I wish I could write like Joel…

By Michael Pentowski. Published on April 3, 2006 in Opinion

Why is it that some people have no problems taking their thoughts and putting them into writing? I wish I was one of these persons, I wish I could write like Joel.

I can be very clever when it comes to running a company, analyzing a situation, completing a deal, or finding a suitable solution to the challenge at hand. But when it comes to taking pen to paper, I fall apart. I script ideas in my head, talk it through with other people, but when it comes to sitting behind the keyboard and getting on with the task at hand I freeze. Why? I suppose it has something to do with my other character traits. For example, if you want a great public speaker to enthrall the audience, don’t call on me. On the other hand, if you are looking for a panelist for a debate, I’m your man. I like interaction not monologues. I like intimate conversation in smaller audiences. If you are looking for a short to the point business plan or summary, I’m up for the task. A long drawn out 100 page plan is not my bag. But I digress…

A while back I thought it a good idea to start writing up our experiences with running a software company and share these with others. My head was full of great stories, advice, and such to share with those interested. I asked our team to provide me with the tools to be able to publish articles on our web site. They rose to the challenge, I did not.

The irritating part for me is that we have no shortage of material to write about. I am proud to be part of a great company, we have mutiple successes and a few failures, we have attracted a great team and know how to keep them (and our customers) motivated. Luckily for us, the team is not afraid to write articles about what we do best: technology related issues. To add to the mix, I do have some ideas for subjects which I would like to write about:

  • How to hire the wrong people
  • Resource juggling 101
  • Paying lip service versus action
  • Meetings for the sake of meeting

The challenge for me now is to find the discipline and self confidence to deliver on my promise. I suppose this admission is my first step on the road towards self help. My name is Michael, I have a problem with writing. I must confront this problem one sentence at a time…

Copyright ©2006, Lunatech Research B.V.