Assume People Don’t Read or Listen
As a writer, I came to the conclusion a long time ago that it was in my best interest to assume that most people don’t read very much or listen very well. Short attention spans, busy lives and almost constant distractions create enormous challenges for communicators. It’s an undeniable fact that audiences bore easily. So […]
Selling Through Storytelling and The 4th Earl of Sandwich
The British politician and aristocrat John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, liked to play cards. But he also enjoyed eating a snack at the same time, and that tied up his hands and involved utensils. So, in 1748, he came up with a solution: he put beef between slices of toast, so he could […]
Word Inflation: Amazing, epic, disruptive innovation
I’m mixing metaphors, but many communicators in the U.S. (Sorry, I don’t get to read Der Spiegel or Paris Match), are getting out of hand – and way over the top – with word inflation. If every product change or new idea is amazing, epic, and disruptive, what happens when something really significant takes place? […]
8 Words to Avoid When You Need to Talk About Yourself
We all know that in business, certain words get overused and become clichés. And in our highly connected world, it happens pretty darn fast. In some of these cases, and in other instances, some word choices are just not right, because they give the wrong impression. Here are some examples that are all-too-often used when […]
Simple and Specific: The Key to Understanding in Your Writing
You might think that being too specific in your communications might confuse busy readers or distract audiences but it’s quite the opposite. Using simple language and being appropriately specific in your descriptions have been proven to increase understanding and retention. Here are some examples: • Memorable: “The man proceeded down the street.” “The tall man […]
Get ’Em On Your Side: Framing Part Deux
A couple of blogs ago, I wrote about the importance of “framing” your writing, so readers or listeners can connect emotionally with your ideas through shared values. The marketers of processed food and beverages, as well as alcohol and tobacco, have understood the framing challenge very well. Minimizing the health threats of their products, they […]