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If You Want to Be Profound, Be Simple · The Daily Writer

• 0:06
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Daily Rider Podcast, where we bring you tips and inspiration each day to help you build habits for writing success.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: For more resources, including your free Daily Rider starter kit, visit DailyRiderLife.com.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: One of the most popular TV sitcoms in recent years was the Big Bang Theory.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Now chances are pretty high that you've either seen it or you know about it, but just in case you haven't, the Big Bang Theory focuses on a group of friends, several of whom are physicists and engineers.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: And many of the show's storylines and a lot of its humor came from the character Sheldon Cooper, who spent a lot of time and energy trying to prove how smart he was.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: But you know, it's not just sitcom characters who want to appear smart.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Every single one of us wants to be respected and admired for our knowledge and our skills.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: If we're not careful in our writing and in our communication, we can sometimes wind up like Sheldon, constantly trying to prove that we're just a little bit superior to everybody else.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_00: And I think we would do well to follow the timeless wisdom of Mr.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_00: Rogers, who said, Deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Now the question is, how do we actually do this in our writing?
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: And I want to offer three suggestions.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_00: Number one is to use short words and sentences.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: There's no value in being complicated just for the sake of trying to appear smart.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, remember that your writing is all about serving people.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: We're not writing to prove that we're smart or accomplished, we're writing in the service of others.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: And number three, keep in mind the old saying, people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
• 1:49
  SPEAKER_00: The cold hard truth is that people don't really care how smart you are.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: They just want to know if you can help them or entertain them or inspire them.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I think that intelligence is not a sign of impact, necessarily.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Just because you have a fancy title or a bunch of letters behind your name, it doesn't necessarily mean that you're impacting anybody.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now, likewise, there are plenty of people without degrees or titles who have a lot of influence because they keep things deep and simple.
• 2:17
  unknown: Mr.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Rogers actually had both.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Many people didn't know that he was a Presbyterian minister who also received over 40 honorary degrees and awards.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: In addition, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Now, despite those outward accomplishments, though, he was able to communicate simple truths in a way that captivated children for decades.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: And if you can speak simple truth in a way that people understand, then I think you can truly say bazinga.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: And those of you who watch the Big Bang Theory will get that.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: The rest of you will have no clue, but that's okay.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Just go watch the Big Bang Theory and you'll get it.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: So here's today's challenge.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: What piece of writing or communication can you simplify today?
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to take that to heart because almost anything that you create can probably be simplified.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: So give it a shot, and I'd I'd be curious to know what you've simplified.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: You can always email me, by the way, at Kent at DailyWriterLife.com.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'd love to hear from you.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: Tell me what you simplified and fill me in.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, my friend, as always, thanks for listening, and I'll see you next time.