Occam’s RazR

A Gem of a Message

by Ike

Want your next message to get the diamond treatment? Then treat it like a diamond beforehand, by measuring it the way a jeweler might.

Diamond Diamonds are classified in four key areas - the “Four C’s”:

Clarity
Color
Cut
Carat

Measuring the Clarity of a message is fairly simple. Is it in plain language? Does it require technical knowledge? Are you sure of what it is really saying?

The Color of a message conveys the mood or the tone. Is it light-hearted? Is it appropriate? Is it memorable?

A message with the right Cut is just long enough to do the job, and no longer.

Carat is a measurement of weight. Are you going to all of the trouble of polishing your gem only to find it wasn’t necessary? Is this “lightweight” message going to dilute the power and impact of future communications?

Technorati Tags: Ike Pigott, Occam’s RazR, communications, messages, writing

"A Gem of a Message" was published on October 17th, 2007 and is listed in Communication, Language, Marketing.

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A Gem of a Message: 5 Comments

Chris Iafolla wrote,

Clever analogy Ike. It’s always good to get a reminder on the components of effective writing—or any communication for that matter.

Link | October 17th, 2007 at 7:22 am
Kami Huyse wrote,

Very concise. For the caret part of the analogy, why not say that one should pause and consider where each message weighs in the overall communication? Or, is that what you are saying?

Link | October 17th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Jed wrote,

I’ve been using 3C’s Ike. Is a message Clear (Clarity), Concise (Cut) and Comprehensive (has all the information the reader needs - and no more).

Link | October 20th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Ike wrote,

Another way to cleave the diamond, Jed. There are many analogies and metaphors we can bring to bear — the more you’re exposed to, the more likely you’ll find one that sings to you.

Link | October 20th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
PR Chatter - 10/22/07 wrote,

[...] A Gem of a Message - Ike Pigott thinks you should handle a message like you would cut a gem, carefully considering exactly how it should be shaped. [...]

Link | October 22nd, 2007 at 11:02 pm