I’ve noticed I do this quite a lot when I’m writing. I’ll start with a clear idea, and then halfway through I’ll think, “I should probably add this as well.” Then another angle comes in, and then an example, and then something else that I think feels relevant. You can usually feel the moment a post starts drifting in too many directions - It stops being about one thing and slowly turns into a mix of everything you know on the topic. It reads fine, it just doesn’t stay with anyone. I used to think adding more made the post stronger. More context + angles = more value. And in some cases it does, but it can also make it harder for someone to take anything away from it. Because when someone reads your content, they’re not sitting there analysing everything you’ve said. They’re trying to figure out what they’re meant to do with it. And if that’s not obvious, they move on. Something that’s helped me with this is asking one simple question before I post: If someone had to repeat one sentence from this to a colleague later, what would they say? If I can’t answer that, the post is doing too much. That question forces me to choose. To decide what actually matters and let that carry the post, instead of trying to include every good idea at once. It also means leaving things out on purpose and maybe sharing them at another time - which is still the part I find the hardest. But every time I do it properly, the difference is obvious. The message is clearer and it sticks a little bit better. Curious, do you find yourself doing the same when you write? ✍️
I used to do the same, Jacolene. Like essay writing lol. Supporting paragraphs, references, etc. I felt like it was all needed to drive the point home. Now, when I find myself adding it too much info, I break it up into several posts.
My last post here had to be pretty much cut in half to fix the drift I went on 😄 From strategy to current challenges then into politics…. The funny thing is that I felt it drift but got stubborn in keeping the flow in writing 🙄