Earlier this week I heaped praise on a La Quinta Inns & Suites ad campaign, and a kind reader pointed me to their ad agency, Mullen. So I fished around on the Mullen site to get a better sense of their excellent work and ran across the following:
“You can measure Mullen by its numbers.
But we believe you should also measure us by our culture.
It begins with two words: collective entrepreneurialism.”
I sighed. There’s something so antithetical to the startup mentality in the word “entrepreneurialism.” It’s lengthy, and ends in an awkward mess of vowels and soft consonants, practically slitthering out. Occassionally I see or hear the word substituted for the far more common, and I daresay regal, ”entrepreneurship,” and it pains me every time. I’m boycotting “entrepreneurialism.” Dissenting opinions welcome.
If you’re into linguistics, try the delicious Language Log.
__________
Graphic credit: i can haz signifier, originally uploaded by mr lynch
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Are non-dissenting opinions also welcome?
I’m right there with you. Even “entrepreneurship” is a little hoity-toity for my tastes, but at least it’s all one word. When I was in high school, there was an Entrepreneurship course (which, for the record, I did not take) and rumor had it that in the first class of every semester, the teacher said that if you could spell the course name by the end of the course, you’d at least pass. That is a bad sign, people.
I checked out the Language Log, too. Did you see the piece on “The Butt-Crack of Dawn”? I have to go back to read it when my whole family won’t be woken by my laughter.
Naomi:
No, I hadn’t seen “The Butt-Crack of Dawn” - hilarious. Your “hoity-toity” comment on entrepreneurship gave me pause; I hadn’t thought of it, but I can understand. Perhaps Schumpeter’s “creative destruction” as alternative? It’s not always a fit, but I like the construction.
Best,
Matt
“Creative destruction” is completely perfect. There’s a t-shirt in there somewhere. I’d say bumper sticker, but then I’d have to buy a car.
Have a great week, Matt.