About this quote

Ditch the jargon, find the weak link, and practice teaching that single point until it's simple. Use explanation as a test—where you stumble is where you must work. Make clarity a habit and measure progress by how easily others follow you.

When to use it

• Before the team meeting, explain the plan like you're speaking to a child—if you fumble, fix the parts you don't truly understand.
• Studying for an exam? Teach the topic to a younger sibling; if you can't, review the exact section that trips you up.
• Preparing a product demo: remove the buzzwords and show one clear benefit a child could grasp—if you can't, rethink the pitch.
• Mentoring an intern: ask them to summarize their work in one simple sentence, then expand; use that exercise to pinpoint knowledge gaps.