“Ripping off the Band-Aid” is what people do when they want to make discomfort as short-lived as possible. Similar to “putting something to bed” but not quite as drastic as “this is going to hurt me more than it is going to hurt you,” ripping off a Band-Aid does have a hint of compassion as it implies that the person doing the ripping may have placed the bandage or that they will be there to continue the healing process once the hair ripping adhesive has been removed. In the fields of construction and engineering, we are often put in a position where we must break some bad news to someone and rip off that Band-Aid.
Think about the life of a project from inception to certificate of occupancy. A client who is embarking on a major renovation or construction project for the first time may be shocked at what is required per code to build an occupiable structure. To them, it could feel more like being thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool. How we, as engineers, represent our knowledge and experience will play a role in the success of our collective endeavors. It may even have a lasting impact on someone that emanates and ripples outwards.