Day 8: Clear > clever
Please find attached my 40-slide presentation on clarity.
It’s become a bit of a cliché to talk about the need for clarity “in a noisy world”. Every brand and creator says they value it. But how many actually put it into practice?
And how do you even do that?
I often talk about writing clearly myself, but I also struggle with explaining how to do it. Because it’s not easy to be clear. To strip away jargon and unnecessary words. To stick to one message. To help the reader see what you mean without making them work for it or dumbing it down too much.
I see so many examples of unclear communication that waste time and create frustration — even conflict. Messages like:
“Let’s meet soon” (when?)
Presentations that have 40 slides and no clear message
Emails that answer everything except the question you asked
That’s why this week we focus on clarity. It’s a skill you can (and should) train, and I will share some techniques to help you do that.
When your message is clear, you stand out. Not because you said more or better, but because you made sense.
Prompt (pleasure, not homework 🐣)
A simple trick for being clearer is to imagine writing for someone much younger or less experienced than you.
So, take a complex idea from your field — maybe something you recently tackled or struggled with yourself at one point — and explain it to a 12-year-old. Or to an elderly aunt who is curious about your work.
Rules (daily reminder):
☕ Pick a time to write and tie it to a ritual (morning coffee, evening tea).
⏱ Write for 25 minutes — no less. More only if you’re in the flow.
🎶 Music helps stay in the flow (here’s a playlist I like).
🪑 Show up anyway. Even if you don’t feel like it, stay with the page. Write anything, doodle.
📓 Write on your laptop or in a notebook. Writing by hand can help you focus (any notebook will do).
✍️ Make it yours. If today’s theme doesn’t click, write about something else that feels close. The point is to show up for 30 days.
💌 Optional: Shrug & Send. Share today’s piece with someone outside your field. Ask for feedback: did they get it? What was unclear?