"If you’re not putting relevant context around your content, you’re wasting your time. "

When we talk about the importance of context, we're basically saying that without the right background or setting, the message you're trying to get across can fall flat. It's like trying to explain a joke without any of the lead-up—no one's going to laugh because they don't get why it's funny.

Let's go back in time a bit. When was this idea first kicked around? Well, it's not like it started with the internet. Even ancient storytellers knew that without setting the scene, their tales wouldn’t be gripping. Imagine a bard telling the story of a hero’s journey but skips the part about why the hero left in the first place. Yawn. Fast forward to today's digital age, and this concept is more crucial than ever. People are bombarded with content. If yours doesn’t stand out with the proper context, it's just white noise.

Alright, let’s make this real with a vivid example. Think about a charity campaign aiming to raise funds for clean water in developing countries. If you just slap up a generic ad saying, "Donate now!", people might scroll right past. But if you share a story about a specific village where children walk miles each day to get clean water, complete with photos and maybe even a video of their journey, it hits different. Now, viewers get the "why" behind the "what." They see the need, understand the stakes, and are far more likely to engage and donate. That’s context in action.

So how can you bring this wisdom into your own projects? Start by asking yourself who your audience is and what they care about. If you're sending an email to your team about a new project, don’t just dive into the tasks. Explain why this project matters, how it fits into the bigger picture, and what success will look like. A little context can turn a mundane task into a shared mission.

To hammer this home, let’s walk through a quick story. Picture Sarah, a marketing manager at a mid-sized company. She’s got a killer idea for a new campaign but she's struggling to get her team on board. Instead of just presenting the idea in a vacuum, she takes a different approach. She starts by sharing some recent data on market trends and customer behavior. Then, she connects the dots to show how her idea taps into these trends and could give their company a competitive edge. Finally, she wraps it up with a little storytelling—talking about a recent, similar campaign that saw huge success. By the end, her team isn’t just on board; they’re excited and ready to roll.

The takeaway here? Whether you’re trying to persuade your colleagues, engage an audience, or simply share a piece of news, never underestimate the power of context. It’s the difference between your message being heard and understood or just disappearing into the void. So, next time you're about to hit send, take a moment to set the scene. Trust me, it's worth it.