Taking Abstract Ideas and Making Them Concrete
One of the challenges of business writing is to convey abstract ideas in a concrete way. Abstract ideas are those that are not directly observable, such as concepts, emotions, values, or principles. Concrete ideas are those that are based on sensory experiences, such as objects, actions, or events.
You have a lot of ideas for your business and those ideas will either help you to lay the foundation or they will help you to solidify and enhance whatever you already have in place. Either way, those concepts (or ideas) are essential to your success but they will not actually be real (and thus, you will not see results) until you execute those ideas and turn them into concrete actions.
Why is it important to make abstract ideas concrete?
Because concrete ideas are easier to understand, remember, and relate to. Concrete ideas appeal to the senses and emotions of the reader, while abstract ideas may seem vague or confusing. Concrete ideas also help the reader to visualize the abstract idea and apply it to their own situation.
The foundation of your business is built on the concept of emotions
When it comes to building relationships with the members of your target audience, the tie that connects you to the other person is the emotion (and, of course, you will recognize several different emotions, depending on the circumstances). Emotions are not things that you can hold in your hands. They are feelings that cause you to react a certain way and they drive you to take specific actions in a bunch of different directions.
In your business, several different concepts (which are abstract) drive you in various directions and you react according to the outcome of those abstract ideas after you have turned them into something concrete. For example, loyalty is a concrete concept but it becomes concrete once a person becomes loyal to your brand/business and starts to spread the word about how wonderful your offerings are and by buying what you are selling over and over again. Loyalty is a condition that you strive to achieve for your business and if you do it correctly, you will acquire many valuable business connections who are loyal to you and who believe in what you are doing and in what you are feeling.
How can you make abstract ideas concrete?
There are many abstract ideas that you will want to turn into concrete reality, such as creativity, innovation, genuineness, persistence, and certainty. When it comes to your content, you will want to use certain terminology that ensures that your message is clear. Those words will connect people to reality and they will enable you to achieve what you have set out to accomplish in your business.
Here are some strategies:
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Use examples and anecdotes. Examples and anecdotes are stories that illustrate an abstract idea with a specific instance or situation. They help the reader to see how the abstract idea works in practice and how it affects real people.
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Use metaphors and analogies. Metaphors and analogies are figures of speech that compare the abstract idea to something else that is more familiar or concrete. They help the reader to understand the abstract idea by showing how it is similar to or different from something they already know.
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Use images and diagrams. Images and diagrams are visual representations of the abstract idea that show its structure, components, or relationships. They help the reader to grasp the abstract idea by appealing to their visual sense and making it more tangible.
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Use data and statistics. Data and statistics are numerical facts or measurements that support the abstract idea with evidence or logic. They help the reader to trust the abstract idea by showing that it is based on research or reality.
The abstract leads to the concrete
Moving to concrete terms not only helps you to achieve a great deal in your business but it also solidifies ideas and helps your target audience to understand what you are trying to do and to get them to buy into whatever that is. Concrete words are, in and of themselves, real and they make what you are communicating real as well.
Once you have come up with those concrete ideas, you can run with it. That means that you will no longer be in the planning stage. You will have moved into the executing stage, which will turn your amazing ideas into something real and very exciting.
Conclusion
Having concepts for your business is the only way to begin. Concepts are extremely valuable analytical tools that will help you in your business. Your concepts will boost your credibility and you will be considered an expert by your target audience. Once you have formed those concepts, your next responsibility is to turn them into concrete actions. It is only once they are concrete that you can make any real progress and contribution to your business.
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