Feb 15 2008
Make Your Words Hit Like Bullets
You’re late for an important meeting. You pull into the parking lot and look frantically for an empty stall. All but one are filled. You zoom over and pull in. But there’s a sign there. It says …
No Parking
Violators will be towed away
at the owner’s expense.
You weigh the risks. Chances are, you reason, you’ll be in and out of the meeting before anyone notices your lawless ways. Besides, no one goes to the trouble of actually calling tow trucks to haul off violating cars … right? It’s a bluff, you tell yourself. And your meeting is very important.
What would you do?
Okay, let’s go through the same scenario. But this time, when you pull into the stall, a different sign greets you. It reads …
Don’t Even Think About Parking Here!
If you park in my stall for even five minutes
I swear I’ll get the roughest towing outfit
to haul your car to the most remote impound lot they can find.
It’ll cost you a mint to get it back.
Think I’m joking?
Go ahead – make my day.
Now what would you do?
Get the point? When you need to communicate a message, don’t namby-pamby around. Write it like you mean it. Make your words hit like bullets!
PS. Steve Osborne’s real-world writing e-books are now available for immediate download. Only $7. Click here.
does this apply to personal letters?
Good question, Susie. The principle applies universally, but it must be tempered by purpose and audience. Typically, you would not want your written communications to sound so forceful. However, you you can still use words that drill straight to the meaning.
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