Words Matter

What you say becomes you, becomes your business.

These are terms used commonly and openly by many entrepreneurs but to me, they are shortsighted and have negative implications.  Allow me to expound upon this thought for a moment.  Let’s look at the definition of these words.

Hustle: At best, the word means to be frantically about something, or to force something as in to force someone out of your way.  Slang definitions of this term are even worse, one is to be aggressive with your sales or financial dealings, while another means to solicit clients in the form of prostitution.

Even words like “side hustle” are starting to pop up now and frankly, it doesn’t make the effect any less potent.

Grind: Literally this means to reduce to fine particles or to crush something.

Are these really the words you want to be using about your future, your passion, and ultimately your business?  As a content marketer, I have a love for words and firmly believe that words matter.  The words you use to define yourself, your work, your entrepreneurship matter too.

Making a shift – changing your vernacular

I’d like you to consider for a moment, how your perspective might shift if you chose to use more positive words about your journey to entrepreneurship.  Instead of thinking of “grinding away”, (when I hear these words I think of the first time I tried to become an entrepreneur and I worked and worked worked until I was in desperation, whittling away my self esteem/worth, energy and health) try thinking of “investing”.  You take time out of your day to work on making your dream a reality, that’s the same idea as taking part of your paycheck and putting it somewhere where it will work smarter and provide you with a return.

Becoming an entrepreneur is an emotional journey, like walking a tightrope.  You are in a precarious position as you might fail and risk losing the time, energy and money you put into this venture.  Do you really want to make it harder for yourself by using negative words with heavy implications and connotations? Or, would you rather choose to imbue your journey with an uplifting sense of positivity?

If it were me, I’d take the later.  And I wish someone had been there to tell me these words just a few short years ago.

Positive words:

Invest

Devote

Making Strides

Advance/Advancing

Cultivate

Enhance

Develop

Progress

Augment

Ameliorate

Foster

Make Gains

Paying it forward

I have to give credit to a friend of mine who reinforced this idea for me.  I had started to listen to the words I was using and to get more in tine with my daily/natural language so that I cold make improvements via either omitting words or spotting places where I tend to use words like a crutch and interject new ones.

I had the chance to review a book but it was using some of these negative words and I didn’t want to really get into that at a time when I was trying to make a conscious change.  I offered to reach out to some of the others I knew who might want to review it, one of whom was Marissa Burdett, of Ampersand.co (which you should definitely check out – her podcasts are great!).  When I asked her if she’d like to review the book – her words to me were sweet and affirming.  Marissa thanked me for thinking of her and extending her the opportunity, but that she has made an effort to partition herself from words like these.  I don’t think I ever told her this but she gave me a wonderful gift in the affirmation that I was onto something.  I hope to pay what she gave me forward in this post.

Ready to make the shift?

Are you ready to start changing up the words you are using to describe yourself and your business? I have two resources for you.  One is Marissa, whom I just mentioned above.  She’s a phenomenal coach and human being.  Her podcasts, her writing and her coaching are just the kind of thing you need to make this pivot, and make it stick.

If you’re ready to explore the words that you use to describe your business, your branding, and your products and services, then I’m your resource.  Click here to schedule a consultation and together we can uplift your business vernacular.  The call is free.