avoid these words for better personal and professional relationships
( 2 minute read ) We’re all about better communication at illumy. That’s why we created the first app to bring together text, email, and phone into searchable, threaded conversations. But sometimes, good communication is about what you DON’T say. Here are some words you should avoid in delicate conversations—at…
bulletin board systems: the secret history of the original online communities
( 3 minute read ) Each and every day on the internet, billions of devices–phones, computers, servers, even fridges–exchange petabytes of data. But, not that long ago, being “online” meant single computers connecting to each other via phone lines and modems. These connections, known as bulletin board systems or BBSs,…
the surprising origins of 7 famous idioms
( 4 minute read ) American English is chock full of idioms–phrases that have a very specific meaning different from the way they’re worded. One example is “hold your horses.” If you say this to someone, you’re not really referring to horses: you’re just telling them to wait a moment….
plan your best trip ever: 5 expert travel tips
( 3 minute read ) Have you hit the road this summer? Hotels, restaurants, and event venues are welcoming guests, and we at illumy are thinking hard about what we want to do (and where we want to go). Here’s 5 expert tips for jumping back on the travel horse…
celebrating work and workers on Labor Day: 7 powerful quotes
( 2 minute read ) Labor Day has been on the American calendar for more than 120 years. Today, it marks the traditional end of summer–a time for travel, BBQs, and relaxation. But the day’s origins lay with union leaders in New York City who wanted to honor workers and…
back-to-school is here. here’s how to improve parent-teacher communication
( 2 minute read ) Late August means heat (and in many places, humidity, too). It means beaches. It means bugs. And it means back-to-school. 📚🍎 Are you excited 🤩? Anxious😬 Both It’s another strange school year—but the fundamental task of supporting and caring for students hasn’t changed. Here are…
put on your listening ears: 5 active-listening skills to start using today
( 3 minute read ) “Hmm, what? I’m sorry, Can you repeat that? I missed it.” We’ve all been with someone who’s not fully present in the conversation. It’s frustrating—and a little insulting. 😩 Even worse, we’ve all been that bad listener.🥺 If you’re distracted or tired, it’s easy to…
add tone, meaning, context to your text-based chats
( 3 minute read ) Let’s face it: Chat-based communication can be a bit… boring. 😴 But we built illumy to change that. Not only is illumy super fast and super secure, we’ve also incorporated lots of ways to convey meaning beyond just words—animated gifs (giphys), images, emojis, reactions, and…
a history of communication—from hieroglyphs to illumy
( 3 minute read ) The history of communication 🗣 is a long one. Since humanity’s earliest days, we’ve been interacting with each other to tell stories and share what is meaningful to us. 😍 Let’s take a quick trip through the history of communication. Buckle up: We’ve got about…
turn conflict into a win-win
( 2 minute read ) In a zero-sum game, one person’s gain is the other’s loss. The two players have no common interests and every incentive to try to outwit each other. But in real life, conflict doesn’t have to be zero-sum. Win-win 🤝 🏆 outcomes are possible when everyone’s…