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Do you Make These Five Common Mistakes in Business Writing?

With today’s business moving at the speed of broadband, everyone expects better results in record time. Every day, we deal with hundreds of business communications in the form of e-mails, letters, phone calls, chats, and meetings—and that’s before we tackle the “to do” list.

It’s no wonder that many business messages often reads as if they were written between floors on an elevator, coming across as sloppy and careless. This article outlines five common mistakes in business writing, with tips on how to avoid them.

1. Burying the point. Time is short—get to the meat of the message as soon as possible. Think like a journalist: put the crucial information at the top, where people are sure to read it. If you leave the golden nugget for the final sentence, your reader might never get there. Make sure your message is labeled clearly in the title or subject line, so your reader can decide quickly how to organize it.

2. Inviting a yawn. Advertising expert Hal Stebbins notes, “If you’re bored with what you write, don’t blame the reader for yawning.” The best way to generate interest in your writing is to be interested yourself—in your subject, your reader, your company, and your Communication. Seek out and emphasize the most significant reasons to cause the reader to act or react as you want. When in doubt as to what to emphasize, remember that the person you’re writing to is still a human being—someone who is subject to the same things that motivate all people. If you wouldn’t want to read it, chances are, neither will your reader.

3. Saying in twenty words what you could say in five. Charles Dickens may have been a great novelist, but he was being paid by the word. In business writing, the longer the phrase, the better your chances of losing the reader halfway through. Keep it short and straightforward, and you’ll keep your reader’s attention. A quick way of figuring out where your writing needs editing is to ask yourself: “Would I say this the same way if I were talking with this person face to face?” Why businesspeople write “We will ascertain the facts and advice accordingly” when in conversation they would say, “We’ll find out and let you know” is a mystery. If you wouldn’t say it, don’t write it.

4. Using unfamiliar words. Your goal in writing should not be to impress the reader with your writing ability but to express ideas so that the reader can understand them. Some business writers thrive on using long words and unfamiliar technical, trade, or legal phraseology. These vocabulary exhibitionists use difficult words to give their writing an air of authority—but they end up sending the reader to the dictionary more often than not. Write to express, not impress, and you’ll save yourself and your reader a lot of trouble.

5. Relying on outdated language. Using obsolete expressions and clichés is the lazy way to write. Like anything else that comes too easily, the result is nothing to brag about. Filling your writing with phrases that belong in your grandfather’s legal documents will only alienate your reader, and using canned phrases will have your readers snoring. It’s much better to keep your writing up-to-date and fresh.

Hasty business writing is a one-way ticket to the “delete” button. It doesn’t take long to put a little care in your writing—a minute to spell check and another to check for common mistakes like the ones described–but the result will be a message that lasts much longer in your reader’s mind and is more effective in getting the results you want.

Common Kids, What Are Waiting For? See How You Too Can Become The Latest Kid Entrepreneur Who Makes Money Online

I have been making money online for quite sometime now and during this time, I have been fortunate enough to come across, or read about, some amazing kids – as little as 9 years old – making quite a bit of money either online or selling stuff they find around. Some of these kids are natural born entrepreneurs, and, some just cherish the idea of making small amounts of money, while others either are being pushed by their parents or just want to be like mummy or daddy.

All this time, I have never felt the need to write about kid entrepreneurs making money until today. I feel you have the right to know that you too can start right away and don’t have to wait till you turn teenager or an adult. It may be useful to know that my inspiration for this article came from watching my youngest brother who is only 13 years old – 11 years my junior – and the last of 8 kids (yes you heard right there are 8 of us in the family – just in case you are wondering).

So you get the whole picture here’s a few things about the little man (as we call him). This guy is so smart at everything he lays his hands on and never comes anything short of the best. He does everything at the right time and with a lot of energy and enthursiasm. He sleeps late (doing school work) and wakes up early (and usually is the first to arrive at school – (using public transport by himself). He plays soccer after school and is well known in the neighborhood for his excellent dribbling skills. The whole earth usually break lose anytime he comes short of first and he will remain in consolable for some time. He has is own money making strategies that seems to work for him 99% of the time. Since we are talking about kids making money here, we will focus more on his money skills and how it relates to others like him (you) and those who are already making it big.

His business model is simple. He buys little things (like mobile phone recharge cards at wholesale prices) and sells them to his friends and of course we the family. Sometimes his prices are high but because he is so cute doing it, most of us can’t help but buy from him – plus doing that will only push him to do more. Apart from that, why walk or drive to the stores for cards when you can just get one right there and then?

On top of that, he also goes around his classmates, friends, and the neighborhood buying cheap used stuff (like wrist watches, phones, and other little things) or getting others to path with items that is of no use to them. If they don’t work, he either fix them himself or get his technician friend (a much older guy) to do it for him for a very small fee or free. Once his items are working, he is into the money making side of his business. Believe it or not, he works extra hard to find buyers for this used stuff no matter what. Like I mentioned earlier, many a times, his pricing are ridiculously high but that is when his cuteness plays him a favorable role. Somehow, he can be so convincing that you only wonder what has hit you after you’ve paid him for the product.

Being actually from one of the relatively poor parts of Africa, my little brother has never (not for once) used the internet but somehow, he has managed to build a steady flow of income for himself. Also, our dad passed away about 2 years ago which might be the reason why he decided to make the money himself instead of asking mom. To me, I think he is well beyond his time but that is a good thing. Another thing he does is to lend us his siblings his money and charge interest on it – not per week, or yearly interest or something that complicated but say for .50 or there about – whenever payback is due. Do not forget though, that I said this guy is smart, one of the youngest in his class and also one of the best.

If you are a kid here in the western world with 24/7 power supply and internet readily available to you then, you have a much bigger chance of making plenty of money for yourself. The internet means you can reach a wider audience and sell more variety or products. Here are some of the ideas I think might work well for you as a kid:

You could be making plenty of money selling shirts (kids’ shirts maybe?), used shoes, your childhood story books, old toys, cookies you helped you mom make, and a host of others. Advertise them on eBay or have your big brother build you a simple website. It might help to get mom, dad, or siblings to help keep track of your financial dealings and other high techie issues.

To paint a better picture, here are some kids who started quite early and are still making it big. At 9 years old, Cameron Johnson started a card printing company after he charged his mom to print 50 party invitations.  Allyson Ames discovered her love for baking and serving her family sweet treats at the age of five and went on to start Wonderland Bakery in Newport Beach, Calif.

The thing is, if my brother can and all these others we hear about can, what is stopping you now? If you have a PC at home and can read and access the internet, why not start now? If you start now (or moms get their kids to start now) you could be making a whole lot of money in as little time as you can imagine.

“Respect is important in sports and in business. You can not be successful without respect for the customer or the competitors. Respecting the rules means respect the referee”. Perluigi Collina, Retired International soccer referee, a respected figure among soccer referees in the world.

Collina says, both sports and business are similar when it comes the decision making, a wrong decision can be fatal for both business and soccer. If your decision is getting wrong-footed, you may be ended up in hot water, however if you take the decision under good judgment and the decision should be for the benefit of the business and for the sports, however the wrong decisions may lead to on field battle by the players and spectators and in business doubts created about the credibility of the manager. He says, there are things that could be very similar between his activity and the business world, as for a manger, he has to take decisions very quickly under pressure. Important decisions will have big consequences, if it goes wrong. Another key is that decisions are all about building relationships with players on the pitch and employees in the organizations. Sometimes, the decision the referee takes is accepted not only because it is correct but because the relationships are positive.

The final goal for the referee and for a manger that they are to be accepted even when they are wrong.  It means that the players trust the referee, as if someone trusts the business manger even if he is wrong. The referee is accepted not because of the role but because of what he does on the field.  This is similar the case of a manager. The manager can not be accepted because he is a CEO, but the manager is accepted because he has shown everybody that his way to run a company is correct.

Business leaders need to have an insight into coping under pressure could do worse that to follow the referees, who do not betray some nerves prior to the game probably should not be there. Like referees the manager needs to be little nervous just before taking a big decision. If a manager feels powerful more strong, but there is a limit. If he takes it too far, nerves reduce his performance. Everything which happens on a pitch that also happens round the table. Both the manager and referee face challenges and have to have criticisms, when something happens, the like the manager, referee has also to change the things what can be changed and look to the future and this what the referees and manager do. 

The vital and important key of a soccer referee is the instant and immediate decision making ability, that too in split seconds, there is some relief to the cricket umpires that in cricket matches, the umpire can refer to third umpire for decisions and let them decide, however in soccer no such assistance can be taken from the replays or third umpire, he has to take the decision instantly and immediately and we can see from the replays that 99% of the decisions were correct, in fact referees are not playing spoiling sport, he actually manage a business of 2.00 hours, he can not be partial, even if the spectators think so. They have nothing to do if a team win or loss, they are just managers of a soccer match and once the match is over, they go another assignment. In most of the decisions, though players and their coaches could still be argued the decision is wrong. It becomes more crucial for referee that when taking decisions in a match, which is being watched by millions of spectators around the globe.

If the referee wants to do his best i.e. to referee in big matches, from Arsenal vs Man United to world cup matches, even though it’s still just a game of football and nothing else. Making good decisions is essential even either in EPL matches or in the small matches. There’s been an explosion of exposure lately – every single incident gets noticed and analyzed. Like soccer, the managers are also watched by the directors and stake holders, then the decision should be correct to the great extent. If the referee, they had a couple of cameras at a game 10 years; nowadays for a live match there are numerous cameras, capturing every decision the referee is going to take. If a referee makes a mistake, millions of people are there to blame him, he should be affected only by his desire to do a good job, not adverse publicity. This is similar to the business managers, as these days the media closely watches all the decisions they take.

Both in the business and in sports, the respect is very important; giving and taking the respect, nobody can be successful without giving respect and getting respected for the customers, or the competitors and once you get the respect and trust of players and employees, you are successful and your decisions are respected by everybody. People may not instantly put a name to the face, but once they realize that this is the man who is credited with being the most outstanding referee/businessman, the penny drops. There is some dissimilarity too, in football it is mandatory to retire referee at the age of 45, irrespective of they mental and physical strength, but in business there is no such restrictions, he can perform till his health allows him to do. The qualities required for a good referee and good businessman are the same; they have to have;

To stick eyes on the “ball”

Both should focus on what is going on in the pitch in case soccer and organization or market and without watching following the ball (focus) no manager can take any decision for the benefit of the organization and this is also applicable for referees, once their eyes distract from the ball, wrongful decisions can be made, it may be fatal. It may attract the ire of the spectators and can lead to loss the job. Both should stick on the focus for taking a decision for the interest of the business and the game being played amidst pressure for both sides.

Coping under pressure: Soccer officials are routinely subjected to a wide range of potential stressors, like the businessmen, as both reveal a considerable mental and physical toll. Soccer referees identify spectators, players, coaches, trainers and other personnel as sources of aggression. Unlike the businessman, at the extreme, referees and their assistants have been pushed, punched, kicked, and even shot to death by players, managers, coaches and fans. Referees and their regulating bodies are well aware of these sources of threat, and some attempts have been made to provide psychological training to help them cope.

In addition, match-specific demands are extreme. The referee must have a thorough knowledge of the current laws of soccer and implement them while keeping constant vigilance over complex activities and interactions, whereas a manager should know the market trends, customer trend . Considerable amounts of time must also be spent on pre-match preparation, travel, and post-match reports.

A few studies have examined referee responses to stress, but little was found about the mechanisms which motivate officials to continue their involvement despite the variety of potential physical, social and cognitive factors which are regularly encountered. The present study was designed to allow referees to convey their perceptions, particularly with regard to their methods for coping with demands and abuse and their reasons for remaining referees.

To deal the negativity : Social psychologists have identified a number of cognitive strategies that help people explain and deal with negative experiences. Blaming others for failure while taking personal credit for success, distorting or ignoring unpleasant information, and interpreting one’s motives as principled and righteous, are among the variety of available methods of maintaining confidence in difficult circumstances. Misrepresenting reality with ‘positive illusions’ (Taylor & Brown, 1988, 1994) can ultimately be healthy and adaptive. Indeed, they serve a vital function of removing perceptions of self-blame, protecting from external censure, and providing palatable explanations for disturbing events. In the longer term, they may lead to more positive expectations about the future, greater persistence and self-efficacy. Taylor and Brown (1988) suggest that people who fail to use these strategies are more likely to be anxious or depressed.

To expect the unexpected: Sports performers and coaches often make use of self-serving attributions to explain their own disappointing results. External factors such as bad luck or other people’s incompetence are used to deal with unpleasant experiences, defeats, and rejection, while internal factors such as skill and effort are seen as responsible for victories and other successes. Some analysis showed that players and coaches were more likely to attribute their successes to internal factors, such as skill and determination and their losses to external factors, such as cheating opponents and poor weather. These factors are closely associated with the business managers in various situations.

To decide on personal strengths : Another potentially useful mechanism is ‘illusory superiority’ or self- elevation, where people adopt the view that they have more positive qualities than others and describe their personal strengths as above average compared with those of other people their age. Individuals made more flattering judgments about themselves than others made of them. Individuals also believe their personal relationships are of a higher quality than the relationships of others and remember experiences as more successful than they really were. These factors are also existing in the managers

The managers and the umpires are the connecting link between players and spectators, likewise a manager, who is a connecting link between the employees and the board of directors, stakeholders, the job of a referee and a manager are same in most of the scenarios, though there are indeed some deviations. The keys for success for both are almost all the same – and the most important is the INSTANT DECISION MAKING POWER. Therefore, one wishes to analyze the similarities and qualities of a manager and referee, similar factors impact their performance off and on the pitch/office are vitally required for success, to get respected and to get the reputation of a good referee or a good manager.