by Barbara Minto
5*/10
Key Idea:
Start with the answer first.
Group and summarize your supporting arguments.
Logically order your supporting ideas.
Other interesting notes:
Say “I like book X because it is short, funny and surprising”, not “I like short books, I also like funny books, and I also like surprising books. Book X is those things, so I like it”.
Setting the stage, persuading or telling a story:
- Situation: Product X is 80% of our revenue
- Complication: Product X sales are declining, what can we do?
- Resolution: We can sell more in A, B and C
Grouping can be done:
- Time order: if there is a sequence of events that form a cause-effect relationship, you should present the ideas in time order.
- Structural order: break a singular thought into its parts, ensuring that you have covered all of the major supporting ideas.
- Degree order: present supporting ideas in rank order of importance, most to least important.
Most of the time, split each point into 3 sub-points.
Your points should be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive, or MECE. Mutually exclusive means that each component is distinct, there is no overlap, and that you can address each part on its own without worrying about the other components. Completely exhaustive means you have included every possible answer, so people don’t start thinking “what about these other options?”
Thoughts on the book:
*The idea is simple, no need to buy the book, unless you’re a consultant, in which case you’ll benefit from drilling the idea into your head, teach it to others, and do whatever you can to make it a habit.
Longer summary/notes: AR, SH, video
If you like this, you’ll probably like: Made to stick, Influence, books
Leo :) 