The Language Perfectionist: “The Cry of the Awk”
When editing the work of others, I frequently find myself imagining a mythical bird: the awk. In my fantasy, the creature would alert the writer of an awkward sentence with a terrifying cry: “Awk!”
READ MOREThe Worst Positioning Statement in the World: “We’re Better”
Here’s a trick question: What’s better — chopped liver or filet mignon? Most people would say “filet mignon.” But filet mignon isn’t better than chopped liver. Nor is chopped liver better than filet mignon.
READ MOREThe Little Bang Success Technique
According to the “Big Bang Theory,” the universe was created by a sudden, massive explosion. And many people approach goal setting the same way. They set an ambitious goal and expect it to come to fruition immediately.
READ MOREA Small Thing That Can Make a Productive Difference
About two years ago, BK, a retired publisher who does more work in one day than most working publishers do in a week, shared one of his secrets with me. Wherever he goes, he carries in his pocket a very small pad of paper and a pencil. He uses these…
READ MOREHow to Increase Response by 15 Percent
Years ago, I had a client who sold utility software for IBM mainframes. He would send out a letter with a technical description of the software and its function. He would offer to send the software on magnetic tape for a “free 30-day trial.” That was (and still is) an…
READ MOREIs It Better to Be Pushy… or a Pushover?
Are you a pushy person? Not sure? Take this test: Do you find that your subordinates often work more slowly than you would like them to?
READ MOREDon’t Waste Your Time on the Wrong Problems
A former employee of mine once allowed a serious business problem to go unreported because he thought he could fix it himself. He couldn’t — and it cost the company $400,000.
READ MOREHow I ETR’ed It
“At this point, we can’t rule out malignancy,” the doctor said. I just looked at my husband. I knew he was asking the doctor questions, but I didn’t hear any words. I saw his lips moving and felt his strong hand on top of mine. But all I could think…
READ MOREHow the Power of Positive Thinking Affects Your Health
K almost never gets sick. And when she does, you can hardly tell. That’s because she doesn’t complain. She insists she’ll be in fine shape “after a good night’s sleep.” I, in contrast, assume that every sniffle is an indication of a terrible disease with a dark outcome.
READ MORE$5,000 for an Afternoon Drive
“Sarah,” an interior designer for yachts, had just come back from a very successful business trip. Her boss, who never complimented her, was oozing with praise. She was so excited (and confident big money was coming her way) that she signed a lease on an expensive apartment.
READ MOREHow to De-Fang Emotionally Charged Criticism
When one of my clients fired “Bob,” he sent me a vitriolic e-mail criticizing nearly everything about the company he had worked for.
READ MOREThe Language Perfectionist: The Cohort Retort
From a U.S. Department of Justice news release: “The following morning, when the first employee of the day entered the bank, Smith and his cohort, armed with handguns, confronted the employee and demanded money contained in the bank’s vault.”
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