Talking the Talk

I talk a lot about storytelling being a central part of how and why Usu Company exists, but I don’t know if I’ve ever said WHY. 

Yesterday, I was chatting with someone about how their team operates in a hybrid in-office / remote structure, especially with their department exiting on 2 different campuses miles away. Without really thinking about it (because I’ve never actually described it this way before), I described myself as a ‘communication purist’, meaning that my preference is always face-to-face. If that’s not possible, a phone call works but I’m not a fan of the way that virtual communications mimics the connection that Communication is meant to create. When I thought about it more, I realized that, for me, virtual or digital communication has created a space where interaction has become more of a function or utility more than an opportunity for a genuine encounter with another.

A note: I have worked remotely and I understand both the value and benefits of virtual communication. I’m not bashing it and how it can help improve the quality of life for a lot of people. But as someone who studied Communication, uses those skills in my regular work, and also evaluates how to communicate on a deeply interpersonal level, I do notice the differences. 

So WHY does this matter and what does it have to do with a candle?

Part of how we tell people who we are is how we tell our story and how they receive it. You can go to the Usu Company website and, on a basic level, understand the products that I make. You can go a step further to read the ‘About Me’ that tells you how the company started and the inspiration behind it. Go a little deeper and you’ll find the very personal stories that I’ve written about my family and culture, and how much those elements have influenced my life. You might even be able to find a recording of a presentation I’ve given. 

But I can guarantee that nothing tells you who I am and why I do what I do better than sitting in a room with me. There is a beauty and magic in that connection that you don’t get virtually or on paper. To look someone in the eye and see the moment that you both understand the fear of a career change and stepping out on your own, or to feel that small pit in my stomach when I hear that someone also lost a sibling who was the same age as mine and that they feel a little less alone from hearing about Ember means something more. So when I say that storytelling matters and I urge people to tell their story, it’s because I truly mean it! And when I express gratitude for opportunities like Public Speaking or workshops where I get to stand in front of you and tell that story, I deeply mean it. 

When I look back on this picture of me from 2013, right before I walked on stage to accept my Master's Degree in Communication Studies, I realize that carrying my family’s story with me has always been a part of me. My cap and stole were new, but I chose to wear the same gown that my dad wore when he received his (first) Master's Degree. 

There can be a lot of fear that comes with opening up about what’s important to you and it takes genuine courage to be willing to share that. But with every post, event, conversation, and even candle, I hope that you’re a little bit more encouraged to speak up a little bit louder about what matters to you, too.