Now I may not be the sharpest pencil in the box but I’m lucky enough to surround myself with some brilliant people. A friend of mine has to be one of the smartest people around. The man’s solutions could revolutionize the world.
If he could communicate them.
Which he can’t. Which means that either other people scoop up his ideas (which I’ve done with his blessing) or they go undiscovered.
Communication, either verbal or written, is critical for success in life. Recently I read 10 Simple Secrets Of The World’s Greatest Business Communicators by Carmine Gallo. If you can get past the incredibly long title (which ironically flies in the face of Simple Secret #6 Brevity or “Keep It Short. Period.”), the antidotes and examples from communicators like the Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger or Starbucks’ Howard Shultz or Apple’s Steve Jobs are well worth the price of admission (a valid library card).
The 10 Secrets (Passion, Inspiration, Preparation, Start Strong, Clarity, Brevity, Say It With Style, Command Presence, Wear It Well, and Reinvent Yourself) may seem simple but if that was true then why are there so few great communicators? However, Gallo gives colorful examples to punctuate each point.
Examples like…
“Barbara Corcoran turned a $1,000 loan into a New York City real estate empire. Her book, Use What You’ve Got, became a New York Times business best seller. During my interview with Corcoran, I asked her what she considers the one communications technique which sets her apart in her industry. She answered, “I always use stories. That’s what people remember. They remember stories. Also, put yourself in the shoes of your audience. They’re asking themselves, “So what?” The only information they find of value is information they can personally use. Ask yourself what is the practical information of your point. How can they use this information? Help the audience answer the questions “So what?””