One Saturday afternoon after completing a number of chores and miscellaneous projects around the house, I settled on the couch with a book. I was satisfied that I had met my work quota for the day. My wife walked by, glanced out the window, and mentioned that the grass needed to be cut. I looked out the window, agreed with her, and went back to the book.

She was assuming that cutting the grass meant now. I assumed it meant sometime soon, but soon could mean later in the day or even tomorrow. Neither one of us shared this thought with the other. And the issued resurfaced later in a much livelier discussion. A lively discussion that might have been avoided had we both communicated our thoughts more clearly at the beginning. I say “might” because when it comes to what needs to be done vs what you want to do, there will always be conflicts related to procrastination and post-poned gratification.

Ever have something like that happen to you? Sure you have.

On another occasion I led a team discussion on a project that required arranging special guests. A team member volunteered to “work with the guests.” I agreed assuming this meant he would collaborate with me on deciding on particular themes and guests. He assumed he was in charge of making all the decisions. It resulted in a disagreement that would have been avoided had we understood one another up front.

I’m sure you’ve been there with similar miscommunication issues related to assumptions. Those thoughts that we keep to ourselves, yet expect the other person to automatically know. And of course, unless you are the Mentalist, you don’t. So here are 3 simple steps to avoid the problems assumptions cause.

Ask Questions:
It would have been a simple matter to ask my wife what she was thinking as it related to the grass. Of course, the reality is, I already know that whenever she makes a suggestion like that, she means “now.” So it was probably a bad example to use in the first place, except if you’re married, I’m sure you relate. The second example, however, occurs all the time in business settings. It demonstrates how two people can share a similar goal, yet approach it very differently. Now there’s nothing wrong with a different approach as long as both parties understand and agree to it. Had I simply asked, “what do you mean by working with the guests?” I could have avoided the misunderstanding caused by an assumption. Doesn’t mean we might not still have problems related to our different perspectives. But we could at least deal with them in an honest, straight-forward manner.

Clarify:
Even when you think you understand it’s a good practice to verbally summarize your understanding of what the other person said. It gets your thoughts out there and allows them to do the same. Your different assumptions can be identified, discussed, and ironed out into a mutual understanding. It may not be an understanding you both like or even agree with. But at least there are no unpleasant surprises.

Get a Sign-off:
When your discussion reaches a final understanding, summarize it and ask for an acknowledgement. “So, as I understand it, we’re saying…is that right?” Getting the other person to acknowledge the agreement increases their commitment to it, which reduces the chance of a misunderstanding. I say reduces, because there is no such thing as completely eliminating. They may still say later: “I thought you meant this when you said that.”

Okay, so maybe the problems caused by assumptions never really stop, but we can and should try to minimize them as much as possible. Consistently using these 3 steps will help you do so.

It’s in the Declaration of Independence. Along with life and liberty, I have an unalienable right to the pursuit of happiness. Hmm. Seems like most of my time is spent in the pursuit. Actually achieving it…and enjoying that illusive American Dream…is an ongoing quest. I suspect this may be true for many people. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve experienced many happy moments. And I’m confident more are ahead. But I’ll never be happy all the time. 

Why?

Because happiness is an emotion. And emotions are an up and down roller coaster ride throughout life. Therefore, I won’t experience constant happiness. Regardless of what any song says.

So how should I approach it?

Well, as a husband and father, the happiness of my family is important. I want them to be safe, comfortable, happy, and within reason, to possess what they desire. I work hard to solve their problems and provide an environment for happiness to flourish.

But as a man of faith, I know there is more to consider. Because happiness is circumstantial and therefore, fleeting. A new car, a job advancement, good grades on a report card, making the elite squad, a starring role in the show…all the things that I normally associate with happiness are temporary. Circumstances ebb and flow like the changing tide. And despite my best efforts, many things are simply beyond my control. So along with the good, my family and I can also expect to experience difficult, sorrowful, and painful circumstances that cause unhappiness.

Perhaps that’s why a word search of the Bible (NIV) reveals that happy and happiness are mentioned 30 times and joy, joyful, and joyous are mentioned 234 times. Because joy is based on a relationship that transcends difficult circumstances. Doesn’t mean they are not still challenging and painful. It just means that God’s sustaining presence helps me through them. 

Joy is the result of an eternal hope…an eternal destiny and is therefore, impervious to the temporal. Yes, I will continue to strive for happiness. It’s part of my human nature. But ultimately, I choose joy. To do so engages the supernatural and follows a path to complete, everlasting satisfaction.

I recently engaged in a recruitment drive for softball players. We were a couple players short for an upcoming game so I picked up the phone and called 9 guys I knew were potential subs. I reached two who told me they already had obligations. I left voice mail messages for the others. And even though I specifically asked them to let me know one way or the other, not one returned or ever acknowledged my call.

Is this the new social standard or am I disliked more than I thought?

I understand the inconvenience of returning a phone call. The five seconds to dial, fifteen seconds of social pleasantries, and final ten seconds of saying “thanks for the invitation but I already have plans” can seem like an eternity. Of course you’re under no obligation to elaborate on those plans so it really is possible to keep the entire conversation under 60 seconds.

Or perhaps the universally shared fear of rejection has convinced us that by not returning the call and sharing bad news, we’re somehow saving the other person from this psychologically devastating blow to their self-esteem. In which case, you really need to cut down on how much time you’re watching Dr. Phil. Because personally, I think completely ignoring a phone call is inconsiderate and treats the other person inconsequently. I’d much rather be rejected than ignored.

So here’s another way to view it. By returning my phone call you affirm that I am a person of value that you respect enough to give your time. You also confirm to me that you are thoughtful and follow through with integrity.

And if you’re really concerned about my self-esteem, make it clear you’re rejecting the activity and not me personally. Affirm me, by thanking me for the invitation and maybe even throw in the fact you would really enjoy the opportunity to play another time, but you have to pass on this occasion(okay, if you really think I’m jerk, a lousy softball player, and don’t want to play ball with me, this part is optional).

By taking this approach, you affirm me AND reinforce my positive opinion of you all in less than a minute. A win-win situation. Now that wasn’t so hard was it?

To write sleek copy that makes an impact in your advertising/marketing material, start by writing in an active, rather than a passive voice. It will make your copywriting clear, direct, and easier to read. This is, after all, the goal in marketing communications. 

 So what do I mean by active voice?

 In active voice, the subject of your sentence does the acting.

 I drove a new car.
You start the campfire.
The crowd, united by a love of music, eagerly listened to the rock band. 

In passive voice, the subject is acted upon. 

The new car was driven by me.
The campfire will be started by you.
The rock band will be eagerly listened to by a crowd that is united by a love of music. 

Notice the difference? Passive voice is dull, lifeless, and wordy. And the more words used in your copy, the greater the chance of confusing the audience. But don’t worry about that. A few seconds of reading the passive drivel above and they’re gone in a flash anyway. 

Some people think passive writing makes content sound more formal. So they write… 

The theme that was most commonly dealt with by this author is the topic being evaluated in this paper. 

And you think your academic, professional, or technical audience is actually impressed by this? Especially when you could have just written… 

This paper will evaluate the most common theme by this author. 

Personally, I’m much more impressed by someone who takes a straight forward approach that is easy to understand. The goal, after all, should be to communicate a message to an audience, not impress an audience with your literary superiority. So when checking your content, look for these common words that passively sap the life from your writing: was, have, has, is, being, be, and by. Eliminate them and transform your writing into an active voice that strengthens the power of your marketing message.

This short post is simply for the purpose of including the code CYGYUTRR9F6N that was assigned to me by Technorati as part of its blog claiming process. Hopefully, once I’m recognized by Technorati, I can officially join the millions of other blogs in the blogosphere competing for attention. Another small ant climbing Mt. Everest in an effort to reach the pinnacle of search engine optimization.

I recently rented a piece of equipment at a small U-rent store strategically located in the front of a large Home Improvement store. While finalizing the transaction, I realized the equipment would fit in the trunk of my car, but I wouldn’t be able to completely close the trunk lid and I didn’t have any string to tie it down. I mentioned this to the salesman who assured me he could find some string. 

After we lifted the equipment in the trunk, I reminded the salesman about the string. He quickly replied that he didn’t have any string, but that I could probably get some from the Home Improvement store. And without another word, he hurried back to his store. 

He didn’t hesitate in his response…he didn’t sympathize with my problem…he didn’t offer to help. It was obvious he had lied to close the sale. And he succeeded. I thought briefly about following him inside and confronting him, but decided it wasn’t worth it. I drove home with an open trunk lid bumping up and down. 

The salesman made $40 on the rental, but it cost him something much more valuable—my loyalty. That’s what takes me back to his store the next time. You know, when I need a $100 piece of equipment. It’s also what prompts me to recommend the store to my friends and acquaintances. And that could mean hundreds, even thousands of dollars more in business. But none of those things will happen. 

That salesman probably congratulated himself on his successful deal. He probably thought I didn’t notice his convenient little lie, and that it made no difference at all. But I did notice. And it will make a difference. Too bad he’ll never know just how much. And therein lies the problem that a lie to close a sale has for a business.

In a difficult economy, we’re all trying to stretch budgets. So I understand why people hesitate to hire a professional, freelance copywriter for their advertising and marketing campaigns. Although most freelance copywriters write quickly, those creative exercises that land a perfect caption can still take between 2-4 hours. And you’re thinking…what? I have to pay a copywriter $130 to $260 to stare in space until they come up with a caption? You’re kidding me, right? Uh…actually, no and for the record, I don’t stare into space while waiting for the muse to kick in either. I employ a strategic, creative brainstorming method that is time consuming and while usually effective, never a guarantee. 

What you should consider is the VALUE that an experienced freelance copywriter offers. Sure, it may take 2-4 hours to create a caption. But that caption might be the difference between capturing the attention of your audience and not. So instead of thinking about how much it will cost you, think about how much it will benefit you. Ask yourself: How many sales will make this investment worth while? Or what percentage increase of business? My guess is, probably much less than you think. So look beyond what you’re spending and focus on what you could be making. Because an attention grabbing caption will significantly improve the effectiveness of your ad. And an effective ad will promote sales that reap higher profits. When you see it this way, you’ll realize it’s a small investment that can make a big difference.

People need healthcare. I get that. We’re all concerned about health and wellness and it’s easy to expect the government to help out. Although a solution that adds competing government insurance options to the mix still seems uncertain to me. Like your health insurance carrier up for grabs. That’s how I feel about my health most of the time. So hitching my health insurance plan to a similar feeling doesn’t inspire much confidence.

I voted against allowing casinos into the state in our last election. Why? I don’t see the value of a place where you hand over cash to hold a hand of cards. And playing for double or nothing generally means you’re about to lose your shirt and your pants. Strips away all the excitement. However, a majority of voters in Ohio felt differently and casinos are now in. So I’ve decided to make the best of it and look on the positive side. 

First there’s all the additional tax revenue casinos will generate for the state. Considering our state budget problems, I should be thankful for how this extra revenue will benefit Ohio residents. I certainly remember the incredible success of the Ohio Lottery and how much Ohio schools have benefited from the extra revenue it’s generated. Okay, so we’ve had to pass several school levies in Centerville over the last few years and still endured program cuts and increased fees for 2009-2010. No problem. Government sponsored bingo parlors could be the next fix.   

Secondly, casinos will create new jobs. No doubt about it. Economic times are tough and the job market is thin. And who couldn’t be thrilled with a job dealing blackjack at 3:00am or wearing a skimpy uniform while serving drinks to bleary-eyed patrons clunking their last bit of change into slot machines?  The tips plus the appreciative stares you’re sure to garner will do wonders for building self-esteem. 

And don’t forget about the new opportunities for entrepreneurs not directly affiliated with the casino establishments, yet are closely related to their success. Like the chemical euphoria representatives, the short-term relationship service professionals, the quick loan agents, and all their friendly brokers? These and others will provide even more state revenue through income taxes…right? 

Therefore, I’ve decided to consider casinos as more than just a cheap thrill for the out of town businessmen and bus loads of senior adults trading up from shuffle board in order to shuffle in to the gaming pit. It’s all just harmless entertainment.  Since I couldn’t beat’em, I plan to join’em. And when I visit one of the new casinos in Ohio, I’ll carry a big wad of cash in my back pocket…so I’m ready to bet my bottom dollar.

I find the new Smart car intriguing. By that I mean it is an impressive engineering feat, a welcomed relief in fuel economy, and even cute…in an adorable, dirty diapered, baby sort of way. But don’t ask me to ride in one. I’m intrigued, not suicidal. 

First, when I look at it, I have this vague, uncertain feeling it’s only part-way finished. Like right in the middle of assembly, the workers abandoned it for something else.  

Factory Worker: Hey, Boss, I have one-third of the car frame complete, but I’m waiting on a shipment of metal to finish the job.
Boss: (inspects the vehicle, rubs his chin thinking, and brightens with an innovative solution) Well, lunch time is in 5 minutes. Slap a back on it and call it done. 

Then some creative genius in the advertising department cleverly devises a marketing scheme that panders to a gullible public by dubbing this mighty midget of an automobile with an intelligent name and targeting it to an educated consumer. And at the end of the work day, he’s climbing into a Hummer. 

Even if I was convinced this enclosed scooter is totally safe, I’m still not sure I could endure the cramped space. Although on the positive side, the cabin is so snug looking a seat belt is probably optional. The windshield is 12 inches in front of your face and the rear window 3 inches from the back of your head. The only real purpose for even having windows is so everyone else can be entertained by viewing the claustrophobic terror on your face. 

I guess the engine is peppy enough to keep up with traffic though. I’m driving down the highway one day at 70 miles an hour in my Nissan Sentra—there’s a good 3 feet on either side of me so I’m feeling pretty secure. As I zip past a long convoy of semi-trucks traveling bumper to bumper, sandwiched between 2 tractor trailers is a guy in one of those little cars. Traveling 70 miles per hour between massive tons of steel with a foot of space on either side. Now I ask you: Is that smart?