Show AND tell.
Both elements were important back in elementary school, weren’t they?
If you forgot your toy, you had nothing. You couldn’t just tell. It had to be show AND tell. If you forgot your toy, you were doomed. You need the THING to show in order to have the opportunity to tell about it.
Also, you couldn’t just show something. You couldn’t just set your baseball card, doll, painting, Pearl Jam cassette on the teachers stool at the front of the room and walk away, you had to tell.
The telling magnifies the impact of the showing.
Too many shows and gigs are all show but no tell. So it’s like you’ve brought your bestest most awesomest toy, but just plopped it in the front of the room and walked away. Glad you have a cool toy, bummed you didn’t serve the situation better.
Too many interactions online and everywhere else are all tell and nothing to show. So it’s like you get up in the front of the class and tell them what an incredible, mind blowing, life changing toy you have…but you forgot it at home. But you swear it’s great!! Bummer. Now everyone thinks you’re a liar.
Show (the thing, the thing comes first) AND tell (the glue, the staying power, the connection and belief).
p.s. Even Steve Jobs had to both show and tell…and his art/product is simple yet mind blowing. If he has to do both in order to grow a company/empire, there’s a good chance you do too.
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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com