Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips Be wary when someone asks for “actionable fill-in-the-blank.” I few years ago, I was working in a prestigious organization (just ask anyone who worked there, they would happily tell you that it was a prestigious place). A division there had an expiring charter and needed to update it. Several senior managers asked […]

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by Dwayne Phillips If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter – Mark Twain About ten years ago I was working on a project where we were writing career descriptions. We were supposed to describe the steps a person would take to learn their job, train themselves, and do ever increasing […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I’ve noticed a few phases of writing a book: planning or outlining and researching writing – the first time rewriting – several times I can’t look at this anymore, I am sick of it a publisher accepts it the book is published and I receive a copy I cannot read any of […]

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by Dwayne Phillips It is a gift when someone else reads my writing and offers comments. I had to learn how to accept and use that gift. I write a lot – more than most people. Sometimes, I am fortunate enough to have a few people read my writing before I submit it for publication. […]

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by Dwayne Phillips My printed book from FastPencil is in hand. It took about three weeks for FastPencil to transform a PDF file to a paperback book. It is 6″x9″ and 155 pages. Lessons Learned: 10-point font is too small for my eyes I chose a creme paper instead of white, I wish I had […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I hate doing something twice. That leads to disliking short tasks. Short tasks are easy to do all over a second time, especially when someone else decides that they want you to do it again. This may not sound right, but I would much rather have a long, time-consuming task that one […]

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by Dwayne Phillips Frenzied paralysis – so many things in my mind that I cannot do any of them. I make a list to clear my mind and move from paralysis to action. I can’t think. Well, that’s not true. I guess the problem is that I am thinking too much. Well, that is not […]

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by Dwayne Phillips I turn a book manuscript into a paperback book with little fuss and no setup fee. A few years ago I published a book with iUniverse. I enjoyed that experience with in self publishing or publish on demand. The package with iUniverse cost me $200, and I sold enough books to cover […]

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by Dwayne Phillips A recent peek into the world of grad students in engineering and related fields reveals a group of people with a strong desire to work for the benefit of others. I have been working with grad students on writing. This took many months to arrange, but for the past couple of weeks […]

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by Dwayne Phillips A few observations from a few more days with the iPad. You touch the iPad with your hands, even with dirty hands. Handwriting recognition software is one of the apps that could change everything. A few more impressions after a few more days with the iPad. The number 1 question: What can […]

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