June | 2013 | BAReed Writing, Business Writing

Writers Retain the Essence of Many Stages

It is a boon and can be a curse to recall the swirl of preceding life stages, but so necessary for our best writing.

“Don’t laugh at a youth for his affectations: he is only trying on one face after another to find his own.”

~Logan Pearsall Smith

Really, doesn’t this quotation represent most writers of any age?

We Can, We Will, We Do

It is never comfortable to be unsure, but even less comfortable to realize later that we missed an opportunity.

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

~Theodore Roosevelt

When we wait until we understand perfectly, are perfectly situated and have all the tools that we think that we need, we are sometimes in for an interminable & unnecessary wait.

The Relationship between Achievement and Success

Business Writing, Writing June 24, 2013 Comments: 2

Define the goal of success for yourself, getting there requires a series of achievements on your part.

“My mother drew a distinction between achievement and success. She said that achievement is the knowledge that you have studied and worked hard and done the best that is in you. Success is being praised by others, and that’s nice, too, but not as important or satisfying. Always aim for achievement and forget about success.”

~ Helen Hayes

You, Taking Charge

Business Writing, Writing June 21, 2013 Leave a comment

You know best what you want, and where you really want to be.

“People always wait too long for other people to change their situation.”

~Kenwyn Smith

Lead the charge.

Understanding the Arc

Business Writing, Writing June 19, 2013 Leave a comment

We crave simplicity, understanding and clarity; which is why we like stories.

“The criterion of simplicity requires that the minimum number of assumptions be postulated.”

~ Albert Low

Sometimes it takes time and distance to clearly understand how to present a situation in the best, most straightforward manner.

Hard, but Worthwhile

Business Writing, Writing June 17, 2013 Leave a comment

Gaining strength at something that is challenging gives much more pleasure and sense of accomplishment than doing something that comes easily.

“Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci

Getting past those early fears and objections make small successes in your written communications that much sweeter.

Being Open to Possibilities

Business Writing, Writing June 14, 2013 Leave a comment

Writing about our world isn’t the same as being able to script it.

“Things turn out the best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

~John Wooden

Regardless of how things unfold, we will have the opportunity to find a story.

Enjoy the Process

Business Writing, Writing June 12, 2013 Leave a comment

I admit that this one comes naturally to me, I am fascinated with the process of all things.

“Not every end is the goal. The end of a melody is not its goal, and yet if a melody has not reached its end, it has not reached its goal.”

~Friedrich Nietzsche

We can learn so many interesting nuances if we pay attention all along the way between the start and the goal.

Better Writing is Just a Start Away

Business Writing, Writing June 10, 2013 Leave a comment

Sometimes something that we want to do seems so hard to achieve, so we avoid making the effort at all. We set up artificial barriers that say ‘I’ll do this new thing once I have more time’.

“The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides.”

~Henri Frederic Amiel

When we were young we didn’t think that we had to win the Tour de France to learn how to ride a bike. The same holds true for improving our skills, or learning new ones now. We just have to start somewhere.