Simple advice for business email communication

1. Make your subject line an obvious statement of your intent (e.g. Request for documents)

2. Let recipients know what you want them to do in each email

3. Avoid back and forth by using if/then (e.g. If you’re available at 1pm please confirm. If not, then please give me three alternatives that work for you.)

4. Always have your name and contact info in the signature line of every email (I have seen emails from sales people asking me to call them but don’t have their TB number listed anywhere)

5. Give your phone number in an easy to read format 5555631910 is lazy and harder to see than 555-563-1910

6. Name files based on the recipient’s perspective. For example, if your customer is Apple, don’t send an invoice with the file name “Apple Invoice.” That person ONLY receives invoices for Apple. Instead name the file something they can easily find later, like: “MYcompany-June2021-Invoice”

#businesscommunication #inspirational #lifelessons

Rules to live by

Some of the rules I learned from people smarter than me:

IN EVERYDAY LIFE – Don’t take anything personally – most things that seem malicious are better explained by ignorance or self-hatred/anger having nothing to do with you – Recognize that where you are now is just where you are now. History does not equal destiny. Your present state is just a snapshot, a balance sheet of today – Avoid negative, toxic people, and complainers. You are the average of the 5 people  you surround yourself with

IN CRISIS OR DIFFICULT SITUATIONS: – Acknowledge reality –> Make a decision –> Take action – Ask  “what’s good about this?” – Always do the best you can, with what you have, from where you are

#emotionalintelligence #inspirational #lifelessons

Skate to where the puck is going

Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky famously said that he doesn’t skate to the puck, he skates to where the puck is going. This seems like a useful analogy. Communicate, behave, and dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Consume macronutrients in the amount that your ideal body and not your current one requires. Proactively look for business and tech trends to anticipate outcomes and look for what’s next, as opposed to what’s hot right now. The smartest and most forward-thinking world changers are living where the puck will be in five years from now. Yet another useful cliche that prompts you to move in the direction of achievement. Whatever that means to you.

#emotionalintelligence #goals #inspirational #lifelessons