There’s nothing sad about today. (Except for Sad Fact #5) – SCN Encourager

Thanks for grinding through all five Sad Facts this week.

I thought I should tell you this right from the get-go.

Cindy’s probably right.

I have an incredible knack for plunging pell-mell into wrong assumptions.

Just because something’s a struggle for me (AKA a Sad Fact) doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bothered by it.

She asked if any of my Sad Facts struck a nerve with “invisible friends.”

I told her I didn’t know.

Because when it comes to sharing Sad Facts about school PR, most of us take a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach.

It’s in our DNA to be upbeat and positive.
(Or at least in our morning coffee.)

But dang.

I sure wish Cindy would’ve brought this all up before last night.

It’s a little late in the game for me to scrap Sad Fact #5, don’tcha think?
(And that’s a rhetorical question. If you screamed “yes,” I didn’t hear you.)

But on my little island of one, I’ve benefitted from each and every Sad Fact.

•  #1 (Monday) – As we grow older, we tend to disavow and doubt our inner artist, even though we need more creativity, not less.

•  #2 (Tuesday) – A personal “I help ___ reach ____ even though ______.” mantra systemwide beats the heck out of the typical organization mission statement.

•  #3 (Wednesday) – We are continually reminded to be attentive listeners, but rarely reminded to watch what people do.

•  #4 (Yesterday) – Sometimes we forget to bring a “sense of possibility” to the school leadership table.

Sad Fact #5 today presents a significant challenge as well.

In reviewing a recommended list of 30 power words to use for writing more emotionally appealing and effective headlines, I discovered something shocking.

I don’t have a word use gap.

I have a word use rut!

When I separated out “power words” I commonly use from those I rarely use, I saw they split out evenly 50/50.

Yikes!

How sad is that?

There are 15 words I routinely use all of the time.

And then there are 15 words I obviously should use more… but apparently I can’t figure out how.

This “word rut” represents my Sad Fact #5.

And naturally, I’m not going to make the assumption it affects you, too.
(Proving Cindy right yet again…)

See for yourself.

Here are the 15 words on the list I regularly use:  

 – new
– imagination
– free
– special
– proven
– skill
– better
– innovative
– competitive
– important
– latest
– growth
– opportunities
– technology
– challenge

Here are the 15 words I should try to use as well, but don’t. 

– daring
– mammoth
– shrewd
– colossal
– astonishing
– rare
– zinger
– unlock
– bonanza
– insider
– odd
– surprise
– remarkable
– secret
– urgent

Now ’bout you?

Does school PR Sad Fact #5 hit home? 

I’m going to assume it does.

But if I’m wrong, get back to me and show me how you used “zinger” in one of your headlines!

That I’ve got to see!

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