The Mind-Mapping Writer

Posted by on Mar 3, 2017 On occasion, I write about writing. In this post from late 2015, I focused Scrivener, a powerful “content-generation tool,” which is part of how I research and create every first draft. A related tool is mind mapping. I first learned about this technique from David Allen, who discusses it in chapter 3 of his 2001 book Getting Things Done. (See here for a podcast on GTD and mind...
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Don’t Just Score – The Clemson Win Applied to Business

Posted by on Jan 20, 2017 “When they scored, I just looked at the clock, it was 2:01 & I smiled & told myself, they left too much time on the clock.” – Deshaun Watson Having lived in Clemson until I was 15, I can’t help but comment on the Tigers’ win in the NCAA championship game earlier this month. After all, I found something to say last year when they lost. Let’s start with Clemson quarterback...
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How to Be a Tech Billionaire

Posted by on Nov 16, 2016 One billion: that big number that uses three commas to separate nine zeros. Billionaire: someone who can flaunt three commas. Celebrity investor Marc Cuban has taken up the “three commas” mantra. In 2015, he co-launched a brand of the same name, selling t-shirts bearing these punctuation marks. Interesting business, this “aspirational brand.” Even if you include billionaire wannabes...
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Hire a Freelance Writer, Sell More, Get Acquired

Posted by on Oct 15, 2016 Why hire a freelance writer? The immediate reason is to complete a task. A marketing department needs a white paper or a solution brief or a series of blog articles, and no one internally is available. So they look outside for someone who can get it done. That answers the question, but only so far. Why does a company need that content in the first place? One big goal is to increase sales, or a...
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Scrivener, 79 Deliverables and a New Year

Posted by on Dec 23, 2015 In December 2014, I bought a copy of Scrivener, a “content-generation tool for writers.” I may be an atypical user, but the app immediately became part of my routine. In fact, it helped me to complete 79 projects over the past year. Why atypical? The developers of Scrivener designed the tool for creative writers. (Not surprising: the company behind it is named Literature and Latte.) There is a...
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Screw the Valley – Review Essay

Posted by on Nov 13, 2015 Silicon Valley gets plenty of attention. The Santa Clara Valley itself is beautiful, and companies based there have created staggering amounts of innovation and value. I have reported on and been happy to collaborate with many of them. So business reporters and analysts are right to focus on the Valley. But as important as it is, there comes a time when you just need to look beyond. Even players...
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