On failing to not check my email

I figured on a change. I had done the research, and then started to act on it. I was working full, productive mornings without even opening Outlook to check my email. And then I went on paternity leave. I knew that 10 weeks away would leave my work mind rusty—but I didn’t figure on falling … Continue reading On failing to not check my email →

On surprise depositor fees and being a Post-It on someone’s desk

A few months ago, a check from my employer covering expenses bounced. Weird, but not a big deal, I thought. I called our business manager and she explained that there was an issue with how the checks had printed. She would just cut a new one for me. This all sounded fine—except for one thing. … Continue reading On surprise depositor fees and being a Post-It on someone’s desk →

On email sign-offs

I don't remember how I signed off emails at my first job. I remember for my second job, though, because I aped my British colleagues and went with "Cheers." Cheers struck me as an inordinately delightful sign-off for business emails, but I loved it. At my next job, though—having no British colleagues—my Cheers felt a … Continue reading On email sign-offs →

What if you choose not to look at our inboxes every five minutes?

Here are two quotes that have profoundly affected the way I think about my email: Your inbox is a to-do list written by someone else.Tom Chatwin One of [email's] overlooked disadvantages [is that] it is used for everything. Daniel Levitin I'm sure that my colleagues are a bit tired of hearing that first quote, which … Continue reading What if you choose not to look at our inboxes every five minutes? →

7 pieces of writing advice from Roman & Raphaelson

One of my favorite books about writing—and I mean the real nitty-gritty of writing—is Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson's Writing That Works: How to Communicate Effectively in Business. The thesis put forward by Roman & Raphaelson ("R&R" from here on out) is that most of the writing we encounter in the office workplace is just … Continue reading 7 pieces of writing advice from Roman & Raphaelson →