Category Archives: Writing

A FAQ About Frequently Asked Questions

November 18, 2018
How To, Writing
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A list of questions with answers written in English are a great way to drive clear thinking on all the stuff that surround the central idea presented in a narrative. This ‘stuff’ includes things like strategy, execution, technology, business, and resources.Continue reading →

Tools to Achieve Clarity of Thought

July 8, 2018
Clarity of Thought, High Standards, Leadership, leadership-principles, Writing
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This post inventories the tools I use from my toolbox when I need to drive clear thinking in product development. I was inspired to write this based on a Twitter conversation in March: The more details you know, the better …Continue reading →

Let Word Work For You

June 4, 2018
Writing
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One of my biggest pet peeves is when I have to edit a document someone else has written and they’ve manually messed with the formatting. Microsoft Word has an incredibly flexible style system that makes creating docs that look great …Continue reading →

Clear Narratives Show Instead of Tell

April 29, 2018
Clarity of Thought, Writing
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This is yet-another-post on the topic of Amazon-style “six-page memos”, aka Narratives. This post focuses on the mantra: “Great narratives show, they don’t tell.” When writing things you believe to be facts, ask yourself: How do I know? How can …Continue reading →

Be a Great Reader

April 24, 2018
High Standards, How To, Writing
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When an organization has a culture where the written word is valued, being a great reader is just as important as being a great writer. In my time at Amazon, I’ve learned (more like it was beaten into me) to …Continue reading →

Details Matter in Presenting Narratives

April 18, 2018
High Standards, How To, Leadership, leadership-principles, Writing
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Narratives are written documents used to present clear thinking. Narratives enable readers to quickly understand the author’s ideas in order to drive robust conversations and decisive decision making. Details matter when it comes to printing narratives for others to read. …Continue reading →