DC Cookie: That's Like, Hot, Okay?

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

That's Like, Hot, Okay?

It's one thing to use the words 'awesome' or 'cool' when shooting the shit with your peers. It's another to blurt them out [multiple times] during a client interview.

Client: "I'll get those reports for you so you can audit this formula."
Cookie: "Cool, that would be awesome."

Holy god, are you kidding me? Has Paris Hilton's social decorum overwhelmed the influences of my finance degree and public speaking virtuosity?

And how in goodness gracious am I going to correct this? With 8 weeks of daily client interviews ahead of me, this has to be an expeditious refinement. Electric shock therapy? A cassette tape reciting 'that's hot' and 'awesome' repetitively throughout my slumber until I can no longer stand the sound of those word combinations? 50 push-ups every time the words escape my mouth? No sex for a month if I say 'awesome' more than once a day, or ever during a meeting with a client. Whatever it is, it has to be drastic. This teenager-speak has got to go.

27 Comments:

At January 31, 2006 11:10 PM, Carrie Broadshoulders said…

I totally do that too...and it's so not cool. :)

I catch myself at work doing stuff like that. Awesome is definitely the one I throw out there the most. It's so '93.

I just blame it on the drinking and whirl out of the room before anyone can chastise me for it.
At February 01, 2006 12:27 AM, Anonymous said…

Gawd, please don't be like her.

http://parisfacial.ytmnd.com/
At February 01, 2006 3:49 AM, Drunken Chud said…

you know, it's funny, i was partnered with an older agent last year. he and i were selling some condo's and the man and his father more or less single handedly sold the city i live in. you mention his name to anyone in my city, and they know who he is. he's somewhere north of 55 and is the very model of "old school". when he makes fliers he cuts and pastes. as in, prints the shit of the computer, cuts it with scissors and pastes the shit together instead of doing it all on the ol' compy. anyhow, my point is, this "old man" and model of decorum, used "cool" and "awesome" in his everyday language. when dealing with clients, when dealing with me, when dealing with vegetables. took me by surprise the first time i heard him say it... but... after that, just kinda got used to it. the man is a multi millionare... so, if you want you can keep it in. apparently it'll make you millions.
At February 01, 2006 8:07 AM, Anonymous said…

No sex for a month might punish people other than yourself for your own bad behavior.
At February 01, 2006 8:22 AM, Law-Rah said…

I let "awesome" slip in discussing a project wiht my boss once. To make fun of me, in meetings, he would ask "Law-Rah, how is that 'awesome' project going?" I felt 14.
At February 01, 2006 8:54 AM, Sharkbait said…

Wait, we aren't supposed to do that?

I say it as well, and everytime-as soon as the wrod awesome escapes my lips-I hang my head in shame. One would think that we would have learned the time and place for the vocabulary, but sometimes ya just can't help it.

I find the word 'great' is a decent substitute.
At February 01, 2006 9:45 AM, Phil said…

Start practicing saying, "that would be grrrrreeeeaatt...mmkaayy?"
At February 01, 2006 10:21 AM, Kathryn Is So Over said…

When you figure out what works, let me know. I have no problem sounding like an adult around my bosses, but get me in the lunchroom and I might as well be 19. No wonder all the young ones around here think I'm 26.

Wait, why do I want to stop?
At February 01, 2006 10:23 AM, Roar Savage said…

My bosses (at both jobs) don't care about that stuff, but they do it too so, you just have to consider your audience. Like, are you the interviewer or interviewee? Do they wince or smile when you say it?

It's hard not to say stuff you're used to, harder still to replace certain words in a short amount of time. Why not just smile before you say something like that? It'll give you the split second you might need to change your word choice if you're worried about it.
At February 01, 2006 10:49 AM, Anonymous said…

I happen to be in the same industry as you and noticed that those words are being used more often. Not only by my colleagues but by my attorney clients as well. I, for one, think it's a nice change of pace from the usual bullshit that comes out of most "professional" peoples mouths.
At February 01, 2006 10:49 AM, Hammer said…

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
At February 01, 2006 10:51 AM, Hammer said…

You could just mouth the words as you would normally and have a co-worker speak more professional-sounding language while you do it. You'd not only be able to avoid saying "awesome" or "cool" but you'd be like a walking kung-fu movie. (Which of course would be both exceedingly awesome and exceedingly cool.)
At February 01, 2006 11:17 AM, Asian Mistress said…

Haha I've done it before - then you feel like a royal douche right after.

Saying "can you get these over to me immediately? Cool."

"Yeahhhh that'd be greeeeat."

NOT HOTTTT.
At February 01, 2006 11:18 AM, Asian Mistress said…

P.S. I had a friend who had a boss call him "tiger"....he was scarred.

P.P.S. I totally tried to get the Office Space quote in above, then I saw Phil beat me to it. Sigh. A playa always comes out on top.
At February 01, 2006 12:10 PM, Lucy said…

I said "cool beans" to a client the other day. He actually thought it was funny, but... yeah. Can't do that again.
At February 01, 2006 12:11 PM, Marci said…

I was running an off-site meeting last week and called the division president "dude". More than once.
At February 01, 2006 12:33 PM, DC Cookie said…

My boss calls me "cheese cake."

Oh, and I've used the word awesome 4 times already today.
At February 01, 2006 12:41 PM, Jinxy said…

"That would be splendid."

You'll sound like a pompous ass.
At February 01, 2006 1:36 PM, Phil said…

Nice try, Sparkle!

You have to rise before 9:30 am to beat this Playa!
At February 01, 2006 2:18 PM, Barbara said…

It's hard to balance changing the way you speak with not losing the personality that makes you YOU. My guess it that your clients would prefer you if it came right down to it. The one time we had a conversation I don't remember hearing COOL or AWESOME once, so maybe you're OK with strangers!
At February 01, 2006 2:52 PM, Roar Savage said…

Cool beans is my FAVE! Totally classic. : )
At February 01, 2006 3:51 PM, Washington Cube said…

Awesome post. Look. Somebody had to say it.
At February 01, 2006 4:01 PM, Anonymous said…

I don't there is anything wrong with saying 'awesome' or 'cool' in a business setting. Those words are ingrained in our vocabulary. I am sure most people under the age of 40, says the same thing. Why does it make one seem unprofessional or juvenile? It shouldn't. It's not like you are cussing or using incorrect grammar.
Personally, I wouldn't make that big of deal out of using words like that at work. It's totally cool.
At February 01, 2006 4:24 PM, tommy said…

Freedom of speech girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At February 01, 2006 5:57 PM, Anonymous said…

My boss and I say "cool" to each other all the time, as in "affirmative." There's also some theory about reducing formalism leads to increased synergy in the workplace, or something hokie like that.
At February 02, 2006 3:20 PM, playfulinnc said…

Tape yourself.

When you hear what they hear, you can decide if it's a big deal or not.

(*Yes, I have done this...taperecorder was in my pocket, and my boss told me to do this to sell more advertising.*)
At February 14, 2006 12:16 AM, Unknown said…

I seriously got the biggest laugh at the thought of saying "that's hot" at a business meeting. ahahahahaha!