i wasn’t sure where to look for it. found it!
“How *Emotionally Intelligent* People Use the 'Mark Twain Rule' to Become Exceptionally Persuasive”
“Let me get to the point.”
https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/how- ... asive.html
1) i will not claim to be or accuse others of being “Emotionally Intelligent.”.. .. This is part of what emotional intelligence is really all about:
becoming aware of both your emotions and other people's emotions and then leveraging them in order to make it more likely to achieve your ultimate goals.
There's a place in leadership and in life for long-windedness.
Sometimes you have to write down everything you know, even just to discover what you truly think.
Heck, when it comes to emotional intelligence, I've written an entire free ebook on the subject,
9 Smart Habits of People With Very High Emotional Intelligence, which runs a little more than 10,000 words.
(Although in fairness and by design, that still makes it a very short book.)
Still, sometimes silence speaks volumes.
Taking time to weed out the many things you might want to say (because you're thinking emotionally) in order to make the ones that you truly need to say more memorable, makes the difference between confusion and clarity.
So, follow the Mark Twain Rule to become exceptionally persuasive.
Chart the emotionally intelligent route, and take the time to write the shorter letter.
Don't be surprised if you find the extra effort pays off, as you remove the impediment of misunderstanding from more of your most important conversations.
2) memes: i’d like to explain, occasionally, i’ve received complaints about over-use of memes (i’m guilty, and enjoy). unrepentant!
the central reason i resort to them is because they are BRIEF. when i use them, i have a sense of relief: “there. i said it without multiple paragraphs.” i think of it as a public service.
Mark Twain had a gift, a genius. i wish he were with us today.