The END MATTERS?

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE # 050

I recently found myself in a raw, unfiltered conversation while recording an episode of our new CEO Confessional podcast, and it opened my eyes to something bigger than any of us expected. What started as casual talk revealed a surprising truth about how today’s communication habits leave so many of us feeling scattered, unfinished, and constantly “on.” If you’ve ever wondered why clarity feels harder to find these days, what I discovered in that conversation will change the way you think about communication, completion, and how you move through your life and business.

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ADAM'S THOUGHTS:

Recently, a group of us got together to record a podcast we’re calling the CEO Confessional. Five guys, no script, no outline, no structure. We just hit record.

One of the first things we ended up talking about was how the current generation seems to struggle with communication—at least compared to mine. (I was born in 1979, so you can place me accordingly.)

You call them; they don’t pick up.

You message them; you may or may not hear back anytime soon.

There’s urgency to broadcast something online, but not the same urgency to respond—to actually communicate—unless it directly benefits them.

So I started asking: Why does this happen?

Is it the individual?

The environment?

The technology?

Or are they simply more efficient than I am? Maybe they’ve evolved into a smarter communication rhythm and I’m the dinosaur here.

This sparked a 90-minute conversation—one of the best we’ve had. When the episode drops, you’re going to love it.

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ADAM'S LESSON:

What I realized in that conversation is this: these new modes of communication have no completion.

A text message doesn’t end with, “Alright, see you later.”

A group chat doesn’t end with a goodbye.

Social media is an infinite scroll—it literally never concludes.

Compare that to the past:

A phone call had a beginning and an end.

A newspaper had a cover and a final page.

A conversation had a natural close.

Completion gives clarity. It gives direction. It gives a finish line.

Without completion:

• Communication lingers endlessly.

• Tasks feel half-done.

• Attention remains fractured.

• The brain stays “open” to unfinished interactions.

With completion:

• Productivity increases.

• Decisions finalize.

• Revenue moves.

• Goals tighten.

Life organizes itself around endings and beginnings.

Think about the end of the year. Businesses rush to wrap their books, make purchases, settle budgets. Deadlines create action. Completion creates movement.

So here’s the observation I’m exploring—and maybe the question we should all ask:

What would change if we put more definitive ends on things?

Conversations. Projects. Screens. Commitments. Even the way we consume content or communicate with others.

Would our businesses improve?

Would revenue flow more reliably?

Would relationships strengthen through clearer boundaries?

Would we feel more mentally clear moving from one thing to the next?

I don’t know yet—but I’m going to be paying close attention to this idea of completion.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

I’d truly love to hear your thoughts on this:

Should we start defining clear endings to things so we can fully move on to the next?

-Adam

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