Teaching, TEDx, and the Power of Relationships with Mark Paz

Judy Oskam: 0:02

Have you ever met someone who helped you do something you never thought you could do, someone who gave you the coaching and confidence to succeed? Welcome to Stories of Change and Creativity. I'm Judy Oskam. On this episode, I'm excited to share my interview with Mark Paz II. He's an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State University and he was my coach for my TEDx talk. Thanks to Mark, I was able to find my voice, stand on the red dot and deliver my message. Mark often shines the spotlight on others, but I thought he deserved a little time behind the microphone too. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Mark Paz: 0:52

I really love helping people grow by developing relationships with them. I think that's really important. One of the goals, benefits, main motivators of communication is being able to connect, learn about people and then you know the better you know someone, the better you can help them. And to me, help and service and you know, being of service to other people is a big part of, I think, who I am.

Judy Oskam: 1:20

Well, and have you always been like that? When you were a kid, would your parents say that's kind of who you were, or?

Mark Paz: 1:26

how did?

Judy Oskam: 1:26

you get into that? Yeah, I think so.

Mark Paz: 1:29

I think it's always who I've been I'm not exactly sure why. My parents were both very giving, open people who kind of instilled that in me early on. I guess you know my dad was a mechanic and so I watched him break his back and work his you know butt off.

Judy Oskam: 1:48

A problem solver though.

Mark Paz: 1:50

Problem solver for sure. I think I've definitely taken on some of that. It's one of my favorite things to do is solve problems. And he always was like school is important, you're not going to be doing the same things that I'm doing. And so school became very important to me.

Mark Paz: 2:08

My mom, and then her mom, my meemaw they were always just very giving and caring the kind of family that if someone needed a roof, they provided it. If someone in the neighborhood was having trouble at home, they could come stay with us. You know, everyone got a plate of food. They made sure everyone was fed, and I think that set a good example for me. Now my dad did make a joke every time like hey, that plate's going to cost you $1.50, but also would take the shirt off of his back for anybody. And so, yeah, I think sharing was instilled in me early on, and I think that, tied with the importance of education in my life, kind of led me down this path of teaching, which is something I actually never thought that I was going to do ever. So, yeah, I think it was instilled in me.

Judy Oskam: 3:03

Well, and I got to meet you. You were my coach for my TEDx talk and I always knew you as an expert teacher for the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State and I always knew that you connected so well with your students. But I got to really see it and I got to see you loving on those students and pushing them and guiding them and also guiding me into uncharted waters and your path to higher ed. You had some uncharted waters. Did you ever expect you would be here?

Mark Paz: 3:42

Not a chance.

Judy Oskam: 3:42

Talk about how you got here.

Mark Paz: 3:44

No, as a kid actually, I was so shy that I used to make my younger brothers go to the concession stand for me to get. And buy your snacks To buy snacks because I really did not want to talk to anybody. But I think when I was 10, we moved to Brownwood, Texas, and we went to a really small school out in the country called.

Judy Oskam: 4:04

Brooks, I've been to Brownwood yeah.

Mark Paz: 4:06

And so it's one of those schools, that's K through 12, was like 170 people. So my class, specifically 21 people, and in an atmosphere like that you have to know everybody. You're going to see them every day, they know your business, you know their business, but you have to get along. So I think that early on kind of helped shape me into a good relationship guy, a communicator, and so when I graduated high school, originally I was going to come to what was then Southwest Texas State University and I had a friend that was going to come up here with me, but then she backed out and so I decided to stay closer to home.

Mark Paz: 4:46

So I went to Angelo State University in lovely San Angelo, texas, and I at that point had no idea what I wanted to do. So the thing that made sense to me was to get a business degree, and so I did and I really enjoyed it. I wrote a lot of business plans, learn, learned a lot about business, computer information systems, but I just didn't feel fulfilled at the end of it. One of the things I noticed is that a lot of my favorite classes that I had to take were things like math Oddly enough public speaking or business communication, and I think the thing I took away from that degree is the importance of relationships and business and I was like, well, I can kind of take that anywhere.

Mark Paz: 5:32

And then the funny story is, after undergrad and I graduated, I was like I'm going to Texas State finally, and that was really cool because at that point my youngest brother had graduated high school and my middle brother was in the middle of his college path. So we all moved up here together, we all lived together. So that was really cool. And I want this is terrible. I wanted to get into the Mastcom program but by the time I got around to applying, the deadline had closed and so I was looking around at the other stuff and I was like oh my gosh communication studies sounds awesome and so I applied, wrote my, wrote my statement of purpose while I was working a summer job in a liquor store.

Mark Paz: 6:20

And then I got in and got here and and as soon as I started taking classes it was much more difficult than undergrad, but it changed my life, it opened, it made me I always love to learn and comm studies also kind of gave me a different perspective, I think, also moving up here to a bigger area surrounded by a more diverse group of people. And when I got here I was like man, this is the spot, this is it. And those two years in grad school was trying and it was difficult but I loved it so much. And then, after I was a GIA, like a graduate teaching or instructional assistant. And then after grad school, I stuck around and worked as an adjunct, per course, faculty member, which means I, you know, taught classes as needed, which is always kind of a sketchy way to plan your future.

Mark Paz: 7:17

And during that time I also had a job at a furniture store that worked with me on the teaching. So I got to kind of do both. The reason I bring up the furniture store is because I learned how to be pretty handy, and so one of my other loves and hobbies that kind of also adds to my position with TEDx is building stuff. Like I learned, you know how to use tools and how to build stuff and that really allowed me to I don't know be creative in this role. It really wasn't meant to be creative, but then it was, and so, like I built the sets for the stage. So, yeah, I somehow found myself in a situation where I got to do all the things that I love to do at the same place.

Judy Oskam: 8:00

Yes, yes, and you are an award-winning teacher. You won the Presidential Excellence Award for Teaching, which, for listeners, that's a very big deal at the university and it really shows a level of excellence across the university. So that's fantastic. Thank you, yeah, fantastic, and you're up for the Service Award.

Mark Paz: 8:20

Better quit bragging on me.

Judy Oskam: 8:22

I can't help it. I'm a fan, but I think what I'm hearing from you is growth, mindset, creativity, hard work and looking for those opportunities and then putting yourself in a position to where you can add value. I know it says on your bio build strong relationships and good people. Yeah, and I think that's sort of your bio build strong relationships and good people.

Mark Paz: 8:44

Yeah.

Judy Oskam: 8:45

And I think that's sort of your mission, right.

Mark Paz: 8:49

Yeah, it really is. It's corny and I know it's a simplistic view of things I know, but it's real.

Mark Paz: 8:54

And I think the only way to change and this is a lot, but the only way to change the world is to be good to the people around you, right? And if they're good to the people around them, and they're good to the people around them and they're good to the people around them, then, you know, if we keep doing that, then it catches on and, and you know, we oftentimes think like what can? I'm just one person, what can I do? Well, and that's all you can do, right?

Judy Oskam: 9:15

I mean, you can, you, of course, but also, I think, being open to understanding the perspectives of others is super important, and you can only control yourself and your own behaviors. You know which? I'm sure you teach a lot and talk about that.

Mark Paz: 9:33

I try to. I try to make some good people and you know, I also think most people are good.

Judy Oskam: 9:39

So well, if you start with that right, your attitude changes. It really does. You never know, I'm telling you. You've been such a help for me and a mentor for me, and I think mentorship comes in various ways. You never know a word, a phrase, a smile might impact someone In your life who's been one of your major mentors that you could. I know there's many, yeah, there are a lot.

Mark Paz: 10:09

I would say definitely my mom and dad, for the reasons we talked about earlier. They were so giving and I mean that was awesome. Couldn't have started at a better place. And we didn't always have a lot, sure, but I always had everything I needed. And so then there were, you know, a couple of professors, specifically one adjunct, dr Philip Flam, in Angelo State. He was an adjunct professor, so that's kind of where I learned like, oh, you can kind of do this without having a PhD Right, and he was just such a cool dude. And then, when I got to grad school, dr Mary Hoffman she was the grad advisor for our department and I just connected well with her. I credit her to some extent for kind of opening my eyes to things that I didn't see before. So that was really great, great. My brothers, my two younger brothers, are always a source of inspiration for me.

Judy Oskam: 11:12

We all do different things and we're all so different but alike in so many ways. And then my wife man I, she's a rock star. I met her. I think you did marry up there. I'm just saying yeah she's awesome.

Mark Paz: 11:20

You know, I think one thing that's been helpful to us in our relationship is that we're complementary. We're very different. She's type A we're going to make a schedule, here's an itinerary, we're going to do things this way and I'm like that's cool man. Things will work out the way they're supposed to, and so seeing her drive and determination and the ability to plan things has helped me in my life be a little bit more structured and and you know, I have a lot of roles here and there's a lot to keep up with. So I think that has definitely, definitely helped me. But yeah, she's um, you know she's, she's awesome.

Mark Paz: 11:57

Uh, hopefully she's going to listen to this, um, but yeah she uh, you know I'll send it to her, but yeah, she, you know she started, she actually got her undergrad in Mass Comm and then ended up working at the scooter store which is in New Braunfels, was in New Braunfels, Texas, and kind of got into the medical world and then she that place you know fell apart. Whatever she got out right before that but she started working at as a receptionist, front desk person at an urgent care clinic and she just like over the course of a few years worked her way up into the corporate office. That business sold and her old boss like said hey come with me to this new venture old boss like said hey, come with me to this new venture.

Mark Paz: 12:47

And yeah, she's been um, she's been doing that for a while. But just to see her step up and grow like yeah, was amazing. And it was like, oh, this is, this is cool and she makes twice as much as I do well, that's a good thing.

Judy Oskam: 12:56

So it allows me to do this job exactly. It affords me the opportunity to teach right. Well, and I see you and like, you're being a cheerleader for your wife and you were a cheerleader for me. What is it? How can you see something in people and help them move and advance?

Mark Paz: 13:18

Yeah, no, that's a great question, that's a real talent and I think that's a real strength you have.

Judy Oskam: 13:22

Appreciate it.

Mark Paz: 13:23

Yeah, I think I've always been able to find a redeeming quality in anybody, and I don't, so I think that's part of it. I think I'm also relatively good, you know, talking about myself, judy feels really weird.

Judy Oskam: 13:38

I know it does, but this is your deal.

Mark Paz: 13:41

But I think Helping people realize, celebrate and work from their strength, their strengths, is really important.

Mark Paz: 13:52

You know, if you have someone, a public speaker, for example, who's really good at content and organizing, but they're just they're not as confident delivering, well then I would let's focus on the content, let's make it so bulletproof, waterproof, whatever other phrase you want to use and so if you're delivering a powerful message, we can work on the delivery.

Mark Paz: 14:17

If your delivery is strong and you have natural charisma but you're not that great at kind of synthesizing information, well let's focus on this part. So I think playing to somebody's strengths um is is really important, and I do think that that is a skill that I'm lucky to have is see what those are in people. And then there's also like pumping people up like you said, cheerleaders like I think it's important for people to feel confident in their abilities, because most people we are our own harshest critic. That's right. And getting trying to get people out of their head and realizing that you do have this in you and you can do it, like that's can be pretty powerful for people. And so I take a lot of pride in in attempting to do that and that's kind of my yeah, it's kind of what my goal is.

Judy Oskam: 15:07

Well, and I think for me, you really sort of gave me permission to kind of go down this path of the TED Talk and again it sounds like it's a talk and it's a 10-minute deal but the buildup and the practice and the coaching that you did I know you do that with your students as well, yeah, and your colleagues and you probably have clients that you do that with as well.

Mark Paz: 15:34

I should, you should, you should.

Judy Oskam: 15:36

Because I really think you really help tie things together and you keep the focus on the audience as well as the speaker, and mainly the message. Yeah, keep the focus on the audience as well as the speaker, and mainly the message. Yeah, so I know you learn that from your education, but also you have some natural talents in that area, I think well, I appreciate that.

Mark Paz: 15:58

Yeah, you know, I I've never teaching for so long. I've become an okay public speaker, right, but I think it's not anything like like, delivering a talk is different from teaching. You know that, yeah.

Judy Oskam: 16:14

Right.

Mark Paz: 16:15

Right, different set of roles, a different set of pressures, and I think I never don't get me wrong. I love attention, I love being on the stage, that is the classroom and all that stuff, but I've always liked helping or seeing people grow who were doing this public speaking thing, for example, that they never thought they could do, and I think there are studies that show college students specifically, when asked what their greatest fear is, public speaking is above death, right.

Judy Oskam: 16:48

It's above death yeah.

Mark Paz: 16:49

So that's pretty wild.

Judy Oskam: 16:50

I've heard that for years.

Mark Paz: 16:51

I don't think it's just college students and I, you know, I don't think that. You know students, you have a mix people that want to do it, people that love to do it, people that are apprehensive, or people that just don't like it and don't see the benefit that it will eventually have. So I really try spending a lot of time like reminding them hey, you're going to do this, you're going to do this, you're going to have, you know, three or four more years of college, or you're going to have group projects and presentations, and after that I like, for example, I've never had a job where I didn't work on a team or I didn't have to present information to the boss, or or even like develop like a story that I would tell so people could get to know me Like you're constantly pitching yourself and I think all of those things it's it's important to have the necessary communication skills to do that.

Judy Oskam: 17:45

What do you want people to know about you at the end of the day? What do you want people to know about you At the end of the day? What do you want them to take away? I can tell you what I know about you, but I'll let you say what you're Shoot.

Mark Paz: 17:56

I just want people to know that I as again corny, as it sounds I love people. Yeah, I do.

Judy Oskam: 18:07

You're a real people person.

Mark Paz: 18:08

People who are perceived or think of themselves as good or bad. Like I find something in everybody because I think everybody is redeemable in some way.

Mark Paz: 18:28

Not everybody, but most of the people I find myself coming into contact with and like as much as being in this field and teaching. As much as people want to learn from me or register for a class to learn from me, like I learn from them, I always try to learn, try to learn and, if for nothing else learning about people it just gives me a wider base of knowledge for how to approach the next person, right? So, yeah, I just want people to know that chances are, if I've met you and we've had any conversation, that I I can't help it, damn it, I care about you.

Judy Oskam: 19:06

You know a little bit.

Mark Paz: 19:07

And again I think that comes from my mom, my, my grandma, my dad, my family and, honestly, the the small school that I grew up in. Also, I credit a lot of who I am and my ability to communicate across generations even to to that, and like if I'm at a football game, I'm talking to my friends in my class, but also Elmer, their 80-year-old grandpa, who's also at the game.

Judy Oskam: 19:34

Right.

Mark Paz: 19:35

So yeah.

Judy Oskam: 19:36

That's great. Well and look ahead five years. What are you going?

Mark Paz: 19:41

to be doing five years from now Hopefully something similar to what I'm doing now. I mean I don't see myself going anywhere soon. I really love the students at Texas State. I love the diversity of them. I love the things they bring to the table. I mean we have students that are from small rural towns and students who are from big Houston-type cities and all kinds of backgrounds socioeconomic backgrounds. We have a lot of first generation students and you know, those are my people, that's who, that's who I am, and so to be able to stay here in an area that I love teaching students that I love, who get on my nerves sometimes, of course um, yeah, so that's where I want to be in five years.

Mark Paz: 20:33

I love it.

Judy Oskam: 20:34

I love it yeah any last closing thoughts you would have about how to navigate your path and how you have learned what you have learned. I heard positivity. I heard growth mindset. I heard seeing the good in people.

Mark Paz: 20:53

Yeah, First I'll say in reference to TEDx and coaching and working with you, you put in the work I had to though Whoever's listening to this just know that this was not at all me, all me, you know. Judy put in the work, she took it very seriously, cared about it tremendously and had a message that she really wanted to get out to everybody. So that's where I'll start.

Judy Oskam: 21:24

I was a nervous wreck.

Mark Paz: 21:26

Sometimes. But that's okay, that's part of the process, right? And had I been giving a talk, I would have been a nervous wreck too. I don't want to pretend for a second that it's easy for anybody, because it's not.

Judy Oskam: 21:38

Looking back and then looking forward. How do you piece all that together? What do you want listeners to know about your journey and how can ?

Mark Paz: 21:49

Um, do it. Yeah, not to quote Nike or anything, but just like, do it. Like there are things in life that are rough and tough and knock you down. And, um, I think, like you mentioned, having a positive mindset, but not in a toxic positivity kind of way, because one has to be realistic also, but not being afraid to do something you've never done before. I mean, when I was in grad school and they were like, hey, you're going to be a graduate assistant and you'll be co-teaching this class, what? No, I don't want to. I mean, I want to, but I'm very scared, and so just doing it. And oftentimes what you'll find is if you just hop into something and are positive about it, but also do the legwork to build up the skills to do that thing, then it's going to go how it's going to go. Either it's great and smooth and everything works out initially, or it's a little bumpy, but you learn the things to fix to make that better, and it's just just going for things. You know, sticking to stuff, yeah.

Judy Oskam: 23:03

Thank you, mark. Yeah, thank you for being you and thank you for being my coach. Yeah, I appreciate it and thanks for having me. Thank you for being you and thank you for being my coach.

Mark Paz: 23:08

Yeah, I appreciate it and thanks for having me, and you are too kind. Thank you, jeannie.

Judy Oskam: 23:15

And thank you for listening to this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity. I'll include more information about Mark and about Texas State TEDx in the show notes.

Judy Oskam: 23:26

If you enjoyed this interview, please rate and review the show. It really does help the algorithms and remember if you've got a story to share or know someone who does reach out to me at judyoskam. com. Thanks for listening.