#WordNerdWednesday Somehow it took me nearly half a century to wonder where the word “thanks” comes from. Turns out it’s not a complicated story. Our modern “thanks” seems to derive from similar Old English (panc), Old Norse (pokk) and German (dank) words meaning roughly “good will” and “to remember or think of fondly, with gratitude.” … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – THANKS
Word Nerd Wednesday – CLOCK
#WordNerdWednesday Big Ben is one of the most famous clocks in the world. Except it’s not technically a clock. It’s the 16-ton bell that rings when the Clock of Westminster hits the top of each hour. I understand why people are confused, though. The English word “clock” derives from the French word “cloche,” which means … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – ALGORITHM
Algorithms are everywhere. But what, exactly, are they? Where did they come from? The general definition of “algorithm” is “a step by step procedure for solving a problem.” For centuries, the only people who talked about algorithms were mathematicians. They originated with ancient Middle Eastern scholars and were brought to the west by Persian polymath … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – GUIDANCE
“#WordNerdWednesday Do you enjoy giving and receiving “feedback?” Probably not. For most people the word has a negative connotation. It brings to mind uncomfortable conversations and criticism wrapped in a sandwich of fake praise. Kim Scott, author of the best selling leadership book “Radical Candor,” recently shared a suggestion – call it “guidance” instead of … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – Samhain
Tomorrow is Halloween. It’s not my favorite holiday, to be honest. I like candy, costumes, and carved pumpkins, sure. Ghosts, skeletons, and Grim Reapers? Scaring the heebeegeebees out of yourself and others? It’s not my idea of a good time. Where did these odd customs come from, I wondered? They trace back to an ancient … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – AGENTIC
I learned a new word recently – “agentic.” It came up during the launch of Salesforce’s new “Agent Force” platform Dreamforce 2024, which experts referred to as an example of “agentic AI.” When I tried to look up “agentic” in the dictionary, though, I found nothing. Words have to be fairly common to make it … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – CARAT/KARAT
I’ve always loved jewelry. Maybe it’s because my parents met working in a jewelry store! Still, I never knew the origin of the words “carat” (measure of gemstone weight) or “karat” (measure of gold purity) until last week when I watched a documentary on the ancient Nabateans. Back then, seeds of the Carob tree were … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – BALANCE
I was listening to a podcast the other day when the speaker said something that caught my ear. She said “CEOs have to deal with three stakeholder groups – customers, employees, and investors. All three of these groups, if left to their own devices, would bankrupt the company.” It was an elegant way of articulating … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – CYNICISM
I’ve written and talked a lot about trust lately, and one thing keeps bugging me – the verbal clunkiness of the terms “high trust” and “low trust” culture. Are they descriptive? Yes. Do they roll off the tongue? No. It’s not a huge problem, but we word nerds are always searching for a better way. … Read more
Word Nerd Wednesday – ORIGIN
What is your organization’s origin story? How do the current mission and culture compare to the founder’s original vision? If you’re trying to rally employees or change corporate culture, it’s worth finding out. A company’s origin story can say more about it’s core values than a word-smithed corporate mission statement ever could. Fast Company recently … Read more
