There’s a delicate balance between truth and effectiveness.

It’s rare that the exact way we think about a given topic is also the most effective way to inspire others. So we have to pander.

We have to meet people where they are, rather than where we want them to be. Rather than presenting things exactly how they are, we have to make them juicier. We round the edges, hide some monsters under the bed, and bring in approximate anecdotes to get the point across.

This is core to effective storytelling. It’s better to teach someone the 90% truth about health and have them follow a “good enough” routine than it is to overwhelm them with the perfect routine that they’ll quit.

The challenge is in finding the proper balance.

If the message is too watered down, then it loses its effectiveness. At the same time we risk losing the trust of the audience and the integrity of our message.

So there’s a simple framework I like to consider. As long as the message stays true, the impact is positive, the intention is good, and there’s an option for our audience to come along with us on the journey of understanding; then I have no problem catering to preconceived notions and past experiences.

-Brandon