When we work with our clients to develop elevator pitches, mission statements, vision statements, and the like, we have them first develop a Better Tomorrow Message™ (BTM). The BTM™ is a short, fewer than 10 words, statement that immediately conveys the benefit of working with/partnering with you and your organization.
During a recent facilitation session to develop a new mission statement for a non-profit client, several of the executive team members encouraged the group to use “strive” in its Better Tomorrow Message™.
The team viewed strive as a word that conveyed, achieving your goal. We politely pointed out strive is a word that does not mean, you achieve your goals. In reality, you may or may not achieve your goals.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states the definition as “to devote serious effort or energy.” It says nothing about achieving anything. It is therefore, an ambiguous word.
In business, like Yoda from Star Wars aptly said, “Do. Or do not. There is no strive” (he really said, “Do. Or do not. There is no try”).
Strive is a wishy-washy word. Eliminate wishy-washy words such as believe, basically, chiefly, generally, going to, hope, in order to, in other words, in short, possibly, sort of, strive, surely, and usually.
Wishy-washy words reduce your effectiveness when communicating in person, in writing, and online with your stakeholders.
WORDS TO AVOID
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