A downward Dow, hundreds of thousands of layoffs (and counting), sagging consumer confidence: Business types might call these signs of an economic “paradigm shift.” Close to home, last week the Texas Workforce Commission reported that state unemployment has increased to 4.9%. Even Fort Worth’s wealthy Bass family cashed in their Disney stock, giving up their small piece of Mickey.

Just because our once-ebullient bull market is now a fickle bear, however, doesn’t mean we should toss style to the wind. Here’s our guide to what’s hot and what’s not in these tough economic times:

Out: IPOs

In: IOUs

Out: Synergy

In: Lethargy

Out: Dogs allowed at the office

In: No office

Out: Techies

In: Okies

Out: Wired
In: Fired

Out: Convention centers

In: Unemployment offices

Out: Geekcorps

In: Marine Corps

Out: Thinking outside the box

In: Living inside a box

Out: Globalization

In: World War

Out: iNdulgence

In: iNdigence

Out: This is “so” Old Economy

In: Is this 1929?

This article appears in September 28 • 2001.

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