Some time ago, I wrote a post about a South African gentleman named Peter Hanwith-Horden who was featured in the Star Workplace. He had spotted some errors in a training manual and wrote to the US publishers. He was then contracted to re -write the manuals for a South African context. The article used his work to show that South Africans can compete in a global arena - quite relevant to our World of work discussions.
Last week, I was excited to find a mail in my inbox from the gentleman himself. This is what he said:
I came across your blog regarding my write up in the newspaper. Thank for your kind words. That's not the first time I have mailed the USA explaining to them that their books had errors .
Most of the certification books have errors.
One thing I have found in this country is that some companies don't appreciate the skills at all - for example, after my write-up was in the newspaper not one of the management came to congratulate me - not even the boss I report to!
Great Blog
Peter Hanwith-Horden
I wrote back to thank him for his compliment and also to invite him to join in commenting on our group's blogs. I was very excited to have an external visitor to my site, which made me curious - how did he actually find it? I have e mailed him to ask and wait with baited breath to find out!
This blog reflects on life at work at comments on the latest news that shapes my 9-5 working day in a Corporate Communications consultancy.
About Me
- Susan Arthur
- I am a born and bred South African who has always loved to read and write. As a child my mother used to read to me and my siblings, from classics like the “Lord of the Rings” but later also from her own stories. She would write children’s stories and then use us as her test audience, but I loved to hear what she had written long after my siblings had tired of it. So I grew up in an environment of reading and writing, which inspired my love of these things. I hope to write a great book some day, and have learnt first hand the determination and will that it takes. My love of English inspired me to continue my study of it at university. I majored in Law and English in a BA degree at UCT where I found that I took to English much more than law. I enjoyed learning about South Africa’s history and the development of our liberal Constitution, which increasingly made me committed to the hope this country has for the future. Ideally, I’d like to find myself in a job where I am able to write; that allows a good mix of time spent with people and being able to work on my own.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
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1 comment:
I'll bet Peter Hanwith-Horden is a "lurker" like me. But I'm also looking forward to reading how he came across you.
A few years ago I bought a book on customer service, written by a South African bloke. It must have cost me, I don't know? R70-R120.
I was really annoyed at the many grammar/spelling errors in it. How hypocritical, to write about the customer deserving excellent service, and then not delivering the same in one's own product.
So I contacted the author. With the list of errors (yeah, I know, I should get a life). Short of it is that I got some editing work from him - also training materials.
And no, the customer service guy I’m talking about was not Aki. Aki writes very well, have you noticed?
Lesley
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