If a tree falls did anyone hear it…..
…..If it is not in writing, does anyone take it seriously?
If a tree falls did anyone hear it…..If it is not in writing, does anyone take it seriously? Documentation is critical. I would argue if there are no minutes or a follow-up email to a meeting, it didn’t happen. Or at least, it didn’t happen the way you thought you agreed to something to get done. Put shit in writing. Why create any uncertainty with a decision based on memory or interpretation of words. She said, he said. There are so many phrases and axioms out there recognizing the importance of putting things in writing. It can clarify your thoughts, it articulates even better the fundamentals of the goals or ideas discussed. You will follow through more if it written. Put it in writing. Get in this habit ya’ll!!!!
I’m so frustrated by people from my staff to business partners who go “I didn’t know that is what you were saying, sorry, there was a miscommunication, a misunderstanding”. Fuck that, confirm what you talked about with a quick note saying, “Hey, just to summarize what we agreed upon, bla bla, bla…..” How hard is that and presto, you have clarity in black and white. Does it really take too long for that to come off my finger tips? I think it took 15 seconds to write that, rather than spend 15 hours arguing or 15 thousand in court. What is so hard, put it in writing.
Michael, thanks for putting that in writing!
One of my favorite entrepreneurs, Mr. Lee Iacocca, who accepted the position of CEO of the failing Chrysler Corporation, wrote in his book, “the written word is 10 times more effective than the spoken word”. I live by that simple postulate.