Idioms, Credos, Sayings and Maxims: Part 1

In the digital media business, as with many industries, communication sometimes consists of trite sayings that rattle off the tongue almost absentmindedly. Many of these utterances are merely verbal filler spoken by people who are trying to fill the air with words. However, many of these mottoes and adages are actually solid truisms. I've collected some "words to live by" below. I hope you'll consider these to be helpful little aphorisms which you can use to solidify your succinct understand of the universe.

"Pay yourself first." Whether you are a business person or you're just doing your home finances, a cardinal rule is to set aside your money first. Someone is always owed something (the tax man, the landlord, the bookie). Remember to get yours before you give 'em theirs.

"Don’t throw good money after bad." If you've spent a bunch of money and the effort is failing, don't spend more money to try and fix it.

"Make more than you spend." This seems simple, but I saw quite a few dot com companies staffed by people who thought this rule was antiquated and obsolete.

"Beware the FUD." Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt are familiar bedfellows of the entrepreneur. In small quantities it is normal, but don't allow FUD to rule your world. FUD is used by your enemies (and by deceptive advertisers) to influence your thoughts and actions.

"As soon as you’ve landed the deal, shut up and leave." If you have a deal, the best thing you can do is wrap up the meeting and go away before the other party has a chance to change their mind.

"Wear a belt with your suspenders." In England they say "belt and braces" which means the same thing. If you want to make extra sure your pants don't fall down, wear a belt in case your suspenders break. This is being double-insured.

"Don’t be all mouth and no trousers." We all know people who are all talk and no action.

"Pour ‘em strong." A philosophy of some bartenders, cuz if the drinks are strong then the customers will keep coming back. Pouring a weak drink might save you money in the short term, but won't get you known as the place to be. A good deal increases sales volume. A slightly smaller profit margin may net you more income in the end.

"Don’t fall for the bait and switch." A product is advertised as an amazing deal, but in the end it turns out that the deal is altered to such an extent that the original deal is gone. A car salesman takes you for a ride in the car with all the extras and when you decide to buy it he notices a scratch on the car and switches it for another one which he says is exactly the same. When you get it home, you realize it is missing some features you had assumed were included because you saw those features during the test drive.

"Unless you are the lead dog, the view is always the same." Similar to the belief that being second is being last. The lead sled dog has the view of the world out in front, the other dogs are looking at butt.

"Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle." It has been said a thousand times, but it still holds true. You can't just put the product out there and expect it to move, you need to tell the world why it is amazing. As Elmer Wheeler said back in 1936, "It is the sizzle that sells the steak and not the cow, although the cow is, of course, mighty important."

"Your mileage may vary." Beware this phrase or others like it. It basically says that your experience won't compare with what has been advertised. You'll get less and you can't say nothin' cuz we warned you.

"Pony up." Simply meaning, pay what you owe.

"Eat what you kill." This is direct cause-and-effect business. Self-employed consultants understand this. Go out there and make it happen so that you can eat. If you hunt it down and kill it, then it is all yours and you deserve it.

"If a frog had wings he wouldn’t bump his ass a hoppin’." I often hear people whine and moan that if only they had some item or talent, then they would be successful. I tell them they don't have it so figure out how to succeed without it. This is similar to what a friend once told me, "Yea, and if I was an astronaut, I’d be dancin' around on the moon."

UPDATE: See the next installment Idioms, Credos, Sayings and Maxims: Part 2