Richard Wilson: the context around an email changes the conversation
Richard contrasted two introductions in his email lessons. A person who had read his work and attended an event approached a conversation with different context from someone meeting him for the first time.
The same person, a different introduction
Richard described having to explain his work quickly when a stranger mistook what he did. With someone already familiar with the club and its educational material, the conversation began with much more shared understanding.
The message has a history
The words in an email arrive after everything the reader has already seen or heard about the sender. Richard used that observation to connect communication with positioning. Editing the text helps, but the recipient's prior experience remains part of the exchange.
In Richard's words
"that trust context through which people get to know you and first experience who you are completely changes everything." (Richard C. Wilson, recorded library commentary)
How to use this
- Record how a new contact first encountered your work.
- Use the introduction to supply the context that person actually lacks.
Questions and answers
What comparison did Richard make?
A conversation with someone familiar with his work versus an introduction to a complete stranger.
Is better wording the whole explanation?
No. Richard emphasized the history and context surrounding the message.