Most business emails fail for one reason: the reader has no idea what you want in the first 3 sentences.

Here's a rule I drill into every beginner: your email should work even if the reader only reads the first 3 sentences.

Sentence 1: Why you're writing (the context).

Sentence 2: What you need from them (the ask).

Sentence 3: By when / what happens next (the action).

Example — before:

"Hi Sarah, hope you're doing well! I wanted to reach out because we've been working on the Q3 report and there were a few things that came up during the review process that I think might need your input, and also I was wondering if you had time this week or next to maybe hop on a call..."

After:

"Hi Sarah — the Q3 report review surfaced two open questions I need your input on. Could you review the flagged sections by Thursday? Happy to jump on a 15-min call if that's faster."

Same information. Half the words. Zero guessing about what you actually want.

Try it on your next email: write the ask first, then build the context around it, not the other way around.