Rule of 3 (not 2 not 4)

When arranging flowers, balloon bouquets, or business presentations, do you use the rule of three? With flowers and balloons, optically we prefer odd numbered or non-symmetric arrangements. Impress your friends with this tip, don't make a balloon bouquet of two or four balloons, stick with three!

Before I get to business presentations, I want to relate a cute baseball story to provide greater context for the rule of three.

Many years ago I coached T-ball with a fellow who was 6'10". At 5'7" it is safe to say I really looked up to this person. We were coaching five year old kids and this was their foray into baseball.

At one of our early practices, Bill saw me providing instruction on how to hit the ball off the "tee". He asked me what I was doing. My many years of baseball behind me, I guess I looked at him a bit dumbfounded. I explained I was providing direction on hitting the ball. One of my life lessons was about to begin.

Bill said, "Clayton, you can only tell the kids three things. It is all they will remember - if you are lucky!" Bill also suggested I'd be more successful if I related each point to something the kids could visualize or were clues to help them. Lastly he told me consistency and repetition is good.

So step one became how to set up in the batter's box. I suggested their feet became tree trunks with roots going into the ground so they didn