alpha pup \'alf-e-'pep \ n: young person whose tastes and sensibilities strongly influence peers, usu. in ref. to marketing research and strategies "Let's run the new flavor by an alpha pup" --- syn Cool Kid on the block, early adopter, innovator, trendsetter -- see also peer pressure, branding strategy, coolhunter, focus group, zeitgeist, high-profile sneezer, idea virus.
The office has a somewhat anti-establishment streak. The boys love Rock Band, screaming is fun and meetings have stacks of legos to keep the suits occupied. But I personally like the stack of office jargon flash cards that someone probably recently expensed. There are about 200 of them, covering typical words like "leverage" to more creative things like "maternal onramp".
My boss came over to my desk to day and christened me with one of those cards. In jest of course. Cause I'm the one product guy coming from the biz background instead of Computer Science. But then again, there was a slight kernel of truth in the joke -- as in, I'm here to bring in some new ideas.
It's exciting and terrifying at the same time. I'm not sure which of the two I feel more right now.
Which is why it's 7:15 pm and I'm at the office reading blogs and market research on stuff I only have the faintest whiff of knowledge on. But surprisingly, this is the first time that I actually enjoy staying late to 'work'.