Clarity and StoryBrand - What’s the Diff?
Donald Miller and StoryBrand. Steve Woodruff and Clarity. Are they the same?
Donald and I both write and talk a lot about clarity. We both have a passion for branding. Not only do our messages overlap a good bit, but we even live within 30 minutes of each other here in the Nashville area.
So, lots of neighborly overlaps - but our approaches have some differences in scope and breadth.
StoryBrand - an immensely helpful and smart framework, by the way - exists to help brands and companies shape their message using timeless and proven storytelling formulas and practices. This approach has helped countless companies eschew confusion and lack of focus, and make their messaging more effective.
StoryBrand is a subset of a larger category/discipline called - here’s a non-surprise! - Branding/Marketing.
I love branding. I started my Clarity practice decades ago by emphasizing brand messaging, but I kept pursuing this wider and deeper obsession - what about clear and effective communication in ALL respects, in EVERY format, for EVERY human? I had this crazy idea that maybe there was a formula/framework that was universal.
Maybe the core principles of effective brand/marketing shared a lot in common with…every other form and discipline of human communication?
My first book, Clarity Wins, emphasized the role of clarity in brand identity and messaging, but my second book, The Point, contains a universal and timeless formula for ALL forms of communication (including branding, of course).
The Point: there are four rules and eight tools that anyone can use to design brain-friendly and clear communication in every format. It took me 45 years of adult life and business, and many years of writing/thinking/teaching, to finally boil it down.
So…the StoryBrand framework and the Clarity Fuel Formula are very much in agreement on core principles and practices - it’s just that I’m promoting a communication clarity framework -a single formula - that can be employed to an unlimited extent. Sales. Marketing. Branding. Leadership. Operations. Networking. HR. Project Management. Coaching. Consulting. Presentations. Email. Authoring.
I should note here that Donald Miller has expanded his content and teaching beyond branding, into broader areas of life and business. He’s full of great perspectives and well worth following to learn more about clarity, coaching, and relationships.
So, for anyone that’s been wondering - we sound alike because we are on similar paths! Anyone who loves the StoryBrand framework will love the Clarity Fuel Formula, and vice-versa, because we’re aiming at the same goal.
Eliminating confusion. Growing business, by getting to the point and getting the point across.
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