Mindy Bogue

My Favorite Work

MATC Group Inc •

How a Disaster Recovery Plan Can Save Your Documents—and Your Company

Every day, businesses large and small face a multitude of threats that can disrupt their operations. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a cyberattack, or your hardware decides to quit on you unexpectedly, these events can cause real headaches if you’re not prepared. One key to managing and mitigating these threats is having a disaster recovery plan (DRP) in place, especially when it comes to your documentation. Sure, putting together a DRP might seem like a daunting task, but trust me, when disast...
MATC Group Inc •

10 Tips to Ensure No One Uses Your Employee Handbook

The employee handbook: that sacred document designed to guide and inform your employees, creating a cohesive, knowledgeable, and harmonious workplace. But what if you don’t want that? What if your goal is to make sure your employee handbook is as useless as a screen door on a submarine? Look no further! Here’s your ultimate guide to creating an employee handbook that no one will ever use.

1. Make It Longer Than a Russian Novel
Tolstoy’s got nothin’ on your handbook! If War and Peace can fit int...
MATC Group Inc •

"How AI Got Us Into Swordsmithing" and Other Tales of AI Mishaps

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of today’s biggest topics, the darling of tech conferences, and the star player in many a business strategy. But for every shining success, there’s a cautionary tale of AI gone hilariously wrong. Buckle up as we dive into some fun examples of how not to use AI in business.

The Chatbot That Cares (Too Much)

Meet Botty McBotface, the customer service chatbot set to revolutionize your business’s customer interactions. Programmed to be empathetic and engaging, B
MATC Group Inc •

Engagement Matters: Turning the Tide on Workforce Discontent

Employees who are fully engaged in their work produce better business outcomes than other workers. This is true across industries, company sizes, and nationality, in good or bad economic times. Without employee engagement there is not team engagement, making improvements to business outcomes difficult. However, employees in the US are not as engaged as we’d like. New research from Gallup, State of the Global Workplace: 2024 Report, shows that only 23 percent of US workers are engaged, 62 percent
MATC Group Inc •

Heroes in the Shadows: Technical Writers of WWII

World War II, one of the most devastating conflicts in human history, was marked by unprecedented technological and scientific advancements. Historical accounts usually focus on the scariest and most violent breakthroughs, such as the first use of rockets in V1 and V2 weapons or the atom bomb. However, there are others that have helped shape the modern world for the better. The art of technical writing exploded with the onslaught of innovative technology that a large number of people need to lea
MATC Group Inc •

Smart Training, Smarter Workforce: Embracing AI in L&D

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a groundbreaking force reshaping Learning and Development (L&D) strategies. Artificial Intelligence encompasses a diverse range of technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing, and robotics. Recent research from LinkedIn shows that four in five people (80 percent) want to learn more about how to use AI in their profession. As organizations strive to remain competitive in an increasingly digital environment, implementing AI in L&D initiativ
MATC Group Inc •

Rediscovering the Joy of Reading in a Digital Age

It’s 2024 and May is Get Caught Reading Month. Sadly, the art of reading seems to be fading into obscurity. With the rise of social media, streaming services, and video games, we find ourselves spending less and less time engaged in the simple pleasure of reading (or listening to) a book. However, the benefits of reading, regardless of the format, remain as potent and essential as ever, and we can change our habits to reap reading’s benefits.

Over the past few decades, we’ve seen a noticeable d
MATC Group Inc •

Using Simplified Technical English (STE) to Create Clear, Consistent Documentation

English is the international language of science and technology. Those who do not speak English as their native language, however, may have enough English to get by in conversations but not understand subtle differences with synonyms, homophones, and complex sentence structures. This is where Simplified Technical English (STE) shines.

In the late 1970s, the Association of European Airlines (AEA) asked the European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA, now ASD) and the Aerospace Industries
MATC Group Inc •

From Concept to Completion: Microlearning Design Best Practices

This is the eighth and final post in our series about microlearning.


In today’s fast-paced corporate landscape, traditional training methods are being reshaped by the rise of microlearning. Microlearning delivers bite-sized learning units that focus on specific learning objectives, making it an ideal solution for busy professionals seeking to efficiently enhance their skills. In fact, organizations relying on microlearning for mobile devices, how most microlearning is accessed, saw a 16 perc
MATC Group Inc •

The Great Oxford Comma Debate: Should You Use It or Not?

In a nutshell, the $10 million lawsuit (judgment was for $5 million) involved an overtime dispute between Oakhurst Dairy company and its drivers. Oakhurst settled for $5 million. The crux of the judgment was the interpretation of a sentence in Maine’s overtime law — a sentence that did not use the Oxford comma. Judge David Barron said that the law’s punctuation was not clear, as “packing for shipping or distribution” could be seen as one activity or two separate activities.

This Maine law has s
MATC Group Inc •

Help! My Goals Already Seem Overwhelming!

This is a guest post from UDLAB Products, a designer of unique and innovative productivity products for the home and office.


It’s nearly the end of February. How are you feeling about your 2024 goals? It’s not uncommon for people to set ambitious goals at the beginning of the year and then feel overwhelmed as they try to achieve them. Here are some suggestions to help you manage them and get back on track.

Are your goals realistic and achievable in the time frame you’ve set? Do you have clea
MATC Group Inc •

Embracing the Heartfelt Joys of Our Profession

As Valentine’s Day dawns upon us, it’s not just chocolates and flowers that fill the air with sweetness — it’s the genuine love and passion we have for the work we do each day.

In a world where career paths often feel like a tumultuous dating scene, filled with uncertainty and fleeting romances, our team has found its forever match in our profession. From the first flirtatious encounter with a challenging project to the deep, enduring bond formed over countless victories and setbacks, our love
MATC Group Inc •

5 Scary Mistakes Technical Writers Make and How to Vanquish Them

As the eerie winds of October blow and the veil between the realms of the living and the supernatural grows thin, it’s not just ghosts and ghouls that send shivers down our spines. For technical writers, a different kind of terror lurks in the shadows—the bone-chilling mistakes that can haunt both their work and their readers’ nightmares.

Join me on a journey through the dimly lit corridors of technical documentation, where I reveal the five scariest mistakes technical writers make. From ominou
MATC Group Inc •

AI Tools Save Time — But Have Shortcomings

In the last year or so, artificial intelligence (AI) content generation tools have been all over the news, from articles about the dangers of AI content farms to Hollywood screenwriters who worry AI will take their jobs. Who can forget the infamous AI-generated legal brief that included non-existent legal cases? However, that doesn’t change the fact that content creators are under pressure to create high-quality content at a fast rate, and ranking high on Google is a huge challenge that is even
Ayurved Marketplace •

Treat Mom to a Relaxing Mini Spa Day - at Home: 3 Ways to Create the Perfect Herbal Bath

Mother’s Day (May 14) will be here before you know it! Instead of gifting Mom a candle, perfume, or a basket of body washes, lotions, and bath bombs that will collect dust, treat her to a mini spa day at home. All it takes are some herbs and a few items you probably already have around the house.

Three different methods to create the perfect herbal bath:
• Combine herbs in a pot and simmer for about 15 minutes. Strain them through a cheesecloth, then pour the water directly into your bath. This
UDLABPRODUCTS •

Using UDLAB's Achiever II Planner for Wellness: 9 Ways to Map Your Way

Today is World Health Day! It's a good time to think about your wellness goals. "Wellness” covers a lot of ground, but here I’m referring to physical and mental health. Chances are you have a vague idea of these goals and fit in a little exercise here and there when you have time, or have played around with meditation and journaling but never stuck to it for more than a few days. This is where planning comes in. You should plan steps to reach your achievable goals like you would at work, for you

What is the Johnson Amendment, and why is it controversial?

Note: This is from an article I wrote in 2018.

The Johnson Amendment has been in the news again this week and has been for the last few years. One of President Trump's campaign promises was to repeal it, specifically for churches. However, it is still in effect. What exactly is this law that so few have heard of, and why have people been deabing it for decades?

The Johnson Amendment is named after Lyndon Johnson, who introduced it to the Senate during his 1954 re-election campaign for senator.