Most people who want to get ahead spend useful time writing personal notes of gratitude（感谢的心情） , sympathy（同情，慰问） and congratulations. But when it comes to routine memos, letters, fact sheets and forms, they save a lot of time by relying on previously written material.

Susan Taylor, editor-in-chief of Essence, has created some 40 form letters for everything from article rejections to replies to requests for donations. Stored on her computer, the letters can be called up, copied and customized by changing a few key words. Taylor then often adds a handwritten greeting at the bottom as a personal touch.