Seven Qualities of a Successful Freelancer by Fiverr Team

Seven Qualities of a Successful Freelancer

I have had to take a hard long look at how I work from home. I have come to the conclusion that I really need to learn how to focus and work on one project at a time.

How to Create Successful Training by Tom Kuhlmann

How to Create Successful Training

Do you have any training horror stories as a writer or as an employee?

Quote from Robert M. Pirsig

Technology presumes there’s just one right way to do things and there never is. ~Robert M. Pirsig

Quote from Mark Twain

The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say. ~Mark Twain

5 Statements Successful People Refuse to Accept by Jeff Haden

5 Statements Successful People Refuse to Accept

I think this article was written for me; of course, that could just be my ego talking.

I have constantly and I mean constantly tried to figure out why something didn’t work for me? I still don’t have all of the answers but this article has given me some food for thought.

5 Ways to Create Motivation Using eLearning Scenarios by Brother Sean

5 Ways to Create Motivation Using eLearning Scenarios

I read this and I couldn’t help but think of a game series that I enjoy playing created by Naughty Dog called Jak and Daxter. The first game is really simple and easy but as you move through each level the game gets more advanced. The next game builds on the fundamentals you used in the first.  I still haven’t been able to beat Jak and Daxter: The Last Frontier but heights scare me even in a game.

My point is, nobody would expect a child to do algebra without learning basic math skills. Why should any other skill be any different. Yes, it may be slower but the employee, student, or customer will be less frustrated and more productive. A really quick side note: make sure to update your scenarios to suite your user needs.

Work From Home? 5 Tips to Keep You Sane by Heather Wilson

Work From Home? 5 Tips to Keep You Sane

What helps keep you sane when working for home?

10 daily habits to bring you career success by HAYS

10 daily habits to bring you career success

Is there anything you would add to this list? Is there anything different you have done that has helped you achieve career success?

Editing isn’t important….right? by Melinda Anderson

I have just spent three hours helping my husband to study for a General Painting Contractors License to cover certain states in the midwest. The experience has been highly entertaining and informative. In fact, it has been so entertaining that I have chosen to share a few of the questions from the practice tests he has been studying. Let’s start with something very basic such as extra words.

“What should aluminum be wiped with what after weathering?”

Now, you might have quickly read this question and your eyes may have stumbled but you got the gist of the question. You might have even read it agin just to make sure. However, let’s pretend for five minutes that you have a reading disability. You might read this question like this:

“What should aluminum be wiped with what? After weathering.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I have made several errors just like this one. Writing is not perfect, however, the author of this question could have taken at least 5 seconds to read the question thereby discovering the extra word.

Most of the questions are the standard multiple choice with one or two answers. This next example is confusing because the sentence has blank spaces for two answers but only one is needed.

“A HEPA sanding abatement method removes _____________ and _________________ coating.”

( ) lead based
( ) epoxy based
( ) primer based
( ) none of the above”

I read this and I automatically assumed that two answers are needed because there are two blank spaces. I quickly scanned my choices looking for one with two answers. I expected something like ( ) lead and epoxy based or ( ) both 1 and 2.  As you can see, there is not a selection with two answers. I reread the question and looked at the answers again. I quickly realized that someone had made a mistake and no one had caught it.

I don’t want this post to be longer than necessary so let me sum up the rest of the errors really quick, missing articles, misused prepositions, conflicting information, and misused punctuation. These are just the common errors that I, a lowly technical writer, discovered in three hours while helping my husband study.

These materials are supposed to be designed to help a student learn. However, errors like these only confuse a student and make the learning process even more difficult.

I guess whoever wrote these materials did not consider the student’s need. After all, why bother editing if you don’t care about your audience.

By Melinda Anderson

7 Poisonous Beliefs That Make You Desperately Unhappy by Jeff Haden

7 Poisonous Beliefs That Make You Desperately Unhappy

Currently, I own two business that are not making money. One business had one client and the other has had one purchase in the last year. Extremely depressing and defeating. However, I have not given up.

I have kept plugging away at finding clients for both companies. I shake hands, I smile, and I hand out various different marketing materials every chance I get.

I hope this article helps you shake off the dust and try again.