainer for an hour and a half.
I seriously needed it. I think it's because I stayed all night (last night) working and studying till 4:00am.
Hmmmm, I'm starting to wonder whether my boss hit the nail on the head when he said that I'm obsessed with work. He might be right, can't help it though. I enjoy it because I feel it's helping me develop everyday and it's something that i'm in control of , it also gives me that 'feel good' factor that I rarely feel.
Anyways I think i'll go wash my hair and resume with my reading...I miss my books and my tea mug. I haven't done that in almost a year...and i'm a book worm!!


Noora


Sunday, October 2, 2011

Random Funnies

When I was a teenager and I saw my siblings get punished I was like:




Procrastinating

This is very much like me when I'm told on thursday that I have a presentation due Sunday.

Thursday





Friday




Saturday




Sunday (1 hour before the presentation)