We live in an extremely noisy world.
But contrary to what you’ve been told, it’s possible to stand out and show how you’re different.
THREAD: How to stand out by developing a “spiky” point of view:
But contrary to what you’ve been told, it’s possible to stand out and show how you’re different.
THREAD: How to stand out by developing a “spiky” point of view:
What is a spiky point of view?
It’s a perspective others can disagree with.
A belief you feel strongly about and are willing to advocate for.
Your thesis about topics in your realm of expertise.
It’s a perspective others can disagree with.
A belief you feel strongly about and are willing to advocate for.
Your thesis about topics in your realm of expertise.
Your spiky point of view is what separates you from everyone else.
The convergence of your experience, skills, personality, instincts, and intuition.
The factors that have molded you into the person you are today.
The convergence of your experience, skills, personality, instincts, and intuition.
The factors that have molded you into the person you are today.
A spiky point of view is impossible to imitate--it’s unique to each person, a powerful competitive advantage, rooted in your conviction and authenticity.
The best part?
You already have it in you.
Here are the key elements of a spiky point of view:
The best part?
You already have it in you.
Here are the key elements of a spiky point of view:
1. A spiky point of view can be debated.
Others should be able to disagree with your spiky point of view.
If everyone agrees with it, it’s too middle of the road.
Others should be able to disagree with your spiky point of view.
If everyone agrees with it, it’s too middle of the road.
2. A spiky point of view isn’t controversial for the sake of it.
There’s nothing more irritating than a contrarian who just wants to stir the pot.
That's being intellectually lazy.
Don’t be that person.
There’s nothing more irritating than a contrarian who just wants to stir the pot.
That's being intellectually lazy.
Don’t be that person.
3. A spiky point of view teaches your audience something relevant they don’t already know.
• Don’t only ask questions
• Don’t just summarize information
Offer a point of view that makes people see their problem in a new way.
• Don’t only ask questions
• Don’t just summarize information
Offer a point of view that makes people see their problem in a new way.
4. A spiky point of view is rooted in evidence, but it doesn’t have to be a proven fact or universal truth.
Your perspective should be defensible.
You should believe in it enough to advocate for it.
But you have to be okay with people disagreeing with you.
Your perspective should be defensible.
You should believe in it enough to advocate for it.
But you have to be okay with people disagreeing with you.
5. A spiky point of view requires conviction.
Be brave enough to advocate for what you believe in.
It’s not a passive regurgitation of information.
You’re trying to convince someone because you genuinely believe they’ll be better for it.
Be brave enough to advocate for what you believe in.
It’s not a passive regurgitation of information.
You’re trying to convince someone because you genuinely believe they’ll be better for it.
To bring this to life, here are a few of my spiky POVs:
If you’re building an online course, you need to build marketing into your course from day one.
You can’t afford to tack on marketing at the end and hope for the best.
If you’re building an online course, you need to build marketing into your course from day one.
You can’t afford to tack on marketing at the end and hope for the best.
Launches aren’t a one-time event.
Most companies do a ton of work for the launch but don’t spend enough time on what happens after.
A successful launch means sustaining the momentum once the confetti settles.
Most companies do a ton of work for the launch but don’t spend enough time on what happens after.
A successful launch means sustaining the momentum once the confetti settles.
Stop learning how to give feedback.
Focus on learning to receive it.
Most people are terrible at receiving feedback, so you only need to be a little better to win.
Focus on learning to receive it.
Most people are terrible at receiving feedback, so you only need to be a little better to win.
When you teach online, many people assume they’re 100% an instructor.
But you’re actually 50% an instructor and 50% an entertainer.
Attention spans are short and the responsibility is on the instructor (not the student) to help students understand why they should care.
But you’re actually 50% an instructor and 50% an entertainer.
Attention spans are short and the responsibility is on the instructor (not the student) to help students understand why they should care.
Prototyping is unnecessary in 90% of cases.
If you took 15 mins to think about a problem intently, you probably wouldn’t have to do a product sprint at all.
Instead, use scenario planning and think through the logic of how your idea would work if you decided to launch today.
If you took 15 mins to think about a problem intently, you probably wouldn’t have to do a product sprint at all.
Instead, use scenario planning and think through the logic of how your idea would work if you decided to launch today.
In summary:
A spiky point of view shouldn't be a controversial hot take.
It's an opportunity to say the ideas you care about but are afraid people may push back on.
Try it anyway.
You’ll be surprised how people gravitate towards & appreciate your willingness to take a stand.
A spiky point of view shouldn't be a controversial hot take.
It's an opportunity to say the ideas you care about but are afraid people may push back on.
Try it anyway.
You’ll be surprised how people gravitate towards & appreciate your willingness to take a stand.
Thanks for reading!
If you found this interesting, why not share?
• Retweet the 1st tweet & help others find this thread.
• Follow me: @wes_kao
I tweet spiky POVs about education, marketing & community.
If you found this interesting, why not share?
• Retweet the 1st tweet & help others find this thread.
• Follow me: @wes_kao
I tweet spiky POVs about education, marketing & community.
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