There’s a difference in communicating something when you’re drawing from a deep well. Even if the words and presentation are similar, there’s a discernible energy and mass to communication that comes from a place of conviction.
I suppose this is called depth. But I think of it more like weight. A shot put and a softball are similar in size and shape. But I’d much rather you toss me a softball than hurl a shot put in my direction. They may look similar, but one is going to have far more opportunity for impact.
I am officially 95% of the way through my personal 100 Weekday Writing Challenge. I’ve written 95 little personal essays in the last 5 months or so. I can’t overstate how beneficial writing consistently has been for my mental health. But I’ve been more surprised by the significant professional benefits I’ve experienced.
I gave a presentation about influence to a group of leaders last week. I spent my normal amount of time preparing and came up with completely new content for the occasion. I pulled quite a bit from my own personal writings over the last several months. Sometimes it was concepts and principles I’ve clarified for myself through my own little essays. Other times, I straight lifted metaphors, illustrations, and even a turn of phrase or two to add to what I shared with the group.
My writing gave my presentation more substance.
More depth. More mass.
I felt more confident presenting.
I had more conviction in what I was sharing.
I don’t know if everyone’s thing is writing. Maybe yours is art or singing or talking things out or any number of other creative outlets. But my clarity of thought comes through words. Reading and writing. Pondering and discussing. The disciplines of improving my inputs and clarifying my thoughts with creative outlets have proved to be significantly helpful when I create things to communicate with others.
Hitting publish five days a week isn’t a pace that I’m going to be able to keep up with past finishing my personal challenge. And I think I’m ready to dive deeper into some of the concepts I’ve formed for myself.
But as I move beyond this experience, I’m convinced of the benefits of consistently learning, clarifying, and growing. The work I do to clarify my thinking today gives weight to what I communicate tomorrow.
I shared last week that Your Perspective + Your Platform = Your Influence. I don’t know how much I can grow my platform, but I know I can have more influence if I grow and go deeper with the perspectives I have about life and leadership.