Category: Life

Networking

Hi everyone! Dualities are the best. You keep passing them – right/left. In a similar sort of way, networking plays on the ball and catcher theme. What do you think?

Life can be unfair.

If you’re like me, you always want to know the perspective of others. I try to emulate it using my ‘super sensory assumptions’, but that  doesn’t give perspective any justice. I just cannot circumvent the topic enough. I even wrote an elaborate letter to a stranger, expecting some sort of comeuppance for the amount of energy I divulged throughout. I think that’s when I discovered my passion for technical writing, ironically by asking about technical writing. So, returning to the main topic, I wrote a letter to Duncan Kent.

Mr. Kent is my good friend’s uncle and the firm founder/senior project manager at Duncan Kent & Associates Ltd., a technical documentation company based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. For the past 27 years, his company has guided and developed more than 300 manuals and technical publications. His team’s work and client list span many industries, from construction and project management to law enforcement and security.

I was inspired to write to him because of his company’s success. Or perhaps, more realistically, I wrote to him to feed my desire for positive constructive criticism…from anyone…someone…please.

My apologies for continuing to fall off of our topic. As I started planning (this elaborate letter you see), I wondered to myself, “Imagine if my client list was in the thousands?” I thought, I’m prepared to ride this wave, although, I do not surf. This is much more important – to change the course of history vs learning how to write effectively. Alas, I tend to jump the gun, but that is only my proactive personality. The unfortunate thing is – when things don’t turn out, and especially because I rely so heavily on fate – I get extremely disappointed, saddened to say the least. I suppose I will be able to save the documents for a record of my process. Egad!

Let’s have a read –

Good morning Duncan,

Thank you for your time. I am excited to share a bit of my background with you and hope that this will be the beginning of a new adventure! (Edit Jan. 4, 2020 – and holy f what a crazy ride it has been!)

I have spent the past 8 years managing corporate accounts for the medium and enterprise-sized business market segments of Canada’s #1 telecommunications brand and wireless service provider, Bell Mobility. I write about 50 emails a day, corresponding with important decision-makers like billing analysts, IT coordinators, managers and/or executives.

Writing business emails has taught me how to approach language in a linear and logical manner, so that the complexities of the technologies and services we implement can be communicated to our clients with clarity and ease.

My passion for writing was originally theoretical (art school approach), but my role at Bell Mobility changed that. Now, making words make sense in a technical fashion has me completely converted, if not entirely fascinated by the precision of writing in and of itself.

I have achieved positive results in account management by way of technical writing:

  • Optimizing processes
  • Maximizing workplace efficiencies
  • Minimizing client expenditures through routine jargon
  • Organizing & streamlining daily communications
  • Thinking critically
  • Taking proactive approaches to solving problems in writing
  • Building dependable & long lasting relationships with my team & clients

So here I am, graciously connecting to you thanks to your nephew, Chris Kent. I understand you must be very busy, but if possible, could I ask you some questions about technical writing? My goal is to determine if it is the right career for me and what steps I would need to take to get there.

Cheers,

Chona Fe Canlas

There is always a way to make things simpler.

*Note: I ended with that sentence and amazingly, I can see now that it is the beginning of my brand! (Edit Jan. 4, 2020 – Simpler & Larger guys!)

The success of your pursuits can be measured infinitely. (Edit Jan. 4, 2020 – OMG, did Simon Sinek steal that?) What will you cherish once your work is done? For myself, it is truly gaining the perspective of someone else ego holds a different holistic experience. I am continually examining this philosophy, why not!

Sales Specialist

Hi everyone! As VanWhistle Media’s Lead Sales Specialist, I have been building the foundations for a new digital marketing brand. How will we stand apart from others? How do we get customers to commit?

In my mind, it’s a combination of creative direction (standing apart) and content (establishing commitment). Also, a strong brand is everything. It is about locality plus some other concept I haven’t figured out yet (internationalism?). Meet your neighbors and start building connections any way.

I wanted to design some storefront posters and presentation slides (with animation) and this is what I came up with in the discovery stage –

Header: VANWHISTLE MEDIA IS HERE TO HELP! (large, black + white)

Sub-header: Social Media (rainbow)

Done correctly, you can tell everyone that your brand is ACTIVE and that you are FOCUSED on promoting ongoing and thriving communication with your customers. We will show you where your efforts have worked and where they are falling short! DO SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

Sub-header: SEO (blue)

Progress to the next level with a definite increase in traffic by organizing your content by keywords; this will ensure your brand appears HIGH on Google’s list of results. Your business will need a powerful strategy as search tactics are always evolving. Let’s get you to the top of the list! DO SEO with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

Sub-header: Web Design (orange)

Everything about your website (content, appearance, functionality) is determined by the QUALITY of its design. Aim to establish expertise & credibility. We can manage this process from start to finish! DO WEB DEVELOPMENT with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today!

(include at bottom in smaller typeface, maybe white on gray?)

Small print: We can also help with – Email Marketing, Pay Per Click Management, Blog/Content Creation, Designing, Auto Dealership Package, Storefront Signage, Business Cards, Branding, Creative Direction & Idea Development. Contact us, we’re flexible and talented!

(contact info)

Background tip – I repeat ‘DO…with VANWHISTLE MEDIA today’, because repetition has been shown to be an effective selling tool. Scientists have found that repetition increases processing fluency. In other words, our brains find repeated words easier to process and remember. I really want to establish a focus in my message (do = doing = done). What will drive people to stop and read/look at our poster? The word DO repeated equals the word DOING repeated equals the word DONE repeating in their heads, thereby increasing desire and attracting demand. It’s always about thoughtful language, usage and placement!
Coming back to this project, I question the use of ‘talented’. For whatever reason, people hate that word. Like, a talented person couldn’t have an honest mandate. Or, to say one’s talented is to say, I’m egotistical. It really makes me wonder. What do you guys think?
I suppose at the end of the day, people are going to think how they want. So…if you’re going to do it differently, find trustworthy research to support your ideas!

Night

Hi everyone!

It’s weird how important points in life can become permanent as art. I took this photo (Glenbrook Middle School, New Westminster, BC) while on a jog. It captures one interpretation of Simpler & Larger quite accurately. In words, I would describe this photo like the feeling I had as a child with a high fever. It felt like the universe had swallowed me up and I became a planet. So big, my sight became distorted. I would look at my bedroom door and it’s imposition startled me. I tried to comfort myself by huddling underneath the blankets, but they too swallowed me whole. It was and still is, the scariest thing I have ever experienced.

“Life is a never-ending story with no plot, because it has been eaten. The depths of me. When will we forgive what has become of them? When is she thinking too deep that she cannot leave without men? Woe is becoming, not free.” – Chona Fe Canlas

Talk about the things that bother you, even if they seem too weird. This is the first step to creating a partnership.

We deserve to know!