What Makes a Word 'High Concept'

Think having a word of the year means picking one generic term and calling it good?

I tried that. It didn't work.

Last year I went with "joyful" and it was solid. But this year I realized something during an Inner Circle call that changed everything. One word isn't enough if it doesn't tell you exactly what to do. My clients were throwing out words like "focused" and "determined," and I could see it in their faces. They were trapped.

Today I'm sharing why I broke the rules and went with two words instead of one. You'll learn how to make your word actually mean something and why high concept thinking beats generic motivation every time.

Featured Story

I named last year "joiful" after my wife.

J-O-I full. Her name is Joi, so I got to tell her all year that I named my year after her. Smart move on my part.

But honestly, I did it because happiness kept slipping away. I realized we're not here to be happy all the time.

Life gets hard. But we can be joyful in any situation. That shift mattered.

This year I needed something different. Something more specific. I started with "simple" because I've been saying for 20 years that simple works. But when I tested it with my Inner Circle, I saw the problem

immediately. Simple what? Simple where? It was too broad to actually use.

That's when I decided to break the rules.

Important Points

A word of the year only works if it's high concept. You should instantly know what it means and how to use it when you see or hear it.

Generic words like "focused" or "determined" sound good but don't give you direction. If your word could apply to everything, it applies to nothing.

Sometimes you need to empower your word with a second word to make it specific enough to matter. Don't be trapped by someone else's rules.

Memorable Quotes

"I like simple. Simple works. I've said this for 20 years on this program."

"When it's everywhere, it becomes really, really washed out, and you just can't do much with it."

"So my one word is two, strategically simple. I'm going to break the rules."

Scott's Three-Step Approach

Make your word high concept so anyone who hears it instantly understands what you mean. If it needs

explanation, it's not the right word.

Test your word by asking where it applies. If the answer is "everywhere," you need to get more specific or add context.

Don't be afraid to empower your word with a second word that defines how you'll use it. Rules are meant to be broken when they don't serve you.

Chapter Notes

0:15 - Why one word might not be enough for you

1:24 - How observational motivation actually works

3:13 - The trap of generic words and vague intentions

4:28 - What high concept really means for your life

6:45 - Why strategically simple beats just simple

8:30 - Breaking the rules to make your word matter

Connect With Me

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Email: support@motivationtomove.com

Main Website: motivationtomove.com

YouTube: youtube.com/dailyboostpodcast

Instagram: @heyscottsmith

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word of the year, goal setting, new year planning, personal growth, intentional living, high concept thinking,

simplicity, strategic planning, observational motivation, breaking rules, specificity, clarity, Scott Smith, Daily Boost, Inner Circle coaching

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