Randy A Brown

Author: Randy A Brown

  • What Technical Writing Actually Is (And What It Isn’t)

    What Technical Writing Actually Is (And What It Isn’t)

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Ask ten people what technical writing is, and you’ll get ten different answers.

    Some think it’s about jargon.
    Others think it’s about manuals.
    Some assume it’s basically programming with words.
    Others confuse it with marketing, blogging, or academic writing.

    This confusion is one of the biggest reasons capable people avoid technical writing or feel like they’re failing at it.

    So let’s clarify:

    Technical writing is not about sounding technical.
    It’s about making complex things usable.

    Once you understand that, everything else starts to make sense.

    What Technical Writing Actually Is

    At its core, technical writing is problem-solving for readers.

    It answers questions like:

    • How does this work?
    • How do I use this correctly?
    • Why did this fail?
    • What do I do next?
    • What decision should I make with this information?

    Technical writing sits at the intersection of:

    • Understanding
    • Clarity
    • Accuracy
    • Usefulness

    It translates systems into steps, ideas into models, and complexity into action.

    Good technical writing doesn’t impress readers.
    It helps them.

    Technical writing simplifies.

    What Technical Writing Is Not

    Let’s clear away a few common misconceptions.

    1. It’s Not About Using Big or “Technical” Words

    Using complex language doesn’t make writing technical; it makes it harder to use.

    In fact, the more complex the subject, the simpler the language should be.

    Technical writing values:

    • Plain language
    • Clear definitions
    • Concrete examples
    • Consistent terminology

    If your writing sounds impressive but confuses people, it’s not technical writing. It’s noise.

    2. It’s Not Just Documentation or Manuals

    Documentation is only one form of technical writing.

    Technical writing includes:

    • Tutorials and how-to guides
    • Knowledge base articles
    • Internal process documentation
    • System explanations
    • API docs
    • Technical blog posts
    • Reports and specifications
    • Training materials
    • Decision-support content

    Any time someone needs help understanding or using something complex, technical writing is involved.

    3. It’s Not Marketing (Even When It Supports Marketing)

    Technical writing and marketing writing serve different goals.

    Marketing persuades.
    Technical writing enables.

    That doesn’t mean technical writing can’t support sales or adoption — it often does — but its primary purpose is clarity, not conversion.

    When technical writing becomes overly promotional, trust drops.

    And trust is everything.

    4. It’s Not About Showing How Smart You Are

    This one especially trips up smart people.

    Technical writing often requires downshifting intelligence rather than displaying it.

    The goal isn’t:

    “Look how much I know.”

    The goal is:

    “Now you know enough to move forward.”

    That requires humility, empathy, and restraint, not ego. Don’t let yourself get in the way.

    What Technical Writing Is Built On

    If technical writing isn’t about jargon or impressing people, what is it built on?

    Here are the real foundations.

    1. Audience Awareness

    Every technical document has a reader with:

    • A specific role
    • A specific goal
    • A specific level of knowledge
    • Limited time and attention

    Great technical writing adapts to them, not the writer.

    2. Clear Purpose

    Every technical document should answer one core question:

    “What problem does this solve for the reader?”

    If you can’t answer that clearly, the document will drift, no matter how well-written it sounds.

    3. Mental Models

    Technical writing makes invisible systems visible.

    It explains:

    • How parts relate
    • Why steps matter
    • Where decisions happen
    • What causes outcomes

    Words are just the delivery mechanism.
    The model is the real product.

    4. Structure Over Style

    In technical writing, structure does most of the work.

    Headings, lists, sequences, diagrams, and consistent formatting matter more than elegant prose.

    Clarity beats beauty every time.

    Why This Matters (Especially If You Think You’re “Not a Writer”)

    Many people assume they can’t do technical writing because they don’t “feel like writers.”

    But technical writing isn’t driven by creativity or flair; it’s driven by thinking clearly.

    If you:

    • Understand systems
    • Solve problems
    • Explain things verbally
    • Help others get unstuck
    • See patterns others miss

    You’re already doing the hard part.

    Writing is just how the understanding gets delivered.

    A Reframe Worth Keeping

    Here’s a healthier way to think about technical writing:

    Technical writing is teaching, quietly.

    No stage.
    No spotlight.
    No ego.

    Just helping someone move from confusion to clarity.

    Final Thought

    Once you stop trying to sound technical and start trying to be helpful, technical writing becomes lighter, calmer, and more humane.

    And ironically, that’s when it starts to feel professional.

  • Why Smart People Struggle With Writing (And How to Fix It)

    Why Smart People Struggle With Writing (And How to Fix It)

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Most people assume writing is easy for smart people.

    After all, smart people think well, explain things well, and learn quickly. So, writing should be effortless, right?

    In practice, the opposite is often true.
    Smart people, including engineers, managers, and leaders, tend to struggle with writing, especially technical writing, documentation, and communication-heavy work.

    This isn’t because they lack vocabulary, education, or capability.

    It’s because writing exposes the part of thinking most people keep hidden: the messy, complex, unstructured middle. These require skills that smart people don’t often have time to develop.

    In this article, we’ll look at three reasons why intelligent, capable people struggle with writing and how to fix each one.

    1. Cognitive Overload: Too Much Held in the Mind at Once

    Smart people tend to think several steps ahead.
    They connect ideas quickly and intuitively.
    They don’t follow a linear path: they follow patterns.

    This is fantastic for problem-solving, but it’s terrible for writing.

    When you sit down to write, you’re asking your brain to:

    • Generate ideas
    • Structure them
    • Sequence them
    • Clarify them
    • Edit them
    • and do it all in real time

    That’s too much cognitive load, even for high-capacity thinkers.

    What it feels like:

    • “I know what I want to say, but I can’t get it out.”
    • “It makes sense in my head, but not on the page.”
    • “I don’t know where to start.”
    • “I can’t find the right angle.”

    The fix:

    Separate thinking from writing.

    Before writing, ask:

    “What problem does this document solve for the reader?”

    Then list 5–10 bullet points.
    Don’t wordsmith. Don’t edit. Don’t care about quality yet.

    Thinking first → writing second reduces cognitive load significantly.

    Writing is not a thinking tool for everyone.
    For many smart people, writing is a rendering tool; the final step, not the first.

    2. Unclear Mental Models: The Curse of Tacit Knowledge

    Smart people often carry internal models that are never fully verbalized.

    They understand how something works, but they don’t consciously label the pieces.

    This is called tacit knowledge; knowledge you know but cannot immediately explain.

    Examples:

    • Developers who understand a system but struggle to document it
    • Managers who can see the workflow but can’t describe the steps
    • Engineers who intuitively debug without explaining the path
    • Founders who understand a vision but can’t express it cleanly

    Tacit knowledge doesn’t turn into writing automatically.

    What it feels like:

    • “Everyone already knows this.”
    • “This part isn’t important.”
    • “It works in my head, so why can’t I explain it?”
    • “I keep skipping steps because they seem obvious.”

    The fix:

    Externalize the mental model.

    Ask yourself:

    “If I had to teach this to an intelligent beginner, what would the steps be?”

    Then write the steps.

    Not the sentences.
    Not the paragraphs.
    Just the steps.

    Document the model before you document the words.

    Once the model exists, writing becomes clear.

    3. Writing Without a Purpose: Words Without Direction

    Smart people often start writing too early.

    They open a document and start typing; not because they’re ready, but because they feel they should be.

    Without realizing it, they skip the question:

    “What is this writing supposed to achieve?”

    All effective writing has a purpose, but the purpose varies:

    • Documentation reduces confusion
    • Explanations increase understanding
    • Proposals drive decision-making
    • Reports summarize information
    • Training materials transfer knowledge
    • Marketing persuades or inspires action

    Different purposes require different structures.

    Smart people struggle when they write without selecting the purpose first.

    The fix:

    Name the purpose before writing.

    Just ask:

    “When the reader finishes this, what do I want them to know, feel, or do?”

    If you can answer that in one sentence, the structure becomes obvious.

    A Pattern Worth Noticing

    If you look at these three struggles together, a theme emerges:

    Smart people don’t struggle with writing because they’re bad at writing.
    They struggle because they’re trying to think, structure, and communicate simultaneously.

    Writing is hard, not because it’s linguistic, but because it’s cognitive.

    The Good News: Writing Is Mostly Thinking

    Once you understand this, everything feels lighter.

    The solution isn’t to try harder.
    It’s to break thinking into manageable phases:

    1. Purpose — Why am I writing this?
    2. Model — How does the idea work?
    3. Structure — In what order should I explain it?
    4. Draft — What words convey the idea?
    5. Edit — What can be removed?

    Most writers skip straight to step 4 and wonder why it doesn’t work.

    Final Thought: Clarity Feels Like Kindness

    When writing becomes clearer, thinking becomes clearer.

    Projects run smoother.
    Teams align faster.
    Readers trust more.
    Work feels lighter.

    Smart people don’t need to learn how to be better writers first.
    They need to learn how to think in a way that makes writing inevitable.

    The words come afterward.

    If You Want to Go Deeper

    If you found this helpful and want to improve your technical writing, documentation, or clarity as a leader, you can explore the rest of the blog or reach out if you need deeper help.

  • What Is Technical Writing?

    What Is Technical Writing?

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    A Clarity-First Guide for Non-Writers

    If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not a writer, but my job keeps asking me to write,” this article is for you.

    Technical writing is often misunderstood. Many people assume it’s about perfect grammar, rigid templates, or specialized tools. In reality, technical writing is about clear thinking and simple communication. It doesn’t have to be complicated to write and difficult to read.

    This guide will explain what technical writing is, why it matters more than ever, and how to approach it even if you don’t consider yourself a writer.

    Technical Writing Defined

    Technical writing is the practice of helping someone understand something clearly, accurately, and efficiently.

    It’s that simple.

    It’s not about sounding impressive.
    It’s not about academic language.
    And it’s not about being “good with words.”

    Technical writing answers three questions for the reader:

    1. What is this?
    2. Why does it matter to me?
    3. What should I do next?

    If your writing does that well, then it’s technical writing, whether you’re documenting software, writing internal procedures, drafting training material, or explaining a complex idea to a team.

    Who Technical Writing Is For

    Despite the name, technical writing isn’t only for professional technical writers.

    It’s for:

    • Engineers who document systems
    • Developers who write README files
    • Managers who create processes and policies
    • Founders who explain products
    • Ministry leaders who write training and teaching material
    • Anyone who turns complex ideas into usable information

    In other words, technical writing is for individuals who think deeply but need to communicate their ideas clearly.

    Smart People Often Struggle With Technical Writing

    One of the biggest myths is that people struggle with writing because they’re bad writers.

    In practice, the opposite is often true.

    Smart people struggle because:

    • They see too much at once
    • They understand the complexity behind the scenes
    • They hold ideas intuitively, not sequentially
    • They skip steps without realizing it

    This leads to writing that feels vague, overwhelming, or hard to follow. Not because the writer lacks intelligence, but because the thinking hasn’t been translated into a structure the reader can use.

    Technical writing is the bridge between how experts think and how readers learn.

    What Technical Writing Is Not

    Understanding what technical writing isn’t can be just as helpful.

    Technical writing is not:

    • Creative writing
    • Marketing copy
    • Academic writing
    • Persuasive rhetoric
    • Personal expression

    That doesn’t mean it’s dry or mechanical. It means the goal is clarity, not style.

    Good technical writing may be simple.
    It may be plain.
    It may even feel obvious once it’s written.

    That’s a sign it’s working.

    The Goal of Technical Writing is to Reduce Friction

    Every technical document exists to reduce friction.

    Friction looks like:

    • Confusion
    • Rework
    • Repeated questions
    • Misalignment
    • Stress and frustration
    • Time wasted figuring things out

    Clear writing reduces friction by:

    • Making decisions visible
    • Making expectations explicit
    • Making the next steps obvious

    In this sense, technical writing is a form of leadership, even if you don’t have a formal leadership title.

    When you write clearly, you guide the reader.

    A Simple Way to Think About Technical Writing

    Before worrying about wording, tools, or templates, focus on this:

    Technical writing is thinking on behalf of the reader.

    That means:

    • Anticipating questions
    • Removing ambiguity
    • Making assumptions visible
    • Respecting the reader’s time and attention

    If you do that well, the writing almost takes care of itself.

    A Clarity-First Framework (Preview)

    Throughout this blog, I’ll return to a simple framework for technical writing. For now, here’s a preview:

    Before you write, ask:

    1. Who is this for?
    2. What must they understand or do when they’re done reading?
    3. What structure will get them there with the least effort?

    Notice what’s missing:

    • Fancy language
    • Writing tricks
    • Productivity hacks

    Those come later (if they’re needed at all).

    Why Technical Writing Matters More Than Ever

    We live in a world of:

    • Increasing complexity
    • Distributed teams
    • Remote work
    • Rapid change
    • Constant information overload

    In this environment, clarity is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.

    Organizations don’t fail because people lack intelligence.
    They fail because understanding doesn’t travel well.

    Technical writing is how understanding travels.

    If You Don’t See Yourself as a Writer

    That’s okay.

    You don’t need to become a writer to write well.
    You need to become a clear thinker who writes with intention.

    This blog exists to help thoughtful people:

    • Communicate complex ideas simply
    • Write with confidence, not anxiety
    • Lead through clarity rather than volume
    • Reduce stress by reducing confusion

    If that sounds useful, you’re in the right place.

    What’s Coming Next

    In the next article, we’ll explore why smart people struggle with writing and why that’s not a personal failure.

    From there, we’ll build practical, calm systems for writing that:

    • Respect how your mind works
    • Fit into real-world constraints
    • Improve communication without burnout

    Clarity is learnable.
    And it starts with how you think, not how you write.

  • How to Control WordPress Blocks with PersonalizeWP

    How to Control WordPress Blocks with PersonalizeWP

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    PersonalizeWP is a WordPress plugin that allows you to control who can see a WordPress block and when they can see that block. It works with any block and is great for marketing. It can show personalized sales, offers, custom forms, and more. In this post, we’ll look at PersonalizeWP and see how to use it to show or hide a WordPress block. I’ll use WS Form for my examples.

    Install PersonalizeWP

    First, install and activate PersonalizeWP by going to Plugins > Add New Plugin. Search for PersonalizeWP, click Install Now, and then Activate.

    Next, view the product presentation and set up your plugin.

    Integrate PersonalizeWP with WS Form

    PersonalizeWP works with any WordPress block. This includes WS Form. It integrates well with any form created with WS Form, allowing you to show or hide the form based on the conditions you choose. This integration is automatic, so you don’t have to do anything but make your selections. Let’s look at those selections and see how they work with WS Form.

    First, add a WS Form block to your WordPress post or page.

    Next, with the WS Form block selected, choose the form you want to use by selecting it from the Form dropdown box in the sidebar on the right.

    You’ll notice a new set of options below this section called Personalize. This was automatically added to the options when you installed PersonalizeWP. Integration with WS Form was instant. This section includes two options under Rules. The first is an IF statement and the second is a THEN statement. Here’s where you can choose and add rules that apply to your WS Form.

    Personalize IF Rules

    The IF rules specify the type of user you want to target for your WS Form. Selecting the IF dropdown box shows your premade or custom options. Options include the time they’ve spent on the page, the type of device they’re using, whether or not they’re a new or returning visitor, their local time, their location, and whether they’re logged in or not.

    You can add as many IF rules as you want. Simply click the plus icon and choose the rule from the list. The IF rules work as an AND statement, so all rules must be met for the action to take place.

    Once you’ve added an IF rule, the plus icon turns into a minus icon. Click the minus icon to remove the rule. In this example, I’ve added three IF rules. In this example, the visitor must be on the website for at least 30 seconds, be a new visitor, and be based in the UK. If any of the three conditions are not met, PersonalizeWP will not go forward to the next step, which is to perform an Action.

    Personalize THEN Actions

    The THEN rules tell WS Form what to do if the IF rules have been met. It’s a basic IF THEN statement. IF this rule is met, THEN perform this action. The THEN actions include showing or hiding the form. You can only include one THEN action because using both would cancel each other. The Show option is the default, which will display the form if the conditions are met.

    In this example, if the visitor has been on the website for 30 seconds or more, and they’re a new visitor, and they’re in the UK, the form will display for them. If any of the three conditions is not met, the visitor will not see the form.

    Creating a Custom PersonalizeWP

    If you need a rule for your WS Form that isn’t built into PersonalizeWP, you can create your own. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Personalize > Personalization and click Create Rule.

    This opens the rule editor, where you can create as many rules as you want. Enter the name of your rule and choose the category from the Category dropdown box. Categories include device types, location, other, purchases, time, and user types. For my example, I want the form to show based on the date, so I’ve selected Time for the category.

    Next, choose the Conditions. They include the location, their logged-in status, time on the page, new visit, last visit, visit period, visit time, device type, and date. I’ve selected Date so I can have the form display on a specific day.

    Next, choose a Comparator. These options will vary based on the Condition you’ve selected. The Comparator options for Date include Before, After, and Is. I’ve selected Is so the form will show on the date I’ll choose.

    Finally, choose the Date. This specifies the rule to only display on the date I’ve selected. I can now add a new rule or save this rule by clicking Create rule.

    I can now choose the new rule from the dropdown box when I add a form to the content. I’ve selected the new rule and set the action to show the block. Now, my form will only display on the date that I selected when I created the rule.

    Ending Thoughts on PersonalizeWP and How it Integrates with WS Form

    That’s my look at PersonalizeWP and how it controls the visibility of WordPress blocks based on user rules that you set. integrates with WS Form. It works well with any WordPress block and integrates with the Gutenberg editor automatically. It’s easy to use and I recommend it for showing and hiding your content.

    Have you tried PersonalizeWP to control the visibility of your WordPress blocks? Let me know in the comments below.

  • Book Review: Guitars by Brad Trivett

    Book Review: Guitars by Brad Trivett

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Guitars is an excellent book about guitars. It works well as a buyer’s guide, but it also includes lots of information about the history of the guitar, guitar maintenance, pedals, amps, how to play the guitar, and more. The author knows the topic well and it’s obvious he has many years of experience with buying and selling guitars. He covers the types of wood used to build guitars and what each type is best for, the types of guitars and the sounds they’re best for, guitar neck shapes, what to look for when buying a guitar, what to avoid, and a lot more.

    There is a lot of fascinating information here. It covers a wide range of information with the main points we need to know. I’ve been playing since the early 80s and he was able to mention a couple of brands I’ve never heard of. I love the design of the book. I read it on PC and Fire 10, and it has lots of full-color photos, colored backgrounds that highlight the text, single and double-column layouts, graphics, and charts. It’s always readable and navigation is clear and simple.

    This is one of those books that I not only want to read but want to have handy for reference. If you’re interested in learning how to buy and sell guitars and want a book that provides a lot of good information along the way, Guitars by Brad Trivett is a great choice.

    You can purchase Guitars from Amazon (affiliate).

    This Kindle book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to post a positive review. My opinions are my own.

  • Getting Started with Divi: Using the Divi Builder

    Getting Started with Divi: Using the Divi Builder

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    The Divi Builder is a drag-and-drop page-building system that makes it easy to create unique layouts. Whether you’re using premade child themes, premade layouts, or creating your own, it’s crucial to understand how to use the Divi Builder. In this post, we’ll step through using the Divi Builder to help you get started on your website designs.

    Note- this article contains affiliate links. Using them helps support this website.

    Accessing the Divi Builder

    The Divi Builder is available on every page and post and in the Divi Theme Builder. It works the same regardless of where you access it. Accessing it in the Divi Theme Builder takes a few extra steps. I’ll cover that in a future Divi tutorial. I’ll build a page in the examples for this Divi tutorial.

    First, create a page (or post) as normal by going to Pages > Add New. Add a title and click Use Divi Builder.

    This takes you to the front end with the Divi Builder enabled. Here, you can add sections, rows, and modules. A section can hold multiple rows, which in turn can hold multiple modules. You’ll need all three elements to create Divi layouts. You can also drag them around, resize them, and style them. It includes one section already enabled, which is outlined in blue. Add more sections by clicking the blue plus icon.

    Add a Row

    To add a row to the Divi Builder layout, click the green icon and select the type of row you want. You have twenty layout options for the row. Each includes a different number of columns in different widths. You can add as many rows as you want, so you can mix and match for the exact page layout you want.

    The row is outlined in green. Each column can hold one Divi module horizontally, but you can add as many vertically as you want. Add more rows by clicking the green plus icon.

    Add Divi Modules

    To add a Divi module to a column, click on the dark gray icon. This opens a modal with all of the Divi modules. Next, search for the module you want by entering a keyword into the search field or scrolling down until you find your module.

    To add more modules, simply click the gray icons.

    Adjust the Divi Builder Elements

    Adjust the sections, rows, and modules by clicking on them. You can drag them from one location to another, open their settings by clicking their gear icons, add padding by dragging the edge, and more.

    I’ve added padding to the top of the section by grabbing the top and dragging it down.

    I’ve adjusted the text by clicking it to open the text settings.

    In this example, I’ve opened the blurb module’s settings by clicking its gear icon. Here you can add your content and style the module.

    To style the module, click the Design tab and make your adjustments. When you’re done, close the module’s settings by clicking the green checkmark.

    Adjust the sections and rows the same way as the modules. in this example, I’ve added a background gradient to the section and selected a pattern. We’ll go through all these settings in future posts.

    Ending Thoughts

    That’s my quick and simple look at how to use the Divi Builder. There are a lot of settings I didn’t cover, but I wanted to start with the basics. From here, you can play around with the sections, rows, modules, and settings to create your own layouts. You can also use these same settings to customize premade layouts.

    For more information about using premade layouts, see the article Getting Started with Divi: Use a Divi Layout.

    I’d like to hear from you. Have you used the Divi Builder? Let me know what you think about it in the comments.

  • Getting Started with Divi: Use a Divi Layout

    Getting Started with Divi: Use a Divi Layout

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    One of the greatest advantages of Divi is the number of free layout packs that are available within the theme builder. Fortunately, these layout packs are easy to load into Divi and customize for your needs. In this post, we’ll see how to load and use a Divi layout step-by-step.

    Note- this article contains affiliate links. Using them helps support this website.

    What Are Layout Packs?

    Layout packs are pre-designed pages to help you get a head start on your website’s design. They’re available within Divi. Each layout pack is designed around a theme and includes custom colors, graphics, or images. All you need to do is choose the layout you want and then add your content. If you want to build a website using every page from a layout pack, simply create each page individually and follow this process until you’ve created the pages. Since they’re made with the Divi Builder, you can customize them to create a design that’s unique.

    Create a Page

    The free Divi layouts work with any page or post. We’ll build a page. Go to Pages > Add New in the WordPress dashboard.

    Next, add a title and click Use Divi Builder.

    Click the purple menu icon at the bottom of the screen to open the menu and click Load From Library (the plus icon on the far left).

    Scroll or search through the layout packs to find the one you want for this page. Select the layout pack you want to see.

    The layout pack will open to show all the layouts within it. Select the thumbnail of the layout you want to see. Place your cursor over the preview in the left window and scroll down to see the entire page. Click the green button labeled View Live Demo to see the page at the Elegant Themes demo site. Once you’ve decided on a layout, click Use This Layout.

    Once the layout loads into your page, replace the images, text, and links with your content and publish the page when you’re ready.

    Customizing the Layout Pack

    You can also change the colors and fonts, remove or add elements, combine elements from other layout packs, and add your own customizations. This is done in the settings for the modules, rows, and sections. Once you have your fonts and colors selected, you can save them and make them the default for your website. You can also save any modules, rows, or settings to your library to use on any page. We’ll go through these settings in future articles.

    Ending Thoughts on Using a Divi Layout

    Divi’s vast number of free layout packs makes it easy to get started on your website’s design. There are hundreds to choose from, and fortunately, they are easy to use. Following this process makes it easy to quickly build your website using the free Divi layouts.

    Click here to purchase Divi

    For more in this series, see Getting Started with Divi: Installing Divi

    How about you? Have you used a Divi layout? Let me know what you think about it in the comments.

  • Choose a Business Idea in Three Steps

    Choose a Business Idea in Three Steps

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Choosing a business idea can be one of the most difficult and frustrating steps in starting a business. There are several methods of choosing a service-based business idea. In this post, I’ll focus on a concept that I heard on a podcast back in 2014 of how to choose the best service-based business idea for you. I don’t remember the podcast or the guest on the show, so I can’t give them proper credit. However, this is the advice that helped me choose to start my writing business.

    Step one: List your Top Skills

    Make a list of the top 3-5 skills that you’re especially good at. It doesn’t matter what the skills are at this point. You’ll analyze them later. List those that come easily to you, you’re comfortable with, and what you have an aptitude for. If you need to, make a larger list and then narrow it down. Think about the things people brag on you about, the comments they make, or the things they come to you for help.

    When I did this exercise, I listed:

    • Writing
    • Playing guitar
    • Leadership

    Step Two: Research Which of Those Skills Are in Demand

    Next, research those skills to see which are in demand. There are several ways to do this. You could search through job postings, search through training courses, and research career and growth data on sites such as the Bureau of Labour Statistics.

    This research was an eye-opener for me. I found that writing was in demand, and there were lots of different types of writing to choose from. My options included:

    • Copywriting
    • Article writing
    • White papers
    • Business Plans
    • Editing
    • Ebooks

    Step Three: Determine Which of Those You Can Afford to Provide

    Finally, look at ways you could provide the skills as a service in a way that you could afford to provide. Ask questions such as what you need to get started, how to get started, the cost of getting started, the difficulty of standing out from the crowd, etc. This can also include the ability to get backers if needed.

    I found that writing had a low cost of entry. All I needed was a computer, a good word-processing app, and a way to get the work. I did some research, created a business plan, and started my business. I’ve been a full-time freelance writer since September 2014.

    Ending Thoughts on Choosing a Business Idea

    Choosing the best business idea isn’t easy, but following a structure such as this one can help get you started in the right direction.

    I’d like to hear from you. Have you started a business using a process like this one? Let me know in the comments.

  • Getting Started with Divi: Installing Divi

    Getting Started with Divi: Installing Divi

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Divi is an excellent page builder for both beginners and seasoned web developers. Anyone can learn Divi and make amazing websites. In this series, we’ll explore the basics of getting started with Divi. In this post, we’ll go through the steps of installing Divi.

    Note- this article contains affiliate links. Using them helps support this website.

    Purchase and Download Divi

    First, purchase an Elegant Themes membership. Purchase a yearly membership or a lifetime membership. The yearly membership is $89 per year and only includes updates and support while the membership is active. The Lifetime option is a one-time payment of $249 and you’ll always have access to updates and support. Both are good choices, but I recommend Lifetime membership if possible.

    Next, log in to the Members Area and click Download the Theme. Ignore the plugin unless you want to use the Divi Builder with a different WordPress theme. I recommend downloading the Blooom and Monarch plugins while you’re here. We’ll install and use those in future articles. Keep this tab open. We’ll come back to it in a little bit.

    Installing Divi

    In your WordPress website, go to Appearance > Themes in the dashboard menu and click Add New.

    Next, click Upload Theme and then click Choose File. Navigate to your zipped Divi file and select it. Click Install Now and wait for Divi to upload. Be sure to delete any other themes in your list. You won’t need them.

    Finally, click Activate. Divi is now ready to use, but I recommend connecting it to your Elegant Themes account so you can get updates and have access to the free layouts and Divi Cloud.

    Validating Divi

    Next, you’ll need to enter your account information so Divi can get updates. Go to Divi > Theme Options in the dashboard menu. Select the Updates tab.

    Go back to your account dashboard at the Elegant Themes website and select the Account tab. Click API Keys in the left sidebar menu.

    Scroll down to the keys. Add a label for your reference and click the API key to copy it. The label should be something that helps you remember where you’ve used the key, such as your website’s name.

    Next, go back to the Divi Theme Options on your website and enter your username and API Key into their fields. Finally, click Save Changes.

    You can now get updates, use the free layout packs, and access the Divi Cloud.

    Ending Thoughts

    That’s it. You’re ready to use Divi. Installing Divi really is simple. It just takes a few steps to make Divi your active WordPress theme. Adding your Elegant Themes account allows for updates, free layouts, and access to the Divi Cloud. In future articles, we’ll look at setting up Divi’s options for the best SEO. We’ll also look at using the Divi Builder to create pages and using the Theme Builder to create headers, footers, and page layouts.

    Click here to purchase Divi

    For more in this series, see Getting Started with Divi: Use a Divi Layout

    How about you? Have you used Divi? Let me know what you think about it in the comments.

  • Don’t Follow Your Passion

    Don’t Follow Your Passion

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    One of the most popular pieces of advice you’ll hear when planning a business is to follow your passion. Another way of stating it is if you do what you love you’ll never work. This is bad advice. You should enjoy what you’re doing for a living. Life’s too short to do work you don’t enjoy. But, turning your passion into work changes your passion from something you want to do to something you have to do. Your passion is something you should do because you enjoy it.

    Do This Instead of Following Your Passion

    What should you do instead? Follow what you have an aptitude for. This will make your work easier to do and manage and can help you develop a well-paying career. This is especially important when developing a business that you intend to run for many years. Look at your skills and use that as a starting point. This can still be something you enjoy.

    Following your skills and aptitude will help you develop a business you’re good at and can do for many years. This keeps your passion as something you can do for fun so you still have something you enjoy when you need a break from work.

    How about you? Did you build a business following your passion or aptitude? How did it work out and what challenges did you face?