Get the message out
February 21st 2003
Dear Friends
My desk is just inundated with brochures, magazines flyers and information.
We are all trying to say something. I have just received a letter telling us how many people want their message in our magazine. We need a bigger Magazine. The youth and teenagers need recognition and the list goes on. To make matters worse I have offered my own pennies worth this month.
We live and work in a message economy. Most of us are obsessed with receiving and responding to messages. The average ‘white collar’ worker spends two hours a day dealing with E Mail messages. 60% of workers suffer from ‘Info-Stress’.
Among all this clutter: How do we make our message stand out. In short - how do we grasp peoples attention and tell them that there is hope in the midst of war and the rumours of war? It turns out paradoxically that sometimes less is more! Here are a few pointers.
1. The source of the message must be trustworthy, respected, influential or charismatic.
2. The context of the message must be personalised, relate to ‘a question that I am concerned about.
3. The content must be concise, direct, story-like, engaging to my senses and unusual or unique.
The recipient must be moved by the message, be able to consider the implications and find the message important to their work or life.
Thank you for your efforts, they are much appreciated – I trust that you will believe at least this message.
God bless, Yours sincerely
Victor Pilmoor
Treasurer