WELCOME

to my business information pages

My business is the business of language. I specialise in English and Afrikaans and my workshops are decidedly not run-of-the-mill. I also offer top-notch translating and copy-editing services.

My "mission", to use contemporary corporate jargon, is to develop in my clients a strong consciousness of the undeniable link between respect and clear communication, and to help them enhance their power of expression both in writing and in speech.

Selling yourself

It is often said in business that the first step to selling your service or your product is to sell yourself.

Selling yourself simply means that the way you relate to people makes them feel that being with you or doing business with you is a positive experience. This is obviously important in relation to clients and customers, but is no less so in relation to your colleagues (including your subordinates and your superiors) if harmony and maximum co-operation are what you're looking and hoping for.

Most people know that one of the keys to establishing and maintaining excellent relationships is to treat others with courtesy and respect. What is not always appreciated, however, is that one of the most important indicators of courtesy and respect is the way we communicate with people, whether we are speaking or writing, and whether the relationships concerned are personal or professional.

The greater the effort I put into communicating thoughtfully with someone, the more I am saying, in effect,

"You are important enough for me to want to get my message across to you as efficiently and as clearly as possible – I do not expect you to expend undue effort in trying to understand me."

The American physician and writer John Andrew Holmes made this profound observation:

"It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others."

Communicating clearly and thoughtfully with those "others" will go a long way towards gaining their respect and their trust and enhancing our relationships with them.

It is worth developing the necessary skills in our businesses to achieve such communication, whatever the medium. Our clients will appreciate us the more for doing so.

The main elements of my business can ultimately be related to this conviction. It is what informs the way I edit and translate, and when it comes to my seminars, it is what I try to equip my clients to put into practice in all facets of their lives.

Thank you for visiting my website. I look forward to being of service to you with my niche seminars and language services, as well as with anything I may be able to arrange for you in collaboration with my training associates.

Read more here about the important topic of communication, courtesy and respect.

Be sure to visit my Write thinking blog – you will find interesting language-related material there.