--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Journalists obsess about their leads. Don…" description: "\"“Journalists obsess about their leads. Don Wycliff, a winner of prizes for editorial writing, says, “I’ve always been a believer that if I’ve got two h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/chip-heath-4065_leadership_journalists-obsess-about-their-leads-don_276347.png" --- # Journalists obsess about their leads. Don Wycliff, a… ![“Journalists obsess about their leads. Don Wycliff, a winner of prizes for editorial writing, says, “I’ve always been a believer that if I’ve got two hours in which to write a story, the best investment I can make is to spend the first hour and forty-five minutes of it getting a good lead, because…” quote by Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/chip-heath-4065_leadership_journalists-obsess-about-their-leads-don_276347.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/chip-heath-4065_leadership_journalists-obsess-about-their-leads-don_276347.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92d/chip-heath-4065_leadership_journalists-obsess-about-their-leads-don_276347.png) > ““Journalists obsess about their leads. Don Wycliff, a winner of prizes for editorial writing, says, “I’ve always been a believer that if I’ve got two hours in which to write a story, the best investment I can make is to spend the first hour and forty-five minutes of it getting a good lead, because after that everything will come easily.”” [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes investing time early to craft a strong lead, making the rest of the work easier. **In simple terms:** Strong start simplifies later work. Key Takeaway Prioritize a solid opening. Themes writing strategy efficiency Mood practical focused Type instructional advisory When to use this quote - journalism - marketing - academic writing Key Concepts lead generation storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How does a strong lead affect audience engagement? - What balance between planning and spontaneity? A Different Perspective Time spent on lead may delay other tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Good editorial writing has less to do with winning an argument, since the other side is mostly not listening, than with telling the guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-gopnik/good-editorial-writing-has-less-to-do-with-winning-an-argument-since/) [Adam Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-gopnik/) > [“A good lead measure has two basic characteristics: It’s predictive of achieving the goal and it can be influenced by the team members.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mcchesney/a-good-lead-measure-has-two-basic-characteristics-it-s-predictive-of/) [Chris McChesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mcchesney/) > [We had a pretty good lead, so why push it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wells/we-had-a-pretty-good-lead-so-why-push-it/) [David Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wells/) > [“People don't expect perfection, but they do appreciate when they see leaders who sincerely try to improve and ask for help in areas where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fenton-lee/people-don-t-expect-perfection-but-they-do-appreciate-when-they-see/) [Amy Fenton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fenton-lee/) > [Make sure you're realistic about what you can do, but if you have a good lead with something, making the plunge into full-time writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-clymer/make-sure-you-re-realistic-about-what-you-can-do-but-if-you-have-a/) [Ben Clymer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-clymer/) > [Impulsiveness leads to regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/impulsiveness-leads-to-regret/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“A man who saw has turned blind, A hearer deaf, A leader now leads astray!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-lichtheim/a-man-who-saw-has-turned-blind-a-hearer-deaf-a-leader-now-leads-astray/) [Miriam Lichtheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-lichtheim/) > [Curiosity often leads to trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-in-wonderland/curiosity-often-leads-to-trouble/) [Alice In Wonderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-in-wonderland/) > [Service to others leads to greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/service-to-others-leads-to-greatness/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Denial leads to closure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/denial-leads-to-closure/) Aruho Marwin Machiaveli > [I always write a story in one sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/i-always-write-a-story-in-one-sitting/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [You have to write your own story, your own graph and rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/you-have-to-write-your-own-story-your-own-graph-and-rhythm/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [“If your characters write your story, rather than you writing your characters, it's like your dog taking YOU for a walk. 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