How to Turn Complex Ideas Into Something People Can See
Most business owners don’t fail because they’re missing information.
They fail because the message they’re trying to send isn’t being seen the way they think it is.
That point hit me hard during a call with Dennis Yu and Jack Wendt. We were reviewing progress on the cover for our Google Knowledge Panel book that explains the entire process for local service businesses. I was stuck. I kept circling the same surface-level ideas, trying to make technical concepts look visually appealing.
Then Dennis reframed everything.
What he said wasn’t memorized, rehearsed, or scripted. It was him breaking down something simple in a way that cut right to the point:
If people can’t see the idea, they won’t understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t value it.
That single idea changed the direction.
Why Words Weren’t Enough
We already know how to explain the Knowledge Panel system:
how it connects trust signals, organizes your digital presence, and helps Google understand who you are.
But Dennis pointed out that none of that matters unless the business owner can visualize what’s happening.
He compared it to looking at your reflection.
You might have success in the real world—happy clients, strong reviews, awards, a solid reputation—but when you search your own name, the “digital mirror” rarely reflects that truth.
You’ll find outdated information, unrelated people, inconsistent profiles, and mixed-up entities.
The message was simple:
If your reflection is distorted, people won’t see you clearly.
And that’s exactly the point of a Knowledge Panel.
Dennis’s Visual Examples That Changed Everything
Dennis went deeper with a set of visualization examples that helped me finally “see” what he meant:
1. The Reflective Lake
A successful business owner stands at the edge of a lake.
He’s surrounded by gold, 5-star reviews, customer praise—everything that represents real trust.
But when he looks in the water?
He doesn’t see that.
The reflection is blurry, faded, confused.
Waves distort his face.
The image doesn’t match reality.
That’s what Google does when your digital presence isn’t clear.
2. The Foggy Mirror
Imagine a pristine, expensive bathroom inside a beautiful home.
The business owner looks confident—until he looks in the mirror labeled “Google.”
The mirror is fogged over.
You can only see a faint version of his face.
He’s there, but not recognizable.
A faint question mark floats in the condensation.
The outside world sees the room clearly.
The mirror—the digital reflection—is the only thing that’s unclear.
3. The Young Adult “Superman” Transformation
This one also stuck with me.
A quiet, unsure teen walks into a phone booth.
He steps out equipped with the skills, clarity, and confidence needed to help a business owner fix their online presence—almost like a transformation scene.
That’s what High Rise Academy does for young adults, and why our work ties directly into the Knowledge Panel system.
These examples helped me understand what the book and the project need to communicate visually:
Not the mechanics—but the clarity and transformation that business owners actually experience.
The Real Lesson: Clarity Isn’t a Feature. It’s the Foundation.
Dennis explained something I had never fully understood until this call:
people buy clarity, not instructions.
If the idea is presented in a way they can instantly see, everything else clicks into place.
That applies to:
- The book
- High Rise Academy
- How we train young adults
- How we communicate with business owners
- Every Knowledge Panel or personal brand project we build
It even applies to how we design covers, thumbnails, and frameworks.
The image has to tell the story before the words ever begin.
Why This Matters for High Rise Influence
High Rise Influence isn’t about showing people a set of tactics.
It’s about helping them understand why their digital identity is unclear—and giving them the tools and people who can fix it.
This moment on the call reminded me why building visuals that communicate the true value matters so much.
The business owner needs to see the gap.
The young adult needs to see the path.
And the brand needs to show both instantly.
That level of clarity changes everything.
