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The Amazon 6-Page Memo: Decisions Without the PowerPoint Bullshit

Created: 2025-01-25 | Size: 2300 bytes

TL;DR

Amazon's 6-page memo: a structured narrative read silently at meeting start. No slides, no fluff. Forces clear thinking, deep prep, better decisions. Structure it with context, goals, options, risks. Saves time long-term.

Why PowerPoint sucks for decisions

Slides are lazy: bullet points, pretty pictures, no depth. People zone out, interrupt, rehash basics. Amazon said fuck that—write a full story. Everyone reads first, then discusses informed.

The basics

  • Max 6 pages (including appendices if needed, but keep core tight).
  • Narrative prose, like a story: readable, logical flow.
  • Dense: every word counts, no filler bullshit.
  • Meeting ritual: 20-30 minutes silent reading, then Q&A.

Standard structure

  1. Title and Press Release: Fake future announcement of success.
  2. Context/Problem: What's the issue? Background facts.
  3. Goals/Tenets: What success looks like, guiding principles.
  4. Current State: Honest assessment of now.
  5. Options/Plan: Alternatives considered, why this one.
  6. Risks/Consequences: What could go wrong, mitigations.
  7. Lessons Learned: From past or data.

Adapt as needed, but keep it narrative.

How to write one

  • Think deeply first—writing exposes fuzzy ideas.
  • Use data, examples, no jargon.
  • Edit ruthlessly: cut to 6 pages.
  • Get feedback before the meeting.

What you get

  • Everyone on same page (literally).
  • Deeper discussions, fewer dumb questions.
  • Better decisions, less politics.
  • Forces accountability—your words are permanent.

Pitfalls

  • Lazy writers produce crap memos.
  • Too long? Nobody reads.
  • Skip reading time? Back to chaos.
  • Not for every meeting—use for big decisions.

Start small

Next big choice: write a 6-pager instead of deck. Time it, see if discussions improve.

Bottom line

6-page memos cut the crap, make teams smarter. Steal from Amazon: write more, slide less. Your decisions will thank you.

References

  1. Jeff Bezos’ 2017 Letter to Shareholders - Discusses the high standards and effort required for great memos.
  2. The Anatomy of an Amazon 6-Pager - A breakdown of the memo structure.

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