Parenting advice powered by Lenny's podcast wisdom

Stop Talking Like a Robot

Ryan Hoover

Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast

Your kid can smell a scripted lecture from across the room. Talk like a human.

Ryan Hoover on why so many product launches fail: "A lot of teachers teach people to write with big words and fill pages of content and basically not speak like a human. One thing I've noticed among founders is they tend to write like a PR person and not like a human."

This is you at 8pm, explaining why we don't hit.

"We use gentle hands because bodies are not for hurting, and when we feel frustrated, we can use our words to express our big emotions in a way that helps us connect with others..."

Versus: "Hitting hurts. I won't let you hurt your sister. Are you mad about something?"

Your kid tunes out the PR speak instantly. They've heard it before. It sounds like noise.

"How do you describe it to your friends?" Ryan asks. That's the language that resonates. Not the language from the parenting book. The language you'd use if you were exhausted and just being real.

Human first. Parent-speak second. Or preferably never.

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PM Theme: Authentic communication

Parenting Theme: Talking to kids like humans

Quotes that inspired this tip
A lot of teachers teach people to write with big words and fill pages of content and basically not speak like a human... They tend to write like a PR person and not like a human... How do you describe it to your friends? That language, I think, resonates with people because it feels way more authentic.Ryan Hoover · 00:25:01
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