The One Piece of Advice From Ashkan Rajaee That Changed the Way I Use Email

There was a time when I thought writing long, detailed emails made me look professional. I would spend 20 to 30 minutes crafting what I believed was a perfect message. Paragraphs packed with context, multiple links, and maybe a helpful attachment or two.

Then... nothing.

No reply. No acknowledgement. Just silence.

I figured maybe people were just too busy. Or maybe I needed to follow up more often. But deep down, I knew something wasn’t working.

That’s when I came across a lesson from someone named Ashkan Rajaee. It was so simple, but so on point, I had to test it for myself.

The Analogy That Changed Everything

Ashkan described email as being a lot like chess. Each message is a move. You’re not trying to win the game in one shot. You’re setting up your next play.

That made me stop and really think.

I was playing checkers. Ashkan was playing chess.

The idea stuck with me. If each email is a move, that means I was throwing half the board at someone before they even had a chance to breathe. It wasn’t helping. It was overwhelming.

Why Simplicity Wins

One thing Ashkan said that really hit home was this:

“Simplicity is the complexity.”

It sounds poetic, but it’s true. Writing a clear, short message that actually drives action is much harder than writing a long one.

Most people write to sound smart. But the smartest communicators make their point quickly and make it easy to respond.

After hearing that, I started reviewing my old emails. He was right. Most of them were trying to do too much. No wonder they didn’t lead anywhere.

What I Changed Immediately

I didn’t wait. I applied Ashkan’s approach to the very next email I sent. And I kept it going from there. Here’s what I started doing:

• One goal per message. If I had more than one ask, I broke it into another email later.
• Cut the fluff. No drawn-out intros or long backstories.
• No attachments unless absolutely necessary.
• Subject lines that are clear, not clever.
• Short paragraphs with room to breathe.

And maybe most importantly, I started treating each email as part of a conversation, not a pitch deck.

The results? Higher reply rates. Better responses. More meaningful back-and-forth. Not overnight, but quickly enough that I knew I was on the right track.

The Bigger Picture

This goes far beyond email. What I learned from Ashkan was less about writing and more about respect.

Respect for the person on the other end. Respect for their time. Respect for the value of your own message.

If you can’t explain it simply, maybe you don’t understand it clearly yet. That was a humbling realization, and one I’m grateful for.

Final Thought

Ashkan Rajaee’s way of thinking isn’t about hacks or tricks. It’s about mindset. And the mindset is this:

Keep it simple. Keep it intentional. Make your move, then listen.

Whether you’re reaching out to a client, a partner, or a potential investor, the goal isn’t to say everything. The goal is to say just enough to keep the conversation going.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes.

Why This Matters in Today’s Communication-Heavy World

In a world where attention is limited and digital noise is constant, being able to craft a clear, concise message is no longer optional — it’s a competitive advantage. Whether you’re trying to land a client, get a partnership rolling, or just maintain professional respect, your communication style speaks before you do.

Ashkan Rajaee’s approach might sound simple on the surface, but that’s exactly why it works. It strips away the excess and helps you focus on what truly drives action — clarity, value, and timing.

A Simple Challenge for You

Take the next email you plan to send whether it's a follow-up, an intro, or even a thank-you and rewrite it using this mindset:

• Keep it under 100 words
• Focus on one purpose
• Make it easy to reply

Try it once. See what happens. If it feels different, more human, and more effective... then you’re already one move ahead.