Content Crooner

We’re working on a redesign of our site and we’re also creating a new service. While working on a rough draft design for a new homepage, we had the phrase “Because words matter”. Being in the content distribution world, we strongly believe that.

However, after the mockup was finished and ready for review, we realized that the word “because” is just a filler. And seeing as how words really do matter, it was actively working contrary to the point we wanted to make.

The design didn’t feel right. So we started asking why the phrase “because words matter” wasn’t working. The conclusion was that the word “because” was giving a reason. A reason can also be considered an excuse, a rationalization, a mentation, or an outright lie based on a limited perception.

The point is, stop being reasonable. The more we tether ourselves to all the random thoughts, reasons, and excuses of our minds, the more we forget that we are not our minds. The mind is the source of all suffering because it seeks to control outcomes, create ideas of good vs. bad and desirable vs. undesirable, all leading to failed expectations.

The way out is by letting go of expectations and control. That doesn’t mean not taking responsibility and getting things done, it simply means not being attached to a certain outcome. If this venture doesn’t work out, move on. There’s no point in suffering about it. If it does work out, don’t get attached to the pride of “I made it work”.

Being “reasonable” is being attached to all the reasons of the mind. It actually makes more sense to not be attached to the mind at all.

After all that, we changed the phrase from “Because words matter” to “Words matter”. There doesn’t need to be an excuse or even a reason to pick the right words. It simply matters.

Taylor Vogt is the Operations Director at Content Crooner. “In support of The 9 Words, Crooner is Intuitive. Let’s pick the right words.”