You know, I’ve seen that quote, “Your ability to communicate with others will account…” so many times, and honestly, it’s one of the few pieces of advice that holds up. It’s not just about talking; it’s about truly connecting to drive success.
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Table of Contents
- Meaning
- Explanation
- Origin & Factcheck
- Context
- Usage Examples
- Common Questions
Meaning
At its core, this quote means your success is almost entirely dependent on how well you connect with, understand, and influence other people.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. When Brian Tracy says “communication,” most people think “good talker.” And yeah, that’s part of it. But it’s so much more. It’s your ability to listen—I mean, really listen—to what a client is not saying. It’s how you frame a proposal so it feels like a solution, not a sales pitch. It’s how you resolve a conflict with a colleague without creating resentment. I’ve watched brilliant technicians and idea people stall in their careers because they couldn’t translate their genius in a way that motivated others. That other 15%? That’s your raw skill, your product knowledge. But that 85%… that’s the engine. That’s what gets your 15% of genius actually adopted, bought, and celebrated.
Quote Summary
Reading Level58
Aesthetic Score62
Origin & Factcheck
This one comes straight from Brian Tracy’s classic, The Psychology of Selling. The book was first published in the late 1980s in the United States, and it’s become a cornerstone for sales training. You sometimes see similar sentiments attributed to Dale Carnegie, which makes sense given the thematic overlap, but this specific 85 percent figure is Tracy’s.
Attribution Summary
Author Bio
Brian Tracy, a prolific author gained global reputation because of his best seller book list such as Eat That Frog!, Goals!, and The Psychology of Selling, and created influential audio programs like The Psychology of Achievement. He is sought after guru for personal development and business performance. Brian Tracy International, coaches millions of professionals and corporates on sales, goal setting, leadership, and productivity.
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Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Your ability to communicate with others will account for fully 85 percent of your success in your business and in your life |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1988; ISBN: 978-0785288060; Last Edition: HarperCollins, Revised Edition 2006; Number of Pages: 240 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 1: The Inner Game of Selling, Page 12 / 240 |
Context
It’s crucial to remember this is from a sales book. But Tracy’s genius was in broadening the definition of “selling.” He wasn’t just talking about moving a product. He was talking about selling your ideas, your vision, and yourself—whether it’s in a negotiation, a team meeting, or even at home. The context is professional persuasion in its widest, most practical sense.
Usage Examples
So how do you actually use this? Let me give you a couple of scenarios.
- For a Sales Team: Stop leading with features. I tell my team, your job is to communicate an understanding of the client’s pain so well that your product becomes the obvious answer. That’s the 85%.
- For a Project Manager: Your Gantt charts are the 15%. The 85% is getting buy-in from engineering, aligning with marketing, and clearly setting expectations with leadership. It’s all communication.
- For a Founder: You can have the best product in the world, but if you can’t communicate its value to investors, hires, and early customers, it won’t matter. Your pitch is everything.
To whom it appeals?
| Context | Attributes |
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| Theme | Principle (838) |
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| Audiences | entrepreneurs (1007), executives (119), leaders (2620), managers (441), sales people (228), students (3112) |
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| Usage Context/Scenario | business podcasts (5), career seminars (26), corporate coaching (6), leadership training (259), motivational speeches (345), sales workshops (10), team meetings (67) |
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Share This Quote Image & Motivate
Motivation Score85
Popularity Score76
Shareability Score73
Common Questions
Question: Is the 85% figure scientifically accurate?
Answer: It’s more of a heuristic—a rule of thumb—based on Tracy’s observation and experience. Don’t get hung up on the exact number. The power is in the principle: communication is the dominant factor in success.
Question: What if I’m an introvert or not a natural communicator?
Answer: This is the best part. Communication is a skill, not just a personality trait. Introverts are often phenomenal listeners, which is a huge part of this. You can learn the rest—structuring your thoughts, asking better questions. It’s all learnable.
Question: Does this apply to technical fields where hard skills are paramount?
Answer: Absolutely. Maybe even more so. The engineer who can clearly explain a complex problem to non-technical stakeholders is infinitely more valuable than the one who can’t. Your technical skill gets you in the door; your communication skill gets you promoted.
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