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4 December 1999 2
Session 2 :-)
• 35 minutes - Presentation
• 10 minutes - Question Answers
4 December 1999 3
What This Session Covers
• About Technowrites
• Opportunities
• Assignment Life Cycle
• Rules & Issues
• Traps
• What’s wrong in being your own boss?
• Limits to growth
• Estimates
• Comparisons
4 December 1999 4
The Beginning
• Started November 1994
• Strength 1
• Goal - Specialize in Technical Communication
• Business in first year 8k
• Got first telephone in 1995
• Bought first computer in 1997
4 December 1999 5
Today
• Strength 7 + 3
• Offices 2
• Business this year 2000k
• Telephone lines 3 + 2
• Connectivity ISDN
• Computers 7
• Goal - still the same!
4 December 1999 6
Opportunities
• Technical Writers
• Graphic Designers
• Animators
• Content Developers
• Translators
• Courseware Developers
• Programmers
• Instruction Designers
• Trainers
• Marketing agents
4 December 1999 7
Assignment Life Cycle
Inquiry Study
TOC & Quote
Negotiations & Approval
Drafts & CorrectionsDelivery
Payments
Rs / $
4 December 1999 8
Thumb Rules
• Rule 1: Develop thumb rules
• Rule 2: Minimum 10 Pages a day
• Rule 3: Maximum 100 Pages a day
• Rule 4: One order is no good
• Rule 5: Judgement after 1000 days
• Rule 6: Be in a network
• Rule 7: Be on the move
• Rule 8: Learn from Marwaris, Sindhis, British & Americans
4 December 1999 9
Finance Issues
Standardize your monthly earnings and keep them aside
Get a credit card, now! Ask your banker for a cashcredit
account Ask your banker for a loan, straight
or against investments / deposits Ask for at least double the salary Save for gaps and downtime
4 December 1999 10
HR Issues
Don’t compare your earnings to others doing job Study your output Vs Efficiency curves Short term disability insurance Public Provident Fund Long term & accidental insurance Mediclaim Policy for you and your family Train yourself on new tools and techniques Train yourself on marketing and business skills Plan at least 15 days leave every year Plan at least 30 days training every year
4 December 1999 11
Traps
• Late Payments
• Home Office
• Time Flexibility
• Shelf Space
• Administrative Work (non-productive work?)
• Risks & Personal Protection
• Decrease in efficiency with load
• Ahead of time?
4 December 1999 12
What’s wrong in being your own boss?
• No excuses
• You can take a leave when you want!
• You have to work when you don’t want!
• Growth is limited by your vision & luck
• You can not argue “The boss is not going to agree”
4 December 1999 13
Limits to growth!
• Limits personal growth
• Builds monotony
• Increases Frustration
• No peers - No envy - No growth
4 December 1999 14
Estimates - The Technowrites Way!
• 365 days - 52 weeks - 104 Non-working days- 20 National & Other Holidays
• 45 Days - Leaves & Training
• 196 Days to earn
• Rate * No. of Days + Overheads + Expenses = A = Base
• B = Multiplication Factor
• A * B = C = Quote
4 December 1999 15
Estimates - The Pvt. Ltd. Way!
• Identify Resources
• Rates for every resource
• Summation of (Resources x Rates) = A = Base
• B = Multiplication Factor
• A * B = C = Quote
• For Opportunity Assignments quote ad hoc
4 December 1999 16
Comparison
• In-house Writers
• Consultant Writers
• Writing Agencies
4 December 1999 17
Time to Setup
• In-house Writers: More
• Consultant Writers: Less or none
• Writing Agencies: More
4 December 1999 18
Time to Establish
• In-house Writers: Less
• Consultant Writers: More
• Writing Agencies: More
4 December 1999 19
Time to Wind-up
• In-house Writers: More
• Consultant Writers: Less or none
• Writing Agencies: Most
4 December 1999 20
Driving Force
• In-house Writers: Need
• Consultant Writers: Opportunity
• Writing Agencies: Market
4 December 1999 21
Client’s Resources
• In-house Writers: Uses
• Consultant Writers: Uses or pools in
• Writing Agencies: Pool in
4 December 1999 22
Investments
• In-house Writers: High
• Consultant Writers: Low
• Writing Agencies: High
4 December 1999 23
Team Formation
• In-house Writers: Must
• Consultant Writers: Difficult
• Writing Agencies: Must
4 December 1999 24
Personal Development
• In-house Writers: High
• Consultant Writers: Low
• Writing Agencies: High
4 December 1999 25
Entrepreneurial Development
• In-house Writers: Low
• Consultant Writers: Very High
• Writing Agencies: High
4 December 1999 26
Stability
• In-house Writers: High
• Consultant Writers: Extremely Low
• Writing Agencies: High
4 December 1999 27
Business Generation
• In-house Writers: Not applicable
• Consultant Writers: INR 8k to 1000k
• Writing Agencies: INR 1000k upwards
4 December 1999 28
Comparison
• Indian Freelance Writers
• Writers in Developed Countries
4 December 1999 29
Formal Education in TW
• Indian Freelance Writers: None
• Writers in Developed Countries: Yes
4 December 1999 30
Opportunities
• Indian Freelance Writers: Yes
• Writers in Developed Countries: Yes
4 December 1999 31
Market
• Indian Freelance Writers: Developing
• Writers in Developed Countries: Matured
?
4 December 1999 32
Competition
• Indian Freelance Writers: Low
• Writers in Developed Countries: High
4 December 1999 33
Quality in TW
• Indian Freelance Writers: High
• Writers in Developed Countries: High
4 December 1999 34
Language Advantage
• Indian Freelance Writers: Yes
• Writers in Developed Countries: Depends
4 December 1999 35
Business Generation
• Indian Freelance Writers: INR 1-1000k
• Writers in Developed Countries: US$ 50k Plus
• (Book writers earn millions!)
4 December 1999 36
Trans-Opportunities
• Indian Freelance Writers: Yes, but limited by visas and work permits
• Writers in Developed Countries: Yes, but limited by economical growth
4 December 1999 37
To Summarize...
• About Technowrites
• Opportunities
• Assignment Life Cycle
• Rules & Issues
• Traps
• What’s wrong in being your own boss?
• Limits to growth
• Estimates
• Comparisons
4 December 1999 38
The Prayer
I asked for Strength, God gave me Difficulties to make me strong
I asked for Wisdom, God gave me Problems to solve
I asked for Prosperity, God gave me Brain and Brawn to work
I asked for Courage, God gave me Dangers to overcome
I asked for Love, God gave me Troubled People to help
I asked for Favors, God gave me opportunities
I received nothing I wanted…
…but everything I needed
My Prayers have been answered!