February Newsletter

Inspiration, plans and more: 'The Right Effect', 'Like and Such As’ and 'Networking'

Hello everyone

First, a special welcome to new subscribers and a thank you to those who responded to Have Your Say last month. I've included some of your comments and recommended inspirational materials below.

I'm always very happy to receive your feedback. This month's newsletter contains more human skills-oriented content, in response to positive comments about that section.

Although I don't make 'resolutions', one of my New Year 'plans' is to finish one, or more, of the (too) many books I have in preparation. Mentioning the plan here might prompt (or shame) me enough to make some progress. More news later, I hope.

As usual, please share the subscription link or this newsletter with anyone you think might be interested in reading it.

Best regards and have a happy 'rest of the summer',

Janette

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Thank you for these contributions. I found inspiration from all of them and I hope others do, too.

Your achievements in 2022

• 'Continual learning – I was smarter in 2022 than in 2021 and ready to get smarter in 2023'

• 'A 14-week trip to Ireland and the UK. A much-needed mental break'

• 'Remembering that I was a really important component of my plans and making space for that'

• 'I changed jobs after a lot of hesitation and wished I had made a move earlier'

• 'Getting out of my comfort zone and expanding my offerings'

• 'Running and swimming and making time for me'.

Your goals for 2023

• 'Releasing new products and workshops to help my clients get from here to there faster'

• 'To have my clients thinking about their thinking when managing challenging patients'

• 'Choosing to work with those who really value my input'

• 'Letting my clients know when they help me as much as I help them, and showing I appreciate their loyalty'

• 'Writing two books'

• 'Move from group Zoom trainings to in-person coaching/mentoring'

• 'Working smarter rather than harder'

• 'Saying ‘no’ more often, when that’s what I really mean and want'.

You were impressed or inspired by...

• The quotation: ‘Everything's impossible until it happens’

• Norman Doidge and his amazing work on the brain's plasticity

• Tiago Forte – the founder of Forte Labs, who promotes new ways of thinking, organising your digital life and getting things done

• Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte

• How Minds Change by David McRaney

• Peak Mind by Amishi Jdu

• Good to Great by Jim Collins 

• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

• Ikigai (meaning 'a reason for being') – a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose

• Ikigai: The Japanese Secret To A Long And Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.

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The Right Effect

The words 'affect' and 'effect' cause no end of problems. As an editor, I often have to sort them out.

The easy bit

The word 'affect' is mostly used as a verb:

'To affect' something is to change, influence or alter it.

e.g.  

His injury affected his ability to work.

The changed conditions will affect the way we do business.

More rarely, it's used to mean to 'put on a show' or 'to pretend' to do something:

e.g.  

He tried to affect a sympathetic expression. 

The word 'effect' is mostly used as a noun:

An effect is a result, a consequence or an outcome.

e.g.  

His injury had a major effect on his work.

The changed conditions will have a significant effect on the way we do business.

The tricky bit

You probably noticed I used the word 'mostly', above.

Here comes the tricky part:

'Affect' can also be a noun.

The important thing is not to use it when 'effect' is the correct choice.

An 'affect' is an emotional response.The correct use is very rare and occurs almost exclusively in the fields of psychology and psychiatry:

e.g.  

In many veterans, extreme trauma had resulted in a severely blunted affect.

'Effect' can also be a verb. 

It shouldn't be confused with 'to affect'. 

'To effect' isn't a widely used verb. It means 'to bring about' or 'to cause something to happen':

e.g.  

The difficult financial circumstances forced us to effect changes in our pricing structures.

The new Minister effected immediate changes in her policies and staffing arrangements.

The annoying bit

Not everyone will agree with this and even some of the latest dictionaries say otherwise but 'to impact', as a verb, is usually NOT a good substitute for the verb 'to affect'.

'To impact' has a specific meaning of 'to collide with (physically)':

e.g.  

The meteorite impacted Earth at high velocity.

Yes, it also affected the Earth (and maybe the dinosaurs, too) but that's not what the sentence is saying.

'To impact' also means 'to press or crush into something else':

e.g.  

The animals impacted the soil with their hooves.

It had the effect of making it more solid and compact.

Problems of meaning can arise when 'impact' is used instead of 'affect'. 

If you aren't writing about a physical impact, don't use 'impact'.

Rather than say Her words impacted him (which suggests they really packed a physical wallop), it's better to use a more precise verb that will convey your intended meaning.

There are plenty to consider:

e.g.  

Her words affected / influenced / moved / disturbed / overwhelmed / confused / disturbed him.

If you are addicted to 'impact', wean yourself off it gradually, by using it as a noun, followed by 'on':

e.g.  

Her words had a huge impact on him.

It isn't very specific, though, is it?

The best 'worst example' of using 'impact' wrongly is one I encountered a few weeks ago:

Sugary drinks can impact children's teeth.

Unhealthy drinks can certainly affect children's teeth and cause decay, but drive them forcibly back into the gums?

I don't think so. 

Leave a comment below

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Can You, Like, Use 'Like' Whenever You Like?

Don't worry. It isn't one of those articles. The overuse of 'like' in (some people's) spoken language isn't really the main point here. 

Instead, we'll focus on what 'like' means and why other expressions ('such as', 'for example' or 'as though') are, depending on the context, far better options.

So are you, like, ready? 

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NETWORKING: Let’s Spell It Out

Networking is one of the essential ingredients of success. Ask any successful person!

But what is it? The shorthand version might go something like this:

The ABC of Networking = A for Attitude; B for Business Practice; C for Communication.

In fact, it's more like N.E.T.W.O.R.K.I.N.G.

Find out how

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