웨스 카오
Co-founder of Maven and the altMBA; writes on marketing and communication
1,100 records in all
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57 basic records of 378
Principles are our summary of their public statements.
Always look for the underlying concern or context in a conversation rather than just answering the literal words spoken.
Supporting quotes
Finesse means realizing there's no need to call someone out if there's no upside to doing so.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Share failures selectively to ensure you remain seen as a competent partner while still being honest about mistakes.
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Finesse means realizing there's no need to call someone out if there's no upside to doing so.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Design educational products that prioritize real-world tools and immediate practice over theoretical knowledge.
In business contexts, place the most important information or the 'action' at the very beginning to capture attention and respect the listener's time.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Skip the long buildup and jump straight into the most critical or high-stakes part of the story or argument to capture attention immediately.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Provide context and next steps upfront so the audience understands why the details you are sharing are relevant.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Every recommendation should show clear logic for how it eventually leads to revenue or increased leverage for the business.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Start sentences with phrases that tell the reader how to feel or what to look for before giving them the data.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
State clearly what is needed, why it is needed, and the deadline at the beginning of a conversation to save time.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Presenting a weakness as the 'shadow side' of a strength reduces defensiveness and makes critical feedback easier for high-performers to accept.
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When you take responsibility for your role in a situation, you engender massive amounts of goodwill. Most managers won't admit that anything is their fault, so if you do this even a little, it makes you seem gracious.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Mixing short and long sentences creates a dynamic pace that keeps the reader engaged and moving quickly through the text.
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Editing limbo writing takes a disproportionate amount of mental effort. Because the problem often isn't the copy. The problem is that the underlying idea is fuzzy.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
When giving feedback, describe observed behaviors rather than labeling a person's character to reduce defensiveness.
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Use language that accurately reflects your level of certainty, so you don't make overly broad statements you can't stand behind.If you speak accurately, your colleagues can trust you more easily. If and when you sound certain, your words will carry more weight.1 more supporting quote is in the member records.
Increase context for irreversible, expensive, or customer-facing decisions; decrease it for cheap, reversible tasks where you have high maturity.
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Giving the right amount of context helps teams move faster. Too much context? Your manager can't tell what's important. They'll need to wade through details, trying to sort information into a pile of what's important vs what to ignore.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Instead of relying on what people say in market research, observe their physical energy and whether their eyes light up during a pitch.
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If your recipient's eyes are glazing over, stop . Switch gears. If they are barely listening, you don't have much to lose by changing up your approach.2 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
A founder must distinguish between speaking to customers and speaking to peers or investors. Messaging about business metrics or psychological tactics often appeals to peers but alienates actual buyers.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Adding weak or 'spammy' items to a list of strong achievements lowers the overall percentage of perceived strength.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
High performers take responsibility for their ideas, moving beyond safe suggestions to firm stances that demand a yes or no.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Test established mental models to see if they still apply to the current reality, as both the world and the self change over time.
3 more supporting quotes are in the member records.
Find the intersection of personal strengths, personal enjoyment, and what the organization views as an essential, high-value priority.
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If you've ever felt like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, well, writing your own job description is creating a square hole for yourself.A common mistake I see when talking to folks who want to write their own job description: They think it's about them.It's about what role would make your manager's life easier and better . This is relevant whether you're speaking to a hiring manager for a new position you're interviewing for, or your existing managerCommunicating specific capacity percentages and early sell-out dates creates urgency for potential customers to commit to a purchase.
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See membershipMarketing, brand and copywriting
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