The Different Take Filter
Speak when you can add a genuinely different perspective
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 86%
The Different Take Filter is a decision rule for selective public commentary. First, examine the topic rather than reacting because it is popular or because a team has surfaced it. Next, determine whether you genuinely have a view. Finally, test whether that view differs meaningfully from what others are already saying. Bethenny Frankel says she does not feel pressure to opine on everything and shares when she has a different take, even if others may disagree. The mechanism protects attention by reducing interchangeable commentary and makes each published opinion more likely to carry a recognizable point of view. It does not promise that the opinion will be correct or well received; it simply sets a higher threshold than topical relevance alone.
Origin
Extracted from Aspire with Emma Grede
Core principles
- 01Attention alone does not justify commentary
- 02A distinct point of view gives a post a reason to exist
- 03Not every trending subject needs your opinion
How to run it
- 1
Inspect the topic
Watch or read enough of the underlying material to understand what is being discussed.
- 2
Find your view
Ask whether the material produces a genuine reaction or interpretation for you.
- 3
Test for difference
Compare your view with the common responses and identify what, if anything, you add.
- 4
Share selectively
Publish when the perspective is both authentic and meaningfully distinct.
In the wild
Frankel says her team sometimes sends her a subject that everyone is discussing. She watches it, checks whether she has a take, and only shares when she believes her take is different rather than repeating the existing conversation.
→ She comments selectively instead of treating every trend as a publishing obligation.
Common mistakes
Commenting because everyone else is
Popularity can create pressure to publish even when you have nothing new to contribute.
Confusing provocation with value
A contrarian statement still needs a useful point, not just the ability to attract disagreement.
Is it for you?
Best for
Creators and leaders deciding whether to comment publicly on a current topic.
Not ideal for
Mandatory operational communications where clarity matters more than novelty.
From the transcript
“I'll share if it's different.”
From the episode
Bethenny Frankel: The Business Model Nobody Else Will Share
Bethenny Frankel