A New Use for an Old Cliché
Thinking about old phrases in a new way
The term “cliché” refers to an expression that has been overused to the point that it has lost its original meaning and is no longer relevant. In this series, my aim is to demonstrate new uses for old clichés by dissecting them and then re-constructing them to be applicable today.
I am not sure why this topic is of interest to me, but if I had to guess, I think it has something to do with the fact that I am getting older. As I age, I am increasingly aware that I might be perceived as having an outdated point of view. In fact, I myself wonder if I may be out of sync with societal views and trends.
Regardless, I believe that my words and opinions still have value. I enjoy giving advice and providing insight when asked, so I need to make sure what I say and how I say it still have relevance to the person or people to whom I am conveying my message.
The person or people receiving my message may still decide that they disagree or that my view isn’t as modern as theirs. That’s okay. An opinion or a particular way of stating it is still valuable even if it creates disagreement. I know that, over time, I have learned as much about myself by identifying what I didn’t want and didn’t agree with as I have by finding exactly what I was looking for.
With that in mind, I have selected some clichés that I think may serve this purpose well and will include them under this heading going forward. In some cases, the new use may involve an adaptation or slight amendment to the original cliché. The original intent of the words, however, will remain the same. With other clichés, I will make the case that the opposite meaning is actually more useful than the original.
You may agree with me or you may not, but that is the point. At least you will be thinking about old phrases in a new way. If that eventually leads to you being more willing to seek the advice of and listen to someone you may not have given the time to previously, all the better!
By Scott Arney, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union.
This installment is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.
Thinking about old phrases in a new way
The term “cliché” refers to an expression that has been overused to the point that it has lost its original meaning and is no longer relevant. In this series, my aim is to demonstrate new uses for old clichés by dissecting them and then re-constructing them to be applicable today.
I am not sure why this topic is of interest to me, but if I had to guess, I think it has something to do with the fact that I am getting older. As I age, I am increasingly aware that I might be perceived as having an outdated point of view. In fact, I myself wonder if I may be out of sync with societal views and trends.
Regardless, I believe that my words and opinions still have value. I enjoy giving advice and providing insight when asked, so I need to make sure what I say and how I say it still have relevance to the person or people to whom I am conveying my message.
The person or people receiving my message may still decide that they disagree or that my view isn’t as modern as theirs. That’s okay. An opinion or a particular way of stating it is still valuable even if it creates disagreement. I know that, over time, I have learned as much about myself by identifying what I didn’t want and didn’t agree with as I have by finding exactly what I was looking for.
With that in mind, I have selected some clichés that I think may serve this purpose well and will include them under this heading going forward. In some cases, the new use may involve an adaptation or slight amendment to the original cliché. The original intent of the words, however, will remain the same. With other clichés, I will make the case that the opposite meaning is actually more useful than the original.
You may agree with me or you may not, but that is the point. At least you will be thinking about old phrases in a new way. If that eventually leads to you being more willing to seek the advice of and listen to someone you may not have given the time to previously, all the better!
By Scott Arney, Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Patrolmen’s Federal Credit Union.
This installment is part of Scott Arney's educational series, entitled The Serial Decision Maker.
RSS Feed