[商業寫作技巧] Jeff Bezos Final Shareholder Letter as Amazon CEO

今天又來分享Presentality的商業英文寫作技巧~

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看貝佐斯致亞馬遜股東的最後一封信，學一些英文寫作小撇步!

上禮拜4月 15 日，亞馬遜創辦人 Jeff Bezos 發表了他 CEO 任內最後一封致股東的信。 歷年來亞馬遜的 shareholder letters 都廣受好評，甚至被許多專家封為美國最會寫股東信的企業之一。

這封信到底寫多好？我們就一起來看看。

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我們先看信的內容架構。大概只有五個部分而已：

1. 回顧：1997到今天，一路走來的成就
2. 價值：計算亞馬遜對社會各方創造的價值
3. 員工：亞馬遜其實對員工不錯，而且承諾未來會更好
4. 環境：亞馬遜對環境永續做的貢獻
5. 結語：世界要我們平凡，但我們要堅持獨特

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這封信的內容架構簡單清晰，聚焦回應股東對亞馬遜的主要批評點。

🎯 針對「亞馬遜對世界是好是壞？」：貝佐斯列出公司對社會各界— 使用者、新創公司、小商家等等 — 所做出的貢獻。

🎯 針對「亞馬遜如何對待員工」：貝佐斯列舉證據，表示亞馬遜其實對員工不錯，但又反過來說：我們未來一定會做的更好！

🎯這兩個寫完，他又加碼闡述亞馬遜對環境永續的貢獻

這就是我們的第一個寫英文文章的重點：

✍️ I. Make it simple & focused

What are the top things your audience is thinking about? Focus on that. Don’t add a lot of other complicated stuff. Simplify and focus.

你的讀者心裡在想什麼？他們對你最大的質疑點有哪些？你的開頭就直接切入重點，回應他們的疑點。

寫英文 — 尤其商業英文 — 最重要的就是簡潔、明瞭、聚焦。

其實呢，我們從貝佐斯用的文字上也看得出來：好的英文是簡單到大部分的人都看得懂的，就像這一段：

If you want to be successful in business (in life, actually), you have to create more than you consume. Your goal should be to create value for everyone you interact with. Any business that doesn’t create value for those it touches, even if it appears successful on the surface, isn’t long for this world. It’s on the way out.

沒有什麼很艱澀，高學歷的人才會用的字。大部分都只有一個音節而已。可能只有 “isn't long for this world” 有些人會需要查 (就是不會活很久的意思)。

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✍️ II. But… Be Conversational

但你有沒有注意到，內容有一點點重複？那一段的最後兩句：“isn’t long for this world” 跟 “It's on the way out” 根本是完全一樣的內容啊！這根本就跟英文寫作老師教我們的原則 — 可以刪的字就刪掉 — 相反對不對?

沒錯。因為這封信的語氣 (並非所有商業寫作)，就像是聊天一樣。我們在聊天的時候，是否會為了強調一個重點，用稍微不同的方式，重複同一件事？

所以呢，如果你想要寫出輕鬆一點的語氣，可以適當的「重複」。參考以下的兩種寫法：

•She is the corporate group’s top-ranked sales representative
•She’s by far our best sales rep, just insanely good. Like, nobody else comes close.

第二種比較浪費篇幅，但是否比較親切呢？

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✍️ III. Make it about PEOPLE

當然，除了語氣之外，還有另一個層面非常重要 — 就是說「人」的故事。

貝佐斯在這封信放了非常，非常，非常多的數字：亞馬遜雇用130萬人、超過二億人使用 Prime 服務、近兩萬商家使用平台銷售、亞馬遜為股東創造出1.6兆美元的財富，等等等等的…

看了這些數字，你是否覺得有點無感？

貝佐斯也知道大家看了太多龐大的數字，會漸漸無感，所以他文字一轉，從冰冷的數字，進入到溫暖的故事：

...more than 7/8ths of the shares, representing $1.4 trillion of wealth creation, are owned by others. Who are they? They’re pension funds, universities, and 401(k)s, and they’re Mary and Larry, who sent me this note out of the blue just as I was sitting down to write this shareholder letter:

貝佐斯把焦點帶到一個散戶小股東家庭身上，並且用他們寫給他的一封信，來強調亞馬遜對「普羅大眾」的貢獻。這個很值得大家效法：別只是一味的丟出數據 (理性)，也要不時的回到「人」的故事 (感性)，才能打動別人。

他用的轉折也很值得學習：列出一個清單，但把你下一段要寫的焦點，放在清單的最後一個，如：

There are many ways to improve your life: eating better, sleeping more, worrying less, and saying NO.

然後轉換主題：說一個有關 saying no 的故事。

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好啦，上述都有點簡單對不對？

💡還需要貝佐斯(或是他的寫手)更高段的一些寫作技巧嗎? 需要的同學請按個讚和留言「It’s all about PEOPLE.」。

完整信件: https://bit.ly/3v9P1a9

【排毒就是好】根據症狀治療更重要

#排清毒素身體好
#對症下藥才是排毒之道
#星期一踢走BlueMonday

中醫治療有八法
很多人看到「排毒」的字眼就立即感覺人人適合，其實還是要配合體質。身體症狀有分虛與實。虛則要補，實則要瀉。中醫有「治病八法」，分別是汗、吐、下、和、溫、清、消、補，以緩解不同的症狀和調整身體狀態，因此要排毒袪病，並非單純地一味排便就可以，更應該諮詢註冊中醫師，辨證論治，對症下藥。

汗 – 以出汗將病邪由體內帶出體外，多用於感冒或水腫症狀，菊花、芫茜、薄荷等皆是有發汗解表功效的食物。

吐 – 以催吐的方法，將病邪吐出，多為急救處理，因此在沒有醫師辨證下絕不要自己胡亂嘗試。較常見用於為進食過急，而令食物滯留胃中未能消化。

下 – 即為促瀉，也是很多人所理解的「排毒」方法，以苦寒又或是溫性藥療增加瀉下，此法峻猛，由於病人本身體質的強弱的不同，用法不當會對身體帶來傷害。身體虛弱、老人、孕婦、月經期間都切勿胡亂嘗試這種方式。

和 – 即為「調和」，主要是和解虛實、寒熱症狀，以達以身體狀態的協調。

溫 – 以溫性食療或中藥驅除體內的寒冷，即為大家常聽到的補益陽氣及溫中散寒，尤其適合虛寒體質人士，平日也可適量進食溫熱食材如肉桂、栗子、羊肉等以補陽氣，有虛火及偏熱體質人士不宜。

清 – 簡單來說即為清熱，選擇涼性食療及中藥以清除身體的偏熱症狀，如喉嚨痛、口瘡、心情煩躁等，也是大家一般覺得自己上火時喝涼茶下火的道理，正因要清熱，食療及中藥需為涼性，多進食則會傷陽氣，當偏熱症狀緩解後就不要再繼續服用了。

消 – 即為化瘀散結，主要針對氣滯、血瘀體質等因氣血不通而引致的症狀，如胃脹、腫傷等，消食化氣，在療程中多配以下法同用，還是諮詢中醫師更穩妥。

補 – 也是一般人認知的「進補」，補益陰陽氣血及身體虛損，主要針對體弱人士，分為補氣、血、陰及陽四大類。補氣針對氣虛人士，平日說話無力、多汗；補血針對血虛或貧血人士，此類人多有頭暈目眩，女性月經量少色淺；補陰亦即滋陰，為身體補充水分，乾燥天氣時也適合；而補陽適合畏冷體質及陽虛人士，易有腰痠、手腳冰冷及小便頻繁等症狀。

Eight treatment methodology within Chinese medicine
When people see the word "detoxification", they assume it is suitable for everyone. In fact, it should be done based on your body condition. Symptoms are divided into asthenic and excessive. Those with asthenic symptoms should nourish their body, and those with excessive symptoms should focus on clearing. Chinese medicine has "eight treatment methods", which is sweating, vomiting, purging, regulating, warming, clearing, eliminating and nourishing. In short, you should relieve different symptoms and adjust physical state based on your body condition. Therefore, to detoxify and dispel illness, it is not just a matter of defecation. You should consult a registered Chinese medicine practitioner to find out the correct treatment for your problem.

Sweating- To expel illness out of body by sweating. It is often used for cold/flu or edema. Chrysanthemum, cilantro and mint are foods that promote sweating.

Vomiting- To let illness out by inducing vomiting, it is a first-aid treatment. So do not try it yourself without consulting a professional. It is commonly used for eating too fast, and the food is retained in the stomach which cannot be digested.

Purging- It means to inducing diarrhea, a “detoxification” method that many people know. You can have bitter and cold or warm medicine treatment to increase diarrhea effect. This method is too strong. You should use this method according your strength of body condition or it can be harmful. Those with asthenic and weak body condition, elderly, pregnant women, and those menstruating should not try this.

Regulating- It is mainly to regulate the asthenic and excessive symptoms, cold and heat, in order to achieve a balanced physical state.

Warming- To dispel cold in the body by having warm nature diet or medicine. It is the method people talk about regarding nourishing yang and dispelling cold, especially suitable for those with asthenic and cold body condition. You can also appropriately consume warm and hot ingredients such as cinnamon, chestnuts, lamb to increase yang qi. It is not appropriate for those with asthenic fire and heat-related symptoms.

Clearing- It means clearing heat in a simple way. To choose cool diet and Chinese medicine to clear the heat-related symptoms, such as sore throat, canker sores, irritability, etc. It is also the reason that everyone drink the herbal tea to clear heat when they feel like there is fire in the body. To clear the heat, the diet and Chinese medicine are cool in nature. Eating too much will hurt the yang qi, and when the heat-related symptoms are relieved, do not continue to take it.

Eliminating- this is to eliminate stasis and usually focuses on qi stagnation and blood stasis related issues such as abdominal bloating and swelling pains. To aid digestion, treatments may involve purging so it is better to consult a Chinese medicine practitioner.

Nourishing- This means eating tonic food in common way. It can nourish yin, yang, qi, blood and body damage, mainly for those with weak body condition. It is divided into four categories: qi, blood, yin and yang. Nourishing qi is suitable for people with qi deficiency, weakness in voice and excessive sweating. Nourishing blood is for blood deficiency or anemia, people with this situation are often experience dizziness, and women may have less menstrual volume and light blood colour. Nourishing yin means replenishing water for the body, suitable for dry weather. Nourishing yang is suitable for those are aversion to cold and with yang deficiency, and have symptoms such as sore back, cold limbs and frequent urination.

#男 #女 #我煩燥 #我畏冷 #我枯燥 #我狀態OK #我有壓力 #我胖了 #我疲憊 #陽虛 #濕熱 #陰虛 #陽虛 #氣滯 #血瘀 #血虛

《美容發財法》(English version below)
Wealth-Boosting Beauty Tips

兩年前的春節間，吾接聽了一通陌生的來電。電話的另一端是把女聲。吾例常的問她，是由誰介紹的，或是從哪個管道認識吾的。她說有一天她到其友人的新家做客，一入屋就被屋內的良好磁場，給吸引住了。當時的覺受讓她，又莫名又驚嘆又愉悅，總而言之，就是很舒適就對了。她肯定的認為，幕後的那位師父，一定是位能者。當她說完之後，吾輕鬆淡然的告訴她，新的屋子的磁場，大多都是好的呀！可是她卻緊接著的回說，是吾幫她的朋友新家，堪輿後的效應。可見這女子有多麼的「自信」。

這位「自信」的女子，致電於吾，是要吾的專業服務的。但，因為她的「自信」，原本可以改善的命運，卻讓她的「自信」，給拒於千里之外，可憐啊！玳瑚師父何以嘆息？何以憐憫這樣的女子？這樣的案例，對您而言，不是早已司空見慣了嗎？是司空見慣沒錯。可是吾是有發過願，度化眾生的呀！吾怎可放過那救度的機緣，而見苦難眾生，卻袖手旁觀，逍遙快活呢？若是這樣的話，吾還值得你妳們欽佩嗎？吾嘆息是因為，這女子因愛美，去美容卻變成毀容。原本找到有能力幫她的吾，可卻被自己的「自信」給摧毀。

雖說女為悅己者容，事實悅己而整容，男女多少都傾於啊！吾，玳瑚師父，是通情達理的，故現在就要再送大禮，給吾所有的粉絲，及有緣的你妳們。使你妳們更具信心，更瀟灑的走在陽光裡，走在街道上，走進你妳工作的地方，以及任何的社交場合。先天的不足，後天的積極與努力，是理所當然的。後天的美容實必需著重於以下的這幾點：

一；先從我們的八字中，找出喜用神。

二；根據我們八字的喜用神，選購美容護膚品，化妝品、或欲想上的美容院。

三；根據我們八字的喜用神，選擇我們對的飲食。

若你妳不知道，自己的八字之喜用神，別擔心，吾就教你妳八字喜用神以外的，美容發財法。實不相瞞，欲兼得美容及發財，以八字的喜用神為最佳的。在不知自己的八字，喜用神的情況下，唯有求其次了。每一次的洗臉，最好以低溫水洗之。步驟以額頭為先，次以鼻，再次以兩腮，下巴及頸項。咖啡及其他刺激性飲品，不宜過多。甜品為腐竹薏米、綠豆及紅豆，但請用冰糖煮之。請大量減少煎、炸、烤、烘、燻等食物。每天也盡量有湯，有菜為伴。很快的，你妳的「顏值」就會增長。到時可別忘了，感一感謝「美容發財法」哦！

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It was the Spring Festival about 2 years ago when I received a call from a stranger. It was a lady's voice on the other end, and as my usual practice, I asked her who recommended her to me, or from which channel she knew of me. She told me she was visiting the new home of her friend, and immediately got attracted by the good energy fields in the house. She felt in awe and elated at the same time, in any case, she felt very comfortable. She was sure that the Feng Shui Master behind this must be a competent one. When she had finished talking, I told her lightly that the energy fields of new houses are all generally good! However she insisted that it was due to my Feng Shui. One can see how confident this lady is.

This "confident" lady phoned me to seek my professional service. However, due to her "confidence", she was turned away when she did have the opportunity to transform her destiny. What a pity! Why does Master Dai Hu sigh? Why do I pity such a lady? Aren't cases like this a common sight to you? It is a common occurrence indeed. However, I have made vows to deliver sentient beings. How could I pass up the opportune affinity to do just that, leave sentient beings in their sufferings while I live my life worry-free? If that is so, how would I deserve your respect? I sighed because in her quest for beauty, this lady went for a cosmetic surgery but ended up with a botch job. She found the person capable of helping her, yet destroyed the chance with her "confidence".

Even though it is natural for a woman to beautify herself for her sweetheart, reality is that both men and women are inclined to make themselves happy by enhancing their beauty through plastic surgery. Master Dai Hu is an understanding person, and thus I am going to give out a big present again to my fans and all with whom I have affinity with. It will give you more confidence and pizazz as you walk in the sunshine, on the streets, into your workplace, or at any social gathering. If one is not endowed from birth, it is necessary to strive and work hard. To acquire beauty, you must focus on these few following points:

1. Examine your Bazi to find out what is your favorable element.

2. Based on the favorable element in your Bazi, select the beauty products, cosmetics, or the beauty salons you wish to visit.

3. Based on your favourable element in your Bazi, select the correct types of food and drinks.

If you do not know your own favourable element in your Bazi, fret not, I am going to teach you a non-Bazi related technique to make you prettier and richer at the same time. Honestly speaking, it yields the best result if you know the favourable element of your Bazi. However, if you do not know, then this method is the second best. Wash your face every time in lukewarm water, beginning from the forehead to your nose, then to your cheeks before moving down to your chin and neck. Minimize consumption of coffee or other drinks with stimulants. In your choice of desserts, opt for beancurd skin and barley soup, red bean or green bean soup, but please use rock sugar to cook it. Please drastically reduce your intake of food that are fried, deep-fried, roasted, baked or smoked. Try to consume soup and vegetables in every meal. Very soon, you will discover the increase in your "face" value. When that time arrives, don't forget to thank me for these beauty get-rich tips!