Bezos banned PowerPoint at Amazon. Memos only. He said, "There is...
Dickie Bush@dickiebush
86 views
Jun 20, 2025
~2 min read
1
Bezos banned PowerPoint at Amazon.
Memos only.
He said, "There is no way to write a six-page narratively structured memo without clear thinking."
This is the Bezos Writing Framework (steal this and start using it today):🧵
Memos only.
He said, "There is no way to write a six-page narratively structured memo without clear thinking."
This is the Bezos Writing Framework (steal this and start using it today):🧵
2
Amazon's 6-page memos, called "narratives," follow this structure:
• Introduction
• Goals
• Tenets
• Current state
• Lessons learned
• Strategy
Meeting attendees get 20 minutes to read the memo in silence before discussion.
Bezos explains:
• Introduction
• Goals
• Tenets
• Current state
• Lessons learned
• Strategy
Meeting attendees get 20 minutes to read the memo in silence before discussion.
Bezos explains:
3
Here are Bezos' 6 rules for great memos:
• Use the "So What?" test
• <30 words per sentence
• Avoid jargon and acronyms
• Replace adjectives with data
• Use subject-verb-object sentences
• No "weasel words" like "nearly" or "significantly"
But there's a catch:
• Use the "So What?" test
• <30 words per sentence
• Avoid jargon and acronyms
• Replace adjectives with data
• Use subject-verb-object sentences
• No "weasel words" like "nearly" or "significantly"
But there's a catch:
4
Following them means your memo will take days to write.
Here's why:
Here's why:
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Now, some examples of Bezos' writing rules in action:
• Replace "in order to" say "to"
• Spell out acronyms like "ROI" on first use
• Instead of "Customers love Prime," say "Prime members spend 2x more than non-members"
This letter to his shareholders is a masterclass:
• Replace "in order to" say "to"
• Spell out acronyms like "ROI" on first use
• Instead of "Customers love Prime," say "Prime members spend 2x more than non-members"
This letter to his shareholders is a masterclass:
6
As Bezos says:
"The great memos are written and re-written, shared with colleagues who are asked to improve the work, set aside for a couple of days, and then edited again with a fresh mind."
Why does this matter?
"The great memos are written and re-written, shared with colleagues who are asked to improve the work, set aside for a couple of days, and then edited again with a fresh mind."
Why does this matter?
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Because Bezos wants a world-class writing culture at Amazon:
• Focus on clear thinking
• Avoid unnecessary meetings
• Frictionless knowledge transfer across teams
Here's how an Amazon employee describes it:
• Focus on clear thinking
• Avoid unnecessary meetings
• Frictionless knowledge transfer across teams
Here's how an Amazon employee describes it:
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So, how do I apply the Bezos Writing Framework?
1. Choose 1-2 rules to practice
2. Set aside daily writing time
3. Start with a low-stakes setting (e.g. Slack messages)
4. Get feedback and repeat
But you can't do this without building a daily writing habit:
1. Choose 1-2 rules to practice
2. Set aside daily writing time
3. Start with a low-stakes setting (e.g. Slack messages)
4. Get feedback and repeat
But you can't do this without building a daily writing habit:
9
If you're looking for a (proven) way to build a daily writing habit, read this:
10
And highly recommend using the Bezos 6-pager memo for your next meeting:
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That's it!
The Bezos Writing Framework:
• <30 words per sentence
• Replace adjectives with data
• Use the "So What?" test
• No "weasel words" i.e. "nearly" or "significantly"
• Use subject-verb-object sentences
• Avoid jargon and acronyms and clutter words.
The Bezos Writing Framework:
• <30 words per sentence
• Replace adjectives with data
• Use the "So What?" test
• No "weasel words" i.e. "nearly" or "significantly"
• Use subject-verb-object sentences
• Avoid jargon and acronyms and clutter words.
12
Now you have the framework, it's time to put it into practice.
How?
By getting paid to write as a ghostwriter.
Ghostwriting is how I made my first $10,000 writing on the internet.
Here's a free, 5-day email course to help you get started: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=DickieP250…
How?
By getting paid to write as a ghostwriter.
Ghostwriting is how I made my first $10,000 writing on the internet.
Here's a free, 5-day email course to help you get started: x.premiumghostwritingblueprint.com/?el=DickieP250…
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Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this, then follow me @dickiebush for more posts on digital writing.
Then, I'd appreciate it if you jumped back to the top and reposted the first post to share it with others:
x.com/dickiebush/sta…
If you enjoyed this, then follow me @dickiebush for more posts on digital writing.
Then, I'd appreciate it if you jumped back to the top and reposted the first post to share it with others:
x.com/dickiebush/sta…