Excel 2007 : how to eliminate single character from either side of a text string in excel 2007?

i have a text string like this--->
[you are looking at me now]
i want it to be without the sqare brackets.-->
you are looking at me now

kindly instruct how to do it?
with the right and left functions i can get the required result, but it is being done in two seperate actions, viz right first then the left or vice versa. is it possible we can use both the left and right functions in the same formula?
thanks, have a nice day.

Try this:

=MID(E6,2,LEN(E6)-2)

HAI PAPABEAR,
i have no words to express my happiness in the new tips suggested by you. iot worked as i wished. thank u very much. have a nice day.