Comments on: The Best Communicators Know Both the Pareto Rule and the Dilbert Rule http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/ Know More HR. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:08:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-747 Frank Roche Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:31:04 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/#comment-747 Hi Donald, yep, that's my approach too. I give advice, but when it comes down to it, we do what the client requests. And yes, I'm happy to make changes when it stands between our work and getting paid for it. I often tell young editors that they should not read a piece the first time with a red pen in their hand. That just begs "editing." I say "Read for meaning, first, then edit." I'm a light editor as a result...maybe it's my age, maybe it's journalism training, but I like to write it down and get outta there. I've almost never found that having "extra time" to edit makes a document much better. Usually that editing effort is dilutive. Hi Donald, yep, that’s my approach too. I give advice, but when it comes down to it, we do what the client requests. And yes, I’m happy to make changes when it stands between our work and getting paid for it.

I often tell young editors that they should not read a piece the first time with a red pen in their hand. That just begs “editing.” I say “Read for meaning, first, then edit.” I’m a light editor as a result…maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s journalism training, but I like to write it down and get outta there. I’ve almost never found that having “extra time” to edit makes a document much better. Usually that editing effort is dilutive.

]]> By: DonaldHTaylor http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-746 DonaldHTaylor Mon, 04 Jun 2007 15:00:10 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/#comment-746 I think it goes further than 'Good is good enough', Frank. I'd say (not terribly originally) that 'the perfect is the enemy of the good'. In other words, if you strive to perfect every last detail, you'll never get the job finished. More to your point, in my distant past life as a translator, I was once asked to change 'start' to 'begin'. Did it make any difference? No, but it was a 'happy-to-glad' correction that stood between me and a cheque, so I naturally made it. I think it goes further than ‘Good is good enough’, Frank. I’d say (not terribly originally) that ‘the perfect is the enemy of the good’. In other words, if you strive to perfect every last detail, you’ll never get the job finished.

More to your point, in my distant past life as a translator, I was once asked to change ‘start’ to ‘begin’. Did it make any difference? No, but it was a ‘happy-to-glad’ correction that stood between me and a cheque, so I naturally made it.

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-745 Frank Roche Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:40:46 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/#comment-745 Hi Laura, well said. Yep, that's a good way to characterize them...we reprint if they want. Or make those "happy-to-glad" changes. I've learned to let go with word changes, but I do try to alert people that every change is a chance for an error. And generally those "happy-to-glad" changes are requested when the airplane is just about to touch down on the runway. That's a dangerous time for a course correction. Ah, but in this business it's the nature of the beast. Hi Laura, well said. Yep, that’s a good way to characterize them…we reprint if they want. Or make those “happy-to-glad” changes. I’ve learned to let go with word changes, but I do try to alert people that every change is a chance for an error. And generally those “happy-to-glad” changes are requested when the airplane is just about to touch down on the runway. That’s a dangerous time for a course correction. Ah, but in this business it’s the nature of the beast.

]]> By: Laura http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/comment-page-1/#comment-744 Laura Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:29:12 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2007/06/03/the-best-communicators-know-both-the-pareto-rule-and-the-dilbert-rule/#comment-744 One of my favorite editor bosses used to call those "happy-to-glad changes." You want to say "we're glad to announce" instead of "we're happy to announce"? Fine, no argument. Client feels like they've added value, writer is satisfied the point is made effectively. One of my favorite editor bosses used to call those “happy-to-glad changes.” You want to say “we’re glad to announce” instead of “we’re happy to announce”? Fine, no argument. Client feels like they’ve added value, writer is satisfied the point is made effectively.

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