At this month's STC Lone Star Community meeting, the guest speaker, Dr. Hillary Hart, showed us some statistics on STC membership. One of the numbers that stuck in my mind was new memberships. Although renewals are down, it seems that new memberships are high for this early in the year. In fact, nearly half of the anticipated new members for 2010 have already joined. This surprising fact made me wonder what is drawing the new membership--especially at a time when long-term members are not renewing memberships. Of the many reasons renewals are low, the foremost is the price increase. The steep jump in price has forced many STC members to reconsider their priorities. However, with expense can come exclusivity. Although on one level it seems rude and counter-productive to be more exclusive, on another level it's a fact that professionals want to distinguish themselves. What better way to be distinguished than show membership in a group that not everyone can get into? Like a high-class watch or luxury car, each person has his or her way of displaying social and economic standing. Such economically exclusive items often are associated with professionalism. So, the technical communicator striving to display professionalism would be more attracted to an expensive membership than an affordable one. This is the social side of supply-and-demand: when demand is high, price goes up, and prestige goes up. Elitist as this may seem, it is typical of human nature. By nature we are drawn to the high-class in-crowd and within Technical Communication this manifests as membership in STC. Certainly, price is not the sole reason for new memberships and there are numerous variables involved with any purchase, let alone membership in an organization. However, I do believe that perceived elitism is one contributing factor. Social Networking: All a-Twitter 02/10/2010
The following is a reprint from the STC LSC Technically Write newsletter on 4 February 2010. So you've heard of Twitter—who hasn't? Perhaps you signed up for an account out of curiosity. But then what? Why should you bother tweeting your hobbies or following the doings of someone's cat? The short answer is you shouldn't. You should not think of Twitter in its older sense of "What am I doing now." As a professional, it's not really useful and it definitely won't score any points with your current or future employer. So then what is Twitter good for? First and foremost, it's a way of networking. Although there are numerous social networking sites and several of them professional, as a Technical Communicator you'll find Twitter useful in several ways. To begin with, setting up a profile on Twitter is not nearly as involved as other social networking sites. It's great to have your life story on Facebook or work history on LinkedIn, but for Twitter all you need is a short blurb, a photo, and a link to your Web site (personal, professional, employer, or whatever). Then, connect with other professionals. You can search for them by name, key words, or hash tags. What's a hash tag, you ask? It's a designated topic that stands out because it's preceded by a hash mark (also known as a pound or number sign): #. This convention makes searching for #techcomm or #stcorg tweets quick and easy. A new addition to Twitter that makes finding professionals easier is the lists feature. For example, I've created a list called TechComm (twitter.com/Arroxane/techcomm). By following this list, you automatically receive updates from the technical communicators I've added to the list. Many others have created lists of technical communications (TC) professionals as well. Now that you have a few TC pros to follow (and many will follow you back), what do you do? You monitor your stream and see what they have to say. You can do this from the Web interface at Twitter.com, with your mobile device, or through a number of desktop applications. Despite the reputation of Twitter being about what someone's cat had for breakfast or how the latest celebrity is having issues (again), you can get good information from Twitter by following the right people (like STC members: twitter.com/rjhoughton/stc). [Editor’s note: Rachel Houghton is an LSC member as well as a Willamette Valley (Oregon) member.] Over just a few days, you should see some interesting tweets. These may include topics such as blogs, articles, studies, trends, jobs, meetings, conferences, workshops, presentations, webinars, discounts, sales, freebies, advice, infographics, news, and much more. That's a lot of information in one place! Moreover, it's literally up-to-the minute—something no Web site, RSS feed, or broadcast can do. This means you can find out about a job posting before it's on the company's Web site. Or you might hear about a 24-hour sale on software in time to get your copy. Now you've got news and info coming in regularly and notice that some of your "tweeple" aren't following a certain person or list, but you'd like to pass along an interesting tweet. So you retweet the post. The new-fangled retweet from the Web interface simply reposts the original with a tiny note at the bottom indicating that you had retweeted it. The old-fashioned (and preferred by many) method is to precede the copy-and-pasted text with "RT @Username". Either method will do the trick, passing along a good tidbit to those who follow you. But Twitter isn't just about getting instantaneous news and updates. It's an interactive network. So network! Reply when you find something useful. Tell the poster, "Thanks, that was a really handy tip!" The more you interact, the more likely you are to get your own posts retweeted. This means everyone following that person will see your post and some of those followers may start following you. Voila, new professionals to connect with! You may find Twitter one of the easiest ways to network. But, isn't Twitter a time-waster? Like anything else on the Web—from YouTube to the New York Times Online—it takes as much time as you let it. If you only have a chance to read and update once a day while snarfing down lunch, so be it. But if, like some of us, you find Twitter really useful, you may want to tweet your own blog posts, news articles, events, and more. These unique additions will catch on and be retweeted around the world. Don't be surprised if suddenly you have people following you in Europe, Israel, and India. Of course, it's not a competition. The number of followers you have isn't really the point. The return on investment (ROI) from Twitter is measured in the quality of tweets read and retweeted, not the quantity. For more information on using Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/help/start or tweet me at twitter.com/Arroxane. In every meeting--whether by chance or by invitation--there is something to be gleaned. We learn something that we did not know before. Perhaps we learn just a name and title of a person. Or we may find that meeting has changed our perception and understanding in some fundamental way. Certainly, the SWVBRC Orientation leaves a veteran with a sense of transformation. But, like the caterpillar's building of a cocoon, the change is only in preparation for some greater transformation. In this manner I, the caterpillar, have been wrapped in the title of Learner--my cocoon--so that I may continue to develop my awareness of my role, rights, and responsibilities as a veteran and a contributor to the United States economy. I feel swaddled in the sense that there is something to look forward to--not only for myself, but for all veterans in all levels of need. Moreover, I have been reminded that I am not alone and am a member of a very special race: American Veterans. NOTE: This is a repost from www.wherecommunitiesserveveterans.org/EbersBlog. Please leave all comments on that original post. Thanks. New Things in the New Year 01/02/2010
As 2010 begins, I've got several new things going on. First is the completion and launch of the new Kineteka Systems website: www.kinteka.com. This project aimed to consolidate the various Kineteka brands (PodGizmo, GeekLoot, VideoSlide, etc) and services into one place. A few bugs appeared post-launch, but that's inevitable. Overall, I'd say that it's a successful bit of news for 2010. Second is the more personal news pertaining to home appliances. I discovered when trying to run a bath that the hot water heater is rusting inside-out. It's not leaked or blown just yet, but I'd rather not give it a chance. So, a new Energy Star water heater will arrive in the first month of this new year. Additionally, I've been searching for a better washer/dryer combination for some time. With the new addition to the family due in March, laundry in a 10+ year old top-load washer and electric dryer would be something of an expensive, exhausting challenge. So, a high-capacity, front-load washer and natural gas dryer (Energy Star rated, of course) will also arrive this month. Preparing for appliances and baby means lots of new work to do around the house. That's a lot of rearranging and organizing for the first quarter of 2010. I'm fascinated to see how my project management skills translate into family/home management. Another new project is helping Southwest Veterans Business Resource Center gain a foothold in the DFW area as well as taking responsibility for their site: www.swvbrc.org. Although a volunteer position, I am enthusiastic about the ultimate mission of the organization: eradicating homelessness for veterans. Their empowerment philosophy is as impressive as their business plan. More on that as the project progresses. A few other projects (paid and otherwise) are in the works and I'm hopeful. Of course, finding a full-time job in the near future would certainly top it all off. Either way, 2010 has a lot in store. Happy New Year! At boot camp, every Marine learns the 14 leadership traits of the Marine Corps. Although these are typically interpreted in military contexts, they still apply as a civilian--and as a professional. In honor of Veterans Day, here's how these traits make for a better technical communicator. Justice In order to honestly and fairly portray facts, technical communicators must have a strong sense of justice. Using embellishments or misconstruing information does no good for the audience or user. Good Tech Comm portrays a balanced, honest representation of the facts, products, and processes. Judgment Where would Tech Comm be without judgment? Every sentence structure and word choice is a judgment call. Great technical communicators can judge what their audience needs and carefully select the best of all available options. Dependability Even the most laid-back work environment has deadlines. Successful technical communicators know how to budget time and other resources to dependably deliver documentation. Initiative Waiting on the SME, reviewer, editor, manager or whomever for every little decision and change is begging to miss a deadline. Technical communicators must know when and how to take initiative on projects. Decisiveness Similar to initiative, Tech Comm requires gathering facts and weighing them without unnecessary intervention from those around and above. Finding the appropriate information and knowing how to make decisions help ensure success. Tact One thing many technical communicators have in common with the military is a reputation for "just the facts" that can sometimes appear tactless. However, sticking to the truth has its place and must be balanced with quality interpersonal skills such as tact--especially when dealing with in-person communications. But even electronic communications need to convey respect for the recipients. Integrity One of the elements of being a professional in any field is integrity. Without honesty and morals, people cannot extend trust in your words--let alone actions. As a technical communicator this means coworkers and supervisors will not give you room to grow or take on greater duties without proven integrity. Enthusiasm Peers tend to enjoy working with people who show honest enthusiasm for a project, job, concept, or task. That doesn't mean you have to like everything about it--just don't complain too much or to the wrong people. Bearing Subject matter experts feel better about talking to someone who appears confident and comfortable discussing technical matters. CEOs prefer to convey vital company info to competent, alert employees. And bosses always prefer a professional demeanor. Unselfishness The work place is no place to be self-centered. Quality Tech Comm focuses on what the user or reader wants and needs. Quality writers relinquish their ego for editing tips. And quality editors place style guides before personal opinions on grammar. Courage Facing down a SME wielding a vocabulary in one hand and contempt for "lesser beings" in the other is frightening. Confronting a supervisor who forgot a vital part of a project is daunting. Even challenging day-to-day decisions can be scary. But great technical communicators courageously take on these challenges all the time. Knowledge Whether natural talent, learned skill, or formal education, what you know reflects in what you write--and how. Loyalty Loyalty is undervalued and misunderstood in today's corporate world. Most people feel no need for this trait when companies are impersonally hiring and firing on a whim. But loyalty isn't about blind devotion to your company. It's about a commitment to your peers, supervisors, subordinates, and customers. When you work somewhere, you inherently accept responsibility for supporting those around you. Endurance Some people enthusiastically attack a project at the start and then taper off into ho-hum acceptance. Others sit back and wait for things to get rolling, only really kicking into high gear as the deadline approaches. The best technical communicators maintain their progress from start to finish throughout the ups and downs of any project. Semper Fi Of all the traits associated with the Marine Corps, "Semper Fidelis" is the most commonly known and referenced. Perhaps "always faithful" seems like a strange approach to Tech Comm. In reality, technical communicators could not do their jobs without being reliable. When you turn your back on a job or company, you disrespect not only yourself but the entire field of Technical Communication. Each of the above traits takes root at an early age. Some traits are nurtured more than others as we grow up. Service in the Marine Corps provides the opportunity for the weaker traits to bloom. Once a part of your life, these traits remain in your garden no matter what profession you choose. As technical communicators, it is our duty to lead by example: apply these leadership traits to our profession and share them with our peers. Happy Veterans Day! Project Update 09/09/2009
I mentioned in my previous post that I'd been very busy with a very special project. Not the kind that requires much writing, long work hours, or high-tech tools. However, there are numerous 'meetings' and much 'project management'--not to mention all the safety precautions! So what is this project? We're having a baby in March! Yes, that is my excuse for lazily ignoring my website. I've barely had the energy to keep up with day-to-day necessities, let alone luxuries such as blogging. I'm sure you will forgive me for the absence. My plans are to return to sketching out my thoughts here in the near future. But, if I'm absent for too long, you can always catch me on Twitter. Busy is a Good Sign 09/02/2009
I've been busy working on a personal project in addition to my day job. So my blogging time has been very limited. I promise to update this post with more information on that project in the next few weeks. 'Twas brillig in the movie troves Send a Poor Tech Writer to Lavacon 07/14/2009
For those who've not heard, I'm raising money for a good cause: professional development. I'm trying to find the money to pay for my Lavacon registration. Here are some FAQs about the web 2.0 funding experiment. As a supporter of space R&D and member of the National Space Society, I worry when any space program--government or commercial--gets a bad rap. Certainly when the Government Accountability Office indicates an entire orbital system has a possible 20% chance of failure, it's even more worrisome. | ArchivesJanuary 2010 CategoriesAll |
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