Friday 25 May 2012

This week has been a real week of celebration – with almost 100,000 people on the streets of Wilshire as the Olympic torch visited seven of the northern towns in the county. It was great to walk the route and see and speak with so many residents, businesses and of course our hundreds of staff who marshalled the event so well.



I would like to thank all the staff who volunteered to marshal. The preparation and training beforehand paid real dividends as everybody was safe and able to enjoy a fantastic two days. The streets, pavements and towns were exceptionally clean which made a big impact on everybody present and those who watched the live streaming around the world. It was a great show case for the county.


I would also like to thank those staff who kept the day job running during this week too. Many staff couldn’t get out to watch or take part in the celebrations as they had critical work to do. This is greatly appreciated.


Changing subjects a lot, I’ve been thinking this week about how and what we write to each other. We all write lots of emails, papers and discussion documents and of course some of these have the desired impact whilst others don’t – causing confusion, angst and many other unhelpful emotions. I came across some thinking from David Ogilvy, of Ogilvy and Mather recently that I thought I would share with you today. It got me thinking about how we could help our cultural shift and values by writing better... see what you think and let me know.


The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy and Mather. People who think well, write well.


Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches.


Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:


1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.


2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.


3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.


4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.


5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.


6. Check your quotations.


7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it. (think email here)


8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.


9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.


10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.


For daily updates, discussion, personal opinion, comment or just to connect or keep in touch you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/drcarltonbrand.




Thanks for reading - talk again in a week or so.




Carlton