Visual communication quality reflects directly on your credibility. Using a professional design tool should not be considered optional. Market leader Canva is my go-to resource, and it's available for under $150 per year.
How I Use Canva
I launched JD Solomon Inc. five years ago and took a chance on Canva. It has exceeded our expectations.
I use Canva for most of my visuals. The tool allows you to import photos and videos or it has a rich, free library of everything you need. The editing features are simple and intuitive. Standard templates are available for PowerPoint, infographics, flyers, and all major social media formats. I have saved our brand colors, fonts, and logos within Canva for convenience and consistency.
Canva Saves Time
Canva’s drag-and-drop interface simplifies the design process, enabling you to create professional-quality visuals without specialized skills. Its pre-designed templates eliminate guesswork and allow you to focus on content rather than layout.
Canva Enhances Visual Appeal
Canva's extensive library of fonts, images, and design elements is functional and visually appealing. The tool’s built-in alignment and spacing guides make it easy to maintain symmetry in your designs.
You Will Grow
You’ll become more confident and creative in your approach to design. Canva also offers tutorials, design tips, and AI-generated alternatives.
Canva is Not Perfect
Canva does not have the advanced capabilities of design software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. However, its ease of use and affordability make it the top choice for most business needs.
Choose the Best
Canva stands out as the market leader in online design tools. Alternatives like Adobe Express, Visme, and VistaCreate offer similar features at comparable prices. Canva's intuitive interface and robust features give it the edge.
Make Visual Communication Effective
Professional design tools like Canva are essential for effective communication.
Founded by JD Solomon, Communicating with FINESSE is a not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.
Environmental issues cut through all aspects of our services.
What's hot in our world of environmental issues in 2024? The eight insights provide a good snapshot. Read a few of these articles and let us know your thoughts. Will the same issues and trends continue in 2025?
The Sources of the Insights
The insights were based on the most interesting people and topics we encountered in our travels. For the most part, travels include JD Solomon Solutions' consulting assignments. Sometimes, the insight's source is related to the follow-up conversations from a workshop or webinar.
As a lean, niche company, we tend to "see it, reflect on it, write about it." It's fun to see what has inspired us over this year.
What’s In Environmental?
JD Solomon Solutions brands itself in asset management (including reliability, risk, and operational resilience), program development, and facilitation. We contract a relatively small volume of work as environmental assignments.
However, the environment cuts through all aspects of our services. That’s further compounded by my career in the sector and my public service as the current chair and long-time member of the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission.
Visit the Environmental webpage for more information on our firm’s environmental services.
Helpful Articles on Environmental Issues from 2024
This is our list from December 2023 through November 2024.
2024 Hurricane Season Summary
As of October 30, 2024, this season's storms caused at least 372 fatalities and more than $200 billion in damage. Most of the property damage is due to Helene and Milton. Most of the fatalities are due to Beryl and Helene. Six articles are provided.
Will PFAS Be the First Use of Chevron by the US Supreme Court?
The US Supreme Court handed down its decision reversing the Chevron deference in late June 2024. Critics screamed that public health would be degraded and people would die. Supporters of the decision argued that the bureaucracy had run amuck. There has been a rash of lawsuits, but the reality is that neither extreme has happened.
Has the Supreme Court's Sackett Decision on Wetlands Changed Anything?
On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court's decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency narrowed the definition of "waters of the United States" (WOTUS). The vote was 9-0. There is ongoing concern that the decision could decrease the protection of wetlands. One year after the Sackett decision, has anything related to wetlands changed?
Getting it Right! Using Statistical Process Control in Environmental Root Cause Analysis
We often jump to the wrong conclusions when non-compliance occurs. Using statistical process control (SPC) in environmental root cause analysis is one way to make sure you’re getting it right! Case examples and the seven rules of SPC are included.
Improve Your PFAS Communication with Advice from US Mayors
The United States Conference of Mayors created a PFAS Toolkit. The information and resources included provide insights into several key aspects that local governments and businesses should be aware of regarding PFAS and its communication. Key parts of the PFAS Toolkit and frequently asked questions are presented here.
The Big 7 Reasons that Environmental Impact Statements Fail
Starting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) requires diving into a maze of regulations and assessments. Use these seven reasons that an EIS fails to populate your project risk register. Remember, the golden trio of clear communication, unbiased analysis, and sound documentation will make or break your EIS journey.
How General Permits Help Business and Safeguard the Environment
General permits are the bread-and-butter of most facility and infrastructure projects. On a larger scale, environmental permits are critical for reducing environmental and assuring compliance. In every major program or project, we start with an initial list of permits we must obtain.
Three Big Environmental Takeaways from East Palestine
There are many environmental lessons learned from East Palestine. The events that occurred there are the greatest environmental catastrophe in the United States in 2023. Yet, the literal and figurative train wreck has been de-emphasized nationally. These are three of the big takeaways.
Please give us your thoughts on topics we covered in 2024. Did what we saw and inspired us this year match your experience? Do you agree with the content of our insights? Will those issues and trends continue in 2025?
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Visit our Environmental page for more information related reliability, risk management, resilience, and other asset management services. Subscribe for bi-monthly updates related to our firm.
Online editing tools such as Grammarly are essential.
Your communication quality reflects directly on your credibility. Using an online editing tool should not be considered optional-it is necessary. As the market leader, Grammarly provides a complete tool for under $150 per year.
How I Use Grammarly
I started JD Solomon Inc. five years ago and quickly realized that the editing and review resources I had in the Fortune 500 were no longer available in my lean, niche firm. Back then, I took a chance. Grammarly works well, and I use it for everything we do as a company.
As a tool, Grammarly allows me to set my context (goals) at the beginning of the process. These include multiple options for domain, audience, intent, and formality. I have tweaked the suggested editing rules (correctness, clarity, engagement, and delivery) to fit my writing style. I check every document on the backend for plagiarism and if it sounds AI-generated.
Grammarly Saves Time
It quickly identifies and corrects common errors. Automated proofreading allows you to focus on your message rather than the writing mechanics.
Grammarly Enhances Clarity
Grammarly goes beyond fixing mistakes by offering suggestions that improve sentence structure and eliminate ambiguity. Your ideas become sharper and more accessible.
Grammarly Encourages Growth
Grammarly explains its corrections, helping you understand and avoid common pitfalls. This creates stronger writing skills.
Grammarly is Not Perfect
Grammarly can sometimes be overly prescriptive, offering suggestions that may not align with your intended writing style. You can tweak the built-in rules.
Choose the Best
Grammarly is undeniably the market leader in online editing tools. ProWritingAid, Ginger Software, and WhiteSmoke are in the same price range. All are available for under $150 per year.
Use the Right Tools to Make Business Communication Effective
Online editing tools such as Grammarly are invaluable for clear and effective communication.
The elements of the FINESSE fishbone diagram® are Frame, Illustrate, Noise reduction, Empathy, Structure, Synergy, and Ethics. Communicating with FINESSE is a not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free
