Take a moment and draw a lower-case letter I on a piece of paper. Now draw a lower-case W next to it. Did you notice something? The W is several times wider than the I—probably four times wider.... Read More
Whether you write only occasionally or craft words and sentences as part of your regular job, you’ve probably encountered something most people refer to as “writer’s block.” It’s a barrier to writing that’s usually just frustrating, but that if it becomes chronic can threaten your career.... Read More
Mention spelling, and most of us feel our hearts skip a beat. It’s a throwback to our anxiety about those word lists we were quizzed about every Friday morning as children, and we still become embarrassed when someone points to an error in our writing.... Read More
If you want to see fear flicker in the eyes of the most confident businesspeople, suggest they back their confidence with some kind of simple public promise. Like a guarantee that doesn’t have to be accompanied by a page of small type.... Read More
The first of my many exposures to the brilliance of Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut was his 1952 short story “EPICAC,” in which the narrator prevails upon the world’s most powerful computer to draft a poetic marriage proposal for his lovely colleague.... Read More
Famous television doctor Mehmet Oz invested millions into an unsuccessful effort to capture one of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seats, and I’m pretty confident a single word had plenty to do with his defeat.... Read More
Business owners and managers know what’s coming three seconds into the call. The voice is uncomfortably friendly, like a complete stranger coming up in a public place and behaving as though you’ve been lifelong buds. And you know you’ll be poorer by the end of it.... Read More
You’ve finally landed five minutes on the calendar of the prospect who’s long been atop your list of targets. They’re looking across their desk, waiting for you to share whatever was so important they agreed to make time for it. A deep breath, and then you launch into your pitch.... Read More
It’s a simple fact: everybody has to write sometimes, whether that means a regular stream of content, a text to the boss, or anything in between. Frankly, most people dread the thought of creating even a simple email.... Read More
No, you didn’t read it wrong. Nor was the headline a rare typo by the nimble Inside INdiana Business crew. I have a new gas meter … and I’m kind of proud.... Read More
