The War Against Boring

Michael J. Katz hates boring business communications. He's devised a scoring system to check your writing. Based on his pet mascot the Blue Penguin (His company is named Blue Penguin Development and he calls himself Chief Penguin), it's easy to remember. Next time you write an email, a newsletter, prepare a power point presentation, check your PENGUINscore™.

  Enter the PENGUINscore™. Inspired by the APGAR score — the universally accepted system for assessing the general physical condition of a newborn baby — the PENGUINscore™ assesses the effectiveness of your business communications. It's equally simple to use and in terms of the "health" of your message, equally critical.

P = Position:  Did you take a position, say something that will make others take notice?

E = Easy: Did you make it easy for people to understand?

N = Narrow: Did you focus on a few simple ideas, or try to explain the universe?

G = Genuine: Is it genuine, does it sound like it comes from you; does it touch people on the human level they crave?

U = Useful: Is it useful, does it shed light on something, have you given them something of value?

I = Infectious: Did you give them something to think about, talk about, disagree with, something to spark a conversation?

uN = Unexpected: Is it unexpected? Did you break a pattern, flaunt convention, get their attention?

I agree with Michael. Quite frankly, I don't know any other Chief Penguins, but this one's not boring. He writes a great newsletter about writing newsletters.

Dear readers, what are you're cues for not boring your readers? Got any tips?