10 powerful words Bill Gates uses (that you should use too)

I make a living with words. 

As a writer and as a marketer, the success of my career hinges on how well I can tell stories, articulate ideas, and communicate messages to others.

Over the years, I’ve learned that some words hold more power than others. For example, writing “the smell from the kitchen was wonderful” tells a different story than “the smell from the kitchen was irresistible”.

Obviously, the latter is more impactful, shifting the narrative to urgent and potentially overpowering. 

Every creative individual tries to use the “right” terminology to grab attention and demonstrate expertise. But it can be difficult to know which words hold more weight than others. So, I decided to analyze one of the world’s most respected figures. 

Here are 10 powerful words Bill Gates uses (that you should be using too).

1. “Vision”

“It’s important to have someone who you totally trust, who is totally committed, who shares your vision, yet who has a little bit different set of skills and who also acts as something of a check on you.”

How to use it: Vision establishes confidence in self and the future. When you need to announce a long-term plan or strategy, vision is the perfect word to demonstrate that you are prepared, creative, and forward-thinking. 

2. “Significant”

“The most amazing philanthropists are people who are actually making a significant sacrifice”

How to use it: Significant is best for emphasis. Take it out of the sentence above, and the following word “sacrifice” doesn’t feel as powerful. 

3. “Solutions”

“I believe that if you show people the problems and you show them the solutions they will be moved to act.” 

How to use it: It’s easy to talk about problems. It’s much harder to come up with a solution. This is the first of many great resume and cover letter boosters. When I was searching for jobs last year, every interview began with an explanation of the problems I could solve that the organization currently had. Right away this would pique the interviewee’s interest and prove you are committed to the role they need to fill. 

4. “Feedback”

“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.”

How to use it: Asking for feedback. Accepting feedback. Distributing feedback. The more you can involve yourself in feedback loops the better. 

5. “Measurement”

“I have been struck again and again by how important measurement is to improving the human condition.” 

How to use it: Measurement provides a certain sense of intelligence. While it has a variety of meanings depending on the situation, use measurement as Gates does in the example––to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the subject matter. 

6. “Effective”

“Effective philanthropy requires a lot of time and creativity – the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.”

How to use it: Effective makes the word “philanthropy” more impactful. Like significant, effective should be used as emphasis. When you really want to make a point or highlight a specific topic effective is, well, an EFFECTIVE way to do so. 

7. “Prepare”

“The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and fished out listings of their operating system.”

How to use it: Prepare is a verb suited for action. On a resume, it demonstrates strong communication and organizational skills. In conversation, preparation establishes trust and credibility. 

8. “Improve”

“I am not in competition with anyone but myself. My goal is to improve myself continuously.”

How to use it: Simple but effective. Personally, I find improve more powerful than similar words like “better” and “progress.” Improve describes an achievement or an objective. People who use improve are ambitious, constantly trying to achieve short term and long term objectives. 

9. “Beyond”

“Money has no utility to me beyond a certain point.”

How to use it: If you go beyond the norm, people look at you differently. I like to use this word as going beyond expectations. It may sound played out––but the key is to back your words up with actions.

I used to put beyond in my cover letters, and then explain in great detail exactly how and why I “go beyond” with specific experiences. 

10. “Risk”

“Business is a money game with few rules and a lot of risk.”

How to use it: Last but not least, great leaders are always willing to take on some risk. Do you think Bill Gates would be where he is today without dropping out of Harvard to start his own company? Or changing Microsoft’s operating system to Windows?

Risk is where innovation happens––and it doesn’t need to be negative. Position yourself as someone who takes calculated risks, especially in your career. I decided to leave my job and move across the country right as the pandemic started. It was risky, but it has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Eventually, you’ll start to learn how words work in different scenarios. Keep exploring the powerful phrases and consistent terminology the world’s most influential people use. Often, being an eloquent speaker and writer can get you very far in life.