tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-372347412024-03-06T22:00:43.089-05:00Online Marketing B2BeatB2B marketing insight and analysis from HB Publishing & Marketing Company www.HBPubDev.comHank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-32274541880243521262024-03-06T21:59:00.002-05:002024-03-06T21:59:47.576-05:00Why It’s Hard to Edit Our Own Writing?<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV0z_L-OQ30U447axSpLfjC0GuYiHh3pdFDi1qi6qMeo2qSz-OdYVeBKlVAkwLQlNYG5rLUkZo19lXZq673cLcTI7SHJW_oQdspoBtU1mj74UlRzGnC8_dxkMPrwVbi1r8Fr_VvAxAg69as_XTKSWjVjhasIPSsDh0VMCLo6sRgz3Ctf_G7lRnA/s663/frustrated%20female%20writer.jpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="663" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlV0z_L-OQ30U447axSpLfjC0GuYiHh3pdFDi1qi6qMeo2qSz-OdYVeBKlVAkwLQlNYG5rLUkZo19lXZq673cLcTI7SHJW_oQdspoBtU1mj74UlRzGnC8_dxkMPrwVbi1r8Fr_VvAxAg69as_XTKSWjVjhasIPSsDh0VMCLo6sRgz3Ctf_G7lRnA/s320/frustrated%20female%20writer.jpeg.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br />Simple steps
for breaking through</i><p></p>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whether
you have three books to your credit or agonize over a monthly blog post, there
are at least a dozen reasons why it can be challenging to edit our own writing
effectively. How many of these traps below sound like you? If you answered, yes
to three or more, I have some suggestions for you at the end of this post:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Familiarity
bias:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
We are intimately familiar with our own thoughts and writing. This can make it
difficult to spot errors or areas that need improvement. Our brains tend to
fill in gaps and overlook mistakes because we know what we intended to say.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Emotional
attachment:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
We often develop an emotional attachment to our writing, making it hard to be
objective and critical when editing. We may be reluctant to make significant
changes or cuts because we've invested time and effort into the piece.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lack of
distance:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
When we're deeply involved in a piece of writing, it's hard to step back and
view it with fresh eyes. We may be too close to the material to see it from a
reader's perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Confirmation
bias:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
We tend to focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs or
interpretations. This makes it harder to identify flaws or weaknesses in our
arguments or explanations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blind
spots:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
We may have blind spots or areas of our writing that we simply can't see
objectively, whether it's due to our writing style, subject matter expertise,
or personal biases. Sound familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Editing
fatigue:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Editing requires sustained concentration and attention to detail, which can be
mentally draining. After a certain point, our ability to spot errors or willingness
to make improvements will diminish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Difficulty
with self-criticism:</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Some writers struggle with being overly critical or not
critical enough when evaluating their own work. This makes it hard to strike
the right balance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perfectionism. </span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I need every sentence to be perfect before I go on to the
next. Instead, write quickly in a stream of consciousness style and then go
back and revise, revise, revis</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">e. As
Voltaire liked to say: <i>“Don't let the perfect become the enemy of the good.”
<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Data
dumping.</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
I want to share everything I know about a subject. Spoiler alert: Nobody cares
how extensive your knowledge is. True genius comes from distilling complex
subjects into easily understandable bite-size nuggets. Doing so will prevent
you from succumbing to <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/overcoming-smartest-kid-in-the-class-syndrome-when-writing-or-speaking/">Smartest
Kid in the Class Syndrome</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Hubris.</b> I handle complex multi-state
tax returns, multimillion-dollar estate plans and retirement plans for Fortune
1000 executives. How hard can writing be? Probably harder than you think.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Impatience/tech reliance.</b> I don’t make
my living as a writer. I don’t have time for this. Why can’t I just let
AI/Grammarly and software do it for me? How well did those Cliffs Notes work
out for you in college?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Procrastination.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing is something many people find
unpleasant. It’s easy to put it off and avoid it until the inevitable deadline
comes bearing down on you. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tips for editing your own writing<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
1. <b>Take breaks from your writing</b>. Set your timer for one hour or a
specific time of day. Then hit the save button on your work. Walk away for several
hours or better yet, for at least a full day. You’ll come back with a fresh set
of eyes and usually a surprising amount of clarity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>2. Seek feedback from others</b> – people who you can count on to give you
to tell you the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>3. Read your work aloud</b>. Is it cringeworthy? Where does it start to
drag? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it sound like you? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>4. Start with the end in mind.</b> What are the three most important takeaways
you want your reader to gain from reading your work? Write them at the top of
your piece and make sure you have answered them clearly. In your conclusion,
remind the reader the expert insights you just shared with them. <i>Tell ‘em
what you’re going to tell them. Then you tell them. Then you tell ‘em what you
just told ‘em. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-pre-wrap" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #29261b; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>5. Create an outline before writing.</b> Start simply with the introduction,
then the purpose of your piece, followed by the three to four main points and a
conclusion. After that, it’s just a matter of filling in the blanks. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">6. Just get started. </span></b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">If you’re a
procrastinator or perfectionist, taking the first step is the key. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">As the</span><b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> </span></b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">old saying goes:<b> </b><i>“You can always edit a
bad page, but you can’t edit a blank page.</i><b> <u><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-first-draft-sucksso-what-hank-berkowitz"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Your</span> <span style="font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -.2pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">first
draft is supposed to suck</span></a></u></b></span><u><span style="color: #29261b; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: -.2pt;">.</span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Just get your thoughts on paper and revise, revise, revise.</span><b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"><br />
<br />
7. Get an accountability partner </span></b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">who will keep you on task. It could be a trusted
colleague, good friend or even a writing coach who can make sure you have your
outline, rough drafts and final drafts completed by the dates to which you
committed. NOTE: I don’t recommend using your spouse as an accountability
partner unless you can prevent criticism of your writing from spilling over
into other areas of your relationship. That said, you can always do what our
client Kyle Walters recommends and use the ‘<a href="https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/the-call-your-mom-strategy-for-cpa-firm-communication">Call
Your Mom’ Strategy</a>. She’ll always tell you the unvarnished truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">8. Make a hard copy and use a pencil.</span></b><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> Not to be anti-green
here, but before you submit your final draft, make a hard copy of your work
(print on both sides) and take out a pencil to do a final review of the piece. Personally,
I’ve found it useful to read the hard copy to myself aloud. Using a pencil and
reading aloud slows your brain down and forces you to listen – really listen --
to what you’re trying to say. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">As
Ernest Hemingway liked to say: <i>“Write drunk, edit sober.”</i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
It doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without having a solid command
of the English language you won’t be taken seriously. After all, <i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">You're
an Elite Professional; Don't Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><i>#grammar, #businesscommunication, #selfediting, #thoughtleadership, <o:p></o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-26976025894598605892024-02-07T16:38:00.003-05:002024-02-07T16:38:43.839-05:00Irregardless, I Could Care Less<p><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TsnioE9NPnT67H6l12UdHon9QTo-uj4UYwtnKbb90bhLTEWnXwHCHZEoa91awqZpRwekh2MUXhBi2ZsuIGL4nr7_rJYAoOt-Y4Z1NBes4CmTrOPyiC-dgjVDTeWQA520e1RDhR490aP-8-TXz8R29Yj1YiqDoZBfLmxWF2ySFvSlA9FIcsbl3g/s6000/young%20male%20apathetic.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TsnioE9NPnT67H6l12UdHon9QTo-uj4UYwtnKbb90bhLTEWnXwHCHZEoa91awqZpRwekh2MUXhBi2ZsuIGL4nr7_rJYAoOt-Y4Z1NBes4CmTrOPyiC-dgjVDTeWQA520e1RDhR490aP-8-TXz8R29Yj1YiqDoZBfLmxWF2ySFvSlA9FIcsbl3g/s320/young%20male%20apathetic.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Most
of you are armed with grammar apps, spell checkers and AI. But we’re still
seeing plenty of grammatical fumbles in your submissions. Take the word <b>“irregardless.”</b>
It’s frequently misused because it appears in most dictionaries and sounds more
imposing than simply saying “regardless. ” By adding <span lang="EN" style="color: #4d5156; font-size: 12pt;">the
prefix <b>“ir”</b> (which means “not”) to a word that already means “without
regard,” you’re essentially saying: “<i>not <b>not</b> without regard.”</i> Huh!?</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 9.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 9.0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="color: #4d5156; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">Using </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #040c28; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;">double
negatives</span><span lang="EN" style="color: #4d5156; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Roboto;"> makes you sound unprofessional and unattuned to the
details. That’s a liability if you’re in professional services even if your
software doesn’t flag it. Most of the time “<b>regardless”</b> will suffice when
you’re implying that </span><span style="color: #5d4639; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";">something will happen (or is true) without being influenced by
other conditions. <br />
</span><i><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><br />
TIP: Try substituting “<b>regardless”</b> for “<b>irregardless”</b> in each
example below. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -24.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i><u><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Irregardless</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> of opposition, he still
wanted to expand the team.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -24.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">They
decided they would go ahead with the plan <b><u>irregardless</u></b> of the
risks.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -24.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">She
elected to buy the growth stock <b><u>irregardless</u></b> of the high
valuation.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 42.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -24.0pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i><span style="color: #252525; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Open Sans";">I'm not sure about your tax advice, but I'm going to follow it <b><u>irregardless</u></b>.</span></i><i><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Did the meaning or
intent change? No. Are the sentences cleaner and more economical? Yes. Did you
save your reader time? Yes. Stick with regardless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I
could (or couldn’t) care less?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On
a recent NBA telecast, analyst and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said: <b>“</b></span><a href="https://www.azquotes.com/quote/562564?ref=could-care-less"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;">I could care less
what people think. People are stupid.”</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Barkley is an imposing 300-pound individual
who was known as </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
Round Mound of Rebound</span></i></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
during his playing days. I might not correct Big Chuck in person, but if he </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“could care less</span></i></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">” what people think, it implies that he </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">does</span></i></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> care at least a little bit what people think of
him. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Likewise, many of you have said you “could
care less” about clients who ignore your advice or you “could care less” about
Jim Cramer’s latest stock tip on cable TV. Please tell me you didn’t mean that!<br /></span><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12pt;">When you get a chance,
tell your software that “could care less” and “couldn’t care less” are often
used interchangeably, even though only one of them technically conveys the
intended meaning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">People will often use “<b>I
could care less</b>” as a shorthand way of showing how little they care. But “I
could care less” implies that you still have a little room left in your
subconscious to care about something -- even though you don’t hold it in high
“regard.” Would your interest be piqued if new information or your
circumstances changed? That’s what you’re implying by using “could care less.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
all intensive purposes, don’t peek<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 19.5pt;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Speaking
of “<b>piqued,</b>” it’s spelled with a “q” if you’re trying to show interest
in something. I’ve seen some of you mistakenly write “<b>peaked</b>” (as though
your interest level is no longer as high as it used to be) or “<b>peeked</b>” (as
in you took a quick look at something but didn’t study it further). “Peaked”
and “peeked” generally won’t get flagged by your tools, but they’re not the
correct word choices in the aforementioned situation. So, for all “intents and
purposes,” follow the rules above and you’ll be just fine. By the way, “<b>intents
and purposes</b>” is correct if you mean “in effect” or “essentially.” Don’t
say: <b><i>“intensive purposes”!</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It's
great to have spellcheck, grammar apps and AI to assist you. However, you can’t
go wrong by reading your work aloud before submitting it or consulting with a
trained professional if you’re not sure. I hate grammar, too. When in doubt, I
just keep it simple and try to be as economical as possible with word choices.
As Barkley famously said when asked about his formidable rebounding technique: <b><i>“Yeah,
I've got a technique. It's called just go get the damn ball!”</i></b><i> <o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It doesn’t matter how well you know the
numbers, without having a solid command of the English language you won’t be
taken seriously. After all, <i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; text-decoration-line: none;">You're
an Elite Professional; Don't Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-style: normal; text-decoration-line: none;"> </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration-line: none;">or #TheRoundMoundofRebound.<o:p></o:p></span></a></i></span></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <br />
</span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">#grammar, #businesscommunication,
#thoughtleadership, #TheRoundMoundofRebound.</span></i>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-37683747211689439892024-01-05T12:52:00.006-05:002024-01-05T12:53:15.173-05:00Don't Set Resolutions Yet<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdb6tSKgKmETr7dU2h78pSK5Tc2pWEJB-cPpRTNdCzJ1D9IqYxW1RTicX278vQGJvf5n6Afif7xDZnD1F4PdH8DVXnZ6EnNVy5-1dFsyYkIFHeM7D3rQVdPX6PeCZUe63KHsV5EVVPZclavUBTNSpkBqWNN1MhYnVyfTjBYD15CkqbAb46yndQ/s428/resolutions%20NO.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="428" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdb6tSKgKmETr7dU2h78pSK5Tc2pWEJB-cPpRTNdCzJ1D9IqYxW1RTicX278vQGJvf5n6Afif7xDZnD1F4PdH8DVXnZ6EnNVy5-1dFsyYkIFHeM7D3rQVdPX6PeCZUe63KHsV5EVVPZclavUBTNSpkBqWNN1MhYnVyfTjBYD15CkqbAb46yndQ/w307-h204/resolutions%20NO.jpg" width="307" /></a></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p>Ahh the Holidays. We ate, drank
and spent too much. We let too much work slide. We let family relationships
fray. It’s natural to want to get back on track and make amends. But our minds
and bodies aren’t ready for significant behavioral modification yet. Instead,
use this time to test-drive your resolutions so you can work out the kinks,
make realistic adjustments, and <b><i>commit to them for real</i></b> come
February or March.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Here's why. <a href="https://fisher.osu.edu/blogs/leadreadtoday/why-most-new-years-resolutions-fail"><span style="background: white; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Research suggests</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #646a6e; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span>only one
in ten Americans (9%) complete the resolutions they have set. In fact, one in four
people (23%) will quit their resolutions by the end of the first week, and nearly
half (43%) quit by the end of January. Take health resolutions, one
of the most popular and misguided categories. <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/day-people-most-likely-give-21199904" target="_blank"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Research</span></a> conducted by fitness app <a href="https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/10-years-in-strava-now-adds-1-million-users-a-month-but-can-it-become-next-great-sports-brand.html"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Strava</span></a> shows
that January 19<sup>th</sup> – less than three weeks out – is the most popular
day for abandoning resolutions. Strava calls it "Quitter's Day." In a
minute I’ll explain why that’s actually good. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Why resolutions fail <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br />
</b>The main reason so many resolutions fail is
because they’re way <i>too ambitious, they’re too vague or they’re not easily measurable.</i>
For instance, people who’ve been sedentary for years suddenly announce their
resolution to run a marathon or do a (100 mile) century ride without any plans
to do shorter events or build up their training gradually. Or they simply say:
“This year I’m finally going to get in shape” or “lose weight” or “finally
write that book I’ve been talking about for years” without any tangible
milestones or benchmarks such as dong 10 more pushups per week, or losing one
pound per week, or writing 1,000 words per week or one chapter per month. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Without setting realistic, tangible and easily measurable goals, it’s too
easy to make excuses or get discouraged when real-life gets in the way. <span style="background: white;">Harvard Business School professor,<span class="white-space-pre"> </span><strong><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Amy Cuddy</span></strong><span class="white-space-pre"> </span>believes
resolutions don’t last because too often<span class="white-space-pre"> </span></span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amy-cuddy-explains-the-dangers-of-new-years-resolutions-2016-12" target="_self"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">we’re
setting ourselves up for failure and self-loathing</span></a><span style="background: white;">. “We tend to set unreasonable aims for ourselves and then
experience negative emotions and a lack of motivation when we don’t reach
them,” she observed. “Failing to meet the unreasonable goals we set for
ourselves can in turn take a negative toll on our self-worth,” added Cuddy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">When it comes to goal
setting, we all go through rough patches and setbacks. </span><strong><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">Jocko Willink</span></strong><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">, the retired Navy Seal and motivational
speaker says that’s good. “Don’t get bummed out, don’t get startled, don’t get
frustrated. Just look at the issue and say: ‘Good.’” Willink says it’s good
when things suck because you have more time to take stock of the situation and to
find a solution and get better. “Don’t throw in the towel,” barks Willink. “Get
up. Dust off. Reload. Recalibrate and Re-Engage.” </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #777777; font-size: 11pt;">(</span><i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Jocko’s</span></i><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;"> <em><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8&feature=youtu.be"><span style="font-style: normal;">brief video</span></a></b></em><em> is
guaranteed to get you fired up!)</em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here are <b><i><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/test-drive-resolutions-now-or-they-wont-stick-in-23/">five
tips for making resolutions stick</a></i></b> and here’s my take on <b><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hard-thing-things-theres-wrestling-hank-berkowitz/">the
hard thing about hard things</a></i>.</b> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>My resolutions</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">As for me, I’m test-driving three resolutions for late Q1 rollout.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>1. Health.</b> As some of
you know I’m a bit of a caffeine addict. Last year I gradually eliminated all soda
and chocolate from my diet. In 2024, I’m hoping to reduce my coffee intake by
50% by mid-year, starting by switching to a 6-oz cup from my usual 8-oz mug.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>2. Work-Life Balance.</b> I’ve learned the hard way that I can’t reduce my hours without a
significant loss in income. But for 2024, I’m hoping to keep the hours the same
and reduce the amount of work done at night and on the weekend by 25% by
mid-year. It starts by going to bed 15 minutes earlier each weeknight and getting
to the office 15 minutes earlier each weekday. That’s already a 75-minute
improvement each week.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>3. Fitness</b>. My 20-year-old
son and I have committed to doing a <b>#MurphChallenge</b> around the last week of March – and complete it in less than one hour. If
you’re not familiar with a Murph Challenge, it was the favorite workout of former
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_P._Murphy">Navy SEAL, Michael Murphy</a> of <i>Lone
Survivor</i> movie fame. It ain’t easy.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The Murph workout includes the following:<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 mile run.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->100 pull-ups.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->200 push-ups.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->300 air squats.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Finish with a second 1
mile run.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Anyone want to join us? <a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbubdev.com?subject=Murph%20Challenge">Contact me</a> to see how you stack
up.<br />
<br />
We’re doing 33% of the challenge once per week during January; 50% of the
challenge once per week in February and 75% of the challenge once per week in
early to mid-March. My son’s a gym rat and will probably crush me on the pullups
and pushups. But I’m a faster runner and have better endurance. Should be a
good matchup.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion</span></b></p><p><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br />
</span></b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the old proverb goes “Slow and steady wins
the race.” Use this month as “exhibition season” to <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/test-drive-resolutions-now-or-they-wont-stick-in-23/">test
drive your resolutions</a> for the year ahead. You may have to make some
adjustments and eat some humble pie, but you’ll be stronger for it. When you
think you’re ready to go live, post them in a public place (see mine above) and
have an accountability partner to keep you on track. On those days when you
just don’t think you have it, follow the Japanese principle of Kaizen (continuous
improvement) getting just 1% better every day. Have a great 2024.<br />
<i><br />
#resolutions, #personalgrowth, #selfawareness, #MurphChallenge<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></i></span></p><p> </p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-74531207375834212242023-12-13T21:57:00.002-05:002023-12-13T21:57:42.749-05:00Does Word Count Matter?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeuGnNGFeijemTcjCO44kW1QiDk2G3EUS1iNRMYFi_iU-FznE0ImPwFhHtp7h6oANwvdT08HdUMdhZGzuBUxIJ0sn1kBtQx8ma684DVXU_zYXrpMr4sMQdEIimXoJb15-ttyaJDQDrKQpb2ZyMXi-NGQLPDLXT_7JBebqbT7FxZtSoKR9EE8MxA/s269/Ruler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="269" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzeuGnNGFeijemTcjCO44kW1QiDk2G3EUS1iNRMYFi_iU-FznE0ImPwFhHtp7h6oANwvdT08HdUMdhZGzuBUxIJ0sn1kBtQx8ma684DVXU_zYXrpMr4sMQdEIimXoJb15-ttyaJDQDrKQpb2ZyMXi-NGQLPDLXT_7JBebqbT7FxZtSoKR9EE8MxA/s1600/Ruler.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>Rarely a
week goes by when a nervous financial professional doesn’t reach to me for help
with a last-minute guest column for the business media. With a deadline bearing
down, the thrill of being a guest contributor has been replaced by the anxiety
of “<i>what am I going to write about and how will I/we get it done on time!?!”</i></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Inevitably
thoughts turn to word count. They’re typically upset because the editor’s
assigned word count is either <b><i>too long</i></b> (i.e., how will I ever
fill up that much space?) or <b><i>too short</i></b> (i.e., how can I jam my
entire life’s work into such a tight space?!?!). Ahhhhhh. They joys of being an
author.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">When it
comes to word count, there’s no hard and fast rule for how long a blog post,
article, white paper or even a book should be. Don’t believe me? Ask your
favorite search engine or AI tool and you’ll see “recommended word counts”
ranging from 300 to 2,500 words for blogs and 800 to 5,000 words for articles.
That’s not very helpful, is it?</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Less is
more</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">At HB, we lean
toward the “less is more” approach. But, as Mark Twain famously quipped to a
friend: <b><i>“'I apologize for such a long letter - I didn't
have time to write a short one.'</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Twain could
get away with that logic because he was one of the greatest authors in our country’s
history. So, the short answer is this: If you’re an exceptional storyteller and
can keep your prose compelling, go ahead an air it out. But for the rest of us,
shorter is generally better as long as you don’t “dumb down” the complex topics
you’re frequently asked to write about.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">For business and financial topics, we’ve found that 600 to 900 words scores
best for blog posts and 1,000 to 1,500 words (including the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-takeaways-dont-publish-post-without-em-hank-berkowitz/?trk=pulse-article"><b>Key
Takeaways</b></a>) tends to get the most engagement for articles. Most
financial editors will assign word lengths in this range. Of course, there are
exceptions. Most word processing software generates about 400 words per page,
so an ideal blog post is 1.5 to 2 pages and an ideal article is about 2.5 to 4
pages. For white papers and book chapters, we’re seeing that 2,000 to 4,000
words works best (think 5 to 10 Microsoft Word pages).<br /><b><br />Here are some tips for keeping concise:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>1. Read
your work aloud</b> before submitting it for publication. Most people read at
200 to 300 words per minute. So, an 800-word blog post is a three to four
minute. A 1,250-word article is about a four to six minute read. If someone was
listening to your piece on their headphones, could you hold your interest for
that long? Does it seem to be dragging anywhere? Are you being redundant or vague?
These are clues to where you could tighten up or cut.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>2. Use
short sentences.</b> If you see any instances in which your sentences are more
than two lines long, that’s a likely sign of a run-on sentence. Break your
prose into shorter more digestible chunks of information, especially if you’re writing
online. It’s okay to start sentences with “determiners” such as “And” , “But”
and “So” these days. Your high school English teacher would be horrified, but
I’ll write you a note to exempt you. Your readers will thank you, too.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Here’s a recent example from one of our clients:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>ORIGINAL </b>(one
sentence, 65 words): “The sliding scale depends on which of the four “pools”
your business falls into, but for many of you, the schedule starts at 40% of
cost in the first year the equipment is placed in service; rises to 56% in
Year-2, and then declines steadily from 42% in Year-3, all the way down to 18%,
and Year-6 and to 15% in Year 7 and beyond.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>REVISED:</b>
(4 sentences, 53 words total) </i><b><i>The sliding scale depends upon which of the
four tiers your business belongs. The schedule starts at 40% of cost in the
first year your equipment is placed in service. But the rate rises to 56% in
Year-2. Then it declines steadily from 42% in Year-3 to 15% in Year 7 and
beyond.</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br />3. Tell
‘em times 3.</b> As my old boss at the
AICPA used to tell us before every presentation, make sure you get three things
across to your audience:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
a) You tell ‘em what you’re going to tell ‘em (INTRO). <br />
b) Then you tell ‘em (MAIN BODY). <br />
c) Then you ‘em what you just told ‘em (CONCLUSION).<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
Same goes for your written communication.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>4</b>. <b>Key Takeaways</b>. Whether you call them Key
Takeaways, Hot Takes, Key Learnings, Summary Bullets or simply Takeaways, those
hardworking bullet points at the top of your content should provide readers
with an instant summary of what they will learn from you. Here’s more on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-takeaways-dont-publish-post-without-em-hank-berkowitz/?trk=pulse-article">Key
Takeaways</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>5. Call
to action.</b> You don’t need to overwhelm readers with everything you know
about a topic. Financial professionals frequently suffer from <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/overcoming-smartest-kid-in-the-class-syndrome-when-writing-or-speaking/"><b><i>Smartest
Kid in the Class Syndrome</i></b></a>. You just want to stimulate their
interest and have them reach out to you for more information. Make it easy for
them to find you to set a time to discuss with you in more detail. Then you can
share more of your lifetime body of work.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Conclusion</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Just keep these simple tips in mind and you’ll be fine. At the end of
the day, it doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without a solid
command of the English language, you won’t be taken seriously. After all, </span><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You're an Elite Professional; Don't Sound Like a Jamoke.</span><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><br />
#grammar; #wordcount; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership<o:p></o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-62872687470603109892023-11-18T16:11:00.005-05:002023-11-18T16:13:14.967-05:00When to Use i.e. Instead of e.g.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvgaXeULW-YJWWNkVax6xiI4UVeoWJCslM3-6Byj2fgs0Ossht2OsnA5-9Yu4BboppKe1y7uieHFAMlduhsX7Q6NluPFH1Q4ryJwtS0mb55C6D0t6sZOEaXvfJmbPf5nke4a-ZxQzfJpzlafvZ5d7D9qSVnSn1PmwiIRWsoPNbZON062Fu_aYJA/s1089/confident%20writer%20midage%20man.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1089" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvgaXeULW-YJWWNkVax6xiI4UVeoWJCslM3-6Byj2fgs0Ossht2OsnA5-9Yu4BboppKe1y7uieHFAMlduhsX7Q6NluPFH1Q4ryJwtS0mb55C6D0t6sZOEaXvfJmbPf5nke4a-ZxQzfJpzlafvZ5d7D9qSVnSn1PmwiIRWsoPNbZON062Fu_aYJA/s320/confident%20writer%20midage%20man.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Sometimes I
regret that I didn’t take Latin in high school. But there was only one Latin teacher
to choose from in our small school. Supposedly he was a monster, <b><i>i.e.,</i></b>
he was a brutal grader, with a bad temper and breath to match. Still, it would
have been good to know the derivation of so many words used in modern languages, <b><i>e.g.,</i></b>
English, Italian and Spanish. If nothing else, I wouldn’t be second-guessing
myself about misusing these small, but powerful “interrupting” words such as <b>i.e.</b>
and <b>e.g.</b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="background: white; line-height: 21pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s how I keep them straight.<br /></span><em><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3b3e41; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">I.e.</span></b></em><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="color: #3b3e41; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"> stands for the Latin <em><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0in;">id est</span></b></em>, or <b>'in
other words</b>,' and is used to introduce a word or phrase that restates what
has been said previously.</span></p><p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #3b3e41; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #757575; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><b>If your portfolio has a high beta, (i.e.,
higher-than-average risk) then you can expect outsize performance during bull
markets, and worse than average performance during bear markets. </b></span></i><em><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3b3e41; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><b><br /></b>
<br />
</span></em><em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #3b3e41; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">E.g.</span></em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #3b3e41; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> means “for example.” (It stands
for <em><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">exempli
gratia</span></b></em> in Latin.) It is used the way you’d use 'for
example,' coming before an item or a list of items.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #3b3e41; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><br />
</span><i><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #757575; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><b>The summer associates rotate through many
departments (e.g., tax, audit, planning, payroll, bookkeeping and
advisory services). <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Open Sans",sans-serif" style="color: #757575; font-size: 14.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="color: #3b3e41; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: 0.5pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It may help to remember that
both <b>'that is</b>' and <b>'for example</b>' work in English the same way
as <em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">i.e.</span></em> and <em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">e.g.</span></em> Still not
confident? Try substituting ‘<b>that is’</b> for <em><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">i.e.</span></b></em><b>,</b> or
‘<b>for example’</b> for <em><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">e.g</span></b></em><em><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">.</span></em>; if your sentence still makes sense you’ve used the
right one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Punctuating i.e. and e.g.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
Your AI or spellchecker will usually catch this, but make sure you have a period
after each letter. It’s best to have a comma following the last letter. Without
those punctuation symbols, it’s distracting to the reader and your software may
try to fill in a more complete word such as “egg” or “leg” or “peg” if it just
sees “eg” without punctuation.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I don’t love grammar and punctuation any more than you do. English is
a devious language with more exceptions to the rule than the U.S. tax code.
Just keep these simple tips in mind and you’ll be fine. At the end of the day,
it doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without a solid command of the
English language, you won’t be taken seriously. After all, </span><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">You're an Elite Professional; Don't
Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><i><br />
#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership<o:p></o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-87412568011086752782023-10-17T21:26:00.001-04:002023-10-17T21:26:41.399-04:00Where vs. In Which?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq680-kCk8G8HSwmXhT4AB5-EwHXFclLYTfyu9scJkJdh7or3_ddwJg50JvAICyFa1joBjU1EkI4iBidDMmgXy-kV3kmDOeNPto1yGAkbsKSO7rf__aW4HPoqqPORfMMjxcUz7a_cDvHFWa3VNt7nVGBDkLr3BjTJK-9I4O_BQ5GiKD9P0I_Opng/s640/unsure%20woman.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq680-kCk8G8HSwmXhT4AB5-EwHXFclLYTfyu9scJkJdh7or3_ddwJg50JvAICyFa1joBjU1EkI4iBidDMmgXy-kV3kmDOeNPto1yGAkbsKSO7rf__aW4HPoqqPORfMMjxcUz7a_cDvHFWa3VNt7nVGBDkLr3BjTJK-9I4O_BQ5GiKD9P0I_Opng/s320/unsure%20woman.png" width="320" /></a></div>A well-known
financial professional seemed to be hedging her bets in a recent piece she sent
to us for review. Right off the bat, three sentences rubbed me the wrong way (but
apparently not her Marcom team):<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> * </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->It's a win-win situation <b><u>where</u></b> the
firm can provide higher-quality services, and the clients achieve better
financial outcomes.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">* </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">In an age </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><u>where</u></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> economic
uncertainties are more prevalent, clients seek advisors who can provide more
than just compliance services.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> * </span></span><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: -0.25in;">Visual learners find value in
well-structured presentations such as PowerPoints or PDFs, <b><u>where</u></b> a
picture can convey more than a thousand words.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Which sentence above do you think is correct? If you said “None of the above” then
you’re right. In each instance, no specific place or location is specified. The
author is referring to more abstract terms or concepts. She should have gone with
“in which” as in: <i>“</i></span><i>It's a win-win situation <b><u>in which</u>
</b>the firm can provide higher-quality services</i><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> …..” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The situation is NOT a place you can see
or visit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</span>Again, I’m no grammarian and don’t aspire to be one. I just try to keep
things simple when writing or editing. Here’s how I keep “Where” vs. “In Which”
straight: <o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="background: white; border: solid #E5E7EB 1.0pt; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid #E5E7EB .25pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;">
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-left: .25in; mso-border-alt: solid #E5E7EB .25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Use "<b>where</b>"
when referring to a specific, physical place. For example: "the city where
I was born" or "the building where the conference is being
held."<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="whitespace-normal" style="background: white; border: none; margin-left: .25in; mso-border-alt: solid #E5E7EB .25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Use "in
<b>which</b>" when referring to something more abstract or conceptual,
rather than to a specific physical location. For example: "the
circumstances in which the accident occurred" or "the era in which
this style of art thrived."</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="background: white; color: #4d5156; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">So, don't write about a situation <b><i>where</i></b>…, a theory <b><i>where</i></b>…,
a case <b><i>where</i></b>… a legal dispute <b><i>where. </i></b><i>Those are
all cases to use “in which.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But
if you think “in which” is too formal or stuffy, you can bend the rules a
little and use “<b>Where</b>” to refer to the status of a situation or
circumstance. For instance:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Where </span></b><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">do you see this relationship going? Or </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“</span><span style="color: #3b3e4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He took a plane to Morocco, <b>where </b>he
met his cousin for the first time.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
above instances are okay to use “Where” and I won’t tell Mrs. McGillicuddy, your
8<sup>th</sup> grade English teacher.<br />
</span><br />
Quick quiz: <strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Fill in the blank<br />
</span></strong><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
“Using a spreadsheet when a data warehouse was required
created a situation _______ effective analysis was impossible.”<br />
a. where<br />
b. in which<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Correct Answer: b (in which)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation is not a physical
location, it’s a scenario. You might find it easier to default to “where,” but
when reviewing your work, please make sure you flag the “where” and then ask
yourself if you’re referring to a physical location or a scenario. See, it’s
easy.<br />
<br />
Speaking of reviewing your work, I’m all for Grammarly, Spellcheck and AI, but
there’s nothing more effective than reading your work back to yourself,
preferably aloud. You’re a skilled professional with a personal brand to
protect. With a little practice, you ear will usually help you arrive at the
correct answer.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion<br /><br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I know English is a maddeningly perverse language with more exceptions
to the rule than the U.S. tax code. Just keep these simple tips in mind and you’ll
be fine. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how well you know the
numbers, without a solid command of the English language, you won’t be taken
seriously. After all, </span><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">You're an Elite Professional; Don't
Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><br />
#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership<o:p></o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-70619246548264998552023-09-28T22:17:00.001-04:002023-09-28T22:17:24.259-04:00That or Which?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDSxnvdft7Qdjxcrb-MVH9J1VrekfJD6zzvgtMvw6mNpYDwk18d9rzNGVnh6uK708bT3vC5YtRsqNbSKmXOm147ML4Sjm_kBkUlNW6cW1OQKfQklFFxGaGJytmaPSyA-Clgbe8uSK0VOPfFrGSddXe7KzFjYkB2gMvgMlsKkpLvV1L2jvYKvEbw/s600/2%20way%20arrow.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDSxnvdft7Qdjxcrb-MVH9J1VrekfJD6zzvgtMvw6mNpYDwk18d9rzNGVnh6uK708bT3vC5YtRsqNbSKmXOm147ML4Sjm_kBkUlNW6cW1OQKfQklFFxGaGJytmaPSyA-Clgbe8uSK0VOPfFrGSddXe7KzFjYkB2gMvgMlsKkpLvV1L2jvYKvEbw/s320/2%20way%20arrow.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>A
well-known financial advisor recently asked us to update the manuscript for a
book she published a few years ago. In the opening acknowledgements, three
sentences using the word “<b>which</b>” didn’t seem right to me:<p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="fontstyle01">1) <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">“There are still a myriad of products </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">which</span></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> simply must
be purchased through traditional selling methods.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span class="fontstyle01">2) <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">“We can only sell selected products </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">which</span></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> will require
value added services.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span class="fontstyle01">3) <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">“This book offers many insights </span></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">which</span></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"> can help you.”
</span></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How many of the three sentences above
are not grammatically correct? If you said “none” then you’re correct.<br />
</span></i><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
Not to embarrass anyone on this distribution list, but many people including highly
educated financial advisors, use “that” and “which” interchangeably. But, the
two words are NOT synonymous and you should really pay attention to the distinction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Which” introduces a non-essential
clause.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“That” introduces an essential clause.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I admit I’m not a great proofreader or grammarian. Here’s how
I try to remember the difference between That vs. Which (your spellchecker
won’t always get it right):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If the clause is <b><u>essential</u></b>
to the meaning of the sentence, you use “<b>that.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you could <b><u>drop the clause</u></b>
and leave the meaning of the sentence intact, use “<b>which.”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For example:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The building <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">that </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">opened last week</span></strong> is still unoccupied.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 48.0pt; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #2f3333; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The building, <strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">which </span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">opened last week</span></strong>, is next to Starbucks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the first sentence, the clause <b><i>“that opened last
week”</i></b> is essential because it identifies the building that is still unoccupied.
Without the clause, we could refer to any building. With an essential clause
like the one above, use the word “that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the second sentence, the clause “<b><i>which opened last
week</i></b>” is non-essential because it’s unnecessary for identifying the building.
Without “<b><i>which opened last week,</i></b>” the sentence would still make
sense. Since it’s a non-essential clause, use the word “which.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><b><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">That vs. Which Quiz (commas deleted)<o:p></o:p></span></b></h2>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Q1) My calculus assignment__ I handed in yesterday got an
A!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Q2) My tuxedo__ I wore last week has a hole in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Q3) Jupiter __ is next to Saturn is the largest planet in
our solar system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><i><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">See end of post
for answers*</span></i></strong><strong><i><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></i></strong><i><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion<br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
It doesn’t matter how well you know the numbers, without having a solid command
of the English language you won’t be taken seriously. After all, </span><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">You're an Elite Professional; Don't
Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">To paraphrase philosopher, <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/friedrich-nietzsche-quotes"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Friedrich
Nietzsche</span></a>, <i>“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”</i><br />
</span><strong><i><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
*Quiz answers:</span></i></strong><i><span style="color: #2f3333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> 1) which 2)
that 3) which<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership<o:p></o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-41490734311230255052023-08-17T22:06:00.002-04:002023-08-17T22:06:37.100-04:00Are You Getting These Common Words Wrong?<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIXtfVqs3KM3bvSJl_UJGJ3Og_x49Gu5FxZ2-gE4loKC1Gy8RAG7V6nX28aFLYw11xZ5TCM1wCgm2sDzD9_oNbzaSQhLP3jxHzz_fNZ994N678q3dxyEg0F4LGw2nHdwTieTWVK34UUWnGneaBelL-lZe0QU7qtGugUk2F5I42VFciMK6bQuhEA/s640/wordjumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIXtfVqs3KM3bvSJl_UJGJ3Og_x49Gu5FxZ2-gE4loKC1Gy8RAG7V6nX28aFLYw11xZ5TCM1wCgm2sDzD9_oNbzaSQhLP3jxHzz_fNZ994N678q3dxyEg0F4LGw2nHdwTieTWVK34UUWnGneaBelL-lZe0QU7qtGugUk2F5I42VFciMK6bQuhEA/s320/wordjumble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not to embarrass anyone on this
distribution list, but I came across this in a client’s guest column the other day.
He was a big proponent of AI, Grammarly and SpellChecker, by the way:<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“In <u>principal</u>, the judge’s decision should not <u>effect</u>
the outcome.” <br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Affect vs.
Effect:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> These homophones
confuse many, especially when writing quickly. "<b><i>Affect</i></b>"
is typically a verb meaning to influence, while <b><i>"effect"</i></b>
is typically a noun meaning the result or consequence of an action.<br />
<b><br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Principal
vs. Principle:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Many
financial folks trip over this one because "<b>Principal</b>" refers
to an initial amount of money or investment, or to a person with controlling
authority. <b>"Principle,"</b> on the other hand, pertains to a
fundamental truth or belief.<br />
<br />
So, if you’re keeping score at home, the correct version of this sentence
should be: <b><i>“In principle, the judge’s decision should not affect the outcome.”</i>
<br />
</b><br />
Speaking of judging, we often see<i> “<b>Judgement” and “judgment” </b>confused.<b>
</b></i>I know it seems logical to use judgement (with an “e”), but in the U.S.
we always drop the “e.” In the U.K. and Australia, both are used, judgement
(with an “e”) is predominant. Same goes for <i>“judgmental”</i> vs. <i>“judgemental.”</i>
Play it smart and drop the “e.”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b><i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></i><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Compliment vs. Complement:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> These words sound alike but have different meanings. <i>"Compliment"</i>
refers to a courteous expression of praise or admiration, while <i>"complement"</i>
denotes something that completes or enhances another thing.<br />
<br />
Examples:<br />
“The color of your outfit complements your eyes.”<br />
“Receive a complimentary cup of coffee with any purchase!”<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Login vs. Log in:</span></b><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></b><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When spelled as one word, <b><i>“login”</i></b> only functions
as a noun or an adjective. However, when spelled as two words, “<b><i>log in”</i></b>
functions as a verb. The word with a hyphen (log-in) has generally faded from
use.<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Examples:</span></strong><br />
“You can log in using your password.”<br />
“Don’t forget your login information.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="background: white; line-height: 12.6pt;"><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Site vs. Cite:</span></b><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></b><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not to be confused with someone’s ability to see (i.e., sight),
a “<b><i>site”</i></b> refers to a place where something is located, such as a jobsite
or website. On the other hand, “cite” is used as a verb whenever you reference
something as an example or source.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Examples:</span></strong><br />
“You can find that information on our site’s homepage.”<br />
“Whenever you use data from a report, make sure you cite your sources.”<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Their vs. They're vs. There</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
These homophones often trip up even seasoned professionals. <br />
<br />
</span><i><span style="color: #373d3f; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Their</span></i><span style="color: #373d3f; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (pronoun). A
form of <i>they</i> that shows possession as in <i>The dog walker
feeds <b>their</b> dogs everyday at two o’clock.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><i><span style="color: #373d3f; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They’re</span></i><span style="color: #373d3f; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (contraction). Joins the words <i>they</i> and <i>are.
<b>They’re</b> the sweetest dogs in the neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #373d3f; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There (adverb).
Indicates a particular place. The dogs’ bowls are over <b>there</b>, next
to the pantry.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #373d3f; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There (pronoun).
Indicates the presence of something. <b><i>There</i></b><i> are more treats
if the dogs behave.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Further vs. Farther:</span></b><b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #35332c; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Use “Farther” </span><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">when you’re referring to physical distance, as in someplace that
is far away. (Think “A” for actual distance). Use “further” for metaphorical or
figurative distance. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Examples:<br />
</span></strong>“The drive to the client’s office was much farther than I
anticipated.”<br />
“I didn’t feel I needed to take the conversation any further.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #363636; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><br />
</span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #363636; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Ensure vs. Insure:</span></strong><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #363636; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"> </span></strong><span style="color: #151515; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ensure:
To make sure or safe. <em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">The company will ensure that
all affected employees receive compensation.</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #151515; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Insure: To obtain insurance. <em><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">The new office is insured against any damage
caused by fire.</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Stationary vs. Stationery:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> One letter makes all the
difference. "Stationary" means unmoving or not changing position,
while "stationery" refers to writing materials.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyday vs. Every day:</span></b><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When businesses try to communicate the value
of their brands, there’s a big difference between “everyday low prices” and
“low prices every day.” When spelled as one word, everyday is an adjective used
to describe things that are common or occur daily. When spelled as two words,
every is an adjective that modifies the noun day, and the phrase functions
adverbially.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><strong><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Examples:</span></strong><span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Hind; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
“The corner grocery store is known for its everyday low prices.”<br />
“Bill stays active by going for a walk every day on his lunch break.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I
Couldn't Care Less" vs. "I Could Care Less”:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> If you say you "couldn't
care less" about something, it means you don’t care about it at all. <br />
Sometimes you will hear people say "I could care less" in the same
way such as: “I could care less of that stock drops. I don’t own it anymore.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br />
Grammarians will say that "could care less" is wrong because it
should mean the opposite of "couldn't care less." Logically, if
you could care less, it means you do care some, so always go
with “couldn’t care less” to make your point. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
<b>Conclusion<br />
</b><br />
Not to be your high school English teacher, but having a solid command of the
English language matters if you want to be taken seriously. After all, <i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/youre-elite-professional-dont-sound-like-jamoke-hank-berkowitz"><b><span style="background: white; color: #1a0dab; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">You're an Elite Professional; Don't
Sound Like a Jamoke</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>#grammar; #businesscommunication; #thoughtleadership<o:p></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p> </o:p></i></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-39033301361678592482023-06-11T21:33:00.003-04:002023-06-11T21:33:34.775-04:00Do You Struggle With ‘For Example’ When Writing or Presenting?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVUAyr4Prc5Z-BezfwNnYOyr5BI3ULLP1WbSQFcT9H8EY8D7agO1G4gCUpgAm2MFnT0o8kjZG8sYMVSUBU5psp8DEmkmi_aclMv4eMm-2EZ7gaBkhX2AQPIAu60o2Z-iK_4ZJd6iYRbh5vTHdWCyzF2dV6grMJaUoLrpQ19WvRqnDUOfq-ME/s1124/explaining.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1124" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVUAyr4Prc5Z-BezfwNnYOyr5BI3ULLP1WbSQFcT9H8EY8D7agO1G4gCUpgAm2MFnT0o8kjZG8sYMVSUBU5psp8DEmkmi_aclMv4eMm-2EZ7gaBkhX2AQPIAu60o2Z-iK_4ZJd6iYRbh5vTHdWCyzF2dV6grMJaUoLrpQ19WvRqnDUOfq-ME/s320/explaining.webp" width="320" /></a></div>Smart people
often have difficulty explaining things simply. They may have a deep
understanding of the subject matter and find it difficult to distill that
knowledge into layman's terms. They may be so familiar with the problem that
they assume others understand it as well, and fail to realize that they need to
explain it more clearly. Additionally, some people may have difficulty breaking
a complex problem down into smaller, more manageable pieces that are easier to
understand. Finally, smart people tend to fall back on jargon or technical
language that the other person is not familiar with, making it hard for them to
understand the problem.<span style="background: rgb(241, 242, 242); color: #050e17; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%;"> <b><i>Sound like anyone you know?</i></b></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Early in my career I worked in marketing for an
Israeli-backed startup that made competitive intelligence software for
pharmaceutical execs. The founders – all engineers, programmers and former
Israeli military intelligence officers – were convinced that the more
complicated they made their software sound, the more impressed people would be.
The VC’s were too embarrassed to admit they couldn’t understand how the
software allegedly worked, but most of the sales team, pharma companies and
industry analysts were left scratching their heads.</p><p class="MsoNormal">One day, after the founder rejected our new marketing brochure for the tenth or
eleventh time, I suggested we simply describe ourselves as “<i>Bloomberg for
pharma execs</i>.” I was almost fired on the spot, but eventually my suggestion
found its way to the sales team who suddenly started closing deals. Then the
engineers started firing on all cylinders. Then analysts started to pay
attention and the trade press started writing generally favorably. All because
they could suddenly understand what we were trying to do in terms they could
understand. Everybody knew what a Bloomberg terminal was and suddenly, what we
were trying to do had some context that was relatable.<br />
<br />
<b>The power of “For example”</b><br />
<br />
As I explained in my post <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/overcoming-smartest-kid-in-the-class-syndrome-when-writing-or-speaking/"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #00356b; letter-spacing: -.25pt;">Overcoming
‘Smartest Kid in the Class Syndrome’ When Writing or Speaking,</span></i></b><i><span style="background: white; color: #00356b; letter-spacing: -.25pt;"> </span></i><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Research
shows that most humans can’t </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="mso-field-code: " HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/health\.clevelandclinic\.org\/science-clear-multitasking-doesnt-work\/\0022 ";"><span style="background: white; color: #0563c1; font-family: "Open Sans",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;">multitask</span></span></span><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans", serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">. But that’s essentially what you’re asking people to do when
you introduce two, three, even four distinct themes into your writing and
speaking. Instead, just focus on one theme per content piece, and get your
thoughts down really well.</span></span><span style="color: #00356b; font-family: Poppins, serif; letter-spacing: -0.25pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Making a statement without using examples can make your argument muddy,
as well as create more work for the reader or listener. Using examples to back
up statements of fact can <a href="https://www.constant-content.com/content-writing-service/blog/category/freelance-writing-tips/?utm_source=57&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=wblog" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">add value to your writing</span></a>. Examples make statements clearer,
give readers more information, and decrease the chances that the fact or idea
to be wrongly applied to real-life situations.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Let’s look at some instances<i> </i>of how “<b><i>for example</i></b>” can help
make it easier for the reader or listener to understand what you have to share:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;">INSTANCE #1:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;"> “Studies have shown that sentences with
clauses nested in the middle take longer to read and cause more comprehension
mistakes. Ditto for most sentences in the passive voice.” <b>Huh!?!?</b><br />
<br />
</span>Instead, try: <i><span style="color: #0070c0;">“<b><u><span style="background: white;">For example:</span></u><span style="background: white;">
</span></b><span style="background: white;">If you write ‘<b>Profits are loved by
investors,’</b> instead of ‘<b>Investors love profits,’</b> you’re switching
the standard positions of the verb and the direct object. That can cut
comprehension accuracy by 10% and take a tenth of a second longer to read.” </span></span></i><b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;">Oh, Now I get it.<i><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><strong><span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">INSTANCE #2: “</span></strong><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Smart
people sometimes devalue other skills, like relationship building, and
over-concentrate on intellect.”<strong><span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> </span></strong><b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;">Okay I guess?<br />
<br />
</span></b>Instead, how about:<b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;"> </span><i><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;">“<u>For example</u>,</span></i></b><i><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;"> an individual who finds workplace
diplomacy difficult might write this off as an irritation rather than as a core
skill required for their role. Similarly, they might see it as critical for a
secretary to be personable, but not an executive. Therefore, they don’t invest
time and effort in developing these skills.”</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="background: white; color: #282828;">Yeah, I can relate to that!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #282828; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="comp" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">INSTANCE #3</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: “When creating a portfolio, an investor
(and their financial advisor) should understand what risk factors come with
each type of asset, as well as any unknown factors that could also come into
play.” <b>What???</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="comp" style="background: white; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Try this approach instead: </span><i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“While risk is inherent to the
market, not all risks are created equal. <b><u>For example</u></b>, fixed
income instruments <b><u>such as</u></b> bonds are generally considered safer
than equities (stocks), but a blue-chip stock may be less risky than a
poorly-rated junk bond.”</span></i><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Okay, I think I
got it.</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="background: white; color: #282828; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">INSTANCE #4: “</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Again, we highly recommend contacting your
Medigap provider before traveling to understand exactly what is (and is not)
covered. </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not covered, </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">traveler’s coverage is relatively cheap.” <b>Really?
How so?</b><br />
<br />
Instead, try: <b><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0;">“For example</span></u></i></b><i><span style="color: #0070c0;">: a one-week trip for someone age 55 with $0 deductible
and $1M medical limit would be $44 for the entire trip. For a family this
might be somewhere in the range of $100 to $150.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><b>Now I’ve got it. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: #282828; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Conclusion<br /></b>
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Your readers and followers are busy.
Don’t make them work too hard to get what you’re trying to convey to them. “For
example,” is one of the best and most efficient ways to make complex concept
relatable to the reader. Just us "for example" judiciously. Overusing
it can make your writing repetitive or disrupt the flow of your text. Use it
only when you genuinely need to provide an example to support or clarify your
point. Your readers and followers will thank you.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
Got something bugging you about your writing? I’d like to hear more.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-38811830396879542832023-05-29T13:07:00.003-04:002023-05-29T13:07:55.278-04:00You Don’t Have Writer’s Block<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB4JsFDfU3wRYxUCjwxRygdldDWwlzswyux_0OIZMcljOjTOnU2gIUiDHSDRq1uQFYMwB_lxpeg1M8__FyE_DcsKdhFJtg4FaAyGMrrhNPtE9l9FyIq_W7RR7ZHqK6wU4yJ-4DldugmPuZ1F_3VRrOeKNg1hLADICMze-_F2ZVxAKKtK9h7k/s1000/writer's%20block.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB4JsFDfU3wRYxUCjwxRygdldDWwlzswyux_0OIZMcljOjTOnU2gIUiDHSDRq1uQFYMwB_lxpeg1M8__FyE_DcsKdhFJtg4FaAyGMrrhNPtE9l9FyIq_W7RR7ZHqK6wU4yJ-4DldugmPuZ1F_3VRrOeKNg1hLADICMze-_F2ZVxAKKtK9h7k/s320/writer's%20block.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Over the
past week, I’ve had several conversations with clients about why they haven’t
been able to get the ball rolling on their next content piece. I get it. You’re
busy closing out the month. You’re trying to get some R&R over the Holiday
weekend. Just don’t tell me you have “writer’s block.”<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt;">Most of you on this distribution list are highly motivated, well-organized
professionals. I certainly wouldn’t accuse you of procrastinating. What you’re
most likely suffering from is perfectionism. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt;">Voltaire,
the renowned French writer and activist famously said: <i>“Perfect is the enemy
of good.” <br />
</i><br />
What this means is that you’re so busy striving for perfection—as you are with
most other things in life—that you become your own worst enemy. Even worse, you
don't notice the progress you’re making toward being a better communicator and
thought influencer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">In the 140-year history of Major League Baseball, pitchers
have thrown only <em><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">23 perfect games</span></b></em><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> out of roughly 235,000 games contested and none since 2012.
Pro golfers hit a hole-in-one about </span><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://stitchgolf.com/blogs/a/odds-of-getting-hole-in-one#:~:text=If%20you're%20an%20amateur,in%201%20chance%20as%20references.">0.04%
of the time</a>. S</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">o, what make you think you should be
perfect?</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I’ve been in the content game for over 25 years. I’ve never
written a perfect article or blog post. If I ever do, I’ll send it to you. Sure,
English is a maddeningly complex language with more exceptions to the rule than
there are actually rules (kind of like the IRS tax code). So, the best thing to
do is just think about the SINGLE most important thing you want your readers to
learn from your communication piece. Then focus on the best way to get the
message across simply, quickly and concisely.</span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Don’t </span><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">worry about being clever. </span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Don’t worry about stuffing your content with the right keywords
or links. Just get to the point and </span><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/stop-clearing-your-throat-when-you-write/">stop
clearing your throat when you write</a>. If you find yourself freezing up at
the keyboard, step away from your desk and try another way of composing your
thoughts. <br />
<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Take out a legal pad and pencil (not a pen) and scribble away
on your favorite deck chair. Or, you could dictate your thoughts into the voice
recorder of your smartphone while hiking or walking the dog. Or you could try composing
on your iPad while out at the beach. Anything to get your subconscious from thinking:
<i>“I’m stuck at my desk again staring into a blank screen -- and I have
nothing to say. Oy!”</i></span><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Understanding the underlying causes can help writers find
effective strategies to overcome or prevent writer's block. Here are some of
the other mental minefields that derail accomplished professionals:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fear of Failure or Criticism:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The fear of producing subpar work or receiving
negative feedback can hinder the creative process. This fear can create
self-imposed barriers that prevent writers from freely expressing themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Overwhelming Expectations:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> External expectations, such as meeting deadlines or
fulfilling certain requirements, can become overwhelming. The pressure to
deliver can result in stress and mental blocks.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Self-Doubt:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Doubting one's
abilities or questioning the value of their work can impede the writing
process. Self-doubt can make it difficult to generate ideas or find
confidence in one's writing.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perceived Lack of Time</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Feeling overwhelmed by other responsibilities or
perceiving a lack of time can create a mental block. The sense of not
having enough time can hinder focus and creativity.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Distractions:</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Noise,
interruptions, or a cluttered environment can disrupt the writing flow.
External stimuli can divert attention and hinder concentration.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lack of Structure or Direction</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: Uncertainty about the structure or direction of a
piece of writing can create confusion and make it difficult to proceed.
Without a clear roadmap, writers may feel stuck or unsure of how to
continue<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">How many
of these mental barriers sound like you?<br />
<b>Here are some additional tips from breaking through your perceived writer’s
block:<br />
</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Free-write:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> Set aside a specific time to write without any
constraints or judgment. Write continuously for a set period, allowing your
thoughts to flow freely. This can help break through the initial resistance and
stimulate creativity. Don’t worry, your first draft is supposed to suck. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Outline:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> Create an outline or structure for your writing
project before diving into the actual writing. Having a roadmap can give you a
clear direction and make it easier to start and continue writing.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Set
realistic goals and deadlines</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">:
Break your writing project into smaller, manageable tasks and set realistic
goals and deadlines for each one. This can help you stay focused and motivated,
as well as give you a sense of progress.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Eliminate
distractions:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> Turn off notifications on your
phone, close unnecessary tabs on your computer, and create a dedicated writing
space that is free from interruptions.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Write at
your most productive time:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> This is my
personal favorite. Pay attention to your natural energy and productivity
patterns. Some people are more productive in the morning, while others find
their creative flow in the evening. Schedule your writing sessions during your most
productive time of day.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Take
breaks:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> Take regular breaks during your
writing sessions to relax and recharge. Engage in activities you enjoy, such as
reading, listening to music, or practicing mindfulness. Don’t try to push your
way through a mental block. Most people can’t.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";">Seek
inspiration:</span></b><span style="color: #374151; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"> Read books, articles, or blogs
related to your topic or genre. Surround yourself with creative works that
inspire you. Attend writing workshops, conferences, or join writing groups to
connect with other writers and gain fresh perspectives.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Screenwriter and TV producer John Rogers may have said it best: "You
can't think yourself out of a writing block; you have to write yourself out of
a thinking block." <u>Contact me</u> any time for my tips and inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">#practice management, #writersblock, #effectivewriting<o:p></o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-48118722597096847832023-03-15T19:53:00.003-04:002023-03-15T19:53:38.989-04:00What March Madness Teaches Us About Investing Bias<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wxv3i_Q4GZ8qbI11ecIRa5pAJaINDsshTFYcAVrGw1jIHVXFvlKTS_UnmZq5JF3bbMeocR1dkCLpoCxQiyoR6_UQsmHhYkDNw1KUVlLo2JoMyAKeiZT4GACcq5gBkTFzhegNPHVC3afzSZjs5ohDXG0B5NgxuYACHNgnsABok1K1D-VcLaU/s2100/basketball%20rim%20shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wxv3i_Q4GZ8qbI11ecIRa5pAJaINDsshTFYcAVrGw1jIHVXFvlKTS_UnmZq5JF3bbMeocR1dkCLpoCxQiyoR6_UQsmHhYkDNw1KUVlLo2JoMyAKeiZT4GACcq5gBkTFzhegNPHVC3afzSZjs5ohDXG0B5NgxuYACHNgnsABok1K1D-VcLaU/s320/basketball%20rim%20shot.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>Hard to believe, but the annual NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament is upon us. The national championship of college basketball (aka “March Madness”) is the ultimate three-week long reality show. Where else can little known universities (aka small cap growth stocks) such as St. Peters, Loyola of Chicago, Murray State, Weber State and Florida Gulf Coast suddenly jump into the national limelight alongside powerhouses Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Villanova, UCLA, and North Carolina (aka the mega cap blue bloods)?<p></p><p><b>Bracketology is not an exact science </b></p><p>As many of you know, filling out your NCAA tournament brackets can be great for office morale, despite the drop in productivity. It's not like picking stocks in which there are over 10,000 companies to choose from. There are only 68 teams, playing a total of 67 games. Every team’s record, roster, statistics, and injury status are out in the open. Like the markets, the Vegas oddsmaker instantaneously digest and “price in” all new information that could materially impact the outcome of each game. It’s all publicly available and free of charge.</p><p>While an estimated 20 to 30 million people painstakingly fill out their tournament picks every year, there has never been a verified perfect bracket. The closest to perfection came in 2019, when a Columbus, Ohio, resident correctly chose the winners of the first 49 games of the tournament only to see his picks unravel in the third of six rounds. For years, Warren Buffett has offered his employees a $1 billion prize for picking a perfect bracket and he’s never come close to paying out.</p><p><b>So why are we so bad at it?</b></p><p>It turns out our bracket-picking prowess gets clouded by many of the behavioral biases that derail investors: Recency Bias, Confirmation Bias, Following the Herd, Familiarity Bias, the Halo Effect and more. Filling out your brackets is like constructing a diversified investment portfolio. You’re trying to find the right balance between the “safe picks” (the top seeded, blue-chip stocks) and the “upset picks” (the undervalue lower seeds, aka small cap growth stocks) that will earn you bonus points separate you from the other players in your pool.</p><p>And that’s where the human mind gets sidetracked by our behavioral biases. Let’s look at some of the most common ones:</p><p>Recency Bias. Investors believe that last year’s top performing stocks and funds will repeat their success in the current year. In reality, last year’s top performers are usually in the middle or bottom third of the pack the following year. Remember how well tech stocks did in 2022 or how poorly energy did? What a difference a year makes.</p><p></p><p>Same goes for March Madness. Last year’s Final Four teams were all blue chip programs that appear in the tournament almost every year. Defending champion, Kansas is back and looking strong. But North Carolina and Villanova didn’t even qualify for the tournament and Duke had to win nine of its final ten gams just to break into the top 20. And what about St. Peters, the tiny (micro-cap) commuter school from Jersey City, NJ that made a Cinderella run into the Elite Eight? The Peacocks didn’t even have a winning record this year and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament.</p><p>Familiarity Bias. It’s amazing how many people pick their alma mater to do well regardless of the team’s record or who else is in its bracket. People also tend to over-pick teams that are in their geographic area because they hear about them all the time on the news, or because many family members are alums. The reciprocal of Familiarity Bias is Unfamiliarity Bias. That’s the tendency to ignore promising investments because you’re not familiar with the company or industry. Same goes for March Madness. West Coast powerhouses UCLA and Arizona are having superb seasons, but because their games are on too late for most East Coast fans, they’re far less likely to make the Final Four in brackets filled out east of the Mississippi. Likewise, West Coast hoops fans are far more likely to overlook UConn and Marquette, even though both programs have been in the national top 10 and make it to the Big Dance almost every year.</p><p></p><p>Overconfidence Bias is another derailer for both investors and bracket players. Most pool participants have massive confidence is top-ranked teams. Yet, only once in the history of the tournament (2008) have all four No.1 seeds made it to the Final Four. Some years only one of the four No.1 seeds will make it that far—you never know which one.</p><p>Anchoring is another common fallacy known to affect millions of investors and NCAA Tournament pickers. It’s the misguided belief that “Duke or Kentucky ALWAYS get to the Final 8” or that “Kansas and Purdue NEVER win the big games” regardless of the team’s record or tournament readiness in a given year. Considering that star players often don’t stay more than one or two years at the elite programs these days, anchoring based on brand name or reputation is even more dangerous today than it was in the past. Following the Herd. Oddsmakers love it when the American public stampedes over itself crowding into the same bets. Even though history shows all four No.1 seeds almost never make it to the Final Four in the same year, guess which teams have the majority of votes to make it to the Final Four this year: Alabama, Kansas, Purdue and Houston (the four No.1 seeds in 2023). If you’re keeping score at home, three of the four No.1 seeds (Houston, Alabama, and Purdue) have never won a national title. Hmmmn.</p><p></p><p>The “Halo Effect” comes into play when investors blindly follow the recommendations or investing choices of gurus such as Bill Gross and Warren Buffet. It’s the same when bracket pickers blindly follow the wonky statistical models of KenPom, 538, and RPI, or blindly pencil in the “sleeper” picks of their favorite TV analysts. As with the stock gurus on TV, the picks of the expert hoop heads on TV rarely pan out.</p><p></p><p>Then there’s the fallacy of “getting back to breakeven” a mental accounting trap that has plagued gamblers and investors alike for centuries. How many times have you held on to a losing stock for years, just waiting for it to get back to the original purchase price before you can convince yourself to sell it? Likewise, how many people keep selecting BYU (30 tournament appearances without a title); Missouri and Xavier (29 appearances without a title), Tennessee (25 appearances without a title); Alabama and Creighton (24 appearances without a title) to advance far in the tourney because they have a national following and win most of their regular season games each year. </p><p>Then there’s Gonzaga University, formerly a little-known microcap from eastern Washington and now a mighty mega-cap. The Bulldogs have qualified for the NCAA tournament an amazing 24 straight years and have never won fewer than 23 games in a season over that span. They have an impressive 28-5 record this year and are currently seeded No.3. Just about everyone has the Zags penciled in for a deep run in the tournament despite having never won the NCAA championship. EVER.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b></p><p>Whether investing, gambling, or taking part in the friendly office pool, always check your emotions at the door. Working with an objective, independent advisor is one of the best ways we know to prevent your intuitions from causing you to stray from your plan and making costly mistakes you’ll later regret. Who’s your pick to win it all and why? I’d love to hear from you.</p><p>#marchmadness, #behavioralfinance, #bracketsbusted</p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-4039555090224929992023-01-11T22:52:00.002-05:002023-01-11T22:52:43.638-05:00What If We Forgot to Have the Recession?<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe2aOwBPL0wiKz74RsitlEY4XzKLqnOP0qEQMk-nHyuqgKsHSp0CRy9QRPKj4OLuiHU2jrolJPum-pxFSrU2ouI1plnZQ0p-C57mbOtMgCpqsskguGvTGjGPPvAJIRBJZLSr5xF4bcbbttqf3PeE-0sKSJUlUNfw_uPx0fHhAGgIqar4r1NA/s1125/happy%20office%20workers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAe2aOwBPL0wiKz74RsitlEY4XzKLqnOP0qEQMk-nHyuqgKsHSp0CRy9QRPKj4OLuiHU2jrolJPum-pxFSrU2ouI1plnZQ0p-C57mbOtMgCpqsskguGvTGjGPPvAJIRBJZLSr5xF4bcbbttqf3PeE-0sKSJUlUNfw_uPx0fHhAGgIqar4r1NA/s320/happy%20office%20workers.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i><br />Ain’t
nobody got time for that!</i><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Experts have been warning us about a recession for over a year, but
maybe we’re too busy to notice. As </span><span style="background: white; color: #202122; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> Kimberly "Sweet Brown"
Wilkins of viral YouTube fame would say: “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=waEC-8GFTP4">Ain’t nobody got time for that</a>.”</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The unemployment rate of about 3.7% was at or near a 50-year
low. Not only is </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/02/economy/november-jobs-report/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">the job market</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> healthy, but </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">wages are growing</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, the <a href="https://www.ere.net/a-quit-rate-that-refuses-to-fall/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">quit rate</span></a> remains at
historically high levels, Americans are </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">spending</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/economy/us-gdp-third-quarter/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">GDP has recovered strongly</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> from a slow first half of 2022. Business
is also good: Companies are largely </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/investing/premarket-stocks-trading/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">beating revenue expectations</span></a></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; letter-spacing: .3pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and reporting positive earnings
results. And sky-high inflation and gas prices are coming down big time.</span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We’ll see if this week’s CPI numbers change the mood, but chances
are we’re moving in a cautiously optimistic direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know we have an inverted yield curve (again), which many
believe is confirmation that a recession is imminent. Yes, it’s true that an inverted
yield curve has preceded every U.S. recession since World War II, but about one-third
of the time we have an inverted yield curve, a recession DOES NOT follow, as was
the case in 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The old saying goes: “Economists have predicted nine of the last five
recessions” and maybe all this angst and paranoia about the looming recession is
just another “miss.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"The reason
we're not in a recession is that the labor market still is performing very well
in the US economy," Ken Kim, a senior economist at KPMG, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/are-we-in-a-recession-now-2022-12">told <span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk124369104;">Insider</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk124369104;"></span></a><!--[if !supportNestedAnchors]--><a name="_Hlk124369104"></a><!--[endif]-->.
"So, people are still finding jobs and getting a paycheck and spending it
on goods and services."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/W875RX1#0" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Real personal income excluding payments from the
government</span></a></span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> has
been increasing, with four straight months of gains after falling earlier this
year. And retail sales during the 2022 Holidays were <a href="https://time.com/6243565/holiday-sales-inflation/">up a healthy 7.6%</a>
despite substantially higher prices.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Gains in employment, gains in industrial
production, gains in income levels, strong nominal sales figures — none of that
stuff sounds particularly recessionary to me," observed Jack Manley, a
global market strategist at JPMorgan Asset Management, in a recent </span><b><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/are-we-in-a-recession-now-2022-12">Insider
interview</a>. </span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Not your grandfather’s recession<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
According to the general definition—two consecutive quarters of negative real gross
domestic product (GDP) growth —the U.S. entered a very mild recession in the
summer of 2022 after recording <i>minus </i>1.6% GDP growth in Q1 of last year and
<i>minus </i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">0.6%
in Q2. If it was a technical recession it was arguably short-lived as GDP rebounded
+3.2% in Q3 and an estimated +4.1 in Q4. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But we don’t use
that recession benchmark anymore. Now it’s the National Bureau of Economic
Research (NBER), whose <a href="https://www.nber.org/research/business-cycle-dating/business-cycle-dating-procedure-frequently-asked-questions" target="_blank"><span style="color: #395bb6;">definition of recession</span></a>—means
a </span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">significant decline</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in economic activity across an entire economy -- and
that lasts more than a few months. So by this gauge as well, were not in a
recession in the summer of 2022. Nor are we now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .3in;"><b><span style="color: #192930; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reasons for
optimism<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yields on U.S. government bonds, which largely reflect investors’
expectations for short-term interest rates set by the Fed, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/bond-market-woes-keep-mounting-spreading-pain-to-stocks-11665951139?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">reached their peak last October</a>. Back then, data had yet to
show a drop in core goods prices, even as it was showing an acceleration in
services inflation. Yields <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/bonds-open-2023-with-a-rally-11673133135?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">have since come well off their highs</a>, with PCE core goods inflation
over the past three recorded months running at an annualized rate of minus
1.9%. Also, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/december-jobs-report-unemployment-rate-economy-growth-2022-11672961227?mod=article_inline" target="_blank">last Friday’s strong jobs report</a> included a double
dose of good news for investors. While jobs were plentiful, average hourly
earnings rose less than expected in December, and also included significant
downward revisions to the gains from previous months. That means most people
are still working, but wage gains are less likely to trigger crippling
inflation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .3in;"><b><span style="color: #192930; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #192930; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bottom line: If you think things
are still good and/or trending upward, don’t be afraid to invest, spend, hire
and expand. Don’t let the Fed dissuade you from growing your business, pursuing
your goals and enjoying life to the fullest. But if you’re convinced the sky is
falling – or about to fall--go ahead and hunker down, lay off staff, hoard cash
and wait for the recession storm clouds to pass. Just don’t ruin it for the
rest of us. <br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #192930; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Six months
from now, you may enjoy the </span>schadenfreude of<i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #757575; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></i><span style="color: #192930; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">telling optimists: “I told you so.” But
chances are you’ll be in our rearview mirror, wishing you had taken action when
things were still cheap way back in early 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .3in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What’s your take? <strong><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment">I’d love to hear
from you.</a></span></i></strong> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#recession, #aintnobodygottimeforthat,
#economy, #yieldcurveinversion</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-83127650612615650782022-12-28T22:01:00.000-05:002022-12-28T22:01:06.996-05:002023 Could Suck. Don’t Let It<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoS-Ob9KIu5wuOGEPajiYfTPs5XSTb1DWqa83pgYkAX8yNjqRhav2Lw4A6WEdgc8G39LUP04g5B9Vw4fzgxS5AJ-yhgHlRkfpY5YS3icQ5V2V3MMbmRgwQo2O8iLfhDddAbdMmEOKejIEkEP_zS_8P08ilxcKSOMwl8hzgTu2_gLW4cZzGGI/s1125/thirsty%20runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoS-Ob9KIu5wuOGEPajiYfTPs5XSTb1DWqa83pgYkAX8yNjqRhav2Lw4A6WEdgc8G39LUP04g5B9Vw4fzgxS5AJ-yhgHlRkfpY5YS3icQ5V2V3MMbmRgwQo2O8iLfhDddAbdMmEOKejIEkEP_zS_8P08ilxcKSOMwl8hzgTu2_gLW4cZzGGI/s320/thirsty%20runner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not to dampen the
Holiday spirit, but 2023 is not shaping up to be a banner year.<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We’re heading
into a recession. Inflation and wages are still too high. The Fed will continue
raising rates near-term. That means continued headwinds for the stock market, the
housing market and for borrowers. Meanwhile, we have a divided government. Flu
season has returned with a vengeance and COVID hasn’t disappeared. The Russia-Ukraine
conflict is likely to enter a quagmire and some of our airlines can’t get their
planes off the ground.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Good!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s good because
we have a unique opportunity to get better and there’s less downside risk if our new approach doesn’t work out.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Times like these
remind me of one of my last marathons. I was late to the starting line and didn’t
warm up properly. The previous night’s pasta wasn’t sitting right in my stomach,
and it was unseasonably warm and windy. Not exactly the right conditions for a
personal best. Sure enough, by mile 10 I was thinking seriously about throwing
in the towel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But then I
remembered what my college track coach, the legendary Art Gulden liked to say: <i>“Anyone
can run fast when they’re feeling good; I’m going to teach you to run fast when
you feel like crap.”</i> And he did. <br />
<br />
So, after a quick pitstop at the Porta-John, I got my head and GI tract re-set,
and I came up with some new goals for that day. I’ll get to those in a minute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;"><br />Coach Gulden would say: “When your ass falls off in
the middle of a race, don’t whine about it. Go back and pick it up, stick it
back on, and keep going.” </span><b style="background-color: #fcfcfc;">Jocko Willink</b><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc;">, the retired Navy Seal,
motivational speaker and podcast host would say: “When things are going bad:
Don’t get all bummed out, don’t get startled, don’t get frustrated. Just look
at the issue and say: ‘Good.’”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #FCFCFC; margin-bottom: .3in;"><span style="color: #192930; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Willink
says it’s actually good when things suck because you have more time to get take
stock of the situation and find a solution. “Don’t throw in the towel,” barks
Willink. “Get up. Dust off. Reload. Recalibrate and Re-Engage.” <br />
</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<i>*** Full 2-minute version of <a href="https://youtu.be/IdTMDpizis8"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Jocko’s Good episode</span></a><br />
</i><br />
Willink believes if you can still say the word “good” to yourself when times
are bad then you’re still alive and you’re still breathing. “And if you’re
still breathing, that means you’ve still got some fight left in you,” said
Willink. “Accept reality, but focus on the solution. Take that issue, take that
setback, take that problem, and turn it into something good.” </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .3in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, I decided to flush from my mind the first
10 crappy miles of my race and to set a new goal. The new goal was to run the last
16 miles faster than I ever closed out the last 16 miles of a race before. And
that’s what kept me going. My overall time was about five minutes slower than my
personal best, but thanks to a very strong last 16, I was a top finisher in my
age group and felt like I could have run another five miles. Finishing that way
was a helluva lot better than quitting at mile 10 and have a big old DNF (Did
Not Finish) next to my name.<br />
</span><span style="color: #192930; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Conclusion<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><br />
</span><br />
</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nobody
has a crystal ball, but I suspect there will be times when we’re severely tested
in 2023. Some of you will have the courage to find solutions and push through. Others
of you will say to yourself: “<b><i>That’s Life</i></b>” or “<b><i>It Is What
It Is</i></b>” or “<b><i>Whaddya Gonna Do</i>?</b>” If you say that crap to me,
do me a favor and send in your termination notice. I don’t want to work with
you.<br />
<br />
For the rest of you, let’s get after it in 2023. It’s time to get comfortable
being a little uncomfortable. Don’t take a DNF.<br />
</span><span style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
What’s your take? <strong><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment">I’d love to hear
from you.</a></span></i></strong> </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#JockoWillink, #resolutions, <b>#selfimprovement</b>,
</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#reslience, #stoicism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-74449020065886646632022-12-05T17:36:00.002-05:002022-12-05T17:36:18.031-05:00Test Drive Resolutions Now (or they won’t stick in ‘23)<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_wsgOvsayZcjUWmzMiVgSKJ9h5fW_-lZz4OSl4AidtIBy7QMmt8N52vdvNooa77byQM9hO9xw6xJGfU6KG2UejBlPoTwGrILBEu0JGUoul2BzBm0S5Ba0WsnApKWXrpf8jthivlVY4CniQc8xq47hBjbLIjLlrAEi3phokwA_izD1kL81Z0/s750/test%20drive%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_wsgOvsayZcjUWmzMiVgSKJ9h5fW_-lZz4OSl4AidtIBy7QMmt8N52vdvNooa77byQM9hO9xw6xJGfU6KG2UejBlPoTwGrILBEu0JGUoul2BzBm0S5Ba0WsnApKWXrpf8jthivlVY4CniQc8xq47hBjbLIjLlrAEi3phokwA_izD1kL81Z0/s320/test%20drive%202.jpeg" width="214" /></a></div>Oscar Wilde once said: “<i>Good resolutions are simply checks that
people draw on a bank where they have no account.” <o:p></o:p></i><p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As humans, we’re not very good at keeping promises to
ourselves. Take New Year’s resolutions.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Year after year we promise ourselves:
“After the Holidays I’ll get my fitness/finances/waistline/relationships back
on track.” And what happens? They stall out and the sting of regret hangs in
the air like wet laundry over a long-ignored Peloton bike. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">If this
sounds like you, you’re not alone.</span><strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></strong><strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2980864">Research shows</a></span></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">four out of
five New Year’s resolutions (81%) will be abandoned by mid-January. </span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another widely cited </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2980864"><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;">study</span></a><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">found that one in four people
(23%) quit their resolution <b><i>after just one week</i></b>. </span><span style="background: white; color: #292929; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fitness
app </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/science/day-people-most-likely-give-21199904" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: -.05pt;">Strava</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #292929; letter-spacing: -.05pt;"> found the
majority of users had given up on their New Year’s resolutions by January 19
(aka national Quitter’s Day).</span><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;"> <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a minute, I’ll share some tips for
increasing the odds of making your resolutions stick. But first let’s look at they
fail. Bottom line: behavior change is hard. It can be unpleasant, uncomfortable
and takes time. That’s a tough sell in today’s era of life hacks, apps and instant
gratification. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #292929; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b>1. Timing. </b></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New Year’s Day is an absolutely
terrible time to start making accountability pacts with yourself. You’ve just spent
the past month (or two) overindulging with friends, family and the Amazon delivery
people. Your defenses and self-discipline are down. It takes time just to get
back on track, let improve. But most people assume they can sprint out of the
gate toward a better version of themselves, whether it’s breaking a bad habit
or reaching a financial, fitness or mental health goal. As with so many things
in life, it takes time and patience. You have to be committed for the long
haul.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #292929; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #292929; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">2. Overly ambitious.</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #292929; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Most people set New Year’s goals that are BHAGs
(Big Hairy Audacious Goals) instead of realistic, incremental ones. We tend swing
for the fences rather hitting solid singles. The problem with swinging for the
fences is that you’re far more likely to strike out. If you haven’t run a
quarter mile since junior high school gym class, don’t resolve to run a
marathon within six months. It may work in the movies, but in real life, you’re
just setting yourself up for disappointment, injury and an unhealthy relapse.
However, if you start with 20 minutes of walking a day with a goal of completing
a 5K run in six months, your odds of success go up exponentially. And from
there, you can talk about completing a 10K or half-marathon before year end
with even more ambitious goals in 2023.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. All or
nothing mentality.</span></b><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> New Year’s resolutions tend to encourage “all-or-nothing” thinking.
Success is measured as either a complete win or a complete failure. The
problem with such “all-or-nothing” goals is that they don’t allow for even minor
slip-ups. Once you fall off the bandwagon, it’s easy to get discouraged and
give up entirely. This is a big reason why so many folks abandon their
resolutions by February, according to the studies and surveys referenced above.<br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4. Lack of specificity.</span></b><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> New Year’s often resolutions
fail because they’re too broad or too vague. “Read more,” “eat healthy foods,” “<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">save more money,</span>” or “fix my relationship” are examples of
goals that lack any real specificity. This can be problematic for three
reasons:</span><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">a)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="color: #121212; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They’re
not actionable.</span></strong><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> It’s difficult to know what <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">exactly</span></em> you
need to do to achieve your goal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">b)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="color: #121212; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They’re
difficult to measure.</span></strong><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> It’s difficult to create mental
milestones of success, as there’s no clearly defined end goal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">c)<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><strong><span style="color: #121212; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
lack accountability.</span></strong><span style="color: #121212; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> If a goal is too vague, it can
seem more like an aspiration rather than a practical, real-world target. With
no target to aim for, you aren’t really accountable for hitting anything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5 tips for
making resolutions stick<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b>1. Be SMART.</b> New Year’s resolutions are a form of behavior modification.
To make this changing mindset stick, you want to be SMART about (<b><i>Specific,
Measurable, Actionable, Realistic and Time Specific</i></b>). If your goal is
to lose 30 pounds by July 4<sup>th</sup> weekend (roughly 6 months from now),
that means you should strive to lose five pounds per month or 1.25 pounds per
week. That’s pretty specific and realistic and certainly very measurable. Small
sub-goals are much easier to strive for than trying to reach a daunting,
overwhelming task like “Lose 30 pounds this year.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b>2. Be consistent.</b> As the old saying goes: “Missing once is an accident.
Missing twice is the start of a new habit. My recent post <b><i><u><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/?s=consistency">Consistency Is Not Boring</a></u></i></b>
has more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><b>3. Turn resolutions into </b><b>ingrained habit</b><b>s</b><b>. </b>For example:<b> </b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b>Resolution</b>: Quit smoking
vs. <b>Habit</b>: Stop smoking that one cigarette you have every
morning after breakfast.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b>Resolution</b>: Eat healthy
food vs. <b>Habit</b>: Start substituting that one daily morning
pastry for a banana.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b>Resolution</b>: Lose weight
vs. <b>Habit</b>: Every evening after work, go for a two to
three-minute run or walk around the block.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b>Resolution</b>: Manage stress
vs. <b>Habit</b>: Meditate for two to three minutes every morning
after you wake up.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #777777; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><b>Resolution</b>: Improve finances
vs. <b>Habit</b>: Save an extra 2 percent of each paycheck and put
half into my 401(k)s low-cost index fund and the other half into a
high-yield savings account at my bank.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">*** For more on making resolutions habit forming, see Sahil Bloom’s
<a href="https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-30-for-30-challenge">30 for 30 Challenge</a>.
</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
4. Take resolutions for a test drive in December. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After
following Steps 1-3 above (preferably soon after Thanksgiving), see what it’s
like to pursue the “new you.” Have you bitten off more than you can chew? Is
attainment of the goal going to interfere with your work, make you too fatigued
to concentrate or compromise relationships with co-workers and family? If so,
it’s time to dial back your goals before you go live with your resolutions in
2023. Your friends, family and co-workers will thank you and be more supportive
of you when you’re not manic or irritable all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
5. Have an accountability partner. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As the old saying goes, “it’s
easier to let down yourself than it is to let down someone you trust.” Share
your resolution with a person you can trust who won’t let you make excuses or
talk you out of striving toward your goal.<b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span>Eating an entire elephant
is impossible. But taking it one bite at a time makes a daunting challenge seem
manageable. Tweak your resolutions all year long (See Step 4) and don’t beat
yourself up for falling short. Instead of throwing in the towel, dust yourself,
get back on the horse and set more realistic goals for the remainder of 2023. <br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt;">As Napolean Hill famously said: </span><b><span style="color: #777777; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span></b><b><i>A goal is just a dream with a deadline.”</i></b><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-size: 11.0pt;">What’s your take? <strong><i><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment">I’d love to hear
from you.</a></i></strong> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p> </p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-80570310088297944612022-11-14T16:34:00.003-05:002022-11-14T16:34:45.947-05:00Finding Your Inner Writer’s Voice<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBlKzOSKn-Q0M97mlq1PTNqRogPfm1M5UNPHL2LoAt1eXVQJgic1AUMJDZsSy6_sa-JIVKhT8VGsU_qTvSi40LOaYaN7bqTwRBOUqauv9PQH9ZH5oNFqbLtAdvPRP3OVGOOS5EfuH6lolHp4Loyn6o6xMDd0p_rTjEiJS-HCz8L_3VFaPfwE/s640/man%20woman%20thinking%20at%20PC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBlKzOSKn-Q0M97mlq1PTNqRogPfm1M5UNPHL2LoAt1eXVQJgic1AUMJDZsSy6_sa-JIVKhT8VGsU_qTvSi40LOaYaN7bqTwRBOUqauv9PQH9ZH5oNFqbLtAdvPRP3OVGOOS5EfuH6lolHp4Loyn6o6xMDd0p_rTjEiJS-HCz8L_3VFaPfwE/s320/man%20woman%20thinking%20at%20PC.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>8 powerful tips</i><p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Have you ever listened to your voice on
an answering machine massage or cell phone voice recorder? Pretty cringeworthy,
right? Well, that’s what it’s like when you don’t read back your written work to
yourself before posting it lor publishing it. Sure, those words on the screen
are yours, but it doesn’t really sound like you. It’s kind of like taking a
shower with your raincoat on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve found there’s no
better way to edit yourself than to read back aloud the final draft of a blog
post, article, case study, presentation or white paper, before making it live for
the world to see. If you know of writing software or a grammar app that can filter
your words better than the voice inside your head can, <strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #777777;"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment">I’d love to hear
from you</a></span></i></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">and check it out.</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Just as no two people have
the exact same speech patterns, no two people have the same way of expressing themselves
through the written word. Whether you enjoy the writing process or put it in
the same category as a root canal or colonoscopy, here are <b><i>eight powerful
tips</i></b> for finding and refining your inner voice:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1<span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="color: #6058bc;">. </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">Create space in your life and schedule. </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When time
is flying by during the workday, your brain can be on overdrive, too. Unfortunately,
when you’re just racing from task to task, you’re not allowing yourself time to
get to a higher level of thinking that good writing requires. To avoid being a
24/7 task rabbit, you’ve got to give yourself <span style="color: #222222;">time
to slow down. The best way to tap into your inner voice is to create more space
between your thoughts, so your intuition can literally get a word in edgewise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="color: #6058bc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2. Practice deep listening. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This involves releasing
judgment (and the impulse to respond, criticize or edit) when someone else is
speaking. Can you go more than 15 seconds without interrupting or making a
snarky remark on the side? Fully tuning in to what the other person is saying
improves your capacity to listen to yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="color: #6058bc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></span><span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3.</span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Journaling. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For a week, try to write two or three pages (longhand form) every
single morning (or evening) when you have a quit moment in your day. Write anything
that comes to mind to get going, and usually, by the end of the third page,
your inner voice will reveal clear and concrete direction. Don’t worry about
spelling, typos or syntax. Just write. Don’t worry, <a href="https://medium.com/@vaibhavvardhan/your-first-draft-sucks-and-its-supposed-to-a55447cce47a">your
first draft is supposed to suck</a> and nobody is passing judgement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
<span class="sc-1osfqhu-1">4.<span style="color: #6058bc;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #222222;">Take a break from tech. </span></b><span style="color: #222222;">Allow yourself to be in silence with few distractions,
particularly without any phones, computers, or TVs. Don't try to force your
inner voice to speak to you. Just create the right conditions for deep inner
listening -- quiet alone time. If that’s too much of a shock to your system try
this experiment: </span>Next time you go to the gym or on a long hike, bike
ride or run by yourself, try doing it without headphones on. Just listen to your
breathing and the sound of your own footsteps. You’ll be amazed by what your
brain comes up with when you’re truly alone with your thoughts and not competing
with other devices for your attention<span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="color: #6058bc;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="color: #6058bc; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span></span><span class="sc-1osfqhu-1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5.<span style="color: #6058bc;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Practice being in a flow state. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Find a project or projects that <a href="https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-find-mental-flow-state-from-yoga-instructor" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6058bc;">get you into a flow state</span></a>—a
state of being in which you’re so immersed in your work or the task at hand,
that you lose track of time. Being in a flow state is empowering and can give
you the mental space needed for your inner voice to come through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">6. Read as much as you
can as often as you can.</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> Put down the
remote and your devices and just read. It could be the newspaper, a novel, a
magazine, a cookbook. It doesn’t have to be anything career related or good for
your mental health. Just find something you enjoy reading and pay attention to
how the author introduces an idea, sets the scene, strings together the plot or
argument, and then wraps it up before you move on to the next chapter or article.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span style="color: #111111;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 20.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11.0pt;">7.
Emulate writers you admire.</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 11.0pt;">
Whether it’s a journalist, novelist, blogger, or even a cartoonist that you
admire, read everything you can by that author and pay attention to the style
elements that help define his or her writing voice. What is the author’s
cadence? Short crisp sentences or long descriptive ones? Is the pacing
consistent, or do they alternative between short sentences and long ones? Do
they have an esoteric vocabulary are do they intentionally use short, simple
words and phrase to make the most complex concepts sound simple? There is no
single best formula. Just get a feel for what you like and consider how that
style will reflect on your personal brand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">8. Set a timer. </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Before your next writing project,<b> </b>take out an alarm
clock or the countdown timer on your phone. Give yourself X amount of time to
get your thoughts down and then Y amount of time for editing. After that, it’s
pencils down and time to post. I give myself 45 minutes for weekly blog: 30
minutes of free form writing + 10 minutes of editing time. Then I step away for
at least two hours before setting the timer for five more minutes reading back myself
aloud and making final tweaks before posting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Not every post is going to
be a winner, but “timeboxing” yourself makes your writing muscles stronger and
more supple. It prevents you from procrastinating or worse, from getting into
the endless self-editing loop which can cause you to second-guess yourself, usually
for the worse.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt;">As Steve Jobs once
said at a Stanford University commencement speech: <i>“Don’t let the noise of
other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow
your heart and intuition.”</i></span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
Whatever helps you get in touch with your inner voice, do it, and do it often.
It may seem easier to look for answers outside of yourself, but with a little
patience, trust, and good listening skills, you'll be able to tune into your
inner voice for guidance when you need it most.</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-size: 11.0pt;">What’s your take? <strong><i><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment">I’d love to hear
from you.</a></i></strong> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"># persuasivewriting, #innervoice, #contentcreation<o:p></o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-90449666672929697132022-10-19T21:35:00.003-04:002022-10-19T21:35:53.550-04:00Are You a Writer or an Editor? Take Quiz<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQSX5pBgu2-XmEMfN39r2hunErvsRU_pYRoRNSxSN95IbMpb1XN1E_bp3ROwkyH_VatBn-lAuG1iR-VD0YydqQpyp2pYVnMa18v8BGDM-684mDtnw1Xat8IcPi3WoRvf6l5RYpluX1YXzBFPi5VaJpuR71H0BjjR8gUK2gtKg0mx1jm0dn3o/s5184/writer%20at%20work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQSX5pBgu2-XmEMfN39r2hunErvsRU_pYRoRNSxSN95IbMpb1XN1E_bp3ROwkyH_VatBn-lAuG1iR-VD0YydqQpyp2pYVnMa18v8BGDM-684mDtnw1Xat8IcPi3WoRvf6l5RYpluX1YXzBFPi5VaJpuR71H0BjjR8gUK2gtKg0mx1jm0dn3o/s320/writer%20at%20work.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Many of you consider
yourselves left-brained “numbers people.” But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a
more confident writer or content shaper. The two skills are not mutual exclusive.
In fact, you didn’t get to where you are today without having solid right-brained
communication skills.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What’s amazing
to me is that many of you think nothing of standing at the podium before hundreds
of people – bright lights and cameras blazing -- yet freeze up at the keyboard
when it’s just you alone with your thoughts.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The written word
comes naturally to some of you, but for others, starting a grocery list from
scratch is daunting, let alone a blog post, an article or heaven forbid a book
chapter. At the same time, once someone else has put down their words on a
page, you slow-starters become eagle-eyed editors with red pen (or track
changes) flying with revisions. Meanwhile those of you whose prose flows easily
get the cold sweats when it comes time to condensing your words into the narrow
confines of a blog post, short article or presentation. Oh, it’s so painful leaving
your brilliant prose on the cutting-room floor, right?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Editor vs.
writer<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">To get to the
next level of content proficiency, I’ve found it helpful to know whether you’re
more of a writer or an editor. Most people have elements of both skills in
their DNA, but it’s good to know where you fall on the spectrum. <b><i>See helpful
quiz below</i></b><i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A <b>writer</b> is
typically charged with the creative task of putting words on a blank page,
whether for the purpose of informing, persuading or entertaining. An <b>editor</b> may
be slightly more analytical, as he or she must review, manage and guide a
particular work or series of works to successful publication. </span><span style="color: #3d3d3d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Writers create, using the right side of the brain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<b>Editors</b> analyze, utilizing the left side of the brain. But again, most
of you have developed both sides of the brain in your work with clients. Why
not in your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><b><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Editor as coach<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Writer-editor relationships are deeply personal and the editor must walk
a fine line between mentoring, coaching and psychoanalyzing. To work well, the
writer-editor relationship must be built on mutual respect. The writer must
trust the editor’s fresh eyes and insight. The editor must trust the writer’s
voice on a deadline and acknowledge the writer, not the editor, is the true
subject matter expert.</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #54585a; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Many of you played competitive
sports growing up. I’ve found the writer-editor relationship similar to the
athlete-coach relationship. I’m sure you had a special coach who made a big impact
on your life. An editor/coach’s job is to help the writer/athlete get the very
best out of themselves with burning them out or constantly berating them. At
the same time, writers can get better if they have a thin skin or simply aren’t
coachable.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Whether it’s a blog post on a
website or a novel, most of the published written products that people
encounter in their daily lives have been polished by an editor. The editor is
the last line of defense in determining that the writer’s words are ready to be
published or made public. Just what makes the words publish-ready depends in
part on the format — for instance, a blog post might rely on short sentences
and to-the-point language while a novel might use longer sentences and more
descriptive, flowery speech. Deciding what is appropriate based on the media
format, its audience, and its purpose is also part of the editor’s job. These
experts don’t just proofread for errors in spelling or grammar but also make
decisions on content (what to include and what to cut) and style.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Are you more of
a writer or an editor?<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here’s a helpful quiz adapted from Gray Grant
communications:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">WRITER TENDENCIES<br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you tend to leave your work-in-progress in the bottom of your
desk drawer for <i>weeks</i> at a time, hoping the editing
fairies will work on it while you’re living the rest of your life? <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Even if you have a hard time getting started writing, do you find
that time always slips away while you write? <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If given the choice between editing something you’ve written OR
reading an incredibly boring book, would you always choose the reading? <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When writing, do you naturally focus on telling stories? <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Stories make writing more interesting </span>– not just
for the reader but for the writer as well.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you never worry about what your readers are going to think of
your writing ability? While others fret about the quality of their
prose, you’re still able to write as though it’s no more difficult than
typing. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you naturally use similes and metaphors? Persuasive
writers understand that writing becomes more interesting if they can work
in lots of intriguing comparisons. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When Microsoft Word puts a red squiggly line underneath a
spelling error you’ve made, are you able to ignore it until you’ve
finished writing the piece? <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Does it take you 10 times longer to edit that you had
anticipated? <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Perfectionists</span> are terrible
at gauging the time a job will take. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
<b><i>SCORE: How many of these traits above sound like you? If you scored 6 or
above, you’re most likely a <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">natural
editor more than a writer</span>.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">EDITOR TENDENCIES<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you have a reflexive urge to edit just about every sentence as
soon as you’ve written it?</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> This is called editing <i>while </i>you
write.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you procrastinate when it comes time to writing? Would you
rather vacuum behind the refrigerator, have a colonoscopy or work on your
income taxes than write a first draft?</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you spend time doing so much research you feel you could
produce an encyclopedia on the topic…but hate to start summarizing?</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you usually read your own writing <i>out loud</i> when
you edit it?</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Good editors <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">naturally read their
writing out loud.</span> This is one of the best possible ways to
learn what you need to fix. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Does it take you 10 times longer to write than you had
anticipate? </span></b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Perfectionists</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> are terrible at gauging the time a job
will take. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Do you obsess on structure, certain that if you could only divine
the right organization, your work-in-progress would more or less write
itself?</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Ah, the promise of a magic bullet. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><i><span style="color: #1a1a1a; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SCORE: How many of these traits above
sound like you? If you scored 5 or above, <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">you’re most likely a natural editor more than a writer</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Whether you’re more of an editor or a writer, don’t ever tell me you
cannot write or you didn’t have time to write. You didn’t get to your current
level of success without being able to communicate effectively. So, like it or
note you need to be a writer. <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/8-keys-to-finding-your-inner-voice/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here are 8 keys to finding your inner
voice.</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #777777;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">What’s your
take? </span><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">I’d love to hear from you.</span></a></span></i></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">#writervseditor, #contentcreation,
#persuasivewriting<o:p></o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-18419732505075458012022-10-05T21:31:00.003-04:002022-10-05T21:31:24.921-04:00The Power of Sports<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA7AQr9SlbRUzLm6vRLTOYS7sc0JHme56xdG2j4XGPgrDgcBGkOgH35D_9OseoU0dDghRCmslwTfwA95pLN9N4FVaROTOR1Ed7UAL5mwd7rQ7mbD14mIsDvI9vARxWAAhzxLtVCmJfgLH3UcMptpTN-GEqW5FuPGsNdmrxe4LziUXQwmNzqQ/s1260/baseballs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1260" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA7AQr9SlbRUzLm6vRLTOYS7sc0JHme56xdG2j4XGPgrDgcBGkOgH35D_9OseoU0dDghRCmslwTfwA95pLN9N4FVaROTOR1Ed7UAL5mwd7rQ7mbD14mIsDvI9vARxWAAhzxLtVCmJfgLH3UcMptpTN-GEqW5FuPGsNdmrxe4LziUXQwmNzqQ/s320/baseballs.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Let’s face it; these are not the best of times. The economy and
financial markets are in turmoil. Natural disasters are coming at us more
frequently and more ferociously than before. The country is more divided then
ever. Covid refuses to give up. The Russia Ukraine crisis grinds on and we may
be on the cusp of a global recession.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But sports still has the power to unite us and uplift us when so
many other societal institutions don’t. If you’re a sport fan, early October is
the best time of year. College and NFL football is underway. Even better, there’s
no clear Super Bowl favorite this year and lots of formerly lousy teams are suddenly
in contention (Miami, NY Giants, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, et
al). Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball are about to start their
playoffs and professional basketball and hockey are about to tip off the
regular season.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There may be little to cheer about in the daily news – except the
sports section. Take baseball. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it’s been
hard not to root for two good dudes doing amazing things on the diamond. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Forty-two-year-old <b>#AlbertPujols</b>, the longtime Cardinals
slugger recently clubbed his 703<sup>rd</sup> career home run and collected his
2,216th run batted in. Only </span><span style="background: white; color: #1f1f1f; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Babe
Ruth, Henry Aaron and (drug-aided) Barry Bonds finished with more home runs and
only Aaron had more RBIs. In fact, only Aaron had more total bases than Pujols.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then there’s Yankee slugger <b>#AaronJudge </b>who<b> </b>broke Roger
Maris’s single season home run record, this week – a record that had been on
the books for 61 years. Judge’s 62 home runs this season trail only Sammy Sosa
(66), Mark McGwire (70) and Barry Bonds (73) who set their marks during the
peak steroid era of 1998-2001 and all were later found to be “on the juice.” Judge,
an athletic 6’8” and 280 pounds didn’t need performance enhancing drugs to
accomplish his feat. He used hard-work to leverage his imposing size and
natural gifts to outdistance his closest rival Kyle Schwarber (46) by about
40%. Like Pujols, Judge is a nice guy and modest to boot. <i>No one ever said
that about Bonds.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In this cynical, jaded era of sports and common discourse,
everyone seemed to be cheering for the bi-racial adopted slugger from
Sacramento, CA – including the Maris family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"It's hard not to be moved by
it, even when you're on the wrong side of it," said Cincinnati Reds
manager David Bell after a recent game against Judge.</span> <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even President Biden <span style="color: #0070c0;"><a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1577462671582134272" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: #0070c0;">tweeted</span></a></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">: <i><span style="background: white; color: #101010;">"Congrats
@TheJudge44 on home run 62. History made, more history to make." </span><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I never liked the
Yankees and my favorite team plays the Cardinals in the playoffs, but I’ll still
be rooting for Judge and Pujols. </span></i><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In an era of painfully
cliché athlete interviews, Judge came up with a unique take on why he’s not
going to rest on his laurels: <i>“If what you did yesterday still seems big
today, then you haven't done enough today.”</i></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Maybe Nelson Mandela said it best: </span><i><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">“Sport has the
power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to
unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope, where once
there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down
racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">What’s your
take? </span><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">I’d love to hear from you.</span></a></span></i></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">#AaronJudge, #AlbertPujols,
#homerunrecord<o:p></o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-48420446125140542762022-09-11T21:20:00.001-04:002022-09-11T21:20:08.232-04:00Overcoming ‘Smartest Kid in the Class Syndrome’ When Writing or Speaking<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkXcAUnvNm4aHP4T2GgAinzZvdtIcy6IKfCAbZGcg5B7MWdoccPxg42OpIScvHBB6i9F1VPPKSH_1y73eWSyfs8oVPXjPjQhiErMkoo0yre4BS6jn08jCQkv_pH7H1p1DEL6RLAUZYQWA-wxsjr4m7WZMZfdTSbZY8yquSlX0D-ptUFLIjfc/s3931/smart%20kid.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3931" data-original-width="2621" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkXcAUnvNm4aHP4T2GgAinzZvdtIcy6IKfCAbZGcg5B7MWdoccPxg42OpIScvHBB6i9F1VPPKSH_1y73eWSyfs8oVPXjPjQhiErMkoo0yre4BS6jn08jCQkv_pH7H1p1DEL6RLAUZYQWA-wxsjr4m7WZMZfdTSbZY8yquSlX0D-ptUFLIjfc/s320/smart%20kid.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>One of the best things about my work is that I get to work with some
of the smartest, hardest working and most insightful thought leaders in the financial
advisory world. One of the worst things about my work is that I work with some
of the smartest, most insightful leaders in the financial advisory world.<p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It's a double-edged sword for our firm’s clients because they’re often asked to
write, speak and sit on panels addressing their peers. They have so much
expertise to share, but alas, it’s hard to fit all that brainpower and
experience into the narrow confines of a blog post, article or short-presentation.
So, instead of being selective, they try to cram a lifetime of knowledge into
their content pieces and the readers ends up feeling like their drinking from a
firehose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sounds familiar?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br />Research shows that most humans can’t <a href="https://health.clevelandclinic.org/science-clear-multitasking-doesnt-work/">multitask</a>.
But that’s essentially what you’re asking people to do when you introduce two,
three, even four distinct themes into your writing and speaking. </span>Instead, just focus on one theme per
content piece, and get your thoughts down really well.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br />
Marketers have long known that you should never have more than one “call to
action” in any marketing piece if you want people to respond. If you want them
to book a time to meet with you, make that appointment “ask” abundantly clear. Don’t
also ask your reader to sign up for your newsletter, register for your next
webinar or download your “information-packed” white paper (requiring all of their
contact information). It ends up being information overload for the recipient
and when they have too many choices, they end up doing nothing.<br /></span><br />Same
goes for your content. If your objective is to discuss investment strategies
for today’s high inflation, recessionary environment, tell your clients and prospects
exactly what they should do, when they should do it, how they should do it and
why. That’s why they trust you. Just don’t go off on tangents about the
technical definition of a recession, or how many more rate hikes the Fed will
do, or which sectors of the stock market tend to perform best during recessions.
It’s great you have all that background stored in your brain, but you’re not
writing a book here or delivering a semester-long course on the topic. Just get
to the point – and stay on the point.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Poppins; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Clients
appreciate simplicity, not complexity<br /></span></b><span style="color: #777777;"><br />Again, too many advisors
think clients are impressed by how much they know about the new tax reform, or
Modern Portfolio Theory or estate tax laws. In reality, clients will reward you
if you can simplify their financial issues and say: “Here’s what all this means
for you and you’re going to be OK if you do the following things. These are the
next steps.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #777777; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you’re still in doubt, use the <b>“What / So What / Now What” </b>filter<b>.
</b>Dallas-based wealth advisor, <b><a href="https://www.atlaswealthadvisors.com/the-personal-cfo-book"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">Kyle Walters</span></a></b> told me he
uses this thought process all the time. “Don’t just give clients <b>The What</b>
(i.e., data and information),” said Walters. “You need to give them the <b>So
What</b> (i.e., What does it mean for me?) and the <b>Now What</b> (i.e., What
Do I do About it?). They’ll be glad you did and so will the people they refer
you to.”<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Early in my career, I used to get very excited whenever clients
came in for a consultation or review meeting,” said Walters, a reformed
smarty-pants by his own admission. “I really thought they were coming in to
learn about all the latest developments I was following in accounting, tax and
personal finance. It took me about 10 years to understand from their body
language that they were just zoned out, waiting patiently for me to finish my
lecture so they could ask the only relevant question— “What does this mean for
me?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #777777; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
Walters said it’s like taking your car to the mechanic and having to spend
hours listening to him explain the details of what’s wrong with your crankshaft
or carburetor. Unless you’re really into cars, you probably don’t care. Walters
said that for years he was like Tony, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY7ISTaymU0" style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">overzealous
mechanic</span></a> from the Seinfeld show. “My wife would hear me on a
call and say, ‘You shouldn’t talk so much; they don’t care as much as you think
they do.’”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Conclusion <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Clients
don’t want to pay you for data. They’re paying you for advice and for educated
recommendations so they can make smarter financial decisions.</span> What’s
your take? <strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">I’d love to hear from you.</span></a></span></i></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">#simplicity, #effectivewriting,
#thoughtleadership, #practicemanagement<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-31582230291246839422022-08-16T11:18:00.003-04:002022-08-16T11:18:35.704-04:00Gen Z Poised to Reverse the Financial Literacy Slide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMXhW5vAEHDYYgnGYiyrjGrdyBAHPb_S5MRE6TMhmU6YpYIt2d6WaEAXdIdWSBJtxU13DcSSx3Qd1NDdyiAcTC2-nzcwJBkO-Y10AkM35W1OmeOFagrLSpECjFCU6FMHuB58jh8iQY6VCRAup0bSlptixJQJCfmZr8oh5dr3cxOVaY9TJCjM/s3000/youngadultswork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMXhW5vAEHDYYgnGYiyrjGrdyBAHPb_S5MRE6TMhmU6YpYIt2d6WaEAXdIdWSBJtxU13DcSSx3Qd1NDdyiAcTC2-nzcwJBkO-Y10AkM35W1OmeOFagrLSpECjFCU6FMHuB58jh8iQY6VCRAup0bSlptixJQJCfmZr8oh5dr3cxOVaY9TJCjM/s320/youngadultswork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><i>By Blaise Mazurkiewicz, guest columnist</i></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to our firm’s annual <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/wealth-advisor-confidence-survey/">CPA/Wealth
Advisor Confidence Survey</a> three out of five (63%) respondents believed that
financial literacy and awareness has not improved over the past two years. Even
more troubling, the data found financial advisors were more pessimistic about
the younger generation’s financial future than any other generation.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">Why?</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">As a member of Gen Z, I’m not sure I agree entirely with that assessment. I do
agree with the survey findings that our educational system is not doing nearly
enough to prepare young people to be financially responsible adults. For
instance, the State Department of Education does not require personal finance
to be taught in schools unless there is a bill created by a state legislature
and passed by the state’s voters. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Case in point: The high school I attended
offers a basic one-semester class on financial literacy. I heard the class was
okay, but not great. Since the class wasn’t required and I had a heavy academic
load and sports commitments every semester, I didn’t take it. In fact, our
firm’s report pointed out that less than half of U.S. states require their K-12
students to take a class in personal finance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">Does lack of financial literacy stem from
school system neglect<span style="font-weight: normal !msorm;"><span style="mso-prop-change: "Hank Berkowitz" 20220814T1840;">?</span></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Absolutely. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed, not only by elementary
and secondary schools, but also by colleges and universities. As our firm’s
data showed, nearly seven in eight (86%) financial advisors believe that K-12
school, colleges, and universities could collectively make a bigger positive
impact on America’s financial awareness and literacy than any other institution
in our society – by far. But don’t just take it from me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Our school systems haven’t done enough,”
agreed <b>Bismaad Gulati</b>, a Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
student. “Most of my friends have gone through the same classes I have but
aren’t as interested in finance or business as I am.” Gulati told me recently.
“I think they’re not as well equipped, which is an obvious issue.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">
<br />
Although bills have been passed to improve the gap in financial literacy
education, it seems like lawmakers haven’t reached a large enough audience to
make a significant change so far. As stated in our firm’s report, financial
advisors overwhelmingly felt K-12 schools – more than any other institution in
our society – could make the biggest impact on America’s financial literacy.
Nearly three in five respondents (58%) agreed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">This needs to change.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: normal !msorm; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span lang="EN"><span style="mso-prop-change: "Hank Berkowitz" 20220814T1843;">Owen Brennan</span></span></b></span><span lang="EN" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">, marketing major at the University of
Connecticut School of Business recently told me that personal finance classes
should NOT be optional and that there should be more of them. “We shouldn’t be
expected to fall back on material from our math courses in order to understand what’s
going on. At a younger age, and especially in high school, we need somebody to
help connect those dots for us,” Added Brennan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span lang="EN">From where I sit, the more dots that
younger generations can connect, the better we can see the whole financial
picture.</span></i></b><span lang="EN"> Whether it’s student loans, personal
investments, or just managing our money. It’s not just about doing the math,
but understanding what the clear drivers of our financial well-being are.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">What will the future landscape of financial
literacy look like, especially for Gen Z and other younger members of society?
Gulati said he hopes to see more required personal finance courses in schools,
in addition to people taking better advantage of resources available to them.
“The internet is a big place and our generation loves to use it,” said Gulati.
“I just hope we can collectively figure out how to use it for more than just
entertainment and leisure purposes though. If not, that’s sort of on you.
Everyone is the master of their own destiny,” he added.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">It’s hard to argue with Gulati here. Our
generation has more access to (and willingness to use) information than any
other generation in history. The way that we can quickly access information
explains why overall literacy is higher than before. That being said, hopefully
this will translate into higher <b><i>financial literacy</i></b> in the near
future.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Brennan said: “ The bright spot comes from
our resources. We have access to great tools like YouTube, online courses, and
social media influencers that can all help to generate higher levels of
literacy,” added Brennan. With these tools in the hands of Gen-Z and other
aging generations, the future offers a myriad of opportunities to improve our
financial literacy.<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">How confident are you that the world’s younger
generations can improve their financial literacy and overcome the disconnect between
financial literacy and education?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:blaise.mazurkiewicz@uconn.edu" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>Tell
me</b></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> what you think.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><a href="mailto:blaise.mazurkiewicz@uconn"><b>Blaise
Mazurkiewicz</b></a> is a marketing associate at HB Publishing & Marketing
Company, LLC in Norwalk, CT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBlxlyDrH8w455OaU_cVOHRT4s8wmgNVleb-Ig9T-4Hj-1-HM6y0gX990NtTLuG535b7Wk5-w-Nes2_qTYZj20op6Vs2J-V97EAhCVleXaTF331il3jkE_FOSQYnj3B7eWSTnhrUzWUeIFEW2XY4IghldIXE7ltALnVbUAxa6dGvKQdNga80/s3000/youngadultswork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBlxlyDrH8w455OaU_cVOHRT4s8wmgNVleb-Ig9T-4Hj-1-HM6y0gX990NtTLuG535b7Wk5-w-Nes2_qTYZj20op6Vs2J-V97EAhCVleXaTF331il3jkE_FOSQYnj3B7eWSTnhrUzWUeIFEW2XY4IghldIXE7ltALnVbUAxa6dGvKQdNga80/s320/youngadultswork.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span lang="EN"><br /># Financialliteracy,
#GenZ, #Education, #Finance<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-23075192319704310762022-07-31T19:25:00.003-04:002022-07-31T19:25:26.796-04:00Writing in a Rut? Slow Down to Go Faster<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb4iEMWF_znTWrp6_sGqxxUeKEahynNEGHq6uasUC_NGnVDMp4Ixt-baMgneBgcGgsNcuvSGk8pS3AlPQZQy0onahQfvEojKQqjnIq0SA2NA7vF3lv1-otHTOyaTenWGUku5W0gAOws8VV4LvtfDOgrucObWv82bns4W4Vv-VYT_xgHDsWuA/s1125/frustrated%20writer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb4iEMWF_znTWrp6_sGqxxUeKEahynNEGHq6uasUC_NGnVDMp4Ixt-baMgneBgcGgsNcuvSGk8pS3AlPQZQy0onahQfvEojKQqjnIq0SA2NA7vF3lv1-otHTOyaTenWGUku5W0gAOws8VV4LvtfDOgrucObWv82bns4W4Vv-VYT_xgHDsWuA/s320/frustrated%20writer.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Last month’s post about <b><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/keys-to-faster-clearer-writing/">faster, clearer writing</a></b>,
generated a fair amount of feedback. Several readers asked how to get started when
you’re staring at a blank screen or simply dreading the process of “putting pen
to paper”?<p></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">We get this question often during
the Dog Days of summer because everyone’s on vacation, thinking about vacation
or about to go on vacation. It’s hot and humid and now we have the looming recession,
bear market and rising interest rates to further dampen your enthusiasm for doing
anything extra, like being a thought leader.</p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Basketball legend, Julius Erving
(aka Dr. J), once said: <i>“Being a professional is doing the thing you love to
do on the days you don’t feel like doing it.”</i> I know what you’re thinking.
You don’t love writing. But you’re a professional. Sooner or later you’ll have
to publish something under you own name for your clients, staff, prospects or industry
peers. So, yeah, you’re a writer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>Don’t beat yourself up<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I bring this up because this up
because late summer is when my own creative juices aren’t flowing like they
normally do. Outside of the office my workouts and race results are also slower
than at any other time of year. Projects around my office and my house tend to get
delayed if not ignored.<br />
<br />
Acknowledge that these speed bumps in your productivity are seasonal, not
permanent. Most of us don’t have the luxury of folding up the tent until Labor
Day when full energy resumes. Instead, slow down and set reasonable seasonal-adjusted
goals during the Dog Days of August so you can hit the ground running in
September.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you normally call 10 prospects a month, cut
back to five or six, but make those calls impactful. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If your firm normally does four blog posts a
month, dial that back to two or three, but spend the time to make them poignant.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->If you normally fly two or three times a month to
see clients, maybe cut that back to once a month and fold a vacation into the
trip.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tips for slowing down to speed up</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. What are you really trying to say?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Before you write Word One, ask yourself: “What is the single most important thing
I want to get across to my audience?” Ask yourself that question out loud and
when you have the answer, dictate the answer on your voice recorder or write it
down on a white board for everyone to see. This makes the messaging real and
you might want to revise it before blasting it out for public consumption.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. Don’t let your keyboard get in the way.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Just tell a story by using any “thought-capturing” means you prefer. Some of
you are more comfortable with a legal pad and a pencil than with a computer screen,
especially when you can go outside and compose your thoughts to “write” on a
favorite deck chair or hammock. The key is to slow down and find a quiet place
to think.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. If you can say it you can do it.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
A few of you are natural writers, but many of you are more comfortable
dictating into a voice recorder while stuck in traffic. Some of you are great
presenters and PowerPoint whizzes, but freeze up at the site of a blank
computer screen. If so, try recording yourself on video, or having a colleague
or close family member record you. One of our clients “dictated” two entire
books to us using nothing but his best slide presentations and lecture notes.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The key is to slow down, compose your thoughts and tell
your story in your natural voice</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> so it comes
through loud and clear.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of you are established professionals and thought
leaders. You have a great personal story to share and it’s probably more interesting
than you think. But if you don’t sound like you believe your own story when you
tell it, then how do you expect your readers and followers to buy it?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Still not convinced it’s worth slowing
down? Well, a Harvard Business Review </span></i><i><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://hbr.org/2010/05/need-speed-slow-down"><span style="color: #0070c0;">study</span><span style="color: #0070c0; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span></a></span></u></i><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">of
over 300 businesses showed that companies that took adequate time for deliberation
and planning averaged 40% higher sales and 52% higher operating profits over a
three-year period.</span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’d love to tell you we have “6 Easy Steps” or a magic
formula for making the writing process easier. <b>We don’t.</b> It’s a
personal battle between you and your subconscious. To win that battle you have
to slow down, be brutally honest with yourself and go back to basics. Get
crystal clear about what you’re trying to convey to your audience and how can they
use it in their day-to-day lives?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As always, we’re here to help. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Conclusion <br />
</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
Here’s more about <a href="https://hbpubdev.com/busting-through-writers-block-and-procrastination/">busting
through writer’s block and procrastination</a>. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As French
philosopher Voltaire famously said, “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of
good.” Just take your time and be prepared to revise, revise and revise. </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/still-not-sure-what-to-write-about/">Still not sure
what to write about?</a> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><em><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">.</span></em><strong><i><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Poppins",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";"><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">Ping me</span></a></span></i></strong><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> <em><span style="font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;">any
time. I’m happy to help.</span></em></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><em><span style="font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;"><br /></span></em></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="background: white; color: #777777; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">#effectivewriting,
#thoughtleadership, #practicemanagement<o:p></o:p></p><em><span style="font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;"></span></em><p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-42346441957031253842022-07-13T22:44:00.000-04:002022-07-13T22:44:07.680-04:00Consistency is not boring<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD1B0kZxRXo62jCVg9rtqhokk-bcPL4UlJ6X2X1scUxbYrnR25rie3d7YD8G-ankoXSwOwOOukGyaPdR_GGVhzwTy5clZz9zrL3KcEwwEQFcMoS1K3oyQBl5wMfNTgYqD0lWy7AVohJmbF1lXzN9RiWDPMzKotQf2CgRqNR1hdWj_n8-cHjw/s1280/runner%20snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibD1B0kZxRXo62jCVg9rtqhokk-bcPL4UlJ6X2X1scUxbYrnR25rie3d7YD8G-ankoXSwOwOOukGyaPdR_GGVhzwTy5clZz9zrL3KcEwwEQFcMoS1K3oyQBl5wMfNTgYqD0lWy7AVohJmbF1lXzN9RiWDPMzKotQf2CgRqNR1hdWj_n8-cHjw/s320/runner%20snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On more than one
occasion, my wife has accused me of being the most boring man in America.<p></p><p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I eat the same thing for
breakfast and lunch every day. I drink the same brand of beer every night. I wear
the same five outfits to work (one for each day of the week). I’ve worn the same
brand of running shoes for 30 years. I feed my dog the same thing every morning
and night, including the people food she mooches from me.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">I’m not comparing myself
to Steve Jobs, but there’s a reason he always wore the same black turtleneck, jeans
and sneakers every day. Work attire was one less decision he had to make and he
felt he ought to project a consistent brand image for his own personal
identity. It was also part of Jobs’ daily routine for getting hyper-focused so
he could get out there and change the world.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">As a distance runner and
triathlete most of my life, consistency has been a key to my identity. One foot
in front of the other. Get your workout in whether it’s raining, snowing or
broiling hot. Don’t let flight delays or work demands get in the way. Never skip
workouts unless seriously ill or injured. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Legendary track coach
Art Gulden used to bark at as in college: <i>“Anyone can run fast when they’re feeling
good. We’re going to teach you {expletives} how to fun fast when you feel like
crap.” <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">That philosophy got me
through four separate startup companies and several tours of duty in
high-pressure newsrooms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">As many of you know, we
have regular Gut Check™ accountability calls with our clients at the same day
and time every week. The calls only last about 20 minutes, but they go a long
way toward making sure nothing slips through the cracks and they ensure that clients
(and we) are following through on their respective deliverables.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br />
Clients who make at least 75% of their weekly Gut Check™ calls, have a 10X
higher likelihood of a successful engagement with us than clients who make 50%
or less – or who constantly reschedule. Clients who post or publish on a
consistent basis (weekly, biweekly, monthly) tend to get more views, shares and
client leads from their content than clients who post or publish sporadically.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">NFL quarterback Russell
Wilson says: “don’t get bored with consistency. Basketball legend Julius Erving
(aka Dr. J) liked to say: <i>“Being a professional is doing the things you love
to do; on the days you don't feel like doing them.”</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Hmmmm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Motivational speaker Rob
Cressy, said the most successful people he knows, have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO3QLG-4J9I">three traits in common</a> (video):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">1. They’re committed to
excellence; they show up every day and get the work done.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">2. They do same thing
(very well) over and over and over again.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">3. They cherish their morning
routine (reading, meditating, visualizing and journaling, working out and
practicing gratitude). Same thing every morning. Day after day. Year after
year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">According to Cressy, consistency
I snot sexy. “The results don’t show up immediately, but you’re planting seeds
for the harvest.” In his book <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Consistency-Prosperity-Training-Professionals/dp/1118486803">The
Power of Consistency</a></i> Weldon Long argues that you need to remind
yourself constantly about what you want and what you’re trying to accomplish. <span style="background: white; color: #0f1111;">It’s about getting deeply emotionally
committed to the plan and taking consistent action toward implementing the plan
for improved performance.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">The Dog Days of summer
are here. Everyone seems to be on vacation, about to go on vacation, or recovering
from vacation. It's easy to lose your focus when the temperature’s up and OOO
(Out of Office) replies are dominating your inbox. DON’T.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">Now’s the time to hit
the ground running when your rivals have checked out and are asleep at the beach.
Winners know they can’t wait for ALD (After Labor Day) to get back on track,
because by then, the train has already left the station.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency.
Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”</span></i><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"> -- <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/dwayne-johnson-quotes"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><a name="_Hlk81849751">Don’t
agree?<b><u> </u></b></a><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b>Tell me</b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"> why. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></b></span><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/about-us/free-resources/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here’s how you can support the people of Ukraine</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">#contentmarketing, #thoughtleadership, #practicemanagement<o:p></o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-87742890826493333532022-06-29T20:36:00.006-04:002022-06-29T20:36:55.570-04:00Keys to Faster, Clearer Writing<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MEf81fdVY6GbHITGQEDWvh2iav87RO5OCfoqQtrt_2A6ZmAu4hmehWl-Ysc9N6WEfSOTX78KsuQCKlPoiWE4tH9Kc_1UxtZuQL3NFlPpzWgzErBUvda5wglGwD34-9B20QUiDD5bZZ052PcMpwulF9H45M19h4SmB4z88Mk5--2I26eB6l0/s600/speed%20typing.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MEf81fdVY6GbHITGQEDWvh2iav87RO5OCfoqQtrt_2A6ZmAu4hmehWl-Ysc9N6WEfSOTX78KsuQCKlPoiWE4tH9Kc_1UxtZuQL3NFlPpzWgzErBUvda5wglGwD34-9B20QUiDD5bZZ052PcMpwulF9H45M19h4SmB4z88Mk5--2I26eB6l0/s320/speed%20typing.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>Mark
Twain once said, <i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">“<b>I didn't have time</b> to write you a <b>short</b> letter,
so I wrote you a long one.”</i><p></p><p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">One of the biggest challenges for successful professionals
is not coming across as the smartest kid in the class. When asked to do a
presentation, author a guest column or write a forward to a colleague’s book, it’s
natural to feel you must do a brain dump of everything you know about a topic.
But true thought leaders don’t force their audience to drink through a firehose.
They know less is more and they choose their words wisely.</span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">True thought leaders give their audience a
taste of their knowledge and expertise, without giving away the secret sauce. By
doing so, they establish their credibility and share just enough insight to
whet the reader’s appetite for a follow-up Zoom call, meeting or consultation
to get more information. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know, more easily said than
done.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I hate writing. How do I get faster, more
efficient with the written word? Grammarly and other AI writing tools are a
start. So are the editing tools built into Office for Windows 10.0 and higher. They’ll
definitely help you minimize spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors. You
can also experiment with talk-to-text apps. But those tools won’t help you retrain
your brain for clearer, more concise thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<b>8 steps for faster, more efficient writing<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="mc-my-4" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="mc-ml-2"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">1. </span></span><strong><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">Create an outline</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. You wouldn’t build a house without blueprints,
would you? You wouldn’t invest a client’s money without having a plan in place
or knowing their risk tolerance, would you? So, why are you trying to write
without an outline? I’m not your high school English teacher. Forget the Roman
numerals. Here’s all you need in your outline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="mc-my-4" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">a. <b>3 Takeaways</b> you want readers/listeners
to get after spending time with your words?<br />
b. Introduce the <b>problem/challenge</b> and why it’s so important today.<br />
c. Explain how you’ll <b>solve the problem/challenge</b> and what the results
of that solution will be.<br />
d. <b>Summarize</b> what you’ve just shared with the reader/listener and share
a real-world example if possible, to bring the concept to life. Remind them of
the Takeaways.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="mc-my-4" style="background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Consider drafting your outline and early
drafts in PowerPoint. It forces you to be brief, concise and bullet-point
oriented.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">2. Get rid of distractions</span></b><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Close your browser
windows, email programs, and chat apps. Unplug your computer or even your
router. Turn your phone to silent and place it out of view. Even if only for an
hour or two at a time, do whatever it takes to nurture a healthy writing habit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">3. Use “TK” placeholders</span></b><span style="background: white; color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Even if you’ve filled your outline with well-researched points, writing
will take you places you never thought you’d go. If you stop your flow to look
up a fact or idea, you risk wasting time going down research rabbit holes.
Instead, use a placeholder like “TK” (which journalists call “to come”) and
replace it when you’re done writing.</span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. Don’t Be a Perfectionist. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ernest
Hemingway once said: </span><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“write
drunk, edit sober.”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> You don’t need to be an alcoholic to produce content to adopt
Hemingway’s writing philosophy. Don’t be so tough on yourself. We continuously
correct what we’re about to say before we put the words on the page. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is what
Hemingway meant by writing drunk. During the drafting phase, just get your main
point down on the page. There’s plenty of time for spit and polishing later. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; padding: 0in;">5. Find your best time to write</span></b><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Improving your writing
speed and efficiency often comes down to knowing your own biology or
psychology. You may be an early riser who writes better and faster in the
morning. Maybe you’re a high nooner or you may be a night owl whose mind feels
most fluid in the wee hours. Experiment to find out the best time of day for
you to write and make “writing appointments” with yourself to shape your content
then.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6.
Walk away.</span></b><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Once you’ve finished your draft, walk away for
several hours or several days. Don’t even think about your content piece let
alone sneak in any tweaks. Only after walking away can you edit with a fresh set
of eyes and ears. </span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What
seemed so brilliant in the morning is not ready for prime time when you come
back to it. Don’t worry. It’s all part of the process. <b><i>Your first draft
is supposed to suck</i></b>.</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">7. Read your work out loud. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Better
yet, dictate it into your smartphone voice recorder and play it back. You may
not like what you sound like, but this technique will prevent from straying.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">8. Learn from the best.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Spend
a little time this summer re-reading your favorite authors. It doesn’t matter
if it’s fiction or non-fiction. Notice how they set the scene, draw you in, and
the cadence they use to convey their thoughts. Most have great editors to make
them look good, but somewhere along the line, they mastered the craft of
writing.</span><span style="color: #003b4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #003b4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As
Nietzche liked to say: <i>“It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what
others say in a whole book.”</i><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><b><span style="color: #003b4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #003b4d; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Being your own critic is tough, but no one knows you
better than you. As with any exercise routine, consistency is the key to better
writing and you need to get comfortable being a little comfortable. That’s the
only way to get better, faster and more confident. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For more, see my
recent posts</span><b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/stop-clearing-your-throat-when-you-write/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: #00356b; letter-spacing: -.25pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Open Sans";">Stop Clearing Your Throat When You Write</span></a></span></b><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and
<b><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/?s=key+to+writing+faster">Keys to Writing Faster</a></b></span><span style="color: black; letter-spacing: .15pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><a name="_Hlk81849751">Don’t agree?<b><u> </u></b></a><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b>Tell me</b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"> why. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
</span></b></span><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/about-us/free-resources/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Here’s how you can support the people of Ukraine</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk81849751;"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">#contentmarketing, #thoughtleadership, #practicemanagement</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-81191949066435063002022-05-13T19:24:00.004-04:002022-05-13T19:24:38.220-04:00Financial Literacy Month Should Last 365 Days <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirElmojuUDmpNRlyrAMrxnvKkda_aR8aLjdmh1Fhu-qNn5o9RaYlKjp_5EaCzR28N-VjT7xcVJ4JiXdWaH4cqJ-v3xjUTi56p9fZTb4gzKqy1rTOckjQKT1LyM-S5-68p9yPSGiqyXv7n3b0fprt0dTrTwLlaMvd4wSe2qZnNgLuwl_TEETKI/s6720/money%20kids.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirElmojuUDmpNRlyrAMrxnvKkda_aR8aLjdmh1Fhu-qNn5o9RaYlKjp_5EaCzR28N-VjT7xcVJ4JiXdWaH4cqJ-v3xjUTi56p9fZTb4gzKqy1rTOckjQKT1LyM-S5-68p9yPSGiqyXv7n3b0fprt0dTrTwLlaMvd4wSe2qZnNgLuwl_TEETKI/s320/money%20kids.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>April and National Financial Literacy Month are in the rearview mirror.
But that doesn’t we should take our feet off the gas pedal when it comes to
addressing the nation’s financial literacy epidemic. <span style="background: white;">According to our annual <i><u><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/wealth-advisor-confidence-survey/">CPA/Wealth Advisor Confidence Survey</a>,</u></i></span>
just one-third of financial advisors (38%) believe America’s financial
awareness has improved in the two years since COVID surfaced – and they’re
particularly worried about the lack of money skills among Millennials and Gen
Z.</div><p></p>
<p class="Default"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">“One positive that came
out of the pandemic is the spotlight on personal finance </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">as </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">an important lifelong
skill for everyone</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">,” said respondent </span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Marie Burns</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> a f</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">inancial </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">a</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">dvocate</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Now more states than ever are proposing
legislation to teach financial literacy in schools.” Once again, our survey respondents
felt K-12 schools could make a bigger impact on America’s financial literacy
than any other institution in our society. <br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But who knows how to teach financial literacy?</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="gmail-pw-post-body-paragraph">As a result of the school system’s lack
of modernization, survey co-author <b>Valentino Sabuco,</b> Executive Director of
<b><a href="https://home.thefinancialawarenessfoundation.org/">The Financial
Awareness Foundation</a></b>, said experts who teach financial literacy are few
and far between. “Many teachers unfortunately lack the knowledge themselves on
financial literacy,” said Sabuco. “They are ill prepared to teach it to the
next generation of students. For those that say they are teaching personal
finance, we ask them: ‘Are your materials up to date? Are you touching all the
bases?” More often than not, the answer is NO, lamented Sabuco. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Jim Stovall</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">, motivational
speaker and author of <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Map-Ultimate-Creating-Enjoying/dp/1937879364"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Millionaire Map</span></a></u> told us
that there is more information than ever about financial awareness, but we are bombarded
with confusing, mixed messages as not all information is accurate and valid. “It’s
not a matter of getting information, it’s a matter of getting the right
information,” said Stovall. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to Sabuco,
many educators believe financial literacy only deals with savings, budgeting
and debt management. They don’t address ways to help students get and stay
organized, establish personal and financial goals, save for college or plan for
other major expenditures such as cars and house down-payments. “So how do
financially illiterate teachers successfully teach personal finance to
students?” asked Sabuco.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="https://www.wealth-teams.com/our-team/guy-baker/"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Guy Baker, CFP, Ph. D</span></b></a></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">, founder of
Wealth Teams Alliance in Irvine, California told me quite simply that most
Americans are financially illiterate. “A home economics course should be a core
class for high schoolers,” said Baker. “It needs to teach students how to bank,
how to save, how to invest and how to use a credit card.” Baker said it should
teach them about buying a home vs. renting, buying a car. In other words, “All
of the essentials responsibilities that are required to live a productive life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Dr. Christopher Sparks, Ph. D</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">, of Academic Investment Management thinks there may be too many constraints
on public schools to teach financial literacy effectively and that colleges and
universities, may be better equipped. He’d also like to see financial advisors
more involved with teaching financial literacy to the masses, but they tend to target
those with significant investable assets. “Those who don’t have much to invest
are largely ignored,” Sparks observed.<br /></span><br />The simple answer to this complex question, said Sabuco, is to provide
our youth with the “necessary life skills and problem-solving skills to have the
best chance of living a successful life, without outliving their wealth.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many of these topics, said Sabuco, are built
around the financial elements identified on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The FA Infinity Lifelong Learning Symbol</b> shown below:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iDWZRnYIhCHr9qHwTKIhO3ws-MI0hRzK6vHpDYlY3bp8uQ2EgWgwoGv9m6jezPbMZRKq_kF0MFekZ_cdmdKZgGnpf1SfScvaLQkoPZYYSF1PLgC9qgYLlng8dFEVYHQC9eSfKBFGSZV7D1hKCLMwY_nZwGcyZGz-2B1BEE4sdgrNEiy_B8E/s1156/FA%20Lifelong%20Learning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1156" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iDWZRnYIhCHr9qHwTKIhO3ws-MI0hRzK6vHpDYlY3bp8uQ2EgWgwoGv9m6jezPbMZRKq_kF0MFekZ_cdmdKZgGnpf1SfScvaLQkoPZYYSF1PLgC9qgYLlng8dFEVYHQC9eSfKBFGSZV7D1hKCLMwY_nZwGcyZGz-2B1BEE4sdgrNEiy_B8E/s320/FA%20Lifelong%20Learning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">“If all the allied professions (attorneys, CPAs, financial planners,
insurance consultants, etc.) took a collaborative and holistic approach,
consumers would hear a similar message from several different perspectives and
would be more likely to hear the message and act on it,” said attorney <b>Martin
M. Shenkman.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lionel Shipman, </span></b>a financial and life empowerment professional,<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> told us that financial
literacy education should start as early as elementary school. “As children
continue their education through middle and high school, their knowledge and
experience of financial literacy skills can be broadened and strengthen,
preparing them to succeed financially in adulthood,” added Shipman. <b>Ryan
Vogel, CFP</b>, Partner, Chief Planning Officer, Novi Wealth in Princeton, New
Jersey, agreed. Even among schools that <i>do</i> have financial literacy requirements,
Vogel said teaching good lifelong money habits should be part of ongoing
curriculum, not a one-off required course like health or driver’s ed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In addition to teaching it in
high school, there should be a more basic version taught in middle school and
some type of financial literacy curriculum in 4th or 5th grade to get them
started on the right path,” suggested Vogel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Conclusion</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<br />
Bottom line: Everyone from early childhood educators to high schools and
university instructors, financial advisors, spiritual advisors and most
importantly, parents setting a good example for their children, need to do
their part. “We must change the system to help all children from a very young
age to develop the financial literacy skill so that it will be part of their lifelong
DNA,” said survey respondent <b>Elena Zee</b>, President & CEO Arizona
Council of Economic Education (ACEE). Curing the financial illiteracy epidemic
in this country takes a village. Are you willing to step up?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Don’t agree?</span><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Tell me</span></a></span></u></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> why. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br />
<a href="https://hbpubdev.com/about-us/free-resources/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here’s how you can support the people of Ukraine</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TAGS: #financialliteracy, #financialawareness, #financialeducation,
#smartmoney</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-75274621306003858122022-04-21T13:52:00.004-04:002022-04-21T13:52:45.599-04:00Key Takeaways: Don’t Publish or Post Without ‘Em<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMijzwv7jS187OrY7jbDEpUskWzhDHPvOmb5k-us-cYkwnJtZFHIkuRTXFu_SmNy8R_v-9BWFMUiv6s6XR4EH1g4L1PxnTtfF0N9Aj636uUNkjdE_TlzBqHvRXCS0hDnPZMDfoKno9eYmTNMyzOtutQSwKeqrxrcLvfPVWyEisFPDktQPdV8/s1234/Key%20Takeaways.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1234" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMijzwv7jS187OrY7jbDEpUskWzhDHPvOmb5k-us-cYkwnJtZFHIkuRTXFu_SmNy8R_v-9BWFMUiv6s6XR4EH1g4L1PxnTtfF0N9Aj636uUNkjdE_TlzBqHvRXCS0hDnPZMDfoKno9eYmTNMyzOtutQSwKeqrxrcLvfPVWyEisFPDktQPdV8/s320/Key%20Takeaways.jpeg" width="320" /></a></i></div><i>Follow the sniff, sip and gulp model</i><p></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In today’s time-pressed society, you only have a split second to convince
someone to read what you have to say. After quickly scanning the headline and subhead,
a reader may take a quick glance to see who the author is and then make a snap
judgement to do one of three things:</span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
1. Drop everything and read immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">2. Save for nighttime/weekend reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">3. Ignore/Delete.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By including three or four summary bullet points at the top of your content
– from blog posts and articles to white papers and podcast transcripts -- you’ll
greatly increase the odds they’ll take Action #1 or Action #2 above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Whether you call them Key Takeaways, Hot Takes, Key Learnings, Summary
Bullets or simply Takeaways, those hardworking bullet points at the top of your
content should provide readers with an instant summary of what they will learn if
they invest the time to engage with your words that follow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Not sure what to include in your bullets?</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Think of bullets as mini
headlines that outline the most valuable things a reader will take with them after
reading your piece. Is it a better way of doing something in the career or
their life? Debunking a popular belief? Learning something new that most people
don’t know. Deconstructing something complex and making it simple? Whatever your
objective, the Key Takeaways should be brief, actionable and accurate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">How long should Key Takeaways be?</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> No more than two lines long.
Preferable no more than 144 characters which is about 20-30 words max (more on
that in a minute). Use action verbs whenever possible. This condensed format forces
you to remove the fluff and get right to the point. Here are some good examples
from our clients’ work <i>(click on hyperlinks to see Key Takeaways in live
content)</i>:</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span><a href="https://www.noviwealth.com/post/at-times-like-these-you-have-more-control-than-you-think"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></a></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 24.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span><a href="https://www.noviwealth.com/post/at-times-like-these-you-have-more-control-than-you-think"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At Times Like
These, You Have More Control Than You Think</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="color: #365f91; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h2>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><a href="https://www.hcvt.com/article-nonpublic-companies-accounting-stocked-based-compensation"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What Nonpublic
Companies Need to Know About Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span><a href="https://www.ogwealth.com/insights/2022/3/29/what-march-madness-brackets-teach-us-about-investing-mistakes"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What March Madness Brackets
Teach Us About Investing Mistakes</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h1>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The thing that’s great about restricting yourself to 144 characters is
that you can create a tweet or post out of each bullet with a link to the full piece.
Several of our clients have been “Tweetables” regularly such as </span></span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cecil-nazareth-cpa-chartered-accountant-4739541_realestatetax-internationaltax-foreignfinance-activity-6858771719390408705-Owl6?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">this example</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> and </span></span><a href="https://www.naylor.com/associationadviser/whats-big-idea/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">this one</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I have so much great material, it’s hard to pick three bullets.</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Hopefully you created an
outline before you started the writing process. The skeleton of your outline
can easily be turned into Key Takeaways. If you still having trouble distilling
your content piece into a few concise bullet points, that’s a sign that you may
be rambling, or perhaps are trying to cover too much in a single post, article,
bulletin. It might be time to go back to the editing room or consider breaking
your piece into Part 1 and Part 2 before making it live.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sniff. Sip. Gulp.</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> If you can’t provide the reader with a quick mini tour of your work,
there’s a good chance you’ll lose them enroute to the finish line. As Investment
Company Institute’s <b>George Breeden, CAE</b> once said in a presentation I attended,
follow the <b><i>“Sniff, Sip and Gulp”</i></b> model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First give the reader a sniff of your content
(Headline). If they’re intrigued, then let them sip a brief sampling sip of what’s
inside (Key Takeaways). Only after you’ve passed the reader’s sniff and sip
test, should you hit them with the full gulp of content. Forcing them to gulp before
they’ve have had a chance to sniff and sip, is overwhelming. When readers feel overwhelmed
with information, their gag reflex is to hit the delete key and walk away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Don’t play click bait game. </span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another disturbing trend I’ve seen is the use of provocative
words or phrases within subject lines, headlines, even Key Takeaways in order
to grab the reader’s attention. DON’T use “sex positions” or “salary survey” or
“Kardashian” or “Musk” unless your content really is about those topics. If you
do, be ready for the backlash.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Conclusion<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Do yourself and your readers a favor. Respect their time. Summarize
accurately. Highlight the three or four most valuable things readers will gain
if they invest their valuable time with your words. If you do, they’ll be happy
to post comments, share on their social channels, and keep coming back for
more. They may even become clients.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="b-qt" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Don’t agree?</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></u></b></span><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tell me</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> why. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span>
<p style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/about-us/free-resources/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here’s how you can support the people of Ukraine</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#KeyTakeaways,
#SummaryBullets, #ContentMarketing</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37234741.post-18208237682515377412022-03-23T12:51:00.003-04:002022-03-23T12:51:18.240-04:00March Madness Confirms Humans Don’t Add Much Alpha<p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbuQKuPgVBFtq72i2E4Wr5xrwqIIWWqFRw__r9qujl-xpcRsXAD1xXgjQqj8s7PrwRJsUrdQ-oGgfj0z5Bm6j4oQaGK6z22PBNqidQdDXJ6e4a8jUhTeXjCDR1LEeLht0_CwJT7MzDtKtoS3deKcAuuycUeo_3iWBcX1Ze_onae48lAsOd1Y/s2388/basketball%20net%20torn.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2388" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGbuQKuPgVBFtq72i2E4Wr5xrwqIIWWqFRw__r9qujl-xpcRsXAD1xXgjQqj8s7PrwRJsUrdQ-oGgfj0z5Bm6j4oQaGK6z22PBNqidQdDXJ6e4a8jUhTeXjCDR1LEeLht0_CwJT7MzDtKtoS3deKcAuuycUeo_3iWBcX1Ze_onae48lAsOd1Y/s320/basketball%20net%20torn.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>First let me tell you
why I love the annual NCAA men’s Division I basketball tournament (aka March
Madness). It’s the ultimate reality show. Where else can little known
universities such as St. Peters, Loyola of Chicago, Murray State, Weber State,
Florida Gulf Coast and Valparaiso suddenly jump into the national limelight
with upset wins over perennial powerhouses.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">If you don’t think
March Madness success has much to do with a school’s brand recognition or
athletic recruiting, think again. I know it’s hard to believe but 20 years ago,
no one outside of eastern Washington had heard of Gonzaga University. Now the
Zags are a national powerhouse. In fact, they’re the No.1 ranked team in the
entire country ahead of Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina and all
the Big Ten universities.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Don’t think that helps a school’s brand? Since
1999 applications to Gonzaga have increased <a href="https://www.krem.com/article/sports/gonzaga/gonzaga-by-the-numbers-1999-vs-2017/293-426892142">300 percent</a> and enrollment has
increased by more than 86 percent. Hmm.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">This year’s “Cinderella”
team has been tiny St. Peter’s University of Jersey City, NJ (undergrad enrollment
2,200), The Peacocks upset mighty Kentucky (31,000 undergraduates) in the first
round and then defeated former Cinderella Murray State in the second round to
remain one of only 16 teams left in the tournament. Only 1.5 percent of
brackets had the “Peacocks” advancing to the “Sweet 16.” St. Peters head coach Shaheen
Holloway</span><strong><span style="background: white; color: #303030; font-family: "Georgia Pro",serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></strong><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">earns a fraction of what the <b><i>lowest paid</i></b>
assistant in the Kentucky program earns. <br />
<br />
What’s not to like?</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #303030;">St. Peter’s president, Eugene Cornacchia, told
the <a href="https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/2022/03/21/saint-peters-university-president-talks-march-madness-impact/7114236001/">North Jersey media</a> </span><span style="color: #303030;">“For our
whole community, this is a seminal moment in our history. We can’t put $8-10
million into the (basketball) program,” [referring to Kentucky?] “but
nonetheless you see what we can do if you have a great coach and players who
are hard-working and committed. This is truly a miracle story.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 10.5pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Not only did the St. Peters website crash after the win over
Kentucky, but Cornacchia said the school has </span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">already seen increased
applications from students. “There’s just been an outpouring of media attention
across the country that has been unbelievable. Now I know why they call it
March Madness… We’ve been hearing from people around the country about our
T-shirts. We ran out real fast</span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">.</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">”</span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Bracketology is
not an exact science<br /></span></b><br />Feel good stories
aside, I love filling out the tournament brackets as do 20 million other sports
fans, office workers, lodge buddies, fraternity brothers and millions of other
people who never watch college hoops the rest of the year. Filling out brackets
can be <b><a href="http://b2beat.blogspot.com/2014/03/what-business-professionals-can-learn.html">great
for office morale</a></b>, despite the drop in productivity. Plus, the tourney is
a great reality show. It’s got heroes and villains, alliances and backstabbing.
There’s no best of seven. It’s single-elimination win or go home. Just pick
which team you think will win each game and each round. It couldn’t be easier. But
it’s not -- at least for humans.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">There’s no shortage
of information to make an informed decision and you don’t have to be an “accredited”
gambler to play. It’s almost impossible NOT to find a free printable bracket on
the web. You get the official NCAA seeding number for each team (ranked 1
through 16). You get their season record. The Vegas odds for each game are
everywhere on the web. You can even get injury reports, stats for each player,
and each team’s national ranking on two-dozen common metrics. It’s all publicly
available and free of charge.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzgl4YMzq1YJTtDn6oTkASYUM0jGmLJbW9HdsWZjBJQztDVXCNl891MWESFgKslUyl7fck2Tcu4CdK2mKpbGs8QBp1a1pgVe-173vRZ771AMg1mZ5gBxV07LPED4EFaYA4k00y5_M5zTZGFcEY80cbs__zXk_5jnRN6YaTWzGBPNzwC7gww/s1500/baskeball%20pondering.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVzgl4YMzq1YJTtDn6oTkASYUM0jGmLJbW9HdsWZjBJQztDVXCNl891MWESFgKslUyl7fck2Tcu4CdK2mKpbGs8QBp1a1pgVe-173vRZ771AMg1mZ5gBxV07LPED4EFaYA4k00y5_M5zTZGFcEY80cbs__zXk_5jnRN6YaTWzGBPNzwC7gww/s320/baskeball%20pondering.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>Yet nobody – NOBODY -- seems able to fill out a perfect or even near-perfect
bracket. This year, not a single one of the 20 million brackets filled out on the
Yahoo, Capital One or CBS Sportline bracket challenges were correct after the
first two rounds of the tournament. In fact, only one of the 20 million
brackets had even 15 of the remaining “Sweet 16” correct and <a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2022-03-21/only-one-bracket-challenge-game-bracket-correctly-predicted-15-sweet-16-teams">only
.001 percent</a> had even 14 out of 16 teams remaining.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">As with stock picking, humans are just lousy identifiers of winners, even when
you have a wealth of information, years of experience and high-powered
computers at your disposal. Here’s another dirty secret. Despite all the upsets
every year, you can do darn well just by picking the favored teams (i.e., the
higher seeded ones). It’s like investing in index funds – unmanaged and
emotion-free. <br />
<br />
You’ll consistently finish in the 75<sup>th</sup> percentile of your office
pool just by picking the large cap favorites. This year that unmanaged “set it
and forget it” strategy would put you in the 91<sup>st</sup> percentile as we
enter the Sweet 16. Sure, you need a few low-ranked small caps and under-valued
“value picks” to score some bonus points in the early rounds, but by the time
we got to the Elite 8 and Final Four, the big boys tend to rise to the top.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Going back to 1985,
#1 Seeds have won the national title about two-thirds of the time (<a href="https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/bracketiq/2017-12-14/march-madness-brackets-how-do-seeds-perform-final-four">23
out of 36</a>). That’s more than all the other seeds combined. Teams seeded #2
have won the title five times, #3 seeds have won four times and then just a smattering
of one-offs for the remaining years. No team seeded 9<sup>th</sup> or lower has
ever won the tournament.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">So how much alpha are
human bracketologists adding? Not much. Just like active managers. That’s what
makes March Madness fun – especially for behavioral finance observers like me.
Just don’t put real money into your March Madness wagers.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Conclusion</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Even with perfect
information and a level playing field, humans just can’t <a href="http://b2beat.blogspot.com/2015/03/march-method-or-madness-part-2.html">override
their emotions</a> when it comes to March Madness. Same goes for the markets. I’m
okay with that and so is my wallet.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Don’t agree?</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><u><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></u></b></span><a href="mailto:hberkowitz@hbpubdev.com?subject=Blog%20comment"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tell me</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> why. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk97238022;"></span>
<p style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="https://hbpubdev.com/about-us/free-resources/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Here’s how you can support the people of Ukraine</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">#marchmadness, #bracketology, #stockpicking, #ncaabasketball,
#StPeters</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hank Berkowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14535455123876793169noreply@blogger.com0