At least twice in my career I got offered lots of money to do something I didn’t believe in. I refused both times. And I have never regretted it. Just starting out In 1983 I was making $25,000 as a technical writer. I had started working for a software company part-time, then they plucked me…
I’m finishing a project and recruiting new clients right now. That means meetings. Meetings to discuss their book projects, and meetings to develop their ideas or critique what they’ve written. But when they ask what times I’m free, I lie about how busy I am. Here’s why. I’m busier than I appear After nine-plus years…
Honest-to-freaking-God, I don’t want to stop working. There’s no reason to retire. Working is rewarding, and I’m still capable of being creative and useful. Why would I let all that experience and creativity go to waste? I’ll tell you what I’m letting go of. Multitasking. My workload now is set up so that I can…
Dear medical office: I’d like to thank you for sending me a survey about my recent experience at your medical office. You are extremely consistent. Every time I visit a doctor or interact with anyone at your office or any other, I get a survey. I’m sure you’re using those surveys to learn ways you…
Old people have seen a lot. They often have clear ideas about the right and wrong way to do things, based on hard-won experience. They may not be right. After all, the world continues to change, and knowledge becomes outdated. Young people have new ideas and the energy to pursue them. So perhaps we shouldn’t…
This is the first Independence Day of what is supposed to be my old age (65). But . . . After decades of working, my network is huge. My reputation is strong. My health insurance is almost free (thanks, Medicare). My body is fine. My mind is active. My work is rewarding. My kids are…
Ugh, so many writers say. Now I have to do research. Why can’t I just write? Turn your attitude around. Once upon a time I received an offer to work for a company called Forrester Research. “What is the job?” I asked. “You do research about questions people want to know about, then you write…
A big part of a father’s job is to bear witness to what his children do. Fathers come to your little league games. They observe your homework marks and your artwork. They watch you learn to ride a bike or shoot a basket. “Daddy, Daddy, watch me, watch me!”, the child shouts. The accomplishment becomes…
I write and edit about 90% of the time. I use writing tools all day long. I’ve probably written 10 million words so far. And one feature of every writing and editing tool has interfered with my productivity for decades. Why do we do nearly all of our writing in the bottom 10% of the…