Good Writing
Not too long ago, I ran across a post on the the number of words in various writings generally regarded as among humankind's best. The Pythagorean Theorem--24 words; The Lord's Prayer--66 words; The Ten Commandments--179; The Gettysburg Address--186; The United States Constitution--1300 words. I am told that the U.S. Government's regulations on the sale of cabbage total 26,911 words. With that in mind, I was struck when I read this: "A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” The statement, attributable to Antoine de Saint-Exupery, applies equally to writing, itself just a type of design.
Why is this important to client service? Good writing communicates much in short order. What do our clients lack? TIme. Don't waste it. Each word you write or utter should prove you value their time more than your own.