60-second practical career advice to help write, speak, and lead with confidence.
Latest episodes
-
↗
Avoid the Word Thing
“Hey, can you hand me that thing?” “Did you receive the thing I sent you?” “Do we have our things ready for the meeting?” The word “thing” can mean, well, anything. That’s why, as…
-
↗
You can always send your photos to the media
Let’s say your company had a big grand opening for a new office location. Sadly, no members of the media attended to spread the news. That’s OK. Just be sure you do this next…
-
↗
Tell reporters they did a good job – build the relationship
If you read a moving article in the newspaper or watch a compelling story on local news, do the unexpected. Tell the reporter and earn this key contact in the media…
-
↗
Elevator pitch – what and why
The best elevator pitch – in other words, a quick summary about what you or your company is all about – has two main parts: What and Why…
-
↗
When to pick up the phone instead of email
Ever been in a back-and-forth email chain with someone and the conversation takes too long to resolve? When is a good time to “pick up the phone” instead of emails and texts?
-
↗
Feedback from a Recruiter
Let’s say you went through a recruiter to apply for a job. In the end, the recruiter emails and tells you the company went with someone else. What’s your next move?
-
↗
Informational interview email outreach
Are you in the job market and need to set up informational interviews? Before you fire off requests via email, you must do something first…
-
↗
Name-drops in email subject lines
Do you need to email someone you don’t know to seek a career opportunity? Here’s a great tip…
-
↗
How long to wait before a follow-up email
As we send emails to open doors in our careers, how long should we wait to follow up with people who don’t respond to our first message?
-
↗
Don’t capitalize college majors and minors
Did you know you don’t capitalize your college major or minor? While a degree in, for instance…
-
↗
Eliminate pronouns
Have you ever received an email in which the person wrote, “Hey, did you get that yet?” To which you reply, “Did I get what?” Pronouns slow us down…
-
↗
Go one layer deeper
Every sentence you write has the chance to be special. The key is to explore the details around the situation and incorporate those details into your sentence. For example, you cou…
-
↗
Say Goodbye to “Get” and “Got”
Want to know the two most overused verbs in business? They are “get” and “got.” Often referred to as “crutch verbs,” “get” or “got” can take the place of so many actions. “Today, I…
-
↗
Avoid the word “thing”
“Hey, can you hand me that thing?” “Did you receive the thing I sent you?” “Do we have our things ready for the meeting?” The word “thing” can mean, well, anything. That’s why, as…
-
↗
Exclamation Marks: OK for Business Emails?
Let's talk about exclamation marks in professional emails. Is it OK to use an exclamation mark...or two...or three...or 25? Well, it all depends. Here's a good rule of thumb. Don't…
-
↗
Number 1 Rule with Acronyms
Here's a simple communication tip. Whenever you use an acronym in your writing, always spell it out on first reference. Why? If you start off with an abbreviation, for instance, th…
-
↗
Why Less is More
Here's a professional tip: no one will ever complain you gave them less to read. Every time you write an email or document, ask yourself: Is this word necessary to make my point? W…
-
↗
Classic Grammar Mistake on Facebook
Have you ever seen this grammar mistake on Facebook?A friend will write, "Happy holidays from the Miller's!"But the word "Millers" has an apostrophe before the "s." That is incorre…
-
↗
Why Handwritten Notes Matter
We live in a digital age and don’t often need to communicate via paper and pen. That means we cherish a handwritten note in which the person offers their thanks, condolences or con…
-
↗
Two Most Overused Words in LinkedIn Profiles
Take a look at your LinkedIn profile. If you’re in a leadership role, do you see the verbs “manage” and “lead” over and over? When possible, avoid duplicate words because they wate…