Take note: Why I write everything down (and you should, too)

Take note: Why I write everything down (and you should, too)

Early in my career, I became a project manager. Working for many startup companies, I found myself managing lots of projects, and that continued throughout the 30-plus years I worked in the corporate world. I brought three assets to my work managing projects: I lean on the written word as a prosthesis for my brain…

In a match between the putrid Patriots and Christopher L. Gasper’s mixed metaphors, everybody loses.
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In a match between the putrid Patriots and Christopher L. Gasper’s mixed metaphors, everybody loses.

I’ve written before about Boston Globe sportswriter Christopher L. Gasper’s penchant for mixed metaphors, as a way to illustrate how metaphor overload can interrupt the reader’s trance that makes great writing work. But things here in New England pro football have gotten desperate. The New England Patriots, not to put too fine a point on…

How not to regret buying anything (including consulting)

How not to regret buying anything (including consulting)

I’ve bought a lot of things in my life. Computers, cars, houses, smartphones, snowblowers, refrigerators, socks. I’ve got 50+ years of experience in buying things. The most important question is not the price. It’s not the features. It’s not the reviews. The things you purchase look great when they’re nice and shiny in the store,…

How to talk to a graphic designer about figures or illustrations
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How to talk to a graphic designer about figures or illustrations

I love working with graphic designers. First off, they have a talent I completely lack. You describe what you want, then something beautiful comes out. That feels like magic to me. Second, they’re problem solvers. I solve communication problems with text. They solve them with graphics. The process is similar and the goals are similar,…

Reasons for rules; movie trailer AI pollution; California subsidizes news: Newsletter 28 August 2024
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Reasons for rules; movie trailer AI pollution; California subsidizes news: Newsletter 28 August 2024

Newsletter 59. Why rules without reasons are dumb. Plus, how now to support journalism, tips for book titles, three people to follow, and three books to read. Never impose a rule without sharing a reason All experts become familiar with the rules that apply in their area of expertise. Typically, they try to teach others…

Why (nearly) all professionals should try consulting before they retire

Why (nearly) all professionals should try consulting before they retire

I’ve been talking with several highly skilled professionals who are preparing to leave their companies at the end of their careers. Some are ready to retire. Others aren’t sure. My advice is: keep your options open. If you’re done working for a company but still feel like you have something to offer, it’s easy to…

How to be brilliant; Claude from authors; Daily Wire succumbs: Newsletter 21 August 2024
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How to be brilliant; Claude from authors; Daily Wire succumbs: Newsletter 21 August 2024

Newsletter 58: The five ways brilliant people are different, why St. Martin’s press isn’t doomed, and Kamala Harris’ — er Harris’s — er, hmm. Plus three books to read and three people to follow. Five-fold brilliance In our work, we sometimes encounter individuals who inspire us. They seem to have such creativity and clarity about…