I had just graduated from the University of Texas at Austin…

Hook ‘em horns! 🤘🏼

With my proud Bachelor’s Degree in Communication in hand, I found a job at the Dallas Chamber of Commerce in their Marketing & Research Department.

Graduated in December and began my career in January. Not bad!

A month later, in February, I asked my boss, “Stan, when is Spring Break?”

Without changing his serious facial expression he replied, “Karen, what a coincidence. This year Spring Break falls on a weekend.”

“But, Stan,” I responded, not hearing between the lines, “That means Spring Break is on a Saturday and Sunday. It should last a week.”

With a faint gleam in his eyes, he stated (and you’re already there), “Welcome to the real world. There is no Spring Break.”

What does this story about Spring Break have to do with you and how you communicate to get heard above the noise?!

🎤  Underused communication tip #1 – Stay curious.

Even if you are the leader of your organization, continue to ask questions. Ok, maybe I should’ve thought it through before going to Stan with that question, but, still, continue to ask questions.

🎤  Underused communication tip #2 – Find the humor.

Notice I did not say, “Have a sense of humor,” because many of you argue, “I’m just not that funny.” That’s fine. You don’t have to be comedic. But if you find the humor in your daily doings, you’ll laugh more. And people gravitate to those that have more levity.

As for my non-Spring Break Week after graduating from UT Austin …

In March of that year I began five years of employment doing research and giving speeches at the Dallas Independent School District.

Guess what?

I got there in time for Spring Break.

Thank you, Shari Barth @ Optimal Training Solutions, (and Stan), for this blog’s inspiration. We laughed a lot yesterday, over lunch, about my Spring Break Story. Shari asked, “Whatever happened with Stan?” I said, “I stayed in touch with him for the rest of his life. He was a great guy with a dry sense of humor.”

PS: Happy Spring Break Week to you, which is being observed this week at most schools.

Photo Credit: Chat GPT