I use 'mount up' or 'mount' - but I'm not American. Forbes is an American publication, and if they use 'mount up' then I guess it's ok in America too.
Inculcate/covet/backlog/aim/apprehensive/perfunctory/bleak are all still used here in the UK. Inculcate, perfunctory, apprehensive are quite formal. Covet is a little old-fashioned, but does a useful job. Bleak is a wonderfully descriptive word. Backlog is less formal, and I use it every week as I always have a backlog of work!
These words are all in use. Covet is the one you probably won't need very much, unless you covet your neighbour's Ferrari. (I don't think that was the original biblical quotation!).