The Practice of Kanketsu (簡潔)

The power of simplicity and clarity.

Links:

• Making digital products shouldn’t be hard. You can create less and launch faster.

• The Self Investment Project is a great little newsletter I’ve added to my reading list. I recommend checking it out.

---

My time living in Japan heavily informed how I live life and do business today.

Kanketsu (簡潔) is a Japanese term meaning concise, succinct, and clear in expression. It describes something that is simple and to the point, with no superfluous elements.

It no uncertain terms, it means getting your point across in a brief, straightforward manner.

This has been one of the pillars of my life since I learned it.

Far too often, we are inundated with complexity in all facets of our life for no practical reason.

The overwhelming amount of choice leads to loss of focus and clarity. The complexity leads to an untold amount of failure points.

This is the very reason I’ve chosen short form writing as my means to convey my messaging.

Many mistake it as a lazy way to write.

The truth here is that being simple is more difficult than being complex. Complexity can hide the flaws in your technique. Simplicity doesn’t allow such a mask to be worn.

It strips away all the ego from the craft and replaces it solely with your skill, on full display, with nothing to hide behind.

It’s pure.

In addition to that, it respects the reader.

If done properly, your reader can immediately find value in your words, no matter the topic. Here’s how:

• You’re respecting their time.

• You’re respecting their intelligence.

• You’re not hiding, but presenting your truest self.

• You’re giving them something unfiltered, which engenders trust.

I highly recommend giving it a try.

Mastering this particular aspect in the craft of writing will help you in all the other areas.

Try it today. Take a subject that’s been on your mind and put it into words. Focus on removing what is not necessary to convey your message.