collaboration

Creating successful content marketing takes creativity and skill, and it takes adhering to an established production schedule so that deliverables are timely. A production schedule lays out the workflow for team members by directing them how and when to work on a project, motivating everyone through deadlines. In whatever way you meet a deadline—either by completing your task a few days ahead of plan, or up against it thriving on eleventh-hour adrenalin—you also have to...

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Since nobody would allow me to bend the wires to create sad and happy human profiles on their $10M+ quantum computer, I had to turn to a manipulated photography solution. The “profile” wires and end caps were purchased at a hardware store, bent and photographed. That image was then integrated with a stock photograph of a real quantum computer and colorized to matchy-match the other wires. Are you watching the Peacock channel’s hit Yellowstone? (Truthfully,...

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“Creativity is the magical human act of doing something that might not work. If you know it’s going to work, then it’s management.” —Seth Godin A tattered official notice from the local fire department tacked to a wall stated a maximum capacity of 130 people were allowed in the darkish restaurant. Included in that headcount would be the few waitstaff bustling by tables filled with strangers seated elbow-to-elbow, and the musicians readying to entertain us. Established...

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Beyond the worry, fear and suffering caused by the pandemic, people have managed to remarkably change directions in their personal and professional lives, demonstrating great resiliency. Take a step back from the flurry of pandemic-time workplace changes to notice how your coworkers are able to quickly set aside best-laid plans when current products or services aren’t meeting the needs of the market.  Pre-pandemic, a change of direction would likely be identified and resolved at a slower...

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I occasionally am asked how to break into any field, but especially writing and editing. The referrals come from those who know my work and my track record. I wanted to share some of that advice with anyone pursuing a creative field. These practices and guiding principles worked for me whenever I job hunted. And, they apply to anyone regardless of their stage in life. Do your best, knowing some days will be more challenging...

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A visual creative’s job is to dazzle the reader using a well-executed convergence of concept + imagery + graphic design + words. This dynamic combination wins views … and peer-judged awards. Our team recently received national recognition in an industry awards program for a 2020 series on security awareness training featuring a fictitious company. We earned a National Silver Award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors. The series previously earned a Silver Award...

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Today is better known in certain circles as May the 4th Be with You, a loose play on the most famous line in a long list of Star Wars movies. But we’re going to open with another sci-fi classic: Blade Runner. If you caught the last half hour of the Oscars the other weekend, then you likely laughed at Harrison Ford reading a list of feedback from producers to director Ridley Scott after a screening...

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A friend recently posted a social media meme that said, “We are not all in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm. Be kind.” I can’t think of a better summation for how the pandemic has affected people in varying ways, or a better prescriptive: Be kind. As 2020 comes to a close, many people are pretty much worn down to a nub resulting from health, financial, employment and/or childcare issues....

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