Tag Archive for Corporate blogging

A Week of Writing, May 7 to 13

13 May, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

Big news this week is that last week’s gains continue to drive writing efforts forward. The French translation of my first article for Le Magazine Azur will be complete by the week-end, and my application that won Webtech Wireless the 2012 Adoption of Technology award continues to reverberate through that company. CEO, Scott Edmonds, said, “now we can call ourselves an award-winning software company”.

Pro-EOBR Campaign Gaining Ground describes efforts by trucking associations to get the Canadian government to legislate in favour of mandatory electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs). These devices replace paper logs books that drivers use to track their hours. EOBRs are considered safer and more reliable in the industry.

Long-Term Disability: What If You’re Employer Goes Broke? is based on the federal government’s 2012 budget that includes a requirement for companies to insure their long-term disability plans.

Getting The Car Accident Trauma Help You Need is sadly based on a real-life tragedy and serves as the springboard for understanding how to deal with ICBC if you’re in a MVA.

I turned some creative writing into a movie just for fun. It was fun, but it cost money too. In my new little film, I was amused at the idea that our brains grew not to accommodate our needs, but exactly the other way around.

A Week of Writing, April 30 to May 6

6 May, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

This has been another epic week of writing for me, although some of it won’t appear online just yet. For example, I just wrote an article for Magazine Azur, but its awaiting translation to French so it won’t be published for a few more weeks.

On May 2, 2012, I attended the BCTIA Techbrew event where it was announced that Webtech Wireless was nominated for the Adoption of Technology award. I pre-wrote this blog about the event to which I updated and added photos later that night to be ready for its scheduled release at 5:40 am PST (early enough for eastern readers).

I found out that the agency that looks after Webtech Wireless’ news releases particularly mentioned the quality of the Quadrant Manager Mobile news release I wrote. I haven’t been writing a lot of their news releases, so that’s great to hear.

Stay tuned for an article in Magazine Azur (it’s written and submitted, but not yet published). Two Canadians—one English; one French—experience the trials and triumphs of travelling in the south of France. I wrote the English and my friend and fellow traveller, Sylvie Soucis, is translating it into French. “Où est le &#@* train.”

Celebrating Mental Health Week: May 7-13, 2012 describes the loopholes private insurers use to elude quite valid claims from people who pay for private insurance.

May is the Month of Motor Safety is another timely blog post based on a recent news release from the Vancouver Police Department’s announcement that it will be targeting dangerous drivers in May. I go on to warn of the dangers of entirely trusting one’s accident claim to an ICBC Adjuster. AS a public entity doing the work of a private insurer, ICBC is in an ongoing conflict of interest with every claim it settles.

I wrote an article called, Long-Term Disability Claims: A Cross-Country Check, which highlights stories across Canada affecting those with long-term disabilities. I didn’t know there was a Rick Hansen coin?

A Week of Writing, April 23 to 29

29 April, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

I’m in such a state of production, that I didn’t realize I’d written two blog posts for Webtech Wireless (our goal is one per week), so that’s why there are two.

Webtech Wireless’ InterFleet client, Ville de Québec is among seven finalists for this year’s Intelligent Community award for web savvy and innovative cities.

Quadrant Manager goes Mobile describes the latest, greatest to the Webtech Wireless suite of Quadrant products: Quadrant Manager Mobile for iPad and iPhone.

I researched a quick and wrote a quick ICBC Accident Checklist for those in British Columbia who’ve had a motor vehicle accident and need to know what to do next. There’s a downloadable version you can print and keep in your car too.

A Week of Writing, April 16 – 22

22 April, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

As the momentum of my writing picks up, I’m called to produce ever more content with ever more speed. While not altogether abandoning my reliance on adhering to good technical writing skills, it’s really the audience that matters most, so that’s my greatest focus.

This week:

Webtech Wireless 2012 Annual Report At Webtech Wireless, we (the Marketing department) worked tirelessly with Finance to produce the 2012 Annual Report. All were concerned with proper reviews, but also in ensuring this document is readable to our Board, stakeholders, and investors.

Also at Webtech Wireless, the blog post I researched in February went live in time for the many tradeshows now occupying the lives of government snow removal fleet operators. I’m pleased the name, “Are Your Winter Fleet Contractors Worth Their Salt?” was retained.

Long-Term Disabilities Top Social Issues in Forthcoming Alberta Election for the Disability Claim Denied site looks at social issues affecting Alberta, which ever way the election goes.

A Week of Writing, April 9 – 14

15 April, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

I should preface this post with “why I love my job” to describe the diversity of things I do. Apart from writing on a diversity of subjects (see below), I’m also busy designing graphics, designing web pages, interviewing interesting people, collaborating, doing some project management, and generally being a techy good time charlie. When I hear people complain about their jobs, I am torn between sympathy and the desire to say, “then quit”.

Long-Term Planning for Long-Term Disabilities describes changes to RDSPs (Registered Disability Savings Plans) in the 2012 Federal Budget. It’s mostly good news for those with long-term disabiliteis, but otherwise off the radar of the Media.

Investment in Lean Technology Powers CP’s Success picks up on the news of the day–CP Rail is posting record profits, despite harsh winter conditions (in the West) and a low stock evaluation. Its adoption of lean technologies such as Webtech Wireless’ Quadrant solution is credited with this success.

How Provincial Budgets Affect Those with Long-term Disabilities is a simple cross-country tour describing changes to provincial budgets that affect those with long-term disabilities. I slightly favoured western provinces (because that’s where the traffic is coming from), and I’m sorry I could find nothing for Quebec.

ICBC Conflict of Interest How Could Your MVA Claim Be Compromised By ICBC’s Conflicts of Interest? describes some of the ways British Columbians are at the mercy of the Province’s auto insurer, ICBC. This is my kick-off blog post for this site.

A Week of Writing – April 1 to 8

6 April, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

It’s been a busy week and in addition to all else, here’s what I’ve written:

Province’s new mandatory pedestrian helmet law takes effect tomorrow is an April Fool’s article on the Vancouver Observer online magazine I write for. The article’s a fun romp. My friend, Ulrike, and I cruised downtown beauty salons looking for a photo op for the story. We found it. Much fun all round, although comments on the VO site indicate some people have very little experience with April Fools’ pranks.

Integrating Fleet Technology Boosts Revenue on the Webtech Wireless blog is a post based on an interview I did with Troyer Ventures’ CEO and owner. Initially, I interviewed Steve Troyer to put his company forward for this year’s BCTIA award, but the material’s so good I’ve repurposed it as a blog post and a case study for Webtech Wireless.

Disabilities And The Federal Budget on Disability Claim Denied site provides commentary on the 2012 federal budget for those with long-term disabilities. I write a weekly blog on long-term disabilities and soon will also writing for them on ICBC claims. Lots of research goes into these little posts.

History of GPS Devices is a fun spoof on GPS and other wireless technologies. I wondered how AVL (automated vehicle location) and GPS (global positioning system) technologies might have helped explorers in centuries past. It’s just fun based on my work in the industry and my love of history.

Planning a Serial Article

1 March, 2012 / Jason Hall / No comments

In the last month, I’ve written 3/4 of a four-part series on bicycle sharing programs for the Vancouver Observer. The focus is on bringing a bicycle sharing program to Vancouver, but my source material is from my colourful experiences using Paris’ fabulous Velib’ bicycle sharing.

It wasn’t long before I realized I had way too much material for a single
article, so I had to find a way to break it up, but create enough interest
to (hopefully) maintain interest. Here’s what I did.

Article	Description
Part I: What Vancouver can learn from Paris on bikes: City of Light transport (Jan 29th, 2012 )	I describe my delightful exposure to Paris and ask, “Why doesn’t Vancouver have a bicycle sharing program?”. I really do ask, in fact, I interview City councillor, Raymond Louie and get the dirt on the province’s helmet laws that have been jack knifing plans to institute a BSP in Vancouver to date.
Part II: Going with the Flow in Bicycle-Sharing Paris (Feb 6th, 2012)	Having experienced the logistical and linguistic challenges of actually usingthe Velib’ in Paris, I offer some technical tips for any intrepid souls visiting Paris. It’s a technical article with some helpful advice about how the French flowbetter than we Anglo-Saxons.
Part III: Unforgettable Bicycle Trips Around Paris (Feb 17th, 2012)	With the technical information behind us, a description of cycling in a foreign city wouldn’t be complete without describing what it feels like to cycle the most romantic city on earth. I rhapsodize Paris as seen from my trusty Velib’ bicycle.
Part IV:Bicycle Sharing: Bringing it Home to Vancouver (TBA)	Now it’s time to take it home. I’ve invited readers to submit their favourite stories of cycling in Vancouver. What would be as exciting for someone visiting Vancouver as it was for me in Paris. Let’s take the visitors out of Stanley Park and show them some of the hidden cycling treasures of Vancouver. I’ve collected about six great routes from friends and friends of friends and more are coming in. I’ll compile this collaborative piece in the next couple of weeks and send it to the presses. Stay tuned.

A One-Float Parade

24 December, 2011 / Jason Hall / No comments

Yesterday, I came upon a one-float parade making its way through afternoon traffic in downtown Menton, France. It appeared to have no fixed direction (although it led us to the beach with its seaside restaurants and shops). For me, it represented a lively example of what a small group of people—about five in this case—can do to bring playfulness and happiness to a city.

One-float parade - Menton

Living life like a whole parade sounds expensive, and excessive; like a one-man parade, lonely and perhaps lunatic; but a one-float parade with close friends—just right.

Happy holidays friends,

Jason

The galley slave, the orchestra conductor, and the kitchen party

20 December, 2011 / Jason Hall / No comments

There’s a kitchen party going on in my head these days. My thoughts have become less inclined to follow direction than they might ordinarily be. It could be the air here in the south of France where I’m otherwise churning out corporate blogging content for Vancouver clients. Or it could be that I’m discovering that the kitchen party in my head is pretty effective for getting certain things done.

Recently, I read a blog, which utilized the popular metaphor of the orchestra conductor to describe enlightened leadership in a corporate setting. I liked the comparison, but I had to look elsewhere for a metaphor that was more enlightened still.

How do Slave Galleys Work?

Credit: funnytimes.com

In the old, old days, employees were seen merely as resources (sometimes costly ones). Like a slave galley, most everyone was chained to his post and the ‘employer’ used negative motivation (usually whips and torture) to produce results (i.e., rowing).

Why is an Orchestra Conductor more Enlightened?

The orchestra conductor metaphor is considered more enlightened, because everyone brings together his or her best talents under the conductor’s light touch, (who of course brings it all together into beautiful music). The emphasis is on bringing out each person’s unique talents.

Dumas - "The orchestra when tragedy is being played"

Having played in a symphony orchestra, I know firsthand that it is not always that enlightened. An orchestra is extremely hierarchical, music is programmed sometimes two years in advance, and except for first-chair players, there’s very little freedom to interpret the music freely. Bluntly, sometimes it’s much, much closer to a slave galley than anything else.

So, Why a Kitchen Party?

In a kitchen party, everyone is draw there because he or she wants to be there. There is no obligation—it’s a party! Everyone participates so everybody shares equally in the creation. There may be a host, but no leader. If you don’t want to play, you can always leave. Kitchen parties seldom have distinct rules and, being spontaneous, it can’t really be planned. It’s a viral happening.

Newfoundland_Kitchen_Party_by_AlexisLynch

Credit: Alexis Lynch

I think if everyone who disliked his or her job were to quit, after the initial bumps and burps as the world reconfigured itself into one in which people only did what they were drawn to do, things would probably improve considerably. This is the kitchen-party metaphor: love what you do or do something else.

Complaining 101 – How to Get Results

18 December, 2011 / Jason Hall / No comments

Here's what I'd hoped for...

Did you ever notice how optimism can turn to disappointment and then to anger? Yesterday as I was playing in the sun with several semi-feral kittens, I let my mind wander and I suddenly observed the distinct thresholds that brought me to lodge a complaint at my hotel.

When I first saw my room, I just laughed. It was like a student dormitory, but it didn’t matter. This hotel serves the French school where I’m learning French, so there are a lot of twenty-something students around and the atmosphere is decidedly informal. But when informal crossed the line into incompetent, the problems started mounting:

I asked to have my shower fixed three times with no action from management.
Although I’d been promised a WIFI connection (a necessity for staying in connection with my Vancouver clients), it frequently didn’t work or the connection was so slow it was like being thrown back into distant 1994.
With no notice, the management of the hotel tore apart the ceiling in the corridor leading to my room, leaving wires and dangling lights in the way.
While I expected a certain amount of partying, it didn’t occur to me that some students would selfishly party all night long on a school night at the expense of sleep for everybody less inclined to party (and then miss classes themselves the next day to catch up on sleep).
My room was close to the shared kitchen where noisy students tended to gather and in addition to the noise, a night’s partying left our shared kitchen (already laughably inadequate) filthy—a cochonnerie in fact.

Castel Arabel has clearly seen better days

...Here's what I got.

A few years ago, before I learned how truly counterproductive complaining can be, I think I actually thought complaint was an effective communication tool. When I realized this was not the case, I resolved never to complain again. Now, this untenable situation was backing me into a corner. As a readied myself for class, I pondered the most effective way to complain so that my grievances would be heard and acted upon.

Here’s what I decided:

No matter how justified, nobody likes a complainer. When stating the grievance, avoid whining. Whining is a fast ticket to abdicate your power. Instead, clearly explain the problem and the solution you expect to see.
Document your complaint. Make sure your facts are straight before you complain, then you don’t find yourself on the defensive.
Give people receiving an out—an opportunity to be right; otherwise, they may become defensive.

When I arrived at the school, I sat down with administrator. I simply said I had a problem with Castel Arabel (my hotel) and held up my iPhone with pictures of the filthy kitchen and the disemboweled ceiling. I described my attempts to get my shower fixed and my lack of sleep resulting from the all-night partiers. I then explained my concerns about my friend, Sylvie, coming from Quebec and whether if the problems were not resolved could we expect to be reimbursed should we move to a different hotel? I only used strong words where when he tried to excuse the state of the hotel. I simply said, “No more excuses”. He then offered to call the hotel and speak with its manager.

When I returned to the hotel, my shower was fixed and the manager explained to me that because of the work in the hallway, he’d be moving me to their “de luxe” accommodations for the duration of my stay. I let him save face (it’s much easier for him to apologize for moving me because of the repair work in the hallway than my lengthy list of other complaints). I courteously thanked him for thinking of me and finding me a different room.

Après la tempête - wellbeing restored

All is well now. I can feel my optimism begin to return. I conveyed that I wasn’t going to fly into a rage, I am not a complainer, and I expect results if I do lodge a complaint.

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