Talking in Threes
If you’ve ever worked closely with me, you know I have a habit — some might call it a rule — of talking in threes. Whether it’s presenting an idea, making a decision or laying out a plan, I seem to naturally condense everything into three key points.
There’s something comforting about the structure of threes, and I’ve learned this framework is more than just a personal quirk. The "Rule of Three" is a time-honored tradition in storytelling, speeches and even religious teachings. From fairy tales to political speeches, organizing ideas into threes helps people remember them more easily. It creates rhythm, simplifies complex ideas, and just seems to stick.
I’ve embraced this so much that it’s even found its way into my first tattoo — a charm bracelet, representing elements of my life. Among the charms is the number three, a symbol of my lifelong fascination with the "Rule of Three." This tattoo, much like my way of thinking, took a while to come to life. After some thought and procrastination, I found a local artist who helped me bring this idea — this number that follows me everywhere — into something permanent.
But this personal tendency for threes goes beyond me. In fact, it’s a perfect fit for our work at Aspire Indiana Health, where I’ve distilled our core focus into three essential Ps: Patients, Partners and People.
- Patients: At the heart of everything we do is the commitment to providing high-quality care to those who need it most. We work to meet not just medical needs but also behavioral, social and community needs — treating the whole person.
- Partners: We can’t do it alone. Our partnerships with other healthcare systems, community organizations and even policymakers are essential to building a comprehensive, integrated care system that improves health outcomes for all.
- People: Our colleagues are the backbone of Aspire. We are a community of dedicated professionals, working together to create a culture where everyone feels supported, valued and motivated to make a difference.
The Rule of Three doesn’t just help me organize my thoughts; it mirrors the priorities that shape our mission at Aspire. Every decision we make should support our patients, strengthen our partnerships, and take care of our people.
There’s also a practical element to this habit of threes. I often use a communication framework called "Tell ‘Em," which also happens to rely on the power of three:
(Though I admit my British tongue insists I pronounce the full “them.”)
- Tell them what you’re going to tell them: Set the stage, introduce the message.
- Tell them: Deliver the core of your message.
- Tell them what you told them: Reinforce your key points.
This isn’t about repeating yourself unnecessarily — it’s about ensuring clarity and retention. It helps the message land with your audience and ensures that what you say resonates long after the conversation is over. This way of speaking was actually first crystallized by the ancient philosopher Aristotle, often thought of as the master of rhetoric. It’s a little more nuanced than just the “tell ‘em” shorthand:
- Convey your message: This is where you introduce your audience to what you are going to speak to them about. It’s predicated on what you want to say and (hopefully) what they want to hear.
- Convince your audience: Here is where you get into the meat of your subject, make your best arguments and appeal to people’s sense of logic — and hopefully their emotions as well. You want what you say to resonate in their hearts and minds.
- Confirm your message: Reiterate your salient points, and give people a reason to believe in your idea — and in you. The last thing you say is what you want them to best remember.
Now, you may notice the suspicious similarity between the Rule of Three and Tell ‘Em — they’re both organized around the number three! It seems I’m not the only one who favors triples.
Come to think of it, thinking in threes also brings to mind the rhythm of a waltz. I’m not the greatest dancer — my wife’s toes can attest to this — but there’s a natural tempo there people instantly take to: one-two-three, one-two-three…
So whether it’s my personal life, professional work at Aspire — or even a tattoo — it seems I’ll always be drawn to the power of three.
