Write the Meaning First
(Your message shouldn’t require archaeological excavation)
Most communication fails because the meaning is buried under updates, details, or requests.
People end up reading the message once,
reading it again,
and then asking,
“Okay, but… what does this mean?”
Let’s fix that.
⭐ WRITE THE MEANING FIRST
Before giving the details, begin with:
“Here’s the key point…”
“What this means is…”
“The takeaway is…”
“The change you need to know is…”
“The part that matters most is…”
Meaning first.
Everything else second.
⭐ Why It Works
Humans don’t absorb information in the order you deliver it.
They absorb it in the order they can make sense of it.
Starting with the meaning:
anchors interpretation
reduces confusion
saves time
lowers cognitive load
prevents misreads
accelerates alignment
improves decision-making
This single shift improves nearly every message you write.
⭐ When to Use It
Weekly updates
Project changes
Delegation
Email
Async communication
Status reports
Anywhere people currently “skim and hope”
⭐ Example
Instead of:
“Attached is the Q2 report with updates on the customer pipeline and revenue projections…”
Try:
“Our Q2 pipeline is trending stronger than expected; here’s the data that supports it.”
See the difference?
One is information.
The other is clarity.
⭐ Try It Today
Write your next message.
Then rewrite the first sentence to lead with meaning.
You’ll never go back.