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- Using The Weekly Pulse Template
If you haven't read Issue #20: How Three Months of Silence Became a $5M Mistake , here's what you need to know: I just spent 1500 words explaining how clear communication saved my career and sharing a brilliant template for better business updates. The template helps prevent small problems from becoming expensive disasters.
Sounds great in theory. But what happens when you actually try to use it? Here's a real-time demonstration of my attempt to practice what I preach, featuring my wife and business partner Kirsten, who has the patience of a saint and an endless supply of stress cookies.
The Template in Action:
SCENE: Our home office, last Wednesday night. Kirsten is at the laptop trying to help me format my advisory project update using the template I just spent 1500 words convincing you to use.
KIRSTEN: (fingers poised over keyboard) "Okay, let's start with 'Quick Numbers.' What's on track?"
ME: (pacing) "Everything! Well, mostly everything. Except the things that aren't. But those aren't really off track, they're just... taking scenic routes to success."
KIRSTEN: (sighing) "That's not how this works. Green, yellow, or red?"
ME: "Can we have like... a greenish-yellow? Like a chartreuse of concern?"
KIRSTEN: "No. Pick a lane."
ME: "Fine. Put Phase 1 approvals under green-"
KIRSTEN: "With what metrics?"
ME: "The good ones?"
KIRSTEN: (staring in silence)
ME: "Okay, okay. Write this down: 'Phase 1 municipal approvals 90% complete.' Happy?"
KIRSTEN: "Getting there. What's on your watch list?"
ME: "Well, there's this thing with the planning department that might be nothing but could be something, and the engineering team is doing this thing that's probably fine but might not be, and-"
KIRSTEN: (interrupting) "One concrete issue at a time."
ME: "Planning department timeline slipping."
KIRSTEN: "By how much?"
ME: "A... theoretical amount of time?"
KIRSTEN: (deep breath) "Moving on to red items. What needs immediate action?"
ME: "Nothing! Everything's great! Well, unless you count the-"
KIRSTEN: "The thing you've been stress-eating cookies about all week?"
ME: "...maybe put down that we need a decision on the road alignment by Friday."
KIRSTEN: "And the impact if we don't get it?"
ME: "Can we say 'expensive bad things' or do we need to be more specific?"
KIRSTEN: (reaching for her own cookie) "For someone who just wrote an entire newsletter about clear communication..."
ME: "I know, I know. Put down '$100K per week in delay costs plus angry calls from the Mayor's office.'"
KIRSTEN: "Was that so hard?"
ME: "Can we add some emojis to make the bad news look friendlier?"
KIRSTEN: "No."
ME: "Just one tiny rocket ship?"
KIRSTEN: (closing laptop) "I'm getting more cookies."
What We Actually Submitted
After Kirsten returned with reinforcement cookies, here's what we actually created:
Weekly Pulse Check: Downtown Mixed-Use Development
Date: January 10, 2025
Quick Numbers (5-second scan)
🟢 On Track:
Phase 1 municipal approvals (90% complete)
Consultant team assembly (100% committed)
Initial budget framework approved
🟡 Watch List:
Planning department timeline slipping (2 weeks behind)
Engineering team capacity for Q2
Community consultation feedback pending
🔴 Action Needed:
Road alignment decision needed by Friday
Impact: $100K per week delay costs + Mayor's office escalation risk
Immediate meeting needed with transportation department
This Week's Progress
Key Win: Planning department pre-consultation completed successfully
Challenge: Transportation department raised new concerns about access
Solution: Preparing three alternative road alignment options
Early Warnings (The Rabbit Prevention Section)
What I'm Seeing: Planning staff hinting at potential policy changes
Why It Matters: Could affect building height and density calculations
Suggested Action: Schedule urgent meeting with Planning Director
Resources Needed
What I Need: Additional traffic study budget
When I Need It: By January 20 to maintain schedule
Impact If Delayed: Each week risks pushing us into new policy framework
Next Week's Focus
Top Priority: Resolve road alignment issue
Key Meetings:
Tuesday: Transportation Department
Thursday: Mayor's Office briefing
Friday: Design team coordination
Expected Outcomes: Clear direction on road alignment to keep approval process moving
And no, Kirsten didn't let me add the dancing parrot emoji. Apparently, municipal approvals require a more "professional tone." Who knew?
The Lesson
Sometimes the hardest part of good communication isn't knowing what to do - it's actually doing it. Thank goodness for patient partners and well-stocked cookie jars.
Want to avoid my struggles? Check out the full communication strategy and template in Issue #20: How Three Months of Silence Became a $5M Mistake
This post is part of my ongoing series documenting my journey from corporate executive to entrepreneur, where I share real lessons learned (usually the hard way). Subscribe to My New Meta for weekly insights into business growth and career development.
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