🎙️ Bobby Rollins

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Read Bobby's story, Innovative solutions, on Foofaraw now!

Do you have experience as a consultant or working with consultants?

I’ve worked with more than a few, and to be fair, not all of them rely on using meaningless words to disguise the true value of their role; some are legitimately very good.

What "business word/platitude" are you most guilty of using?

I truthfully don’t use any of them with any degree of sincerity, perhaps I’m not yet quite good enough for that level of make believe! I still flinch when I use word the “team” to refer to a group of colleagues though, it feels so utterly fake, I feel shame whenever I say it. 

Which "business word/platitude" makes you cringe the most? 

They all hurt! It does make me smile though, the first time I hear one that’s just arrived on the scene. I suppose I have a few neurons that appreciate the creativity behind their development. 

Do you think there is any way we can reduce the trend of these meaningless words or are we on course for a world where every single word has completely lost any meaning?

The reasonably minded try to speak with meaning, but given the strength of marketing, business, and political communications, I do believe (albeit sadly) the value and meaning in words will continue to depreciate. It may have always been this way, but it seems using language to avoid having to tell the truth is broadly viewed as being smart, professional, and standard practice, regardless of the industry, activism or political point of view. Everyone does it, and, like any hall or auditorium possessing fair morals, it makes me want to barf every time I hear it. 

Which cleaning product would do the best job removing meaningless words from carpeting?

This is, without doubt, the best question anyone has ever, and likely will ever, ask me, and would you believe it? All I can say is I don’t know.

Are you familiar with the word enshittification? It’s one of those words that seems to have broken through the mainstream and become used so much already that people are using it in ways that it’s not actually applicable to anything tech-related, they don’t like.

That word definitely has a ring to it! I confess I had to look it up, and though I have experienced the described use as a consumer, I also think it rather aptly sums up how language is used in politics, business and marketing nowadays. Wish I had thought of it first really!

What book are you reading right now?

 In view of his recent passing, I’ve been enjoying Ivan Klima’s “My First Loves” and “My Golden Trades” all over again. True beauties, trust me.

I want to thank Bobby for taking the time to attack my livelihood as a freelance business strategy consultant!