🧃 Stop Cramming So Much: The “Rule of One” That Will Instantly Sharpen Your Writing
Hello, Hello!
I used to be way too verbose in my emails and messages. I thought giving people all the context would help them make better decisions or reply faster.
But I learned the hard way — in trying to be “comprehensive,” I was actually confusing people. The most common response I’d get?
"What exactly do you need from me?"
That’s when it hit me: less is more. When you write less, you get more direct answers.
And when you make just one clear ask, you’re much more likely to get a response that moves things forward.
If you put too much in one message, people pick and choose what they want to respond to—and often leave out the part you really needed.
That’s what we’re diving into today.
Enjoy,
— Aderson
🧃 Stop Cramming So Much: The “Rule of One” That Will Instantly Sharpen Your Writing
Ever sent a message or email that made total sense to you—but when you got the reply, it was clear the other person had no idea what you meant?
It happens a lot, especially in the tech world where we try to be “efficient” and stuff multiple ideas, questions, or asks into one single message. The result? Confusion, delay, and way too many Slack messages that start with:
“Sorry, just to clarify... what exactly do you need from me?”
The solution? The Rule of One. One message = one purpose. Period.
The 3 Things You’ll Take Away Today:
🍋 One Message, One Goal
📌 Make the “Ask” Obvious
🔁 Repeat the Rule Until It Becomes Natural
🍋 One Message, One Goal
This is the heart of the Rule of One. Don’t try to explain five things, solve three problems, and ask for two decisions all in one email or Slack thread. It overwhelms the reader and guarantees at least one thing will get missed.
Instead, pause before you send and ask yourself:
“What is the ONE thing I want them to take away from this?”
If there’s more than one thing, split it. Two emails. Two messages. Two sections clearly labeled. Clarity beats efficiency every time.
Bonus tip: Even in documentation or reports, use headings to isolate ONE topic at a time. Don’t let it all blur together.
📌 Make the “Ask” Obvious
Ever received an email and thought, "This is interesting... but what am I supposed to do?" That’s a red flag.
Whether you're writing to a manager, a teammate, or even a customer, they need to know exactly:
What you're saying
What you're asking for
What you want next
Put your ask at the top or bottom in bold (if possible), or signal it clearly with phrases like:
“What I’m looking for is…”
“Can you confirm…?”
“Next step I need from you…”
Don't make people dig. Respect their time and show you value your own message.
🔁 Repeat the Rule Until It Becomes Natural
At first, using the Rule of One might feel a bit extra. Like you're sending too many messages. Or being too simplistic.
But here’s the reality: people love when your communication is clean, clear, and actionable.
Over time, it becomes second nature. You’ll find yourself:
Catching yourself before hitting send
Breaking long updates into smaller, clearer chunks
Becoming someone people actually look forward to hearing from (seriously!)
Clarity builds trust. And trust builds influence.
🎙️Final Thoughts
When everything feels important, nothing stands out. That’s why the Rule of One is so powerful. One reader. One message. One goal.
If you're tired of being misunderstood, skipped over, or getting half-baked replies to your emails—it’s probably not your ideas that need changing. It’s your delivery.
Start small. Take your next email or message and trim it down to one clear ask. One takeaway. Watch how much smoother things go when you're not trying to say everything at once.
Less chaos. More clarity.
Progress, not perfection. Always.
“Clarity comes not when you add more, but when you remove what’s not needed.” — James Clear