The Power of Clear Communication: A Funny Story About My Freinds College Degree

Everyone has a life story - it just takes a little time to be present and listen to someone's story. I have a story about a friend and former boss, who tells this story much better than I can!

Let me introduce you to my friend, let’s call him John. This story occurred in the pre-internet days, long before LinkedIn profiles, digital resumes, and the ease of online research. After graduating from college, John was thrilled to land a job at a reputable engineering company. The position came with all the perks: a competitive salary, benefits, and the promise of a stable career. John’s first few months on the job went smoothly. He was assigned to projects that didn’t require hands-on work with machines or complex systems, until one afternoon, things took an unexpected turn.

It was a typical busy day when a machine on the factory floor suddenly malfunctioned, halting production. John’s boss, looking flustered, rushed into the office and shouted, “John, can you get out there and look at that machine and see if you can fix it?”

John froze; he had no idea how to fix a machine. While valuable in other areas, his expertise didn’t extend to hands-on troubleshooting of complex machinery. He nervously replied, “I don’t know anything about that machine.”

Now slightly frustrated, the boss looked at him incredulously and said, “We hired you because ENG was on your resume education! That’s why you’re here!”

John hesitated for a moment. Then, he explained, “My degree is in ENGlish.”

The room went silent. Then, the boss burst out laughing. “Wait, you’re not an engineer?!

The story turned out fine since the boss liked John and John was a smart graduate skilled in non-engineering areas of the business.

We would laugh together after John told the story which has been with me for decades and I loved how he would tell the story.

In closing, everyone has a story that keeps on giving. Take your time to listen and be in the moment. Their story may just stay with you for decades!