Keeping it simple

I'm a fan of keeping things plain, simple and true. There is enormous value in getting to the essence of your message, and being able to make yourself understood and memorable to everyone. When trying to speak to the whole wide world, you lose people the more complicated you make the message.

One of the most important tasks in getting to simplicity is understanding the DNA of who is doing the speaking and who they are trying to connect to. For example, in a conversation I had last week with someone who does this kind of thing for a living, I heard this simple message about the DNA of two particular and different societies.

Japan -- craftsman
China -- merchant

That message explains almost everything.

When dealing with a globally-connected world that is still separated by languages, it is important to speak in a way so clear and simple that your words can be easily translated and not misinterpreted. Wikipedia asks that all articles on the U.S. version of the online publication are accessible pretty easily by being written in simple English, thus increasing the value of the whole.

If there is a message that cuts through the noise and cacophony of the 21st century media, chances are it is a model of simplicity.

Good grammar is of course fundamental. Messy written English just messes with the minds of people around the world trying to read it. Of course, if targeting native speakers you have some latitude.

If you are feeling confused, and feel a desire to escape the din from all the messages being thrown your way, one of three things may be happening:

poor communications and complicated messages
an inability of the messenger to really understand him/herself or you
deliberate obfuscation

The problem is not with you.

So if you are one of the Americans who is feeling his/her mind confused, ask yourself which of the above is the problem.