Everyone says “be clear not clever”, do the opposite

Something I learned a long time ago…

It’s been whispered in my ear by a few legendary greats.

But most people will never tell you this (possibly because they do not know, or have not learned it yet).

If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur… look at what everyone else is doing and do the opposite. But don’t just take my word for it. Consider the words of Earl Nightingale, widely considered the founding father of personal development, who created the first spoken-word, personal development audio program:

“Whatever the majority of people are doing, under any given circumstances, if you do the exact opposite, you will probably never make another mistake as long as you live.”

Or perhaps the wise insights of Anita Roddick…

The woman who founded The Body Shop and built an ethical empire long before the word “sustainability” was even fashionable:

“Whatever you do, be different — that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.”

Or even the timeless wisdom of Seth Godin, the marketer who turned rebellion into a business strategy, and spent decades reminding creators, leaders, and entrepreneurs that sameness isn’t safe, it’s invisible:

“If you’re doing what everyone else is doing, you’re doing it wrong.”

In a world where most people follow templates, chase trends, and seek approval from their peers and superiors… these three legendary entrepreneurs have built their reputation on doing the exact opposite.

Because in a marketplace full of ideas, the biggest risk isn’t standing out.

It’s blending in.

And there’s something I see just about everyone who’s ever heard the word copywriting before say… which is totally wrong… and that’s “be clear not clever.”

Which sounds good…

You know… it’s got the alliteration thing going on… so it sounds kind of true.

But it’s absolutely wrong.

So what does it really mean to be clever in your writing?

And more importantly, how can you use it to grow your online education business?

Well, I’m glad you asked…

Clever writing has the ability to take an old familiar idea and deliver it in an unexpected or delightfully efficient new way.

Clever writing shows intelligence without showing off because it’s not about fancy words or ideas, it’s about fresh perspective and precision of thought.

Clever writing has the ability to surprise your readers and help them see something familiar in a fresh new light.

For example, let’s look to James Clear:

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

It’s this fresh new look at an old idea that triggers a little, mini epiphany in your readers mind and makes your ideas downright unforgettable.

Clever writing packs a punch because it compresses meaning down into a minimal amount of space.

Every word earns its keep.

Nothing extra.

Clever writing using contrast to play opposites against each other for a bold and memorable effect.

“You’re not too late, you’re just early for the next wave.”

Clever writing achieves clarity because it’s smart and easy to understand.

Contrary to popular belief, clever does not mean confusing.

The reason clever works is because it relies on skillful application, not just fanciful ideas.

Clever writing isn’t about using puns, or about being cryptic, or about making yourself sound smart. It’s about making your readers feel smart. And letting them know it’s not their fault, and they were right along.

Clever writing is the opposite of everything you’ve ever been told to do to grow your business that hasn’t worked in the past.

Clever writing is the road less traveled.

And the path to making your offers impossible to ignore.

If interested in more, you can pick up my Legendary Writing Guide using the link below:

https://kevinhood.me/legendary

Kevin Hood

P.S. If you do, you’ll get the version 2 update when it’s released in the next 2 weeks with more insights, and more examples, plus I’m adding all the strategy stuff you’ll need to build your list and monetize your offers on Threads using my clever approach to influential writing. On top of that, you’ll also get a behind-the-scenes, over-the-shoulder look at how I’m using this and other methods to grow my business using Threads organic traffic, as well as paid ads, in the weeks and months that lie ahead.