CAREER-CHANGING TAKEAWAYS!
One- and two-liners and short paragraphs to remember
Vol. 7, Issue No. 4 | February 22, 2011 By Denny Hatch
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IN THE NEWS
Letters From Readers ...“I still think it's a great idea to find a way to publish your Takeaways. I cut and paste the best one's and refer to them often. This one I'll save, too: "Never send important, business-changing correspondence by e-mail." —B.W.
“Your Takeaways to Consider are great! I would like to have your permission to pass on links to this article to my authors.” —S.C
“Excellent column today! Loved your succinct 'takeaway point.' Joins others from previous columns above my desk! [Getting crowded up there.]” —C.W.
—From some of the 4,000 e-mails DH has received over the years
In June 2005, I started writing this e-newsletter.
My wife, Peggy, who is the publisher, came up with the idea of having takeaway points—a short collection of bulleted one- and two-liners or short paragraphs at the end of each piece—that summarize why a particular column might be worth reading.
I assume readers are very busy. I have no interest in wasting anybody’s time.
For example, many blogs start off with the writer clearing throat, rolling up sleeves, rubbing hands together, by which time the reader is on Page 2 with nothing to show for the time spent. That is why my private definition of the typical blog is “a cross between a blob and a bog.”
Put another way: It is imperative to remember that on the Internet a writer is one click away from oblivion. If I don’t ruthlessly self-edit, the reader is gone in a twentieth of a second.
Readers of Business Common Sense can scan the lede, and if they have no interest in today’s subject, can be out of here in less than 20 seconds, maybe with a useful takeaway or two, maybe not.
Every now and then a reader would write me and ask if I ever were planning to publish a collection of the takeaways. I said thanks for the suggestion (I personally answer all e-mail correspondence), and put the idea on the back burner.
In 2010, I moved the idea to the front burner and what turned up is:
If you like what follows, you’ll find more information and how to order at www.dennyhatch.com
I persuaded the publisher (my wife, Peggy) to offer readers a fat pre-publication discount.
Enjoy!
Rupert Murdoch and I Part Company
For years I dutifully subscribed to The Wall Street Journal and found one or two stories a day that were worth downloading into my private archive of 60,000+ stories in 268 major categories. In July 2008 I received a renewal notice offering me one year for $399 or two years for $499. The Journal also was charging me extra to get the publication online, which seemed a bit steep, especially since The New York Times print subscribers have free run of that Web site and archive.
Takeaways to Consider
- Takeaways serve two purposes: 1) force the writer to focus on the key points of the story and 2) crystallize the story in the mind of the reader, making it memorable.
- I have come to believe that all business writing should contain takeaways—memos, PowerPoint presentations, special reports, white papers, articles and books.
- Many blogs start off with the writer clearing throat, rolling up sleeves, rubbing hands together, by which time the reader is on Page 2 with nothing to show for the time spent. That is why my private definition of the typical blog is “a cross between a blob and a bog.”
- Put another way: It is imperative to remember that on the Internet a writer is one click away from oblivion. If I don’t ruthlessly self-edit, the reader is gone in a twentieth of a second.
Companies Mentioned:
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