_____“I have only made this letter longer because I have not had the time to make it shorter.” Blaise Pascal, (1623-1662) Lettres provinciales._____

 

Lately I get up from the desk and realize I’ve been focused on a particular writing or communication ten times longer than I’d anticipated. I completely lose track of time! And in the end - if the length of my writing pieces - were weighed in the number of words per minute spent writing - I’d be a pauper. Ahhhh!

I’ve been writing cover letters, projects proposals, ideas for new projects, description of my experience - that qualifies me to manager or foster a project, introducing myself and why the reader should bother to read my words. I’ve been writing minutes of a recent board meeting, following up spontaneous colleague meetings or casual discussions. It takes me MUCH longer than my critical thinking mind anticipates it “should” - to finally push the “Send” or “Publish” or “Close” button on my computer.

What IS this about? Is there a better way? How come it takes so much time to efficiently say what I mean? I want to be a pithy speaker NOW! ; &gt

Do you have an idea about why this is so? Any suggestions?

_______________Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.” Henry David Thoreau_______________