There might be oil under your office. For all we know, a massive deposit of oil may be waiting a couple thousand feet below your chair mat. Just think of what that could mean to your company’s bottom line. Can you arrange for a drilling rig to drop by Thursday so you can punch a … Read more
Mark Twain’s take on prevarication remains as accurate today as when he penned it: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” We live in an age in which we’re overwhelmed by information, and a large share of what we consume is in the form of statistics. A key reason for that … Read more
I’ve stated many opinions in this space, but few are as likely to trigger as intense a reaction as the headline of this article. Among many executives, mission statements are a sacrosanct cornerstone of corporate governance. But I’ll stand by my statement. Now, I’m not saying that your mission statement is unimportant. After all, a … Read more
I had driven past the yard sign several times before curiosity got the better of me. Was it really an abstract watercolor in shades of gray and rose? What was it doing in someone’s yard? So I parked, walked up, and studied the sign. It promoted a community event having nothing to do with watercolors. … Read more
Years ago, a wise boss told me that the most affordable attorney I’d ever hire is the one I called before making a decision or taking an action. I’ve since come to realize that the same holds true with writers. I’ve often seen organizations decide to tackle writing a new website, blog, or other project … Read more
I’ve always wondered why people who are confident and comfortable with who they are become something entirely different when they produce a website, write a blog post, or create a presentation. Time after time, I’ve watched owners of reputable, high-quality businesses walk away from their hard-earned reputations and present themselves as something other than what … Read more
As a writer, I tend to become involved in the graphic design process only peripherally, but I still manage to learn useful lessons from it. One of the most instructive design lessons came from someone who knew absolutely nothing about typography and color theory. I’m fascinated by the process of logo design – not the … Read more
No, you didn’t read that wrong. I have a new gas meter … and I’m kind of proud. It’s not like I picked it out or anything. One day I walked into my back yard and startled a woman wearing a gas-company vest. Three days later, I received a letter informing me my ghastly, archaic … Read more
I have a solid understanding of how plumbing works. I know how to use a pipe wrench and have wrapped Teflon tape around pipe threads. I’ve often explained the mechanics behind a water heater, and even taught a group of curious Cub Scouts how toilets flush and why they’re designed that way. But when a … Read more
Whether you think of yourself as a skilled writer or dread reaching for the keyboard, writing probably plays a critical role in your daily work. You may not be authoring articles for professional journals, but you probably have to create emails, reports, and other items that require some writing skill. Following a few simple, easy-to-remember … Read more