Every year at around this time I hand out awards for paradigm-shifting, best-in-class management guff. I had expected the 2009 Guff Awards to be a sorry affair, as the bullshit industry has been suffering its worst slump since the Great Depression. But as I went through my bullshit cupboard I was surprised and reassured by the quality of the material. Even in bad times, it seems, some managers can still push the envelope and go the extra mile. So, without more ado, I'm going to get on and hand out the prizes.
每年的这个时候,我都会为一些改变人们语言范式的最胡扯管理用语颁奖。由于胡话产业去年遭遇了自大萧条(Great Depression)以来最严重的衰退,我本以为2009年胡话奖的境况会格外惨淡。但翻阅了我的胡言乱语积累本后,我为这些素材的品质之高感到惊讶,由此打消了顾虑。看来,即使在萧条时期,一些管理人士仍能够挑战极限,再创新高。那我就此打住,开始一一颁奖。