Becoming a sportswriter used to be the dream.
That was my general goal after I graduated college with a degree in journalism. Writing about the water and wastewater industries? Definitely not on my mind. But that’s where I eventually ended up.
I’ve been at COLE Publishing eight years now, working on various publications, including Cleaner magazine, as a proofreader, writer or digital editor. Now I’ll be taking on the role of print editor for Cleaner. My colleague Kim Peterson has done a great job helming the magazine the past few years, and prior to her Luke Laggis did the same. I hope to continue the standard they established.
It’s been a circuitous journey. I did indeed become a sportswriter for a time, even if it wasn’t as prestigious as working for ESPN or Sports Illustrated. My first job after college was in Florida covering high school sports. From there I transitioned to hard news, covering city councils, school boards and the crime beat. I did the same upon moving back to my home state of Wisconsin.
I wrote about the water and wastewater worlds on occasion. In broad strokes. A new wastewater treatment plant would go online, and I’d cover the effect on utility user rates. I didn’t need to get into certain details. So, starting at COLE Publishing was eye-opening. Suddenly I was deep into details on things I had no prior knowledge about. CIPP lining? Waterjetting? Standard aspects of this industry were completely new to me.
It’s been an education since, and I’m still learning daily. When I talk to family or friends about these various topics though, I sometimes feel like an expert. Their awareness is what mine was eight years ago. Of course, I’m not an expert compared to those of you who have worked in this industry for years, perhaps decades. But I’ve certainly expanded my knowledge since that first day at COLE Publishing, proofreading my first article.
It makes me think about this issue’s theme: Diversification. I’ve spent my entire career writing and editing, but it hasn’t been monotonous, teaching me a variety of things whether I’ve been on the sidelines at a high school football game, sitting in a county courthouse covering a jury trial or doing a ride-along with a septic pumper.
It’s been a well-rounded experience, making me always willing to tackle a new area with my writing. If you lack knowledge, there’s still the capacity to learn. To run a successful company, it’s not imperative that you branch out and diversify your services. Many prefer to do the opposite and operate only within a specific niche. Both are fine approaches. Whatever you choose, I hope you at least maintain a willingness to explore new areas. You could suddenly become an expert in something unanticipated and ultimately help your business.
If you want to reach me, call 715-350-8442 or email editor@cleaner.com. I look forward to connecting more with this industry and working hard to provide you relevant content in the pages of Cleaner.
Enjoy this month’s issue.
