Comments on: Rules of Business Relationships, Part 8 – Simplicity http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/ Internet Marketing, Branding and Web Development for B2B Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:45:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-737 Andrew Sun, 23 Dec 2007 22:50:43 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-737 Here's to that! It's Christmas time - time to chill out, relax and take it easy. Here’s to that! It’s Christmas time – time to chill out, relax and take it easy.

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-736 Brad Shorr Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:53:47 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-736 Andrew, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I like your point about people needing more simplicity in their lives. This time of year especially, we get pulled in a thousand directions. Better to slow down and enjoy. Andrew, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I like your point about people needing more simplicity in their lives. This time of year especially, we get pulled in a thousand directions. Better to slow down and enjoy.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-735 Andrew Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:02:50 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-735 Hi Brad, I think you are right on the money. Simplicity is a virtue in any area of life, including business relationships and writing. I can't quite remember whether who it was that said it, but I love the famous old saying: "An educated man takes something simple and makes it complicated. A genius takes something complicated and makes it simple." Whilst I don't know that the saying is true of all educated people, I am full of praise for simplicity. When dealing with current or prospective business partners, you must look at things from their point of view. They probably have a million other things to going on which they need to take care of. The last thing they want in their business or personal lives is more complexity. Accordingly, unless you talk to them in simple and easy terms, they are unlikely to want a lasting business relationship with you. You are offering something they don't want - more complexity in their lives. But, if you can keep things straightforward, they are much more likely to want to deal with you and your company. You are offering them something they want - simplicity. Simplicity rules - it's that simple! Cheers Andrew Hi Brad,

I think you are right on the money.

Simplicity is a virtue in any area of life, including business relationships and writing.

I can’t quite remember whether who it was that said it, but I love the famous old saying:

“An educated man takes something simple and makes it complicated. A genius takes something complicated and makes it simple.”

Whilst I don’t know that the saying is true of all educated people, I am full of praise for simplicity.

When dealing with current or prospective business partners, you must look at things from their point of view. They probably have a million other things to going on which they need to take care of. The last thing they want in their business or personal lives is more complexity.

Accordingly, unless you talk to them in simple and easy terms, they are unlikely to want a lasting business relationship with you. You are offering something they don’t want – more complexity in their lives.

But, if you can keep things straightforward, they are much more likely to want to deal with you and your company. You are offering them something they want – simplicity.

Simplicity rules – it’s that simple!

Cheers

Andrew

]]> By: Rules of Business Relationships - Series Recap | Word Sell, Inc. http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-734 Rules of Business Relationships - Series Recap | Word Sell, Inc. Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:42:20 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-734 [...] right is always wrong. Business relationships flourish when partners find complementary objectives. Rule 8 - Simplicity. Simple ideas generate energy and results. Complex ideas generate confusion between [...] [...] right is always wrong. Business relationships flourish when partners find complementary objectives. Rule 8 – Simplicity. Simple ideas generate energy and results. Complex ideas generate confusion between [...]

]]> By: Jeanne Dininni http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-733 Jeanne Dininni Mon, 17 Dec 2007 23:14:11 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-733 Thanks, Brad! I guess the various writing styles are akin to using the right tool for the right job. Jeanne Thanks, Brad!

I guess the various writing styles are akin to using the right tool for the right job.

Jeanne

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-732 Brad Shorr Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:27:57 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-732 That's nice of you to say, Jeanne. You make a good point and state it very eloquently! When complex writing reflects deep insight, then it is beautiful. If it reflects fuzzy thinking or poor writing technique, it is not so beautiful. Having read your blog for over a year, I can tell you your writing falls into the former category, not the latter. :) That’s nice of you to say, Jeanne. You make a good point and state it very eloquently! When complex writing reflects deep insight, then it is beautiful. If it reflects fuzzy thinking or poor writing technique, it is not so beautiful. Having read your blog for over a year, I can tell you your writing falls into the former category, not the latter. :)

]]> By: Jeanne Dininni http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-731 Jeanne Dininni Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:02:42 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-731 Funny you should ask that, Brad, because simple doesn't seem to be something I'm generally able to achieve where writing is concerned. My words and sentences tend to be rather long and complex at times. I'm not entirely sure this is always a bad thing, though--at least when kept within reasonable limits. It really depends on the type of writing. In business writing, for example, simple, concise, and straightforward generally seem to be best. Yet there are other types of writing, where simple equals simplistic. It is in this sort of writing that the beauty and eloquence of well-crafted prose are lost when the writing is too simple. Some writing demands more noble prose, rising, as it does, from the deeper contemplation of loftier, more complex concepts. This isn't to say, of course, that business writing cannot be eloquent in its own business-like way--as you yourself have proven. Jeanne Funny you should ask that, Brad, because simple doesn’t seem to be something I’m generally able to achieve where writing is concerned. My words and sentences tend to be rather long and complex at times. I’m not entirely sure this is always a bad thing, though–at least when kept within reasonable limits. It really depends on the type of writing.

In business writing, for example, simple, concise, and straightforward generally seem to be best. Yet there are other types of writing, where simple equals simplistic. It is in this sort of writing that the beauty and eloquence of well-crafted prose are lost when the writing is too simple. Some writing demands more noble prose, rising, as it does, from the deeper contemplation of loftier, more complex concepts. This isn’t to say, of course, that business writing cannot be eloquent in its own business-like way–as you yourself have proven.

Jeanne

]]> By: Brad Shorr http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-730 Brad Shorr Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:33:14 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-730 Jeanne, simple is the way to go, in business and in writing, don't you think? Jeanne, simple is the way to go, in business and in writing, don’t you think?

]]> By: Jeanne Dininni http://www.straightnorth.com/blog/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/comment-page-1/#comment-729 Jeanne Dininni Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:38:15 +0000 http://www.wordsellinc.com/blog/sales/rules-of-business-relationships-part-8-simplicity/#comment-729 Well, Brad, now we know where your business savvy came from! Your Dad obviously had a knack for recognizing what constituted a realistic business goal and using his own educated optimism to inspire others to believe it could be reached. Keeping goals simple is certainly a great way to make them more achievable. It's so much easier to keep your eye on the prize when it's straightforward, uncomplicated, and tangible. You can then focus on developing strategies to achieve it rather than using all your analytical powers to simply decipher it! Jeanne Well, Brad, now we know where your business savvy came from! Your Dad obviously had a knack for recognizing what constituted a realistic business goal and using his own educated optimism to inspire others to believe it could be reached.

Keeping goals simple is certainly a great way to make them more achievable. It’s so much easier to keep your eye on the prize when it’s straightforward, uncomplicated, and tangible. You can then focus on developing strategies to achieve it rather than using all your analytical powers to simply decipher it!

Jeanne

]]>