Semi-retirement and miscommunication

I’ve really been neglecting my blog and because of the changes in my life, I’m planning on eventually rolling out another one at alainsaffel.com. That’s going to take me a bit, but it will happen.

In the meantime, you can read my blogging on StumbleUpon where I do my work-related blogging. Of course, I’m always on Facebook, Twitter and a host of other places. Search my name online and find out what I’ve been up to because I’m out there doing all kinds of interesting things.

So, while this blog is semi-retired, I will keep it up, for what it’s worth. I still monitor it to see what’s happening, but don’t expect regular updates, although lately, I might express my frustration on a topic or two.

Communication? What’s that?

Everybody’s got problems these days. I’ve had a few of my own. If anything, it seems like so many problems stem from a lack of communication. Or, more accurately, a lack of clear communication.

I guess my advice to people is if you’re about to assume something, ask yourself a question: is this what the other person meant to say to me? Or, are you coming to a conclusion that that person did not intend? I’ve been on both ends of these types of miscommunication lately and it’s frustrating, and in many ways depressing.

I guess what I’m saying is just don’t assume. I don’t have to repeat the old saw of “if you assume you make an ass out of U and ME” do I?

Lately I’ve taken to making the assumption that the other person did not intend what they communicated, I’ve laughed it off, joked with them about it and life is better. Life is better that way because the vast majority of the time they didn’t mean it the way you took it.

If you’re going to assume, assume that the other person meant it in a good way. I hope when I say something asinine, that you'll assume I didn't mean it like that.