Tag Archives: Business proverb

F.I.T.F.O. – Slang

Nationality: Irish/German
Age: 19
Occupation: Undergraduate Business Student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Residence: Champaign Apartments in Champaign, IL
Language: English

Text:

F.I.T.F.O. (Figure It The Fuck Out)

Context:

“I’m in an investment banking org called [REDACTED] and to fit in with the finance bros, I started saying F.I.T.F.O. or Figure It The Fuck Out because ya know, sometimes you just don’t have time to do help someone or someone keeps slacking on a project and it’s just like F.I.T.F.O.!”

Analysis:

The performer is an investment banking female who’d mentioned she felt it hard to fit in with other people in her profession as it’s a male-dominated field, so she’s made an extra effort to learn the slang to be a part of the in-group. The occupational folk group of business people tends to need an air of professionalism, hence, it being an acronym as the full saying is too vulgar. Additionally, with the spirit of business being one that encourages one to take initiative at fast paces, F.I.T.F.O. makes succinct sense in telling someone to professionally (and somewhat aggressively) do their due diligence.

Wise Quote about Business Leaders

Nationality: Swedish
Age: 50
Occupation: Business Leader
Residence: Palo Alto, California
Performance Date: 04/22/18
Primary Language: Swedish
Language: English

Background information:

My dad, Anders, has been working in the realm of business since he was in his early twenties. He started working in Sweden at a tech company and then moved on to work at Hewlett-Packard when we moved to Silicon Valley in Palo Alto. Because he has been working for nearly thirty years in business, I consider him to be very experienced in corporate affairs, client interactions, and business endeavors, and know that he speaks from experience when he discusses business and management.

 

Main piece:

When I was talking to my dad, a saying that he often says truly caught my attention. Through working at various jobs throughout my life, my dad would always emphasize one saying in particular: “there is a difference between a manager and a leader—there are many managers but a few leaders”. This quote is applicable to anyone who is in the workforce as it clearly shows a divide between managers who are true leaders and are able to efficiently lead their employees and those managers that simply have the title of manager but are unable to lead. Through my dad’s experience working in various departments of business and interacting with numerous managers, as well as leading others himself, he perfectly sums up those with true management potential.

 

Personal thoughts:

Because I have seen my dad work very hard throughout my life, I know that he is extremely passionate about business and is very knowledgeable about the business world. When I was sharing my experiences with him about working various jobs, he constantly reiterated this saying, which I found a lot of comfort and sense in. I completely agree with this saying and feel that it amply sums up many frustrating experiences that individuals often face with their managers and coworkers in the workforce.