# From the Stage: Beware Bull**** Bingo
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## Article Content
From the stage Speaking to college and university leaders, I ran a live text-message poll, and the results were revealing. Most agreed they weren't positioned for a fast-paced future. Most agreed massive change was coming. And yet a big chunk of the room said it wasn't necessary to act right now. So I asked: "What excuses do you hear? What holds us back from pursuing the future?" Then I reminded them of the old office game, Bull**** Bingo, where you'd quietly tick off buzzwords during meetings. The trouble is, buzzwords and excuses do the same damage: they fill a meeting without changing anything. "How do we reconcile that contradiction?" Why it matters That contradiction lives in almost every organization: we know it's coming, we're not ready, and we'll deal with it later. Buzzwords make it feel like we're dealing with it. They aren't action. Teams aren't inspired by slogans; they're inspired by leaders who actually move. The takeaway Count the buzzwords in your next leadership meeting, then count the decisions. If your team agrees change is coming but "not yet," you have your answer on where to start. Think big, start small, scale fast. Related: Earlier: "Beware Bull**** Bingo! Because your team isn't inspired by your buzzwords!" - Futurist Jim Carroll (2022) · Education From the Stage is a weekday series of short clips from more than 30 years of keynotes, and the leadership lessons that still matter.

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Source: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/10/from-the-stage-beware-bull-bingo/