I was twelve, my sister seventeen. My mom, dad, sister, and I were seated at the dinner table. As we dug in, my sister had a lot to share. The rest of us listened intently, and I found myself captivated by all things high school and the rising arc of her story. It felt like the conversation was building to some dramatic high point. Any moment, she would reveal what her friend had the gall to say in class!
Fifteen minutes later, the story landed with a feather-soft ending. Nothing to chew on. I turned to my dad, his eyes already meeting mine. With a warm grin, he gently said, “Begin with the end, my boy.”
That moment stayed with me as the years passed.
I was now almost 18 and remember thinking, I’m about to be an adult, but I’m still a teenager. How does that work?
It was close to midnight on New Years Eve, and I was late. Five miles from home, cruising just over the speed limit at 50, I was buzzing from the thrill of recently buying my used VW Scirocco after saving from summer and side jobs. I was already daydreaming about the rims and low-profile tires I wanted to save up for. Once those are on, I thought, everything’s going to change.
The road was quiet. The dashboard gleamed under the streetlights, still slick with Armor All. As the lights flew past, the radio played “If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me”. I glanced down to change the station hoping for some AC/DC.
When I looked up, there it was.
A full-grown, Texas long-horned black bull standing broadside dead center in my lane.
I slammed on my non-ABS brakes and swerved. As I passed on the left, the bull stepped into my headlights. We collided. My car spun twice as it came to a screeching, clanging stop.
I unbuckled, got out, and was somehow unhurt. The meager barbed wire fence, meant to contain the 2000 lb. animal, had a gaping hole. I scanned the scene, thinking, “now what.” Just to the right of a small outbuilding, I spotted what I needed.
I dug around for two dimes.
Ring.
My dad picked up. “Hello?” he said, clearly concerned.
I spoke plainly: “I’m okay. The bull is dead. My car is wrecked. I’m on Diablo Road, near the big oak tree at the intersection by the gate. I’ll explain when you get here.”
A thirty-second conversation. He had what he needed. I had what I needed, and my parents were on their way.
Leading with the status first, then sharing the backstory if necessary, saves time, cuts through the noise, and has the potential to transform the way you and your team communicate, enabling everyone to reach solutions faster.
It's a simple and powerful communication choice. We encourage you to give it a try and experience the difference it can make in your communications.
Want to bring this to your team?
Grab The Bull Sheet—a quick, no-fluff guide to saying what matters, fast. For maximum impact, print your Bull Sheet double-sided and fold with the dotted line on the interior. Then, implement early and often!
