Over the last several weeks, I've taken notice of an uptick in the use of the work 'rockstar' to describe various things, usually in the context of defining a type of person who should inhabit a given role in a business.
Most folks who use this term think of it in a positive sense. They are incorrect. Five reasons why:
Without taking anything away from Janis's or Jimi's impact on rock music, is there anyone who doesn't wonder what could have happened had they not died so young, due to substance abuse problems? Or does Courtney clarify this point? Rockstar Energy drink is just straight out bad for you body. And finally, if you could hire anyone for your team, wouldn't you want someone who is recognized as perhaps the best current living practitioner of their skill, and who is notable for their ability to work with others - Itzhak Perlman?
Here's the article that put me over the edge, The Rockstar Guide to Getting More Traffic, Fame, Success. The interesting point is that even in an article with a title using the word Rockstar, the author uses a classically trained musician to make a major point regarding showmanship, Victor Borge, who is certainly not a rockstar (but he was an amazing performer, nonetheless)!
Here's the point: If someone who is ostensibly good at writing copy gets confused about the meaning of a term, don't you think that's an indicator to go find a better way to to describe amazing talent?
