Use Real Words

Superhero Power #1 for all of you who joined the team: Commit to using “real” words

“Our goal is to maximize the value for all stakeholders by leveraging synergies in our…”

Is anyone NOT snoozing yet?

I had a great business teacher at one of the seven colleges I attended. His name was Ken Hadge (I think). Of all the teachers I had before or sinse, Ken had it right. He had a briefcase full of great expressions and ideas, and most of them hinged from a single basic premise: big words don’t equal big business. Understanding and action equal big business. And here’s a favorite phrase of Ken’s:

“Tell it to me like I’m six years old.”

Ever since reading THE SHIPPING NEWS, I’ve been in love with small sentences. I write conversationally, but if left to my own druthers, I keep things short. Brevity, paired with simple, clear language, is godlike.

So that’s your Superhero Power #1. Remember “tell it to me like I’m six years old,” and go from there.

The Genesis Framework empowers you to quickly and easily build incredible websites with WordPress. Whether you're a novice or advanced developer, Genesis provides you with the secure and search-engine-optimized foundation that takes WordPress to places you never thought it could go.

With automatic theme updates and world-class support included, Genesis is the smart choice for your WordPress website or blog.

Find out more about the framework features
Check out the Genesis demo and the wide variety of child themes
See example designs in the Genesis design showcase

Become a StudioPress Affiliate

http://inoveryourhead.net julien

this is a great philosophy.
http://inoveryourhead.net julien

this is a great philosophy.
http://www.ldpodcast.com Whitney

I think there’s a difference between telling it to a six year old, and keeping it straight and direct, and here’s why- I think people underestimate the intelligence of children, as well as the general american public. Politicians regularly try to “tell it to a six yr old” but they decide that therefore, nuance isn’t important, and all we get are sound bites.
Robin Williams does a great riff in Mrs. Doubtfire about how a boring, educational show doesn’t need to be that way, because no one needs to be talked down to. Nor does anyone need to hear a speech full of jargon and acronyms. You need to say what you mean, while stripping out the unnecessary fat.
So I agree that we need to “KISS”- ‘keep it simple, stupid’ as a goal, but we also have to avoid assuming our audience is therefore simple minded or stupid at the same time. respect your audience, but keep it tightened up, and you got something.
http://www.ldpodcast.com Whitney

I think there’s a difference between telling it to a six year old, and keeping it straight and direct, and here’s why- I think people underestimate the intelligence of children, as well as the general american public. Politicians regularly try to “tell it to a six yr old” but they decide that therefore, nuance isn’t important, and all we get are sound bites.
Robin Williams does a great riff in Mrs. Doubtfire about how a boring, educational show doesn’t need to be that way, because no one needs to be talked down to. Nor does anyone need to hear a speech full of jargon and acronyms. You need to say what you mean, while stripping out the unnecessary fat.
So I agree that we need to “KISS”- ‘keep it simple, stupid’ as a goal, but we also have to avoid assuming our audience is therefore simple minded or stupid at the same time. respect your audience, but keep it tightened up, and you got something.
http://www.graemewatson.blogspot.com Graeme Watson

I work in the other direction, I get my Mum to read it, if she understands it, it passes the test.

Not sure what this says about my Mum, though.
http://www.graemewatson.blogspot.com Graeme Watson

I work in the other direction, I get my Mum to read it, if she understands it, it passes the test.

Not sure what this says about my Mum, though.
http://levite.wordpress.com jon

6 year olds don’t lack intelligence or surprising ability to understand complex situations. However, they ARE pretty concrete. What we do too often is get really abstract in the hope that no one knows we are making it up. So for me, telling it like six is looking for concrete metaphors, simple words, lots of interaction, not just words, and working with the assumption that I am talking to someone who is capable of understanding immense things but currently is looking through a tunnel that obfuscation won’t fit through. (intentionally using big words to confuse)

Here’s how it applies to me. Jesus says anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it. So after all the big theology (which, of course, Jesus didn’t write), unless I can figure out how to make it simple and real, I’m adding more confusion than Jesus intended. And if you want perfect examples of the kind of language and confusion that can exist, look at theology.
http://levite.wordpress.com jon

6 year olds don’t lack intelligence or surprising ability to understand complex situations. However, they ARE pretty concrete. What we do too often is get really abstract in the hope that no one knows we are making it up. So for me, telling it like six is looking for concrete metaphors, simple words, lots of interaction, not just words, and working with the assumption that I am talking to someone who is capable of understanding immense things but currently is looking through a tunnel that obfuscation won’t fit through. (intentionally using big words to confuse)

Here’s how it applies to me. Jesus says anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it. So after all the big theology (which, of course, Jesus didn’t write), unless I can figure out how to make it simple and real, I’m adding more confusion than Jesus intended. And if you want perfect examples of the kind of language and confusion that can exist, look at theology.

Use Real Words

ChrisBrogan.com runs on the Genesis Framework

Supporters

About

Subscribe