If I had one wish for the media, it would be to restore the long-lost position of copy editors — the unseen wizards who made reporters look smarter than they really were and could craft the pithiest of headlines. Had a copy editor been at the desk, Matthew Tully’s July 3 Indianapolis Star column wouldn’t … Read more
“So how many bookmarks do you need?” My blank expression led Jesus to realize that I obviously needed more information, so he continued. “We usually give you six bookmarks, but if you’d like, I can arrange to give you more.” Handing over a hefty three-ring binder, he pointed to the styles of bookmarks that were … Read more
My daughter introduced me to one of her favorite webcomics, and it’s become one of mine. Allie Brosh created the delightful blog (and subsequent book) called “Hyperbole and a Half.” It’s entertaining, if not easy to describe. Let’s just say that it’s a look at the absurdity of the world through childlike eyes and impressions. … Read more
I’m not big on making grandiose statements, but I’m making this one with a tremendous amount of confidence. If you’re involved in marketing, a company you’ve probably never heard of is using technology in a way that’s going to transform your industry. The July/August 2016 issue of Inc. Magazine includes an article about a company … Read more
Three cheers for the companies that are dedicated to developing the new and the exciting! The companies that aren’t satisfied with what’s already available, or who have recognized an entirely new way to accomplish something. The companies that are constantly focused staying at the forefront of their industries. If you run (or work for) one … Read more
He was a successful engineer with a nagging problem. It didn’t bother anyone else, but it haunted him during his commute, in the shower, and when his golden retriever woke him up at 3 a.m. for a quick trip outside. He knew that a common process could be dramatically improved, and he had a hunch … Read more
If your business requires that you communicate with counterparts elsewhere around the globe, be careful — even when you think they speak the same language. I was reminded of this while reading Robert Serling’s excellent history of the Boeing Company, “Legend & Legacy.” (Trivia note: his brother Rod used to appear on an early-60s TV … Read more
Worried that what you’ve written sounds a little too light and fluffy? Concerned that your words seem to be traveling all over the place instead of delivering a clear message? Thanks to a handy tool within Microsoft Word and most other word processors, and with a little bit of self-discipline, you can easily make your … Read more
I miss the days when newspapers and other media wouldn’t publish a story until it had been edited and edited again. Sadly, expediency has supplanted accuracy, and shrinking budgets have eliminated the copy editors who dispatched typos and other errors from their writers’ dispatches. These days, the only thing protecting writers from themselves is their … Read more
I often point to flawed marketing efforts by well-known companies. It isn’t that I have something against big business; it’s that those big players tend to make some of the biggest, most amateurish mistakes in their marketing efforts. Usually, the underlying concept is sound. The execution is where it falls flat. Take the email I … Read more