Business Jargon: Zero-sum game Definition: If one person has more, another has less. Example Dialogue: A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it work? For Wall Street traders, it is a zero-sum game. B: I agree. Each time I make money, someone else loses exactly the same amount.

Business Jargon: Smoke and mirrors Definition: A form of deception; more style than substance. Example Dialogue: A: I hear the new software is almost complete. But does it work? B: I don’t know, but I hear that the new software is mostly smoke and mirrors. It looks good, but it does not work well.

Business Jargon: To be on a roll Definition: To be doing well at something. Example Dialogue: A: This is the fourth week in a row that I have sold the most units. B: You are really on a roll. How do you explain it? Is it luck or hard work? A: A little bit of both.

Business Jargon: To jump through hoops Definition: To do everything that is necessary to achieve a goal. Example Dialogue: A: He is a demanding boss. He really has me jumping through hoops. B: I agree that he is demanding, but he’s fair. I am sure that he appreciates all of the things that you are doing to make the department look good.

Business Jargon: To occur on his watch Definition: Something happens (usually bad) while a person is in charge. Example Dialogue: A: I hear that we lost our most important customer. B: Yeah, it occurred on Joe’s watch. He should have paid more attention. A : That’s really bad for Joe considering it was his responsibility.

Business Jargon: To hold one's feet to the fire Definition: To put pressure on someone to perform. Example Dialogue: A: We’ve got a real problem. Our supplier hasn’t delivered the product. B: OK. Call him up, and hold his feet to the fire. I want you to call him every day until the product arrives, and if you have to, tell him that we may have to look elsewhere if he can’t deliver.

Business Jargon: To bring to the table Definition: The skills or benefits that something or someone offers. Example Dialogue: A: Based on talking to him on the phone, I don’t think that he brings very much to the table. B: I understand why you have that impression, but he actually brings quite a bit to the table. He is brilliant at developing strategy and marketing plans. It is just hard to tell when you first meet him.

Business Jargon: To sandbag Definition: To provide incomplete information to gain an advantage. Example Dialogue: A: Why are you so confident that you will meet your sales quota this year? B: I sandbagged when I provided upper management the numbers. I gave my boss such low numbers that it will be easy to meet my sales quota.

Business Jargon: To take a deep dive Definition: To review something in extensive detail. Example Dialogue: A: We’ve got a real problem. Our product quality and customer satisfaction have slipped. B: Yes, I agree. Please give me a copy of all the information. I’m going to take a deep dive into the data over the weekend so that I can figure out the problem.

Business Jargon: On the same wavelength Definition: To think alike; to be in agreement. Example Dialogue: A: We all need to work together on this project to complete it on time. Are we on the same wavelength here? B: Yes, absolutely. We all understand, and we all agree on what needs to be done.

Business Jargon: Power lunch Definition: A lunch where an important business deal is discussed. Example Dialogue: A: I’m headed out to a power lunch with the CEO of our supplier. B: Do you think that you will be able to negotiate a deal? A: That’s the plan. Wish me luck.

Business Jargon: To be a jungle out there Definition: A difficult or highly competitive environment. Example Dialogue: A: We just launched our new product in Europe. B: How are we doing? A: It’s a jungle out there. We have so many competitors that I don’t know whether we’ll be successful.

Business Jargon: To need it yesterday Definition: To need something urgently. Example Dialogue: A: Our customer is waiting for the shipment. B: I didn’t know that. When do they need it? A: They need it yesterday. They cannot proceed until they receive the shipment.

Business Jargon: A cakewalk Definition: Something that is easy to accomplish. Example Dialogue: A: Will it be difficult to convince the CEO to approve our project? B: No, I'm convinced that this is going to be a cakewalk. I know that the CEO already wants to undertake the project.

Business Jargon: To bootstrap Definition: To develop by yourself without support from others. Example Dialogue: A: Are you planning on raising money from outside investors to launch your business? B: No, we're planning on bootstrapping our business. We want to achieve success on our own terms.

Business Jargon: On a going forward basis Definition: In the future. Example Dialogue: A: We made some mistakes with this customer. B: Yes, but on a going forward basis, I am sure that we can do much better.

Business Jargon: To tank Definition: To fail; to not proceed. Example Dialogue: A: What happened to that deal you were working on? Were you ultimately successful? B: No, we couldn’t agree on price so the deal tanked.

Business Jargon: Eat what you kill Definition: A program in which the individual benefits more than the team from bringing in new business. Example Dialogue: A: I implemented a new sales incentive system. Only the salespeople who close sales will get paid this year. B: It sounds like you are taking an eat what you kill approach. A: That’s right.

Business Jargon: Win-win Definition: An outcome where both parties benefit from a transaction. Example Dialogue: A: We agreed to pay our supplier a larger commission in exchange for better service. B: So it was a win-win outcome for both of you.

Business Jargon: The perfect storm Definition: A situation when multiple things go wrong all at once. Example Dialogue: A: Sales are way down this month. B: I know. It seems to have been the perfect storm. Not only did our factory fail to meet its production quota, but three of our key customers switched to our competitor. A: And to top it off, we also had to fire our Vice President of Sales because he was caught stealing. I hope that next month is better. This month was certainly a perfect storm.

Business Jargon: Growth rate Definition: The increase in something over a period of time. Example Dialogue: A: We sold 1,000 cars last year. B: And this year we hope to sell 1,100 cars. A: Yes, our growth rate will be 10%.

Business Jargon: M & A Definition: Quick way to say "mergers and acquisitions," when two companies combine. Example Dialogue: A: Last year, we purchased another company. B: Does your company do a lot of M&A? A: Yes, on average, we acquire four or five companies per year.

Business Jargon: Marketing plan Definition: A plan for promoting, selling, and distributing a product or service. Example Dialogue: A: We are trying to decide how best to sell the new bicycle. B: Oh! You’re working on a marketing plan. A: Yes, with a good marketing plan, we will sell a lot of bicycles.

Business Jargon: Strategy Definition: A plan for achieving advantages over your competitors. Example Dialogue: A: What is your company’s strategy? B: We sell the highest quality products. What is your company’s strategy? A: We have the lowest priced products.