Archive - Wes Kao's Newsletter

You are wasting your warm intros

Your note sucks because you don't sound sincere. Do these 6 things to make your note more persuasive before you hit send.

Apr 23 •

7 Phrases I use to make giving feedback easier for myself

Here are phrases I often use when sharing feedback because it makes it easier for me to speak openly and quickly, and encourages my recipient to take…

Apr 16 •

My new episode on Lenny's Podcast

We cover some of my best frameworks for communication tactics used by top 1% performers

Apr 9 •

Part II: Nuances when using the "inverted but" technique

5 nuances to keep in mind when you apply this tactic, based on common questions from other readers.

Apr 2 •

March 2025

Use "but" strategically

“But” is a negating word. Here’s how to use this intentionally, so you sound direct and positive.

Mar 26 •

Why you should get buy-in throughout a project

Even if you mentioned a risk might happen, your manager might act surprised when it actually happens. This is why you must reinforce expectations at the…

Mar 19 •

The only way to stop the rat race

There’s always another rat race if you want to be a rat in a race

Mar 12 •

Be objective, not detached

Context isn’t only about facts and what happened--it’s also helping your audience understand how to interpret this information.

Mar 5 •

February 2025

The trouble with "good enough"

Obviously, stop before you hit the point of diminishing returns. The problem is many operators stop way before this point--and leave proverbial money on…

Feb 26 •

Develop adjacent skills to become a sharper operator

The best marketers might call themselves marketers... But they are secretly strong in other disciplines.

Feb 19 •

Eyes light up (ELU)

This is the moment when your audience is viscerally, undeniably excited about what you’re talking about. Aim for ELU.

Feb 12 •

Stop apologizing for reasonable business decisions

Why saying sorry might unintentionally shift the power dynamics

Feb 5 •

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