A week-long discussion on substance and style.

This week is all about substance and style.

Let's begin by clarifying that it's not style versus substance. They aren't inherently at odds with each other. That's just the common way people tend to frame it.

Instead of style versus substance, let's frame it as substance and style. They co-exist. Yes, they can compete for attention, priority, and resources. But that's not something they do. That's something we do.

Substance and style are at their best when they serve and amplify each other. That's what we want them to do. But the relationship depends on the context.

Here are the three primary contexts to consider for substance and style:

1. Substance Dominated: The relationship is separate, like in football, baseball, or golf. Style does not affect substance or results. There are no style points or stats. Style is an aesthetic afterthought. The worst style can succeed as much as the best style.
2. Style Heavy: The relationship is intimate, like in writing, music, or rhetoric. Style has a significant effect on substance and results. Creating massive value while masking a total absence of substance is possible.
3. Tangled and Messy: The relationship is confusing, like in leadership, politics, or parenting. Style plays a central role, heavily influencing outcomes, but substance is still the main responsibility. We search for the right combination of substance and style to achieve our aims. It often requires compromises of each depending on the situation.

Can you recognize examples of these three contexts in your life? That's an excellent place to start. Identifying examples will bring you to the intersection of self-awareness and situational awareness.

We'll continue this discussion all week, including when and why style matters, why sequence might matter most, and how to decide what to prioritize and when.

Brick by brick. Do the work.