What happened to “Next Level”?

If you followed job ads or start-up pitches, you would be hearing “Next Level” multiple times back then..

In the 90’s it was “synergy” (M&A terms). Before that “re-engineering” (The Japan that can’t say NO). Now, it’s “collaboration”.

The Recession inadvertently served as an Editor who cut out words that don’t fit with the times.

You can’t promise “Next Level” when all you do is cost-cutting, the same with “growth” in the time of austerity and sequester.

The best we can hope for is “business as usual” i.e. keeping the lights on (and the heat).

Housing crash created excess inventory, abandoned homes – sold for $1.00- and owners turned renters.

What we thought was security turns out to be insecurity.

ADT stickers, still visible, serving no purpose.

It’s not “safe” to live in your own home when the whole neighborhood were foreclosed.

Now we need the return of synergy and neighborhood watch.

We need neighbors and community.

To come back to the question, what happened to “next level”. The bubble busted.

It has reached its limit, speculation that is.

The quants are hard at work.

The marketers are not , since  companies are not expanding.

Everyone is busy “collaborating” i.e. cost sharing, ride sharing and burden sharing.

In down time, we rediscover the value of inverted synergy.

Like roommates in the dorm, or our parent’s couch.

Hard times don’t outlast tough people . Hang in there, until we meet again, at the Next Level.