An Update About The Update

You may have heard that I’ve revised the online meetings, workshops and other learning activities I provide through Research and Writing. We're still some weeks away from opening the new website. In the meantime, here’s some information about what's happening. 

Are you interested in an online meeting, a meeting series, a workshop, or similar program?  

Contact me to organize one at your convenience for your business group...your book club...your four best friends...your PTA.  Click here for a list of sessions I’ve offered in recent years. I have many more ideas about workshops, meetings and formal or informal courses, and I’d love to hear yours, too. 

What if you're only interested in those famous Research and Writing handouts?  

The worksheets, tip sheets and other support materials that are integral to every meeting? Once the new website is completed, you’ll be able to download all these tools. For free. (Well, you have to let me know who you are.) Until then, contact me and I’ll be pleased to send you copies. Click here for a list. 

You should note that I’ve converted all materials I make available to a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. This means you may share these products as long as you don’t charge for them and you include Research and Writing as the source. Read the details at www.creativecommons.org. Bad things will happen if you don't abide by the guidelines.

So, you’re staring at a Research and Writing worksheet or tip sheet and you’d like some guidance?  

Or, you’d like to know a little more about how to use it? For a nominal fee, you’ll be able to access a walkthrough of each document. I’ll help you understand what you’re doing, why it’s important, and where to take the insight you’ve just developed. 

Hey, wait. I thought Research and Writing 

was all about  research and editorial services for

 small business and solo practices. What gives? 

Do you wonder why it's been so quiet around here?

We're working on some major revisions.   

Look for a revised Research and Writing website early in 2013.

New features will focus on the business management side of Research and Writing, including:

    · easy access to the ever-popular worksheets and tip sheets

    · audios and videos to walk you through the worksheets, with extra tips and advice

    · and more

Until the site is built, tested and open for business, email us to

    · ask for copies of our worksheets and tip sheets

    · help you set up and run online meetings or workshops for your group

    · ask about our research and editorial services

See you soon!

Meanwhile, I'm to try to post more frequently on the blog. 

Designing Presentations Online Meeting Series (2 Meetings) Starts 30 August

I'm pleased to announce the next offering of the “Designing Presentations” online meeting series. 

The meetings are: 
A. Writing an Abstract or Other Short Proposal 
Thursday 30 August 2012 12pm US Eastern Time 

 This 90-minute session will show you how to describe your workshop, presentation or talk clearly and succinctly. Use what you learn to improve your conference proposals or your presentations to current and prospective clients. Will talk about what you do and don’t need to include, how to format to improve reader comprehension, and more. 
 Download a 1-page information sheet at http://bit.ly/DP-A-2 

 B. Designing a Hands-On Workshop 
Thursday 6 September 2012 12pm US Eastern Time 

A 2-hour session that leads you through planning, design and organization of a presentation that includes audience participation. If you've been thinking about teaching your clients, your boss, your board of directors, or others just what it is you /really/ do, Designing a Hands-on Workshop will give you the start you need. 
Download a 1-page information sheet at http://bit.ly/DP-B-2 


As with all Research and Writing workshops and meetings, there will be time (and special after-meeting opportunities) for continued interaction and personalized assistance.

The fee for the 2-meeting series is $70, $40 to attend a single meeting. Partners and affiliates may take the discount offered, or contact me about group registration. 
  

Register here

Designing Presentations series$70.00 USD A. Writing an Abstract only$40.00 USD B. Designing a Hands-On Workshop only$40.00 USD Designing Presentations-discounted*$59.50 USD A. Writing an Abstract only-discounted*$39.15 USD B. Designing a Hands-On Workshop only-discounted*$39.15 USD

*Discount code

Mid-Year Goal Assessment/Goal Writing

 I’m pleased to announce that registration is now open for a special 2-in-1 online meeting. 

Mid-year Goal Assessment/ Designing Goals You Can Achieve

Join us on  Thursday 26 July 2012 from 12:00pm – 2:00 pm US Eastern Time (UTC-5:00).

Part 1 (12:00-1:00pm), we’ll talk about your work-related annual goals, New Year’s Resolutions, targets, etc.. . . the ones you set some months ago. We'll discuss which goals you exceeded, which you met and which tasks proved overwhelming. Recognize what you have achieved this year, and learn ways to manage the factors that may have held you back.

Then, in Part 2 (1:00-2:00pm), we'll talk about--and practice--writing clear and achievable goals. Revise the goals or resolutions you've already made, or write new ones. We'll focus on designing actionable goals that can guide you for the remainder of the year.

Join us for Part 1, Part 2 or the whole session.

The fee for this meeting is a special rate of $8.00. (Sorry, no discounts.)

To register and pay, please click the button below:

"See" you on the 26th!                                Oh, And. . .

Spring 2012 Meetings & Workshops: Defining Your Business Model

What is a business model and how do you know if you have one?

Your business model is about value.

A good business model will connect the ways you value what you do with the ways your clients or customers value you. What's important to them? What's important to you? How do you demonstrate that significance? 

 Join us for one, two or all three meetings in this series. Learn new ways to think about your business, both broad (where's the value?) and specific (how does the way you understand your business affect relationships with clients?). 

The meetings are: 

I. Business Models 101                                              10 April at 12 noon, US Eastern Time 

In this meeting, we'll discuss basic components of a business model. You’ll learn about assumptions underlying the way you structure or model your practice. 

II. Examples of Business Models                                17 April at 12 noon, US Eastern Time 

The second meeting will look at examples of businesses or business types familiar to all. We'll examine models "in action" both good and bad. 

III. Creating a Model for Your Business                      24 April at 12 noon, US Eastern Time 

In the final session we’ll apply the lessons of the earlier meetings to your practice. What are the components of your business model now? How does it define or explain what you do? How can you improve it? 

Register here: 

Meeting Series $90.00 USD Any 2 Meetings $70.00 USD Any 1 Meeting $40.00 USD

Please indicate which meeting(s):

I, II & II I & II I & III II & III I only II only III only

Partners and Affiliates Discount Registration:

Meetings and Meeting Series

Meeting Series $76.50 USD Any 2 Meetings $59.50 USD Any 1 Meeting $39.15 USD

Please indicate which meeting(s):

I, II & II I & II I & III II & III I only II only III only

Discount Code

 

 Ask about joining our discount programs. 

The meeting leader is Sarah Lowengard, Big Boss of Research and Writing. Sarah has created and taught courses, workshops, and tutorials in business management and  research for more than twenty-five years.

Spring 2012 Meetings & Workshops: Business Budget Basics

Three 90-minute meetings will build your confidence about the financial aspects of your business--someone else’s business--your life.

The meetings will discuss

I. Planning a Budget                          offered Monday 14 May at 12 noon, US Eastern Time

You need to create a budget for a project...the next year of your practice...your life. In this meeting, we'll discuss creating budgets when you're given a limit and when you have to provide it. The emphasis will be on ways to create a realistic budget. 

II. Reading a Budget                        offered Thursday 24 May at 12 noon, US Eastern Time
Someone asks you to review a budget--what does it tell you? How do you know? How do you determine that the budget you've been given is adequate for the job? This second meeting will help you build fluency in understanding the numbers.

 III. Income Projections                    offered Monday, 4 June at 12 noon, US Eastern Time
The third meeting will demystify the process of making 6-month, 1-year or 5-year financial projections. We'll use the skills you've developed in the first two sessions and introduce some relevant forecasting skills. We'll also discuss how to use the projections you've developed and what to do when your numbers prove to be a little optimistic--or too conservative.

Business Budget Basics is not just for owners of a business or practice. You'll benefit from participation if you:

• are planning a paper or thesis and need a realistic sense of costs 
• need a refresher before you respond to an RFP or RFQ
• want a better understanding of the financial thresholds for now or the future
• read grants for a local state or federal agency and want to make sure you understand the financial portions 

Register Here:

Meetings and Meeting Series

Meeting Series $90.00 USD Any 2 Meetings $70.00 USD Any 1 Meeting $40.00 USD

Please indicate which meeting(s):

I, II & II I & II I & III II & III I only II only III only

Partners and Affiliates Discount Registration:

Meetings and Meeting Series

Meeting Series $76.50 USD Any 2 Meetings $59.50 USD Any 1 Meeting $39.15 USD

Please indicate which meeting(s):

I, II & II I & II I & III II & III I only II only III only

Discount Code

 

 Ask about joining our discount programs. 

The meeting leader is Sarah Lowengard, Big Boss of Research and Writing. Sarah has created and taught courses, workshops, and tutorials in business management and academic research for more than twenty-five years. 

Spring 2012 Meetings & Workshops: Your Life as an Independent [Whatever]

Discuss ideas & concerns. Develop the tools you need for your independent life. 

IF 

. . . you want to bring order to the free-lance or independent work you do

. . . you believe you need to be more businesslike about your academic or arts-based career 

. . . you’re considering “going independent” in any field

 . . . this is a workshop for you. 

Your Life as an Independent [Whatever] is a three-week, asynchronous workshop that will show you how to 

• identify your expertise and skills 
• See a sample exercise about your Expertise & Experience here!
• describe who you are and what you do 
• find freelance, contract, adjunct or part-time work 
• manage your work time 
• establish basic financial systems 
• set realistic goals—and meet them 

You will learn by planning and completing assignments. You and your co-participants will help each other through discussion and critiques. An optional weekly meeting gives you chance to ask questions or present problems in real-time.

Expect an average weekly time commitment of five hours to cover the course basics.

This workshop is appropriate for those who are:

• exploring the idea of self-employment 
• unemployed or underemployed and looking for ways to supplement their income
• independently employed, including 
• academics 
• artists 
• artisans 

Fee: $250.00 Contact us to participate in our Affiliate/Partners and group discount programs.

Register here:

Pay with a credit card or PayPal

Workshop price $250.00 USD Discounted price*--5 registrations $1,225.00 USD Discounted price*--10 registrations $2,000.00 USD Partner/Affilliate Price $212.50 USD

Discount code

Your Life as an Independent [Whatever] is led by Sarah Lowengard (Big Boss of Research and Writing) with assistance by selected Guest Experts. Sarah has created and taught courses, workshops, and tutorials in business management, and research for more than twenty-five years.