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# New Language
- URL: https://www.philsimon.com/new-language/
- Published: 2012-03-27T11:38:57.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-21T02:19:27.000Z
- Description: On the difficulty getting people to think and speak differently.
- Author: Phil Simon
- Tags: Communication, Platforms, The Age of the Platform, Writing

Unfettered idealism has its drawbacks. I firmly believe that compromise makes sense on many things.

In [*The Age of the Platform*](https://www.philsimon.com/books/the-age-of-the-platform), I write extensively about platforms, planks, and ecosystems. These aren't words that most business folks use on a regular basis. And many of the people who do talk and write about *platforms* and *ecosystems* these days do it in a way that confuses more than conveys.

I knew that it wouldn't be easy to get people thinking in a fundamentally different way. In fact, few things are more difficult than creating a new framework and defining new terms. As my friend [Alan Berkson](https://twitter.com/?ref=philsimon.com#!/berkson0) says, in the book, I try to raise the level of discourse.

Tall order.

That didn't stop me and it shouldn't stop you. As a creative type working on a passion project, few things matter more than staying true to one's vision.