The Art of Explaining Things - Richard Feynman Style

Take Some Tips from the Best of the Best: UseFeynman used "exploring a new continent" to explain
Magic and a Bit of Stardustnature. He said, "We see water and call it a river
That's it. I'll tell them, Ivan. My friend Ivan called frombecause that's what we know. But actually, it's a
Alaska and quipped that I need to go to Washingtonlake!"
to tell them how to explain the stimulus package so4. Make up a metaphor, use something people know.
people understand. I said, "Hey, that's what myTurn complex things into things that we know and
newsletter is about this month, The Art of Explainingwhich we can relate. I use "self-esteem does not
Things!" Then my Persuasion class at Barry Universityarrive by FedEx" to explain that you must learn and
decided that the White House needs to explain theapply techniques to raise your own self-esteem.
stimulus package in a way that the people in Liberty5. Don't explain something the boring way, no one will
City understand! (Liberty City is a particularly roughremember it. Be brave, be different. After practicing
area in Miami, the home of many historical racial riots).metaphors in my coaching session, one of my clients
"So that," I said, "is your final exam!" They screamed.created a brilliant metaphor to explain a quantity of
I was joking.liquid used in his manufacturing process. Instead of
But I did think about my hero, the best 'explainer' in"ml" or "milliliter" he said the amount of liquid
the universe; the man who explained physics to"equivalent to the weight of the ink in a fingerprint."
millions; the man who explained the Space Shuttle(Bravo, George! Now that is a Feynman-style thing,
Challenger's o-ring problem on live TV in the 1980s;something people remember!)
the late physicist and Renaissance Man, RichardYou Can Practice! Two Feynman-Style exercises to
Feynman. I discovered Mr. Feynman's gift when Ihelp you transform your 'tech-talk' or 'sales talk' into
checked out his 1963 lectures on Physics from themusic:
library. I was hungry for thought on long boring1. Imagine your information as a place. Feynman used
drives. Little did I know that Feynman would pack mya pool. You can imagine your 'thing' as a building! Take
imagination into a rocket, and shoot me to the moon!auditing, for example. What does the entrance way
My brain was never the same after listening toof auditing look like? When you enter a room, what
Richard Feynman. I was amazed at how smart I was,do you see? What does the basement look like? This
and how much I knew about Physics. He said thattechnique works for flight safety as easy as it works
we are made of stardust, the same particles thatfor the steps in mediation or meditation! Play with
make up the stars, and now I understood chemistryyour visual journey until you perfect your message in
of the universe, completely. He took me to a newa way people can "see" what you are explaining. You
point of view.may have to experiment with several places before
When Feynman explained nanotechnology, heyou find the right one that works.
described how we could write the 24 volumes of the2. Choose an unrelated object, like an orange, or
encyclopedia Britanica on the head of a pin. When hesomething odd. People will connect your information
explained the fun of understanding systems, he calledto the visual and will remember what you are saying.
the workings of machines 'the guts'. The examplesBe unusual. For example, use an orange to explain a
go on and on. I could listen to Feynman forever.mortgage! (What happens when you turn it into
Feynman is the acknowledged inventor of quantumjuice?) Have some "Feynman" fun! I was coaching a
computing, an expert in nanotechnology, but he wasclient on how to present her complex natural therapy
gifted in explaining highly complex things to ordinaryin 5 major steps. We used the poster in the room - a
people. (And he had so much fun at it!) We loved toDr. Seuss poster of the "Cat and the Hat" -- to move
listen to him, and gave him the Nobel prize. Feynmanfrom point to point. All five points fit the five things
died of Cancer in 1988. The world lost one of itsthe cat was juggling! (She didn't use the poster in her
comets.presentation, but she mastered the technique of
So I began to study Richard Feynman: the way hehelping people move from step to step.) And that's
talked, his brave and courageous way of living lifethe "Feynman-style" trick of getting people to
and explaining life. How did he do it? How can I learnREMEMBER what you are saying. (Hooray, Amy!)
(and teach) the magical techniques of this giftedTry these exercises to explain anything: your
communicator? How can I use Richard Feynman'srelationships, your business, your service, your
style to help people learn to motivate others,product, your vision, physics, or (yes!) even stimulus
captivate audiences, win clients, influence and inspireplans! It takes some practice to acquire the skill, but
people? After reading most of his books, and booksit's fun, and highly effective. You won't find your
written about him, I came up with some ideas toanswers on your first try, but you get better at it!
practice communicating as dazzling as RichardMr. Feynman, you did much more than teach us
Feynman.physics, you taught us the art of explaining things!
5 Ways To Explain Things so People Remember"If you have any talent, or any occupation that
Them - Feynman Styledelights you, do it, and do it to the hilt.
1. Use vivid, visual words. (Create a visual snapshot inDon't ask why, or what difficulties you may get into."
people's minds). For example, Feynman uses jumping- Richard Feynman
into a pool to explain light.Hear more about the techniques of Richard Feynman
2. Evoke the senses: Feynman explains the spaceand other Excellent Communicators in Lisa's
shuttle Challenger accident with a glass of ice-water"The Art of Being Memorable" Workshop and
on TV, and dropped the shuttle's o-ring in it, clamped.Keynote
When he pulled it out, it remained misshapen whenA fun and lively program that helps you polish your
the clamp was removed -- showing that the coldauthentic self, find the sparkle that's inside you, and
prevented the o-rings from contracting!ignite it.
3. Break down information into a journey. ForLearn techniques to improve your authenticity,
example, you can use train trips and each point islistening skills, confidence and impact. (Also available in
stop. You can use a flight, a mountain climb, a hike.private executive coaching.