EXPLAINING THINGS CLEARLY
“answer first, background second. the brain wants the destination before the journey.”
The Lesson
Start with the answer, then explain how you got there. 'We picked this vendor. Here's why.' Don't start with background. The brain wants to know the answer first, then context. In fiction, reverse this. Build to the answer. Always answer yes/no questions with yes or no (with qualifications if needed), never avoid them. Think in terms of who-what-where. When and keep it simple: 'Bob took a bat and broke the light behind the school.' Anticipate questions based on what your audience knows. If you've explained before, you know what questions come up, so hit them upfront. Keep sentences short, know your content.
Real-World Example
A founder presents to the board. Instead of: 'We analyzed the market, looked at competitors, surveyed customers, and eventually...' they say: 'We're pivoting to enterprise. Here's why.' When a board member asks 'Will this require new hires?' they answer 'Yes, three engineers, and here's the budget.' They structure the update as who (us), what (pivot), where (enterprise market), when (Q2). Questions they know will come up, 'What about current customers?', they address proactively. The board leaves clear on everything.
Watch Scott explain this lesson
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