I started from scratch 28 years ago. In the following article, I have tried to list the four most important lessons I learned during my career. 

When I entered Technical Writing in 1994, I had no idea what I was getting into. I used to sell Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software applications. I had learned them partly on my own and partly from my colleagues because I found the documentation pitiful. When I tried to find the reasons, I was told, "We do not find good candidates who understand technology and can write well." 

I saw it as an opportunity and started as a freelance, part-time technical writer in February 1994. In November 1994, I registered a company and went into it full-time. I owe a major share of my success to TWIN, STC, and STC India, where I have volunteered.

Doors open from the inside

I had marketing experience, so I tried to get projects through approaches like cold-calling, door-to-door selling, free samples, and whatnot! Well, that didn't help much.

I was almost thrown out of one of the top five Indian IT companies. I could not explain "technical writing" to the receptionist. She kept on saying, "We do not outsource typing work. Please leave. Security, please escort this person out!"

Then I realized that "doors  open from inside." Someone should be expecting you when you go for marketing. In fact, that's the difference between selling and marketing. Selling is "making the customer buy what you have." Meanwhile, marketing is "creating a product or service based on the customer's needs or wants."

I had to reach people who needed my service without knocking on every door I could. My service was highly specialized and focused. How do I do that without being thrown out? 

Networking – was the answer. I had to join networks of technical writers. At that time, I heard about the Technical Writers of India (TWIN) mailing list. I got the admin's email ID and requested that he add me to the list. When I joined, the list had less than 100 members. Soon, we touched 1000 members. At that time, there was no Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or anything else. In fact, the Internet was still new, and we used to connect the servers through a phone line using modems. 

Within those limitations, TWIN did a fantastic job of bringing together the community, which subsequently led to the formation of the STC India Chapter. Within a few years, the TWIN owner decided to move out of it, and I became the owner/admin of TWIN. By that time, we had started TWIN meetings in many cities. TWIN became very popular, and so did my name. I have met some of my life's best friends there. More importantly, I also got many clients.

When I went to Singapore, I was greeted by some members of the local tech writing community there. Some of them became my clients later on. They opened the doors for me because they already knew me. 

I had gone to meet a prospective client in Hyderabad. After the meeting, that manager (an American) invited me to join his team for lunch. Over the lunch table, he mentioned my name as "Makarand Pandit." 

Someone asked “Makarand, as in Mak Pandit?” 

"Yes," I replied!

"Well, what a pleasant surprise Mak, I am xxx. I am a TWIN Member."

(Remember those days, no Facebook and no LinkedIn.)

It turned out that all 15 team members knew me as the TWIN owner. 

Needless to say, I got that contract from that company. The manager said, "Well, since everyone knows you, getting you into the team seemed logical."

A few years later, I went to the same company (from where I was almost thrown out) as a trainer to train their team of technical writers. 

Doors open from the inside.

Learn from professional colleagues

Since TWIN was only a mailing list, there was a limitation to what we could do. We always had limited funds, which we managed in cash. A need was felt for a legal entity that could have a bank account and conduct many events to benefit its members and the profession, yet be led by elected leaders. We found that in the Society for Technical Communication (USA), STC India was formed in 1999. 

The number of technical writers in my company (and all other companies) was limited. And there were no formal training courses offered. So we had to learn from each other. Whenever we had any learning session, during the introductions, we would simply share our problems and ask for solutions. Most questions were answered by other participants in the same meeting. Or they could point us in the right direction. We learned by sharing our problems and solutions. I had to learn a help-authoring tool that a prospective client wanted me to know. When I asked for help, I was given a 1-hour demo (off-line), and I could produce a sample for the client in 48 hours. The client was impressed, and I received the order.

The network is a multiplier

You alone cannot prove your existence and your worth. You have to be a part of the team. This team could comprise family, friends, company, and a community. Since my company's limited strength, I had to rely more on TWIN and STC communities. They turned out to be just the platforms that I needed. They took me to areas that I didn't even know existed.

I have worked hard for these communities, and every effort of mine has returned to me as a reward, multiplied many times. 

My articles, presentations, and videos reached the masses because of STC. I was honored to know that my article on estimating was archived by IEEE. I have always dreamed of writing for IEEE. But I was never an IEEE member. 

Later, I learned that STC, W3C, and IEEE are sister organizations. They automatically get the right to publish articles in each other's journals. They do have to mention the name of the original contributor and details of when it was published first.

One of my batch-mates has settled in Houston (Texas, USA.) He once met the technical writer in his company. He said, "My college friend is also a tech writer." When asked, he mentioned my name. Her reaction was typical: "YOU ARE THE CLASSMATE OF MAK PANDIT!!!?"

He called me to narrate the story. I had no clue that someone even knew me there. She said she had attended my presentation at the STC USA Summit. Later, I was nominated for the post of STC Director three times (though I did not get elected even once), and even more people heard about me.

Give it your prime time, and it comes back multiplied many times

After one of the conferences in Pune, we got good press coverage. The news reached the University of Pune. The Head of the Department of Journalism invited me for a meeting. He suggested we create a short course to help others become Technical Writers. I thought it was a good idea, and since it would take a lot of time, we put together a small team to do it. We did so and created India's first "Post-graduate Diploma in Technical Communication" awarded by a University. 

We had to work hard for this. Not just me but the entire team. We even got many tech writing managers to deliver lectures and conduct project viva. As a result, many students got hired and are active community members today. We used our best knowledge, and the entire community benefited. Needless to say, it is thrilling to be a part of a team that makes history!

A network or a community thrives when people put their best into it. Do not put your "spare time or extra knowledge." Give it your best, prime time, and unique knowledge. And when you give, don't wait for the return. 

The return will definitely come back to you, multiplied many times. That's the law of Networking Karma. 

Strangely, sometimes, the very thought of contributing gives you the returns. Even before you have given, you get it back. Believe me, if you can!

I cannot imagine my career without STC and TWIN. They are inseparable parts of my career and my existence.

Happy networking, guys! Hari Om!