Summary and Action Plan Let’s not forget the constant risk of reverting to bad, long-winded habits.Since you’re aiming to master the art of clear and concise communications—something others crave—we n

20 Got-a-Minute UpdatesI love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. —Douglas Adams Long story, short. Tighten your message to be sure your audience stays positive and on trac

19 And the Bad News Is…The bad news motivated the drill instructors that much more. —R. Lee ErmeyLong story, short. Delivering bad news is a matter of mastering and minimizing a moment.The Bright (and

18 I’ve Got Some Good NewsFirst the doctor told me the good news: I was going to have a disease named after me. —Steve Martin Long story, short. Sharing good news briefly highlights the success and le

17 Help Wanted: Master of BrevityTalk to the point and stop when you have reached it. —F. V. Irish Long story, short. Interviews are moments to have controlled conversations, not nervous monologues. N

16 It’s Never Really Small TalkSimplicity is the glory of expression. —Walt WhitmanLong story, short. Convey meaningful messages in informal, fluid settings by using as few words as possibleBrevity as

15 Whose Bright Idea Was That Anyway?One should use common words to say uncommon things. —Arthur Schopenhauer Long story, short. The best ideas are explained simply Your Big IdeaA number of years ago,

14 Trimming Your Sales (Pitch)It is my ambition to say in 10 sentences what others say in a whole book. —Friedrich NietzscheLong story, short. Buyers and sellers will benefit from shorter pitches that

13 Presenting a Briefer CaseThe secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending, and to have the two as close together as possible. —George Burns Long story, short. See how a pre

12 Leaving a Smaller Digital ImprintI have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter. —Blaise PascalLong story, short. Make social media posts and e-mails that ca