Happy Labor Day!
Yes it’s a holiday in the U.S., one which most businesses still grant to their hardworking employees. So in honor of the whole idea of work of all sorts, especially the technical communication kind, TechWhirl decided that, today, we wouldn’t do any.
According to Wikipedia, “Labor Day is an American federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 3 in 2012) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. It also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, parades and athletic events.” Consider yourself warned: all the really important style guides say that the only white shoes you can wear from now until April are the ones you go to the gym in. Why that is, we’re not really sure, but we saw it on the internet, so it must be true.
Some us can really celebrate—when our commutes start back up tomorrow, they consist of a walk up the stairs. Which is not to say we’re not hard at work, getting ready for a new month of news, features, weekly polls, commentary, the latest jobs, and all the cool stuff we spend our 50+ hours a week on around here. September on TechWhirl focuses on “Career Upgrade in Progress.” We know that a technical communication career upgrade is more than picking out a new briefcase or backpack, it’s figuring out what skills will be in demand; making choices about going solo or moving up the ladder; deciding if it’s time to move on; or resolving to get some additional training.
So this evening, after the last hamburger is grilled, softball is pitched, and swim fins put away, you should be ready to pack up the briefcase, the lunch box, and prepare head back to the office. Your multi-channel content publishing projects can wait no longer, and it’s time to single-source your to-do list for the rest of the year. (And yes, we realize that for many, the technical communication work never really stops, even on the weekends and holidays, but we can dream can’t we?)
By the way, if upgrading the wardrobe is part of your focus, remember that bowler hats are optional, but they do make an interesting fashion statement.
