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I suppose it means one wants to improve upon something. Strive for better products/design/quality?

In that case I can see how it’s good.

It’s not as good as taking it to the limit (one more time), and far inferior to taking it to the streets.

People need to grow, to learn, and to try new things. Doing the same thing day in and day out is soul-killing. And one of the ways to grow is in size and reach—which is usually what “taking it to the next level” means.

You can also grow in lots of other ways, and you can reach a comfortable equilibrium in your work life while growing in non-work-related areas, but those approaches aren’t inherently better, just different.

Higher is better. Everyone knows that.

Isn’t that what Oprah told us Obama was going to do?

Boobies.

You can obviously see how taking it to the next level improves things by seeing everyone doing it to irony in this responses. How can you doubt the power of the crowd?

What, you want to stay on this crappy level we’re on now?

Ask one of the most influential figures in the history of Japanese auto-making:

And He’s an American

His theories are founded on ever-improvement.

+20hp?

On the next level, they give you cookies

Why does a player advance to a new level in a game? An increase in challenge sustains the player’s interest.

It’s the same as turning it up to 11.

It’s an update. An essential step to keep thins alive. Just what Apple did today …

What isn’t?

In Super Mario Bros., it keeps the game interesting. It’s the point of even bothering with the first level.

So you don’t get bored.

What all the other smart people said. I don’t think the phrase necessarily alludes to ‘expanding’, increasing’ or some similar corporate/vacuous concept that you might be opposed to, but rather any form of meaningful upgrade or improvement to what it is you do or make. If I interpreted your tone correctly, it’s the context it’s often used in you disapprove of, not the phrase itself (as is the case with so many expressions and words).

It might make more sense to take it down a notch.

Roll down yer window and smell the cow farm.

I would say that Lubo nailed it. Assuming that’s what “taking it to the next level” means.

I suspect this question is about whether or not companies (or other organizations) should be pursing “growth for the sake of growth.”

The sensible answer is no. However, the question really needs to go deeper. If “taking it to the next level” means growing (not specifically in numerical/revenue/profit/employee count/customer count way) and improving, then it seems the answer should be yes…we should always be doing this. If you are doing this as a business a natural side-effect is likely (though not guaranteed) to be growth in revenue, profits, etc. You would be “taking it to the next level” to be sure, but indirectly.

If you don’t get to the next level, you can’t beat the boss, and save the princess.

Jason -

The next level is only “so great” if it helps you get to your goal.

but you knew that… So I guess the real question is, “What’s so bad about the Status Quo?”

Taking it to the next level means you gave 150%.

Apparently it allows you to gain the power to change your life forever. http://www.takingittothenextlevel.com/enter.html (Check out that awesome UI design: “click the above button to enter”)

As long as there is a next level, why not?

I think it goes with the whole idea of “continuous improvement” or Kaizen.

I don’t think it has to apply specifically to growing a business or a group, or adding complexity (that wouldn’t really be improvement) or updating. But merely continuing to do the small things which keep the experience a positive one.

If you think how much internal and external forces change constantly, we have to seek to adapt and improve just to maintain the status quo.

The next level can be dangerous b/c it is so easy to say and very hard to do. I find myself setting a goal, achieving it, and instead of being happy, deciding the next level is more important.

I have not yet figured out what is so wonderful about the next level, but I know I mindlessly strive for it. I think it’s a defect :)

I often ask the same question…

Showbiz and A.G. explain the Next Level: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVCClvapAXQ

You have to take it to the next level. Or we’d all still be sh*ting in our diapers.

Well, most of us still are. Women outgrow it faster than men.

“Let’s start a site like , but take it to the next level.”

It seems that for a lot of start-ups “take it to the next level” doesn’t mean focusing on good customer support, user experience, etc.

*like [insert popular site]

Nigel Tufnel: The numbers all go to eleven. Look, right across the board, eleven, eleven, eleven and…

Marty DiBergi: Oh, I see. And most amps go up to ten? Nigel Tufnel: Exactly.

Marty DiBergi: Does that mean it’s louder? Is it any louder?

Nigel Tufnel: Well, it’s one louder, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You’re on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you’re on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?

Marty DiBergi: I don’t know.

Nigel Tufnel: Nowhere. Exactly. What we do is, if we need that extra push over the cliff, you know what we do?

Marty DiBergi: Put it up to eleven.

Nigel Tufnel: Eleven. Exactly. One louder.

Marty DiBergi: Why don’t you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

Nigel Tufnel: [pause] These go to eleven.

when you’re at third base, you’ll know

Why, increased strength and mana, of course. Not to mention hit points.

@Mark

New spells and talents also become available :D

It means baking an extra pie for Thanksgiving.

Nirvana is always on the next level!

Diablo Cody answers http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/10/top-this.html

@anon’s comment about “third base”: GREAT answer! I love that.

Corporate catchphrase: “We don’t stop at third base!”

Besides, the “next level” is where we “think outside the box” and “shift paradigms” and “give 110 percent!”.

puke

Ha. I was asked to to this at work by my boss. It became an instant joke.

Generally, if you’re only good at the level you’re on, I’m cool if you stay there.

c’mon….it’s ++

if we don’t take things to the next level, we would be stuck with Yahoo as the best search engine…

Because that’s where Donkey Kong took Pauline. And I must rescue her!

It’s not great in cases where you have achieved “good enough” – and there are circumstances where good enough really is good enough. In this case, no need to go farther: good enough will suffice.

If you are “at the top” of a field or your product is “best” in a category, then the next level may be just the ability to maintain that position. After all, the “next level” from the top is always down…and there is always someone who is trying to climb the mountain you’re on top of. Staying on top can be brutally hard.

It helps you understand whether this ‘next’ level make it work better.

I’m going to take it to the previous level.

Back to basics. Back to square one. Back to the fundamentals. Back to the drawing board.