Hello there, Reader!
Shortly after my son handed me Ice Cream Machine by Adam Rubin, I found myself captivated by the opening lines. Rarely do middle-grade books grab me like this:
“...Here we are now, you and I together, on this very word.
“Strange, right? It's almost as if these sentences have formed some mystical, telepathic connection directly from my brain to yours. You are reading my mind right now, and I, in turn, have you hypnotized.
“I can prove it: Imagine a dog eating a diaper.
“You couldn’t help it, could you? As long as you’re reading my words, you’re under my spell.”
. . .
“I’m telling you: Writing is magic. It allows your thoughts to escape your body and go venturing off into the world on their own. Writing lets you capture an idea like a genie in a lamp. It sits there, waiting until someone comes along to read the words, then—boom—your ideas explode in the mind of a total stranger!”
I recently told a client that one of the best ways to influence campus leaders is through writing.
And Rubin’s words remind me exactly why: writing is magic. It allows your ideas to slip into spaces you can’t always enter in person—boardrooms, cabinet meetings, and strategy sessions—and still have impact.
Why campus leaders respond to writing
Writing is a kind of magic. It’s not just about putting words on a page—it’s about creating a connection, planting an idea, and letting it grow even when you’re not there to nurture it.
Like Rubin says, your words have the power to “escape your body and go venturing off into the world on their own.”
Campus leaders—especially those with academic roots—are attuned to this magic. They know the power of a well-crafted argument, a resonant story, or a single, unforgettable phrase.
And unlike spoken conversations that evaporate once the meeting ends, written words linger. They get forwarded, quoted, and slipped into talking points and high-stakes conversations where decisions are made.
I saw this play out recently with a client.
After a brief, casual conversation with her president, she decided to send him a report declaring the need for a comprehensive career services strategy. She was warned by the VP that he wouldn’t read it. Upon my firm encouragement, she sent it anyway.
That single piece of writing triggered a ripple effect—she was soon meeting with the provost and all of the deans, who in turn spoke with their career center directors. The provost began collaborating with the VP of student success, and suddenly, her ideas were elevated as a major pillar of a new student success initiative.
🎯The takeaway? You don’t always need to wait for an invitation to share your ideas. Sometimes your writing is the invitation.
Practical strategies for influencing through writing
Here’s how to make your writing work like magic on your campus:
1. Send your annual report with intention.
Don’t just post it online. Send it directly to the president, provost, and deans with a warm thank-you note that highlights the impact of your work—and their role in it.
A single story of student success can become the soundbite they share at the next board meeting.
2. Write where leaders are already looking.
If your president is on LinkedIn, post a thoughtful story that ties student success to institutional priorities. Tag relevant campus partners.
If cabinet updates are where visibility happens, hand your supervisor a perfectly polished paragraph—language they can drop right into their briefing to make career services shine.
3. Collaborate with Marketing & Communications.
Partner on articles or features that spotlight career services impact. Then send those stories directly to deans, department chairs, or alumni leaders.
Don’t assume they’ll stumble across them—make sure your best work gets seen by the right eyes.
4. Leverage institutional priorities.
If you highlight how your office is connecting with employers in your state or region, share it with government relations or advancement.
Your writing can reinforce the message that career services is driving partnerships and outcomes that align with institutional goals.
5. Plant “sticky” phrases.
Craft one or two lines that leaders can quote with pride. Think about what you want repeated in the room where decisions happen: “Career readiness isn’t just about jobs—it’s about belonging, confidence, and persistence.”
Give them the language to champion your cause.
Final thought
Your words are powerful tools—they can shift perspectives, inspire action, and shape the story your campus tells about student success.
When you write with intention, you’re not just sharing information—you’re planting seeds that can grow into real change.
This week, I challenge you to take one step:
Send a note with a story that deserves to be heard. Draft a short update for your supervisor’s report. Post something meaningful on LinkedIn that connects to your institution’s goals.
Even one thoughtful piece of writing can create ripples you can’t predict.
Your words have magic in them—use them.
Things you might want to read:
Cheers!
P.S. Just had my most viral LinkedIn post ever with over 62,000 impressions in a week!? Why do you think it resonated so much?
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