Who We Are

So far, "We" is Al Polito.

I'm Al Polito. Let me tell you a little bit about myself.

One of the things I like about being a writer is that I get to help people reach out to the people who really matter to them -- namely, their customers. As a writer, I am often called upon to help my clients sort through the information at hand and discern what is of value. Sometimes the most valuable information is overlooked. Often there is a difference between what a business perceives as valuable and what the client perceives as valuable. People have many choices of where to do business, but it usually boils down to a choice of whom to do business with. Your message is really about who you are. (A huge part of who you are to your customers is the value you provide to them.)

I am an "idea person" as much as I am a writer. My strengths include my creativity, my ability to simplify things, and my problem-solving ability. I honed these strengths over the course of 15 years in both the corporate and artistic worlds.

I have worked as a public relations writer for a large regional real estate company and as lead technical writer for Countrywide Home Loans, nation's largest mortgage lender. At Countrywide, I started out writing their in-house newsletters as well as publications for their business partners before moving on to technical writing. In my work I have interviewed line-level employees, CEOs and even a celebrity or two. I have played photojournalist, designed ads, and have done quite a bit of desktop publishing. I've written about the Rose Parade, Human Resources compliance issues, software releases, assembly manuals for giant aquarium filters... Hopefully I'll get to write about you next.

Besides doing The Write Thing, I am also a performing songwriter who has released three CDs. As a songwriter, I know that every word counts and that you only have a few moments to catch and hold someone's attention. Saying too much will cause the audience to lose interest, and not saying enough will confuse them. Good songs "show" more than they "tell," and so it works with just about any kind of writing. And not only does the message need to be catchy, but the presentation as well. So whether it's a song, a website, an article, or a technical document, it's clear that an image or example truly "tells a thousand words."

It is a great human need to be understood. But in a world where we're bombarded with messages everywhere we look, it takes more skill and creativity than ever to rise above the fray and get the attention you deserve. I look forward to helping the world see and understand you.