Clarity - what is it? (in 1 minute)

Photo credit: Nate Woodruff

“Clarity precedes success.” Robin Sharma

It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve devoted my professional career to clarity - gaining clarity for myself, and helping others achieve it.

But…what does clarity even mean? How does clarity help anyone stand out in a noisy, competitive world?

Our 1-minute challenge: Let’s boil clarity down to two simple dimensions:

Clarity of YOU - your core identity, purpose, strengths - and how you add value to others. Your unique, differentiating, superpower - summarized. Shorthand: think of this as your brand. This applies both to individuals and to companies.

Clarity of MESSAGE - brief, vivid, purposeful messages that get right to the point and turn the light on in the minds of your audience. Shorthand: think of this as an intriguing tagline or headline. No longer like everyone else.

Trust me: when you arrive at these two dimensions of clarity, it’s like lifting the fog and getting a new pair of 20/20 corrective lenses! Now your GPS is set, and you can speak with confidence.

—(there’s your one minute. Want to go a step further?)

Forty years of business experience (sales, marketing, branding, teaching, training, ops, leadership, writing, networking, and everything else) have convinced me of one thing: you might find a way to survive without being clear, but….why would you do that to yourself and others?

Your career success and your business growth will be fueled by clarity, not confusion.

So, let’s start with the beginning: your introduction. Clarity begins with your answer to this ever-present question: “So, _______, what do you do?” How do we nail that?

Learn how to replace the ineffective elevator pitch with something clear - a memory dart. Tune into this video podcast interview where Drew Sutton and I discuss how you can succeed by winning attention in the first 15 seconds of any conversation.)

Communication clarity is one of the most vital professional skills we can develop. Starting with the beginning: introducing yourself.

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