When you are new to the startup space all the jargon and insider talk can be confusing. As a former linguist (see ma, I’m using that degree!), I can tell you that language is an important tool through which you show that you belong to a community.
So here’s a handy guide to the words and phrases you need to master before that next networking event. (I should know, many of these little gems have come out of my own mouth in the last two years.)
“I’m an entrepreneur.” = I’m unemployed.
“We have a go-to-market strategy” = We took our best guess about what to do and we turned it into a PowerPoint.
“We pivoted” = We changed the background color of our website.
“We’re working on an MVP” = We have been talking about this idea whenever we get together for a few drinks.
“We’re in Concierge MVP mode” = We have only convinced 5 people to try our product.
“We’ve gotten really positive market feedback” = I asked my friends and they all said it was an awesome idea.
“That’s a super-interesting idea.” = I’m not interested in sharing honest feedback with you and am looking for the easiest way out of this conversation.
“It’s a big data play” = We have no revenue model.
“We’re disrupting Google.” = We’re going to be crushed by Google.
“These are conservative projections about our future growth.” = These are wildly optimistic projections about future growth.
“We’re crushing it!” = I am terrified and overwhelmed and my company has some problems, but I’ve heard you should “fake it ‘til you make it.”
“We’re plugging along.” = I am terrified and overwhelmed and my company has some problems, and I don’t really know you but I’m trying to keep it real.
“I am terrified and overwhelmed and my company has some problems.” = I trust you and would love for you to validate that I’m not alone in feeling this way because this entrepreneurship stuff is hard.
