Writing Marketing Pieces for Tech Companies: A Fabulous Opportunity To Learn
Last week, I knocked out the marketing section of an extremely comprehensive business plan for a company in the bio jet-fuel space, and what a terrific experience it was. I’m really not a biochemistry guy, so I needed a bit of time to familiarize myself adequately with the subject before I started writing.
It reminded me of the old days, when I first realized how exhilarating it was to learn bits and pieces of many dozens of different types of technology. Here’s a sample of what I used to tell my new employees (which at one point numbered about 110) at the marketing agency I ran from 1985 to 2008:
You’re going to find out very soon that, among the many beauties of working here, is that you get to learn so much cool, interesting stuff–all on someone else’s dime. I learn on the client’s dime, and you learn on mine. It’s a gas.
In the space of a couple of years, you’ll be able to have a good, albeit basic, conversation with anyone in the English-speaking world on dozens of different subjects in information and communication technology, physics, chemistry, and the life sciences.
If you think I’m making this up, just wind me up and watch me go. Ask me about any of the things I learned in the last year alone:
• The biochemistry of systemic treatments for fungal nails (Allergan Pharmaceuticals)
• How to determine the sequence of amino acids that constitutes a unique protein molecule (Hewlett-Packard, now Agilent)
• Digital hygrometers, hygrostats, and humidistats (ITT)
• The various protocols for (pre-Internet) international data communications (Computer Sciences Corporation and Motorola)
• The guts of an LCD projector (Philips Electronics)
• Data and voice communication hardware: bridges, switches and routers (3Com and AT&T)
• Setting appointments with gastroenterologists to sell them nutrient infusion devices for ambulatory patients (GlaxoSmithKline)
The year before was just as cool, and next year’s probably going to be even better, since we’re growing fast. Pay attention, take notes, ask lots of questions, and have fun.
