In this issue
	Monkeying around with a Dragon! The stickiness of the resolute Question Time: Bombastic Language Previous issues of Shirley Says And finally ...

The stickiness of the resolute

So did you make any new year's resolutions on January 1st? What's it going to be this year? Get in shape, be more productive at work, change the world? Why is it almost a joke when people make up their New Year's Resolutions over a glass of bubbly on December 31st? It doesn't have to be that way. With help from my guest writer, Jennifer Norris, maybe this will be the year when you stick with your resolutions all the way through to 2005! Sit yourself down (so what if it's February already!) for a short period of time and take the lampshade off your head. It's time to be resolute. Write down your resolutions - I used to hate to write this stuff down, because "What if I don't do it?" Well, you'll stand a greater chance of doing it if you have it documented. It's a signal to your subconscious mind that you're serious, that it isn't just a fleeting whim (good time, paper and ink invested). Give up on the idea of looking stupid. But, really, so what if you only get halfway to your goals? At least you're part of the way there. Start with the end in mind - I borrowed this from Mr Covey, I think. Get your priorities in line - what's really important? It's just sowing seeds now, but figure out what plant you want to grow. Improve the quality of your relationships? Change the nature of your health? Next year, what do you want to look back on - how will it be when you're there? When you know where you're going, it's much easier to get there. Start with your list of resolutions then expand them out - easy peasy. There are many more steps you can take to help yourself in this annual ritual of trying to stick with new year's resolutions. Jennifer Norris has lots of advice for you. To read the rest of this interesting article by Jennifer Norris, just click here and may 2004 be your year! Jennifer Norris is founder of Grey Matter Network, a hypnotherapeutic and subconscious excellence centre based in Singapore. Grey Matter Network consults with individuals, groups and companies to help them make positive changes in their lives using the power of their own minds. She can be reached at jennifer@greymatternetwork.com. Read some more of my articles on Learning Links »

Question Time: Bombastic Language

I am often asked questions by newsletter subscribers and workshop participants. This month I am looking at one recent question. If you have a question please put 'Question Time' in the subject line, and write to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. By the way, this bunch of lively workshop participants certainly got the 'thumbs up' from me in January. Thanks to my friends at JobsDB.com for organising this workshop with such a great group of people! Rosalind Asks: Shirley, My company's marketing manager just made a remark that my letter writing is not hardcore enough. Apparently, he said none of my letters contain 'bombastic' words. I reasoned out with him saying as far as I understand, letter writing should be simple and straight forward. I need your advice. May I know if you offer any business communication books that provide "bombastic" words for me to learn, should my marketing manager be right about his remarks. Shirley Says: I'm so sorry to hear that your marketing manager thinks that, in order to be effective, business documents should contain bombastic words. This is a comment that I regularly receive when I conduct my workshops. Unfortunately it is a very old-fashioned school of thought. I checked the thesaurus for the meaning of 'bombastic', and here's what it says: pompous, pretentious, verbose, long-winded, gradiloquent, over-bearing. This was the sort of writing that our Great-Grandfathers used way back when. This is the 21st Century - today's business writing should be straight forward, simple and courteous but at the same time brief - certainly not pompous, pretentious and over-bearing! I suggest that you ask your marketing manager to read the article on my website called Business writing yesterday and today. This should put him straight! Thanks to Rosalind in Malaysia for this question. I sent her a copy of my new book Model Business Letters, E-mails and Other Business Documents 6th edition, and this is what she said in her next e-mail to me: "Shirley, I have to tell you that I carry your book whereever I go!! It is so useful and to be honest, it has become my "bible". Glad you like it, Rosalind! I'm glad to say that lots of people agree with you - the book has sold over 8000 copies in Singapore alone in just 3 months! When I receive news of worldwide sales, I'll keep you all informed! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT IT! Read more about Great Grandfather's writing style »

Previous issues of Shirley Says

I often receive messages from subscribers asking if they can see copies of previous issues of Shirley Says. The answer is very simple - yes, you can! All issues of my e-newsletter are included on my website within a few days of sending it out - thanks to Hanin for all your support and fabulous creativity with my website! If you want to see any of the previous issues of Shirley Says just visit my homepage at www.shirleytaylor.com or, to make it simple, you can just click here. Click here to see my January 2004 newsletter »

And finally ...

TIP OF THE MONTH "Writing skill can be improved by continuous effort to write and practice." Thanks to Irene Ee from Corporate Communications at Asia Pacific Breweries in Singapore for this month's TIP OF THE MONTH. Irene will be receiving a free copy of my new book, Model Business Letters, E-mails and Other Business Documents. If you would like to receive a FREE COPY of one of my books, please send your tips to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. I hope you've enjoyed this issue of Shirley Says. If you have any ideas about what you would like me to include in future issues, please write to me at news@shirleytaylor.com. PS: You may reprint this e-newsletter or forward it to your customers and colleagues. However please keep this copyright and contact information intact: Copyright Shirley Taylor 2004. Shirley Taylor is author of several popular books on effective communication and business writing. She lives in Singapore and works as an international trainer, seminar leader, professional writer and conference speaker.