I learned a little something recently. In my high school typing class (I won’t share how many years ago), my teacher taught me to double space after periods and colons. Recently, my daughter chided me for my ‘outdated’ messages, stating that double spacing reveals my old age.
Feeling an attack on my ‘Boomer’ status, I quickly sluffed her off as another young whippersnapper trying to change things for no good reason. But then I came across an article that stated, “…nothing says over 40 more than two spaces after a period.”
Letting my curiosity get the best of me, I read on. The article linked to another explaining why an extra space was initially needed (hint: it has to do with a typewriter).
Long story short, with today’s fonts, only a single space is needed after a period to clearly spot a break in the text. So, I now opt for just one click of the spacebar after a period (hold the applause).
The point of this silly story? I was completely unwilling to change and dug in my heels, all because no one took the time to explain why.
And that’s the point. We don’t often go into things blind and expect people to simply take our word for it. And at Donovan, we’ve found value in explaining the why behind the what so everyone we work with understands the reason and intent—because there’s a lot riding on your numbers.
Only then can we develop trustworthy partnerships that last for years to come. This week, remain curious, and as “why” floats to the surface, the next step is all about asking the right question.
Jeff Donovan
About HTJ...
Hold the Jargon isn’t your average boring ol’ newsletter bent on only selling you another overhyped service. It’s an occasional note I send out that’s a blend of personal and business. I hope you find this, and future editions, helpful.
