You explain, “There’re seven possibilities,” or “I’ve been thinking about a dozen data points.”
You’re thorough, but you’ve lost the room (especially if it’s virtual).
Keep it to 3 main points / reasons.
Why the Rule of 3 works
BTW all my clients, over many years, love The Magic Power of 3 Rule!
In fact, one client shared (with a smile), “Karen, I’m mad at you!” I asked, “Why?”
He replied, “Since you coached me to use The Magic Power of Three that’s all I see… everywhere … on bill boards, articles, presentations, and emails.”
Thank you, Tim Hughes, Founder/CEO of Falcon Realty Advisors, for that comment, and for sending me Andrea Wojnicki’s article in Inc. explaining the science of why this rule works. Using Andrea’s words:
1️⃣ Three is balanced. Think of a tripod or stool. Ever sat at a wobbly restaurant table?
2️⃣ Three is substantial. Two points feel thin, three “makes a trend”.
3️⃣ Three is manageable. You respect your audience’s capacity / cognitive load. Your message is easier to understand and to recall.
Where to use The Magic Power of Three
Newsletters.
Workshops.
Emails.
Sales pitches.
Meeting agenda.
Self-introductions.
Everywhere!
Note: Sometimes ONE point is enough, and sometimes it takes more… but make the rule of 3 your baseline.
The AI conundrum
The rule of three has become a signal that your content is AI-generated.
I agree with Wojnicki, “I’d encourage you to let that go. AI caught on because it works. It’s the sweet spot between too little and too much.”
You’ve become my valued clients via google searches (if you haven’t been referred). I ask you, “Why me?” You say, “I did a Google search and resonated with you and your website.” I reply, “Thank you so much!”
Within the last 6 months …
You answer the “Why me” question this way, “I found you and Speak For Yourself® on ChatGPT.” I reply, “Thank you so much!”
How does ChatGPT (or other AI search engines) go about recommending you and your business? What’s going on and what has changed?
According to Adrien Lefler, CEO of My Social Practice, “Google relies on key words you use on your website. ChatGPT combs the entire internet to find every aspect of your business and does so with wicked speed.”
“You made my day!”
I had the great opportunity to hear Adrien a few days ago when he spoke to the Academy of Private Dental Practice (APDP) at their annual meeting.
Adrien shared several sources of how AI gets its information to establish your authority. I’ll share the best strategy he says you must do.
Hint: You’re reading it right now.
He said, “You write original content. You can’t cheat and you cannot use ChatGPT to write for you. It knows.” He continued, “You post your content on your website. And you need to do this on a weekly basis.” He sighed and said, “No one does this.”
After his session I dashed over to him and said, “You’ve made my day! For the past 15 years I have written a blog article every flippen week! I send it to clients and it goes on my website.” He smiled and we both got excited when I said, “And I’ve gotten some wonderful business within the last 6 months from various professionals and organizations who’ve … yep …. found me on ChatGPT. Adrien, you are right and I’m your social proof!”
Relevance to you
When you ask, “What does your business, Speak For Yourself®, do?” I respond, “I work with leaders who want to get heard above the noise, either by consulting with you 1:1 or via workshops and speeches.”
Well, that noise just got louder.
To get heard above the noise start or continue to publish your content.
Whether you’re a small or huge business, do this strategy to help AI find you as an established authority.
Millennials are more likely to use Emojis to convey emotions, but sometimes attach more symbolic meaning to them. ❤️
Gen X is generally more practical in their use of technology and less likely to use Emojis. 👍🏼
Gen Z uses repeated letters in communication, like “hiiiiiiiiiii” to convey enthusiasm. 😂
Millennials & Gen Z tend to avoid ending texts with periods while Baby Boomers apply the rules of formal letter writing and use full sentences. ✍🏻
Gen X sends a moderate volume of text messages and worry less about response times while Gen Z sends an excessive amount and expects immediate responses. Baby Boomers send and receive a lower volume and not as concerned with response time. ⏰
Understanding Others
Review these Emojis that each of these generations uses ➜
Why is this relevant to you?
1️⃣ Texting style isn’t set in stone based on your birth year. You may “code-switch” when you text, just as you might adapt your tone and approach depending on your audience.
2️⃣ Many break grammar and punctuation rules when texting arguing that texting is more like talking than writing.
3️⃣ Because Emojis lack gestures and facial cues they can add meaning to text messages. But symbols can be misunderstood. Age is just one factor. Culture, gender and evolving Emoji means also play a role.
😂 Ok… my CNN Emojis Across Generations Quiz Result … drum roll 🥁🥁🥁
Have you ever gone to sleep at night saying to yourself, “Darn! I wish I had seen one more PowerPoint deck today.” ?
Have you ever gone to sleep saying to yourself, “Darn! I wish I had been more inspired today.”* ?
You, all of you, from CEO to Sales to Personnel to Purchasing, you are killing us with your PowerPoint.
That’s because bullets kill.
Five Main PowerPoint Offenders
Too many graphics on one slide.
Too many topics.
Too many bullets & too many sentences (which are worse than bullets).
Too many details.
Too many dissolves, spins or other cheesy transitions.
Every Main Offender on this list starts with “too many” because you are over-stuffing each slide. We do not know where to look first. In the midst of our confusion, we stop listening to you in hopes of being entertained by something on your slide.
Boredom + lethargy sets in and we shift over to what we really want to do – a sneaky wild round of Candy Crush Saga.
So, what’s a great slide look like?
It’s VISUAL.
Effective slides incorporate these three commandments
Thou Must use good, clear (not copyrighted by someone else) pictures that support your message.
Thou Must think ‘Less is More’ when putting your slides together. At the very least, can you please take one busy slide with many points and divide it into several slides so that each one has only one point/slide?
Thou Must remember YOU are the presenter, NOT your slide deck. Don’t hide behind your PowerPoint deck – literally (you’re standing in the dark or hidden by your computer) and figuratively (you’re reading your slides and adding nothing else).
On the other hand, keep doing what you always do and Speak For Yourself® & Associates will remain busy cleaning it up for you!
Any exceptions?
PowerPoint can serve as a report for the judge, or a financial record for a publicly held company. Depending on the industry and the speech function the PPT must include all the data.
For most presentations PPT needs to be streamlined. OR put the detailed charts and graphs as an appendix.
*FYI, inspiration comes from stories that reinforce your message that can be supported by great visuals.
Texting is integral to the way you now communicate due to its speed, convenience and ability to create a permanent record.
So, how can you get more efficient with texting?
The other day I texted a fellow boutique business owner. She’s busy. I’m busy. I had three different time-sensitive questions to ask. I numbered the questions… #1, #2 and #3.
Because she’s smart, she answered each question using the same numbering and same order.
I responded … and you know how … same numbering system.
Done! Questions answered! In less than 10 minutes.
Your Texting Trick for more productivity
Organize your texts by numbering your questions, or answers, or observations.
Heed this one tip because an organized text can save you time and money.
Number away.
PS: What other time-saving texting tips do you use?
➜ Thank you to @AnnZimmermanGallant for being this blog’s muse. You also do great texts! 😎
You’re wasting crucial digital real estate with weak email openers.
Don’t state the obvious. Especially in your first sentence.
You’re thinking, “That IS obvious. Why would I start an email with info my audience already knows? I don’t do this.”
But, you do.
Whether you’re a Fortune 500 company, the president of a small business, or writing your annual holiday letter to friends/family/clients … you’re starting your emails with this: “As the year draws to a close, we reflect on the challenges…”
Can’t argue with that sentiment, but is this Non-Newsflash the way you want to gain your audiences’ attention? Hint: you’re NOT!
Our finger is itching to smash the Delete Key before we even read your second non-helpful line, “To be honest, this hasn’t been the year we had planned.”*
Your #1 clue:
✅ Lead with your need.
❌ Do NOT state the obvious. (And please stop saying “to be honest”! Is everything else you write/say dishonest?!)
Your BONUS CLUE:
✅ Start your emails with the word “You” or “Your” and make your info about your reader. Ex: read the first line of this blog!
❌ “I wanted to follow up with you about…” 😬😬😬
You can do better!
*Source: we won’t reveal it! This sentence is verbatim from a city-wide newsletter we received.
Five Main PowerPoint Offenders
You’re wasting crucial digital real estate with weak email openers.
