What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. – Ecclesiastes 1:9

From ancient times, when our ancestors wrote their communications and stories on stone walls, to this generation that communicates through text messages on their phones and shares stories on the walls of social media, nothing is new under the sun; it just evolves to bring increased light or more darkness.

Did you know? In the 4th millennium BC, in Mesopotamia, an unknown individual changed the course of human history by using some squiggles on clay to represent a goat and an ox. Writing was first created to keep records of transactions. The discovery of clay tablets with picture-like signs depicting lists of goods has been found to prove this piece of history existed.

Think of how much thought was necessary to have gone into the ancient writings on stone. It’s not like they had a delete button or an eraser. Could you imagine making a mistake in your calculations of a sale for your goods? How could you ever correct that mistake? You would have to go back to the drawing stone and start fresh. But what if you had already delivered your stone invoice? It would be very hard to get out of the mistake; whatever is in stone is fact.

Even today, nothing is new! This finding is relatable to any text or post you write. Once you press that send button, whatever you have written can never be undone. It’s written in stone.

Here are some crucial tips to follow when you send any text, email, or post on social media:

1. Read everything before you press share or send.
2. Make sure you are sending your message to the right person before pressing send.
3. Don’t use your cellphone as a crutch—difficult conversations should always be done in person.
4. Personal information should be shared in person.
5. Remember, written communication follows similar rules as in person. Watch your tone and your words. The only caveat is you can’t read someone’s body language or look in their eyes to sense that the message is being received well. They also can’t read yours, so it is vitally important you choose your words well.
6. And be careful with emojis; make sure you know the universal intent of them. You may think you are expressing a certain emotion with an image, and the other person thinks it means something completely different.
7. Read and reread messages being sent to you to make sure you understand what is being said before responding. In our fast-paced world, we tend to skim content only to discover we missed half the message or, worse, misunderstood it.

For your business communication, make sure to check the following:

• Identify your goal.
• Consider your audience.
• Choose a clear subject line.
• Begin with a greeting.
• State your purpose.
• Keep it concise.
• Use proper business etiquette.
• Don’t forget your attachments.