| I make no bones about it, I'm a raving fan of | | | | pause the program and edit my article. |
| writing articles and essays. Particularly when it | | | | Having written articles prior to using the |
| comes to writing on topics which relate to your | | | | ReadPlease 2003 program for editing purposes I |
| given industry, or on things that are of interest to | | | | can tell you this has been an invaluable step in the |
| those who also operate in the industry you want | | | | writing process for me personally. |
| to network within (i.e build strong connections). | | | | One thing I forgot to mention is that when I fire |
| If you're thinking about passing on reading this, | | | | up my word processor the first thing I do is write |
| because you think you're not a writer, don't. I'll | | | | a title for my article which acts as an overview |
| dispel the myth that it takes some magical | | | | of what I'll be writing about. So once I've |
| formula to produce worthwhile content below. For | | | | completed writing the article, and have it all edited |
| now, allow me to explain a bit more on what a | | | | to my liking I look back at the original title I chose |
| positive difference writing articles can have on | | | | and change the wording as needed. Since I |
| your networking efforts. | | | | choose to write just like I would if I were |
| Writing Articles Changes the Typical Dynamic that | | | | speaking, on occasion I find that the focus of the |
| Exists in Building Strong Networking Relationships... | | | | article I started writing will change enough that |
| Articles allow you to change the dynamic that | | | | changing the original title only makes sense. |
| generally exists in a typical networking situation. | | | | There you have it, the exact process I use to |
| For example, where you have someone you | | | | write articles. I'm certain that those who are far |
| want to meet, normally you would reach out to | | | | better trained than I will have any number of |
| that person, and over time build enough value / | | | | suggestions and reasons why my particular |
| rapport between you and that person that a | | | | approach isn't the best, but as I mentioned |
| connection grows over time. | | | | before, it works for me. It's what's comfortable |
| However, as a writer of high quality, valuable | | | | to me, and judging by the feedback I've received, |
| articles and essays, people seek you out, which | | | | and the many places both online and offline that |
| gives you a much greater perceived value when | | | | have shared and published my articles and essays |
| starting the connection/relationship with the | | | | it seems to be an approach that works well |
| person you've just met. It can greatly reduce the | | | | enough :-) |
| amount of time that it would take otherwise to | | | | Because I am sure there is at least one person |
| achieve "trusted" adviser status with the given | | | | who happens to be reading this who just doesn't |
| person. | | | | believe they possess the skills to write articles |
| In addition to Networking, I also speak and teach | | | | themselves, but realizes the value in doing so, |
| on what is called Personal Branding. Without | | | | allow me to share a few other ideas for doing so |
| getting into a long discourse on all the ins and outs | | | | that will give you the same end result... writing |
| of what Personal Branding is, it works like this... | | | | your own articles and essays which will better |
| You want to self-package or present yourself in a | | | | position you in the minds of others. |
| certain way to others (i.e. the marketplace). When | | | | Contrary to popular opinion, you don't have to |
| you do it right, the natural progression is that you | | | | actually write in order to write articles. It sounds |
| begin to be viewed as an expert in your given | | | | like a contradiction I know, but here's what I |
| area. | | | | mean... |
| Some of the ways to do this (though certainly | | | | Two approaches to writing articles and essays for |
| not an exhaustive list) include: | | | | the non-writer 1) you could record your thoughts |
| * writing articles and essays | | | | just as you would if you were writing them. |
| * writing a book | | | | Remember, I choose to write my thoughts, just |
| * writing a booklet | | | | as if I were speaking them. You could always |
| * appearing on, or even hosting a radio show (or | | | | record your thoughts and have them transcribed |
| podcast) | | | | into an article. |
| * appearing as a guest on a TV show, or being | | | | Once you've got your "article" recorded find |
| quoted in a news story | | | | someone to transcribe it, you can likely find |
| * video clips where you share your knowledge | | | | someone in your area by looking in the phone |
| * speaking to groups and organizations | | | | book, or you could go online and search for |
| * Being a guest on (or hosting) telesminars or | | | | "transcription services" or some variant of that |
| teleclasses | | | | and you'll find a tremendous number of sources. |
| Essentially it's all about positioning yourself as the | | | | You could also try a site like |
| go to guy or gal when it comes to what others | | | | Once they've transcribed it for you, you'll have it |
| need in your given industry. | | | | all in a format you can load up in your word |
| Again, the list above is just the tip of the iceberg | | | | processor and edit yourself if need be. It may not |
| when it comes to ways to build your personal | | | | be the traditional approach to writing, but the end |
| brand. | | | | result is the same -- your expertise will shine |
| Before I get ahead of myself let's get back to | | | | through as others read your words of wisdom. |
| the point of this particular article. That being | | | | 2) Another approach, could even be what is |
| writing articles and essays in order to better | | | | referred to as ghostwriting. Where you have |
| position yourself as an expert and trusted source. | | | | someone else write an article for you with the |
| I'm convinced that most people have a | | | | understanding that you will have your name |
| tremendous amount of knowledge to share which | | | | attached to it as the author. |
| relates to their particular field or industry. The | | | | A variant on this approach would be to work |
| problem is that there seems to be a | | | | hand in hand with the person doing the writing and |
| misconception that in order to write articles one | | | | allow them to write your thoughts on the |
| has to be particularly skilled in the art of writing or | | | | particular article. So that they are your own |
| journalism in order to do so. | | | | thoughts, but they are the one doing the actual |
| While I'm certainly not going to discredit those | | | | writing, where you include your name as the |
| who have more formal training in writing, I have | | | | author. |
| seen enough people with little if any formal training | | | | Again, you can do a search for ghostwriting and |
| write and share their thoughts in the written form | | | | you'll find a number of sources if that's something |
| and gotten some amazing results. In fact I readily | | | | you want to explore. |
| confess that I'm an example of the group that | | | | You might also consider finding a writer or |
| has virtually zero formal training in writing. Would I | | | | journalism major who would be willing to work |
| be a better writer if I'd have first received formal | | | | with you to write articles for you. If you have a |
| training? Perhaps, then again, I'd likely have never | | | | local college in your area something as simple as |
| written anything to start if I'd have not allowed | | | | giving the school a call and letting them know |
| myself to simply write the only way I knew how | | | | what you're looking for should yield good results. |
| to start with. With that said, I'll share how I go | | | | These are just a few alternative approaches you |
| about writing articles. | | | | can take. As I said before, my intent isn't to write |
| Please keep in mind that there's certainly no one | | | | an exhaustive tutorial on how to write, as much |
| way to do it. I'm sharing what works for me in | | | | as to get the important point across that no |
| the hopes that some of the ideas will be helpful, | | | | matter what level you happen to rate yourself as |
| and that ultimately you'll realize that the main thing | | | | a writer, with a little creativity and willingness to |
| is to get started. Over time, and through writing in | | | | think outside the box you can create articles and |
| the first place you will improve. | | | | essays of your own, and benefit from the expert |
| First, I write just like I would if I was speaking. | | | | status that doing so gives you. Give it a try, and |
| Whatever comes to mind I write it down. I resist | | | | watch for yourself how the marketplace will |
| the urge to edit along the way, though admittedly | | | | reward you. |
| at times I may do so just a bit here and there. | | | | In summary I'd like to share the following |
| At first you may find that your urge to edit may | | | | example of just how important writing articles has |
| be very strong, but resist it just the same. | | | | been in my own professional life. When I started |
| If a thought comes to mind that I want to include | | | | out with what would become my first personal |
| that doesn't fit in the particular section I'm writing | | | | development web site no one knew me from |
| on at the moment I'll go to a different section in | | | | Adam's house cat. Literally :-) |
| the article and write it there. Then I'll come back | | | | I did two things initially that I believe made a |
| to the particular section that I was writing on | | | | tremendous difference, and have played a huge |
| before. | | | | part in where I an now. |
| What I just mentioned about moving from topic | | | | First, I made a point to continuously network with |
| to topic as it comes to mind may not work for | | | | and meet people in the personal development |
| you. I mention it only because it's something that | | | | industry (the industry I operate in). And secondly, |
| I find works for my particular style of writing. As | | | | I started writing my column that included my own |
| I mentioned before, this isn't about the right way | | | | thoughts and advice on topics related to personal |
| to do something, this is about moving you past all | | | | and professional development. |
| the reasons you think you can't write articles | | | | In both instances, I didn't stop to think of all the |
| yourself, and getting you to the point of doing so. | | | | reasons why I couldn't do what I wanted to do. I |
| After I've finished writing my rough outline of the | | | | didn't allow the thoughts that crept in like, "you |
| article, I use a program called, ReadPlease 2003 | | | | aren't qualified to write" or "who are you to think |
| (you can search for it in Google or your preferred | | | | you can connect with that person, they're well |
| search engine -- if you can't locate it, any text to | | | | known, and you're a nobody" -- I didn't allow that |
| speech program can work I'm sure). The program | | | | type of stinking thinking to stop me from taking |
| allows me to copy and paste the text I've just | | | | the simple actions I knew I had to do in order to |
| written and it will read it back to me. I happen to | | | | get the results I wanted to have occur. I simply |
| prefer this program as the voice that it reads | | | | did what needed to be done ongoing. I wrote as if |
| back in isn't near as robotic sounding as others | | | | I were speaking. And I connected with everyone |
| I've tried seem to be. | | | | and anyone that I could in my given industry. |
| The advantage to having it read back to me is | | | | Years later I still do these two things. |
| that it's like having an editor reviewing what I've | | | | It's my sincere belief that as you adopt the |
| written in a voice other than my own. Plus, as it's | | | | approach of sharing your thoughts and knowledge |
| reading back to me the particular program also | | | | with others you to will benefit greatly as a result |
| highlights the words as it reads. Allowing me to | | | | of making the choice to do so. You will see a |
| both hear and see what I've written. Then when I | | | | tremendous difference in the quality of |
| pick up errors, either grammatical, or when | | | | connections you are able to make, and your |
| something I've written just doesn't seem to | | | | network will grow beyond what you are likely to |
| make sense upon hearing it read to me I can | | | | believe is possible at this moment in time. |