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Re: Article On Getting Cooperation from Resource People
Subject:Re: Article On Getting Cooperation from Resource People From:Herman Holtz <holtz -at- CLARK -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 8 Feb 1995 18:15:42 -0500
> Also, the "humble writer" bit is a useful attitude to keep in your toolbox,
but
> it isn't foolproof. I've worked with someone who wouldn't give me any help
until
> I proved I was as much a pro as he was. I had been trying the "humble writer"
I have found this to be key. If you can manage to inspire respect for
your own abilities and mission, you can usually overcome the expert's
reluctance to give you some time and information. I believe the way to do
this is to be prepared by having done everything you can do in advance
and on your on via drawings, laboratory logs, relevant documents, and
whatever else you can find. Resourcefulness helps. In one case, where the
contract required a photograph or drawing of the control panel and it had
not yet been prototyped, I brought an illustrator to a conference with
the chief engineer, and had the engineer describe what he anticipated
would be on the front panel. Later, when the panel had been prototyped,
we were pleased to discover how close we were! One or two coups of that
kind can melt all ice in the future.
* * *
Herman Holtz [holtz -at- clark -dot- net]: Marketing Consultant/Proposal Specialist,
Writing & Ghost Writing Services, 35 years experience. Author of 60+
professional/business books, including best-selling How to Succeed as an
Independent Consultant (Wiley). PO Box 1731, Wheaton, MD 20915. Tel:
301-649-2499. Fax: 301-649-5745.
