The first mile wasn’t heroic — it was exhaling, gripping the wheel, and finally moving forward. And that’s when the fun began.
Cruise America sent pre‑pickup videos and FAQs to “familiarize” ourselves with RV operations. A nice young man at their office walked us through the highlights and reminded us of the 800‑help line. Yet as we pulled out of the driveway, we still weren’t sure whether the refrigerator ran on propane or the generator.
As we drove away, this is what I thought while looking out the rear-view mirror:
· Never underestimate the importance of clear instructions. There’s always a gap between what’s taught, what’s heard, and what’s actually learned — and that gap shows up in the awkwardness of doing something for the first time.
· Effective instructional communication helps people become comfortable and productive more quickly.
· And the real measure of communication is whether the message was received and understood as intended.
In the service business, this responsibility often falls to supervisors. Whether they do it themselves or delegate it, they must go beyond asking, “Do you understand?” People often don’t — and rarely admit it. Be clear. Ask questions. Listen to their answers. Have them show you how. Coach them accordingly.
We eventually figured out the refrigerator, but that’s not the point. It was another reminder that onboarding is a process, not a checkbox.
After that, the world shifted to what was outside the windshield:
Yesterday delivered some of the most breathtaking geography of the trip. They call it Utah’s Panoramaland — wide‑open spaces, canyons, farmland, and arches stretching to the horizon. It looked exactly like the sales brochures, and for once, the brochures didn’t exaggerate.
We ended the day at The Mt. Lincoln Peach Company in Palisade, Colorado. Warm people greeted us, sold us peach and pear jellies, and showed us how to plug into the electrical hookup. Just like that, we were home for the night.
The day was a masterclass in planning, communication, and follow‑through. When messages land clearly, people move faster, feel more confident, and get to the meaningful work sooner. And when they don’t — well, you end up guessing which button keeps the milk cold. Make sure your people really understand today.
Laozi (6th Century BC): also romanized as Lao Tzu, was a legendary Chinese philosopher and sage traditionally credited with writing the Tao Te Ching, one of the foundational texts of Taoism.
