It’s an epidemic and it’s our fault.

“Friends don’t let friends overuse the word LIKE.”

You may be thinking, is Jovian serious? Well, yes, I’m quite serious. Think about it right now…how often do you unnecessarily hear/use the word “like?”

Ok, so you can’t imagine it. Fine, but I challenge you to begin an incognito tally of the aforementioned and tell me what you find. I did, and it was DISGRACEFUL. One friend of mine used it 20x in a verbal paragraph.

Sorry friends, but I’m calling us out.

It’s enough. It’s absolutely enough. We talk about others in the business/education or social media spotlight, and secretly compare them to ourselves or our friends and wonder why we’re not them.

“I should be doing that”

“Why’s he on that panel?”
“What’s he really talking about?”

Well, I’m not quite sure what’s made them so qualified, but I can imagine it’s not their ability to insert an unnecessary “like” between every phrase, clause and non-existent simile.

Perhaps we should do what I recently did to some colleagues at a conference, and start calling our friends out on their egregious abuse of the word. After all, the casual can easily become formal if not checked. Whether it’s a part of your office culture or not, let me remind you that using the word “like” as your substitute comma is not ok.

In the past it was just infamous valley girls (see Becky and Kelly) who donned ‘like’ as if it were an accessory to their outfit, but that day is long gone. Thugs and valley girls alike have taken a liking to the word. (you see what I did there?) It’s an epidemic in this current generation and it must be stopped.

My primary responsibility at work is to identify top talent for some pretty competitive jobs. Let me just say: it’s a harsh world out there. How are your words evoking confidence when you struggle to communicate a simple point of view without this verbal crutch? I don’t believe you. ‘You need more people, and less likes.’ Do me a favor, wait, better yet, do your friends a favor and put a stop to the madness.

*********

Ok, time for me to go catch my train.

And YES, you have a pass to call me out for any unnecessary use of the word.

Remember: “Friends don’t let friends overuse the word like.”