Most people tell stories backward.
They start slow, build context, and bury the best part at the end. But in a world of short attention spans, as Sweet Brown put it so eloquently, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”
The best storytellers flip the structure.
They use the Upside-Down Pyramid Method—technically known as the Minto Pyramid, a storytelling technique created by fellow excellent storyteller Barbara Minto. You see it every morning from journalists, and it looks like this:
In the military and law enforcement, it’s also known as the BLUF Method:
Bottom Line, Up Front. It starts with the conclusion and fills in supporting data and details after the conclusion. This is an important storytelling technique in cultures where fluff is not tolerated or crisis information is needed quickly and accurately.
It’s also a great way to add a little shock and awe to a story to wake up your audience.
Your Very Relatable Problem: Your stories take too long to get interesting, and you lose your audience before the good part.
Pro Tip: Structure your story like an inverted pyramid:
- Start with the headline: Lead with the most surprising or emotional part of your story.
- Add the most important details: What does your audience need to know next?
- Save the background for later: Fill in the context after they’re already hooked.
Example:
A tech startup CEO pitching investors didn’t start with company history. He walked in and said:
“Last year, companies lost $4.2 billion to data breaches. We just built the software that will cut that number in half. Here’s how.”
Boom. He had their attention instantly.
If you bury the hook, they’ll never get to it. Flip the pyramid. Start BLUF-ing.