Learnings

Parkinson’s Law: Time Management

Chris Labs

“Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” If something must be done in a year, it’ll be done in a year. If something must be done next week, it’ll be done next week. If something must be done tomorrow, it’ll be done tomorrow. **Parkinson’s Law should not be considered carte blanche to set unreasonable deadlines. All projects take time-you certainly can’t build a skyscraper in a day, or a factory in a week. -The Personal MBA, here Continue reading Parkinson’s Law: Time Management

Negotation Mastery

Prepare a negotiation One sheet

Chris Labs

Section I: The Goal Think through best/worst-case scenarios but only write down a specific goal that represents the best case. Section II: Summary Summarize and write out in just a couple of sentences the known facts that have led up to the negotiation Section III: Labels/ Accusation Audit Prepare three to five labels to perform an accusation audit Section IV: Calibrated Questions Prepare three to five calibrated questions to reveal value to you and your counterpart and identify and overcome potential deal killers. Section V: Noncash Offers Prepare a list of noncash items possessed by your counterpart that would be … Continue reading Prepare a negotiation One sheet

Copywriting

Use simple common everyday words & smooth transition words.

Chris Labs

Use “get” instead of “procure”. Write short sentences and short paragraphs. Use “transition” words and phrases to make your writing flow smoothly. Do you notice how I use transition words and phrases such as the following: Well, as a matter of fact, I first blah… Now, naturally, we don’t want to blah, blah… And, of course, here is what she said blah, blah, blah… And so on. God I love to write “And so on“. Kurt Vonnegut uses it quite often and he’s one of the best writers I’ve read. To keep the flow going: Onward. -The Boron Letters, Chapter … Continue reading Use simple common everyday words & smooth transition words.

Copywriting

Paint a very detailed, very inviting picture. Feed their imagination with “word-pictures”

Chris Labs

It will help your reader vicariously experience the wonderful benefits of owning your product or service. Like this: “And, just wait till you step into that warm inviting jacuzzi that comes with every apartment. Man oh man! The feel of that soothing bubbling water against your bare skin is just plain heaven.” “You’ve heard of the expression about how you won’t believe your eyes? Well, this one time you won’t believe your eyes. No kidding. The delightful aroma of these charcoal broiled steaks will remind you how good it feels to be genuinely hungry” “Wow! When I first felt her … Continue reading Paint a very detailed, very inviting picture. Feed their imagination with “word-pictures”

Copywriting

Always read your copy outloud

Chris Labs

What happens when you read your copy out loud is that you will verbally stumble over all the places that are not smooth. Then, of course, what you do is rewrite the rough spots and read the copy out loud again. And, what you do, is you keep repeating this process till your copy is completely smooth and you can read it without stumbling at all. You see, advertising writing needs to be the best writing of all. It needs to flow from start to finish without a bump or a bubble. -The Boron Letters, Chapter 22, Gary Halbert Continue reading Always read your copy outloud