What More Can We Learn From Steve Jobs

Just after Steve Jobs died, I blogged about him.  I’d never met the man.  I’m sure he had as many faults as the next guy.  But there was something so magical about him.  Whimsical and unforgettable.  He reminded me of Willy Wonka, except Wonka was a figment of Roald Dahl’s imagination.   Jobs was real –  in life and in death.

Jobs was initially diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004 – one of the most lethal forms of cancer.  Told by doctors at 7:30am that morning his cancer was inoperable, Jobs was given 3-6 months to live. That’s it.  Cold.  Stark and final.  He spent the entire day in emotional agony playing his death sentence over and over in his mind.  That’s gotta be one of the worst punishments any human being one could endure

That evening, Jobs’ doctors did a biopsy on the tumor.  His team literally cried on discovering the cancer indeed could be cured by surgery. Jobs underwent the surgery shortly thereafter.  He recovered well, later reporting, “I’m fine now.”  The world and scores of Apple fans and employees breathed sighed with relief. 

This close call made Jobs even more frank and honest – and he started to talk openly about (his) life and death.  It was like he became a mere (im) mortal overnight.  Full or paradoxes and quirks, Steve soldiered on.  Shortly afterwards, in his now well-known 2005 Stanford commencement address, he eloquently shared his thoughts on living with purpose, passion, love and excitement.

Steve always believed he was one of the lucky few to love his work – and that he found it so early in his career was even more of a blessing.  In its first ten years, under Steve’s almost obsessive eye, Apple grew from nothing into a $2 billion powerhouse that ultimately redefined how the world’s citizens related to their computers.

And then he was fired from the company he created.

Jobs confessed he felt like a failure – a loser – but like a genius, he was able to identify what kept him going during these very dark hours.

“The only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did,” he said. “Find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

Each and every one of us are uniquely gifted to do certain things.  Only certain work can engage our talent and bring out the best in us.  And it’s different for all of us – in a good way.

Steve followed his passions.  He loved what he did.  He did what he was uniquely capable of doing better than anyone else.  Most importantly, he ensured his work was aligned with his passion.

In his commencement address, he said:  “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.”

“I look in the mirror every morning and ask myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer has been No for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something,” he said.  Jobs continued, “Remembering I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”

He urged the graduates not to waste their lives living someone else’s dream. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice,” he said. “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Imagine a world where everyone was as passionate as Steve.  What if all of us came to work as pumped to be at our jobs as Steve was to be at Apple?   We’re not all leaders and/ or creative geniuses like Steve.   But we can all bring the same energy and passion to our jobs as he did. We can be just as passionate about our work as he was. When we make the commitment to finding work we love and not settling, we set the stage for magic (as Steve did). 

We each have unique personalities; abilities, skills, and interests to fulfill us when we align them with meaningful work.  When the right person is in the right job at the right company, success ensues -  for both the individual and the employer.  That was the Steve and Apple story.   

Jobs found his calling and showed us how to live with passion and purpose. He didn’t settle, and he urged us not to either. Think about that world again where we’re all as jazzed as Steve was about our jobs. How cool would that be?

To echo the last words Steve ever said – it would be “Oh wow.  Oh wow.  Oh wow.”  His eyes flickered.  And then he passed onto the next world. 

A Welcome Improvement to Toronto's Kosher Landscape

The Burger Guy at Goldburger's

No question, the food industry is a tough one --- places spring up and close before they’ve had a chance.  Sentiments change like the wind changes direction and more importantly, speak to any restaurateur and they’ll tell you indeed how hard it is to make money.  I believe it!

A year ago, Toronto’s kosher community spiraled into a flap as a result of my blog post.  It was a harsh review, but it was the truth.  I write what I see, taste and hear.  Period.  I did not apologize then and I won’t apologize now (based on the many angry emails I received - I know I offended many) – but the reality was my entire experience at said establishment sucked.   Looks like Toronto’s kosher places took me seriously as generally kosher food places here have vastly improved since then. 

Even harder than running a regular restaurant is running a kosher one:

1. The price of kosher food, especially meat is almost double the cost of non-kosher food.  Eating kosher, while the law – is not a cheap one in terms of money - to which to adhere
2. Kosher restaurants are closed some 75 days a year – in other words, they pay rent for 365 days, but are only open for about 290 days.  The results can be catastrophic – you run the numbers
3. The percentage of Jews who only eat kosher runs about 3%.  Figure in North America there are  some six million jews – meaning there are only some 180,000 that care for kosher food --- the audience is miniscule – and maybe even shrinking.  This augurs particularly poorly for kosher restaurant operators

Burgy Goldburger’s Burger Bar.  Located in north-west Toronto (7000 Bathurst Street) is in a large, yet non-descript strip plaza.  Offers real good – and I mean real-good value for money.   The food is damn tasty too.  I was there an hour or so ago.  Picked up 2 burgers and 1 regular fries for $11.32 (tax included) for my wife and daughter.   I brought it home – they ate and enjoyed (and they’re picky eaters).

Ronnie the boss greets me with a smile.  Nice guy - he’s a friend of a friend of mine.  We gabbed a few minutes as we always do – shot the breeze.  Ronnie’s eating a burger (I presume his dinner) while we chatted – telling me that he’s opening up another burger store.    I think the’s doing it right.  I think he understands fast food – and I think he understands the kosher business too.

He introduces me to the guy he’s sitting next to.  He’s eating dinner as well – I guess they were having some sort of business meeting.  His name is Chris.  And he’s Ronnie’s newest partner– joining him from Mi Vami – a well known Toronto non-kosher middle-eastern restaurant where he was a chef.   Ronnie tells me his newest spot is set to open in January.  It’s not going to be an eat in place – but will do delivery and take out only.   Mediterranean food.  All glatt kosher

 

I hope Ronnie (and the other kosher restaurant operators) bear the following tenets in mind:

•         Keep your pricing reasonable
•             The food is important – but so is the overall experience
•              Smile – make your customers welcome and give great service

Ronnie’s newest expansion idea is a good one, I think - and well needed in Toronto’s kosher community.   Only time will tell.

Disclosure:  I do not receive remuneration of any sort from any food establishment

Breaking News: The Human Race Reaches Its Lowest Point In 2000 Years

I remember when I was a young teen reading a sci-fi book.   Although I forgot its name, I’ll never forget its macabre story - recounting the tale where entertainment consisted of people watching others being killed in cold blood.  Well last week, that sci-fi story came back to haunt me, us and the whole of the human race.

Disgusting!

The New York Post published a front-page photograph of a man trapped on a subway platform seconds before he was killed by an oncoming train. The victim, Ki-Suck Han, was pushed onto the tracks by another man on the platform. The New York Post’s choice of a front-page photo led to an intense reaction in the public and the news media.

Here’s the picture:

Fiction became reality. And it’s disgusting.  It makes me ashamed to be a human. 

Now, there’s no question that this type of tragedy happened very fast.  Too fast for us to even  comprehend.  That’s what R. Umar Abbasi, a freelance photographer for The New York Post, said of the fatal subway incident on Monday that he caught with his camera. One man threw another into harm’s way, causing him to be run over and killed by an oncoming train. This last part happened in the blink of a shutter. I get it!

But the decision to put the image on the The Post’s cover and frame it with a lurid headline that said “this man is about to die”? That part didn’t happen quickly at all. The treatment of the photo was driven by a moral and commercial calculus that was sickening to behold.   It was about getting the scoop.  It was about beating the other newspapers in an era when the news cycle that could once be measured in hours is now measured in minutes and sometimes even seconds.

The reprehensible decision made by The Post  has brought wide criticism and was derided as ghoulish and insensitive. But the pictures’ mere existence started another conversation summarized by TV weatherman Al Roker, who, on NBC’s “Today Show,” said: “Somebody’s taking that picture. Why aren’t they helping this guy up?”

And that’s the question nobody seems to want to answer, let alone address. 

Abbasi, defended his actions in an interview. “I’m being unfairly beaten up in the press,” he said, before leading a reporter to the 49th Street subway platform to re-enact what had happened.

Mr. Abbasi said he was wearing a 20-odd pound backpack of camera gear for an assignment, and was standing near the 47th Street entrance to the platform when he saw the man fall on the tracks. “Nobody helped,” he said. “People started running away.”

“I saw the lights in the distance,” signaling a subway’s approach, he said, so he started firing off flashes on the camera — 49 times in all, he said — as a means of warning the driver. “I was not aiming to take a photograph of the man on the track,” he said, adding that his arm was fully outstretched, the camera far from his face.

Now, I don’t know Mr. Abassi – but let’s assume he’s a good guy.  A photographer – in the right place at the right time – it’s a Kodak-moment about to happen.  He takes the pictures – as gruesome as they may be.  The guy on the tracks gets wiped out – we know that.  It’s what happens when train strikes person – everytime.

Then a few hours later, the Post publishes it on its front page????  How insensitive!  How thoughtless!  How first century!

I’ve been in media for the best part of 25 years now – it’s a long time – and I’ve seen a lot change, some for the good, others for the not-so-good.  But this, this act of moral reprehension sends us to a new low.

I agree with Poynter’s Julie Moos:  “The moment just before death is a delicate fraction of a second and the NY Post print edition and cover screen image lacks compassion for the victim, his family, his friends and the Post’s audience. In a few words it is disgusting, disconcerting, insensate and intrusive.”

If you feel as strongly as I, please forward this email to the Post’s publisher at letters@nypost.com 

Zig Ziglar Dies - What We Can Learn!

This week, Zig Ziglar died from pneumonia at 86.  Sadly, I’d never met Ziglar, one of the finest motivational speakers ever, although I’ve read several of his books and listened to many of his motivational speeches.  With a distinctive blend of sound-bite optimism, country wit, Christian faith and good-natured nudging for people to see the bright side of life, I liked him a lot. 

“If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time,” he used to say. “Attitude, not aptitude, determines altitude,” was another of his mantras.  Coined by him sometime in the 1970’s, they’re still true today.

Ziglar reached people through more than two dozen books with sales well into the millions; through his children, who help run his company; through tapes and podcasts; and of course through personal presentations. At his busiest, he said, he spoke 150 times a year, and well into his 70s he was speaking 60 times a year. His fee was $50,000 a speech, plus expenses.  WOW!

Ziglar stood for 5 things, each one near and dear to my heart:

1.    We generally get from ourselves and others only what we expect.  Bottom line? If you expect to lose, you will. Expect to be average, and then average you’ll be.  If you expect to feel bad, you will and if you expect to feel great, nothing will slow you down. And what is true for you holds for others too. Your expectations for others will be what they deliver and achieve.  Expect mediocrity from your workers?  Well, then that’s what you’ll get.  Ziglar agreed (as do I) with Gandhi’s famous quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

2.    The difference between good and great employees is training.  The only thing worse than training employees and losing them is to not train them and keep them!  Ziglar said that training is practice and preparation.  Today, it makes me wonder how businesses survive that don’t train their people.   Well, actually they don’t last. They operate from a competitive disadvantage and are eventually gobbled up and defeated. If you want to improve and move from good to excellent, a good training strategy is key.

3.    You’ll find what you look for.  Look for the good things in life, you will find them. Look for opportunities to grow and prosper, you’ll find them too. If you look for positive, enthusiastic friends and associates who will support you, they’ll appear, (seemingly seamlessly).  On the other hand, if you look for ways to cheat, you’ll find them (or they’ll find you).  If you look for ways to justify leaving your spouse, you will find them.  We’re created such that we look for things that will justify what we think we need or want. If you are not living by the foundations of honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty, you will be drawn to seeking selfish gratification – that often leads to misery and unfulfilled dreams. The result: whatever you have will never be enough.  And always, and Ziglar meant always – look for the good in others. 

4.   When you make a promise, have a plan. Far too many people make promises they can’t keep. They intend to keep the promise, but without a plan, they won’t be able to. If you make a commitment, you must understand and be willing to do whatever it takes to honour it.  More than 50% of first marriages fail because each spouse does not understand what it takes to have a great marriage. They do not plan for or understand the sacrifices each must make for the other to enable a long-lasting relationship.

5.       Happiness, joy, and gratitude are universal if we know what to look for.  Ziglar believed you can have everything in life you want if you help enough people get what they want. Everyone wants happiness and joy, but you have to know what produces happiness and how to do the things that produce it.  When you worry about the things you want and the things you don’t have, you lose gratitude for what you actually have. Be ungrateful, and you’ll never be satisfied.   Too much won’t even be enough.  Ziglar truly believed the greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.

But I think Zig was most well-known for saying “Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile and a grateful heart”.   

And that folks is how I live my life. 

Rest in Peace Mr. Ziglar.

 

 

 

Getting kicked off a plane is no joke – or is it?

If you're one of some 23 million Americans traveling by air this Thanksgiving - read and heed this!

Ask Alec Baldwin, who was kicked off an American Airlines plane for refusing to turn off his phone – the result.  He stayed in LA longer than planned.  Not known for his overfriendly personality, Alec speaks his mind, both in life and on Twitter without worrying what people think.  think he’s a jerk, but hey, what do I know?

"Flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing WORDS W FRIENDS while we sat at the gate, not moving.  #nowonderamericaairisbankrupt," he tweeted after being removed.

Former MTV Networks President, Michael J. Wolfe, on the same flight tweeted, “On an AA flight at LAX. Alec Baldwin removed from the plane. We had to go back to the gate. Terrible that everyone had to wait."  Obviously, he did not find Alec’s antics amusing. Maybe funny (at the time) – but I (like Wolfe) would be pissed if I had to spend more time on a plane than necessary because some idiot refused to behave.

Next time you fly, check the airline’s contract of carriage, where you’ll find a list of violations that will get you off the plane – fast. Each varies slightly, but most have some sort of language prohibiting passengers from doing anything endangering the safety/ comfort of passengers or crew.    Problem? It’s all subject to interpretation by airline employees, which is why we see wild stories of passengers getting the boot. So what, specifically, is taboo?  

A crying kid

Loud passengers become aggressive - fast.  And spoiling the comfort of fellow flyers could get you kicked off a plane—even if you’re still in diapers. The crew of a JetBlue flight forced the family of a tantrum-throwing infant off the plane earlier this year. According to Caroline Morse, SmarterTravel editor, "The parents tried holding the screaming toddler down in her seat with the seat belt on, but the pilot and flight attendant decided to kick the family off the flight and leave without them. No question, passengers trapped nearby were grateful, but the family ended up paying more than $2,000 for a new flight and hotel room for the night".  Not sure how the airline handled it, but for sure its PR people would have danced carefully.

Fight

When a man walloped a fellow passenger on a United Airlines flight to Ghana in 2011, the pilot, like a parent driving a car with feuding kids, (been there, done that) promptly turned the plane around. But unlike most other parents, the pilot was so aggravated that he summoned a few fighter jets as backup. On landing a half hour later, the aggressive flyer was removed from his flight. The most incredible part is that the melee started when one passenger reclined his seat into the space of the guy behind him. Some travelers might even argue he deserved the smack.  Dunno – you be the judge!  I’m not going to get involved in this one.

Stink

You don’t have to wear a garish shirt saying “F*&k You” to offend --- just skipping the soap is more subtle, but just as egregious.  A few years ago, a flyer did that, and ended up – well being kicked off.  According to ABC News, when passengers on an Air Canada flight to Montreal complained about a foul-smelling flyer, the stinking man was told to leave the plane and clean up his act.   A fellow passenger told ABC News, "People were just mumbling and staring at him. The guy next to me said, 'It's brutal.'

Be wasted

Visibly wasted flyers are about as welcome on a plane as a rat is in the kitchen.  Pretty much all airline  carriage contracts contain clauses specifically stating this. For example, US Airways' contract, states the airline can refuse transport to passengers who "appear to be intoxicated or under the influence”.  

Seems like some bone-heads not only missed the memo, but lack brains too.  Singer John Rich (of Big & Rich), was removed from a Southwest flight for being too drunk, and an intoxicated Bahraini prince, lost his seat on British Airways. Clearly these airlines offer no special treatment for the rich and famous) .  Good!  And if you appear drunk but are really sober, you’re as idiotic as Rich – and your ticket could be in jeopardy. I read a story about a sober woman, kicked off a Southwest flight because a gate agent thought she was intoxicated. After being hoofed, she got a toxicology test.  Her blood alcohol level was less than 0.003. Nevertheless, she wasn't permitted to board that initial flight.

Seen any idiots on a plane lately?  Let me know – it could be worth a chuckle.

Vegas - Oh so good and Oh, so bad!

The good news? Las Vegas showcases the best the United States has to offer.  The not-so-good?  It also showcases the country’s worst.

I love Vegas.  I’m not ashamed to admit it.  It’s bundles of fun.  The city never sleeps.  You  can do what you want, when you want it – as long as you can pay for it.  It’s perhaps the purest example of capitalism one can find – and there’s nothing wrong with a solid dose of it from time-to- time, just to keep things in perspective.

Vegas is built on illusion, trickery and facades to survive– and that it not only is surviving, but thriving - is proof positive the city’s on to a winning formula.  That also means the tricks and illusions have to get more impressive year-after-year.  It's city where we all go to be wowed.

I can hang, eat, drink, gamble and be merry with the best of them, (my close friends can attest) but this last week, I smelled, saw and heard some stuff during my 4-day stay there, that frankly, is disturbing.

Remember the lovely coconut aroma permeating the air in the Mirage and Mandalay Bay, or the old-lady perfume smell in the Venetian.   I asked employees at each of these hotels if they pump this scent through the air system.  The answer?  Nope!  Well, a little research revealed otherwise.  Aroma Systems Inc. manufactures the devices that do just that. And they list these and other Vegas resorts as their clients. Visit their website and see for yourself.

Vegas is so unreal and so far from the general populace’s reality that it’s actually dangerous.  A few years ago, one of the think-tanks surveyed ten-thousand tourists, each of whom had been to Paris, London, Sydney and the Vegas strip for vacation, (there’s nothing slouchy about any of these places).  Three guesses which city caused each tourist to be most depressed when leaving?  Well – you won’t need three guesses silly – Vegas caused more depression than the other three cities – combined!  Here’s why:

1.      The Vegas strip is to civilization what North Korea is to human rights.  In other words, there is no notion of civilization on the strip.  Yeah, there are world class shows like numerous Cirque Du Soleils, famous magicians, singers and celebrity chefs, but that’s about as close to civilization as you’ll get on the strip.  It’s uncivilized that you won’t find a clock in a casino.  That’s because the passage of time represents reality – and who really wants that.  It’s even more uncivilized that you cannot find a newspaper on the strip --- again, newspapers are harsh bitter reality – reality that’s about as welcome as a festering rash on a baby’s bum. 

2.      It’s all – and only about the buck.  Think watching an iPad disappear before your eyes is neat?  Well, no need to pay Kris Angel or David Copperfield two bills.  Just leave yours unattended for 4-6 seconds.  Poof – t’will be gone. Everytime! 

3.      Everything is fleeting.  I was in the Mirage on election night --- what was on the hundreds of TV monitors scattered throughout?  Not the election results, but college football.  Am I kidding?  Hell no!

4.      The strip is designed to consume your mind, body and soul, (not to mention your pocketbook).

a.      I almost lost my mind walking down the strip when I ran into two (obviously very very inebriated) middle-aged women physically entangled with one-another in an awful cat-fight.  Trust me, it was not a pleasant sight – but that was nothing compared to a bunch of 6 twenty-something testosterone-filled young men, egging them on.

b.      It’s hard on the body knowing The Bellagio, Caesars Augustus Tower and Treasure Island all have an architectural feature designed to trick the eye into seeing the buildings as smaller (thus closer) than they really are. Each window covers four rooms on two floors. Wynn Las Vegas uses the same trick, in that there are two floors between each white stripe. Click here to see some examples. 

c.       The soul?  There ain’t no soul on the strip baby!  It’s best summed up in a song by Sheryl Crow.  “Leaving Las Vegas” one of my favorites --- “Life springs eternal on a gaudy, neon street. Not that I care at all. Spent the best part of my losing streak in an army Jeep from what I can recall. Oh, I'm banging on my TV set.  And I check the odds and I, and I place my bet.  Pour a drink and I pull the blinds.  I wonder what I'll find”.

The bottom line.  It’s a city you either love or you hate.   Personally, I love it – I can draw the line between the artificial bling on the strip and my life - I know full well Vegas represents the diametric opposite of everything the mind, body and soul of John Sacke stands up for and believes in.

Meanwhile, I’m gonna get to rounding up a bunch of friends so we can plan our next trip back.  Viva Las Vegas!

 

 

 

 

Now I Am Beyond Peeved Off - This is Ridiculous

OK, last week I was peeved at our government for outsourcing production of Canadian Passport covers to a Netherlands-based company, that purported to be a Canadian company.  And this week, it only gets worse.

Get this. The Toronto District School Board is concerned that calling “Halloween” Halloween is offensive to some.  Huh???  You boneheads. 

Nope, I’m not joking.  They’ve sent out a guide, aptly entitled “A Teaching Resource for dealing with Sensitive Issues in Toronto District School Board Classrooms.” 

And if that was not enough, they’re recommending Halloween be renamed “Black and Orange Day”.   Utter balderdash and it makes my blood boil.  Whether you’re wiccan (I understand they celebrate the holiday), or pagan, (I understand they don’t celebrate anything) or atheist (I understand they don’t believe there is a G_d), Halloween is Halloween – and if you don’t like it --- well --- you can go straight to hell.   

You know what?  I am getting offended at people who’ve got nothing better to do than be easily and permanently offended at something, anything.    

G_d forbid you wish someone “Happy Christmas”, only to find out they don’t celebrate it, or even worse, call it by a different name.  Christmas is almost a curse word now.  It’s now “the festive season” (how convenient) and if someone is not festive at the year-end – well, shame on you for not having known that. 

I am a proud, card-carrying Jew.  Always have been.  Always will.   I identify myself as such, so does my wife and kids. I love Israel and believe it belongs to the jews.   

I don’t celebrate Halloween.  I celebrate Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and the like.  Halloween’s  just not a Jewish concept.  And that’s fine, I promise.  Halloween’s a fun holiday for those that choose to celebrate it.  They dress up.  They scream and shout.  And they stuff themselves full of candy.  It’s harmless fun. What’s the matter with that?  Nothing!

A long time ago, a Rabbi told me, “There are different religions, and each should be allowed to celebrate their religious beliefs in the way in which they’re accustomed.  We’re not all the same – and although Canada and every other civilized country may be a melting pot of immigrants, each should hold by their culture.”  I could not agree more.

Muslims should celebrate Ramadan.  It’s a tenet of Islam.  Jews, Passover and all the other holidays.  It’s what keeps us jewish.  Christians, Christmas – and no, it should still be called “Christmas”, despite what some lunatics say.  (Those same lunatics want to ban the nativity scene --- Pu-leeeaaase!!!)   And African-Americans, Kwanzaa.    You get the picture!

So, I want to take this moment to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.  And an especially Happy Halloween if you’re one of those idiots on the Toronto District School Board who want to call Halloween, “Black and Orange Day”

Oh – and please – don’t razor-blade my candies or egg my house after you’ve stuffed your mouths full of Halloween candies.

Shalom- if that's not too much to ask!

 

I'm Peeved Off With Canada Right Now.

I’m a proud Canadian.  I arrived in Toronto on July 1, 1988.  Became a citizen in 1991 and I love this country.  Come to my house and you’ll see the Canadian flag flying high at our door.  I doff my cap at anthem time when I see the Leafs, Jays or Raptors.  I joyfully cried when the Kid scored to win Olympic Gold in overtime.  You get the picture!

But I’m peeved off at Canada right now.  Really Peeved off.

I understand the concept of economics as well as anyone.    Comparative advantage is important too.  Very simply, it means that countries should produce according to their strengths and import goods that they can’t produce themselves.

But when it comes to Canada’s iconic passport covers - economic concepts like comparative advantage should be thrown out the window:  right out the window.

I heard today that Canadian Bank Note, an Ottawa-based company has been given the federal contract to produce Canadian passport covers.  Good, but there’s a fly in the ointment.   They’re outsourcing the job to a company in the Netherlands, forcing Ontario-based Columbia Finishing Mills, the company that produced the passport covers for the past three decades to lay off 25% of their staff.

I’m as a-political as they get – in other words I believe that all politicians, with rare exception will do whatever it takes to get the vote.   Compromise your ethics to win the vote?  Check!  Badmouth the other guy to win the vote?  Check!  Suck and blow at the same time to get the vote?  Sure!

Rick Roth, press secretary for Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the government had nothing to do with the decision to outsource the work and that Canadian Bank Note was chosen because "it was the only company capable of printing the documents in Canada."

Baloney!

Shouldn't 'made in Canada' have been a stipulation in the contract?  And if the feds were unaware that Columbia Finishing Mills were outsourcing the job to a Netherlands-based company, what does that say about the concept of due diligence?  Apparently, not much!

Sadder, is that this is not the first time Canadian symbols have been made abroad. In 2009, the ministry of Canadian Heritage bought $200,000 worth of Canadian flag pins imported from China.  And more recently, lapel pins commissioned by the Harper government and distributed during the diamond jubilee celebrations were also made in China.

OK, so it may be cheaper to get the stuff in China.  But should Canadian symbols, like passports in particular, be just about dollars and cents.  These are Canadian icons – and things that should be nearest and dearest to our collective hearts.  Problem is they’re not.

Let’s show some gold old fashioned patriotism here and demand that our national symbols be made by Canadians in Canada.

  

I agree with a comment I heard yesterday, (typo included) – “Think about it. If the government is so gun ho about saving money, maybe we should outsource our government too.”

 Peace, especially to all those on Parliament Hill, soon to be located in China.  

Long-term Friendships Have Their Benefits

I’m a marketer - and like all astute marketers, I place great importance on relationships. It’s what keeps guys like me going.  Not only can relationships be good for the pocket-book, but far more importantly, they can be particularly good for the heart.  

Yesterday, I saw a story out of Florida, about a Joseph Katz and an Al Spiegal.  I’ve never heard of either guy - but their story’s really cool.  You see, just last week, not only did each celebrate their 100^th birthdays, but they celebrated 91-years of being best friends.  Remarkable.  I know!

"We've been friends since we were 10-years-old. We both went to the same elementary school and we graduated from that same elementary school. We worked together for the same company and we kept our friendship together," Katz said.  


Katz and Spiegal, both originally from Brooklyn, New York, held their joint birthday partyat Inverrary Diner near their homes in Florida. Speigal's actual birthday was on August 26th, but he waited until his best friend's centennial celebration on September 29th to celebrate.  How’s that for being a gentleman!

"We could not wait. We've been dying for this, even before my son was born my grandfather told us he couldn't wait until 2012," Katz's granddaughter, Melissa Teger, 42, said.  "I'd say, 'Why Grandpa?' And he'd say, 'Because I'm going to be 100.' That was the driving force to keep him healthy and happy the last couple of years."

Remarkable!

I’m in my mid-forties.  I enjoy awesome relationships.  I count among my closest friends today my closest junior and high-school friends from Johannesburg.  There’s Peter G, Rob S, Howard S, Barry L, Dion J, Michael R, Hilton K and Mark N.  And although we’re now all scattered across North America, there’s nothing that any of those guys wouldn’t do for me or I wouldn’t do for them.    No question, old friendships run really deep.  In fact, they’re irreplaceable.

Let’s face it - we’re all busy no matter what we do.  As we age, we all have our issues to deal with - kids, health, finances, marriages, parents - you get the picture - and if we fail to make time for our friends, they’ll fail to make time for us.  Guaranteed.

Over the years, I’ve realized that we’re generally very bad at keeping in touch - this despite the fact that it’s easier than ever before.  And had Joseph and Al never kept in touch with none another, they certainly would never have enjoyed the party they did.  Perhaps one or neither would have even lived until 100.

Katz, who has 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, shared his secrets to a long life:

 "You don't reach 100 just like this. With your body, you've got to use it, not abuse it. Live the right kind of life. Take care of yourself," he said. "Eat the right kind of food. Don't smoke. Don't touch alcohol. Go ride a bike. Go ballroom dancing. Keep occupied and you'll make it."

He’s right. His last point --- "Keep occupied and you’ll make it" being "spot on!"
  
The bottom line’s clear - no-one is on this earth forever and everything good (or even bad) must and will come to an end. 

 The devil finds work for the idle. Everytime.  Bored? Nothing to do? At a loose end? Yeah, you can watch paint dry or bet on two roaches climbing the wall, or crash at the idiot box (something too many of us do) --- but that thinking’s going to kill you.
  
Do something good. Keep occupied. Keep in touch with someone.  It’s better for you (and every study’s proven that). You’ll be glad you did and maybe - just maybe - you’ll live longer. Or you can follow Katz’ last piece of advice - "Just keep breathing, that's the secret to my longevity."

Follow his ways or mine. You choose. Either way - live a long and happy life.  Just like Joseph and Al.  Now do something useful - reach out to an old friend.  Just say "Hi, how are ya"

Peace!

The Importance of The First Impression

I was almost through my teenage years (19 years old to be precise), when I had my ear pierced. I was not a stoner. I was not a bad or rebellious teenager and nor was I “troubled”. Au contraire.

I got it done “ just because”. It was fashionable. It was cool. It was the mid-80’s. And since I was working in my family’s record store at the time and going to university, I was good to go with an earring. In short, it was my image.

Three years later, I immigrated to Toronto. It took me a mere 8 days to learn how important first impressions were. I needed to get a job – a real job, and fast – and so my earring (without regret, I may add) had to go. Without question, image matters a lot. In the workplace, the evidence is even clearer. In a recent survey, developed by Accountemps, (a Robert Half company) and conducted by an independent research firm, 29% of respondents interviewed indicated it takes them less than five minutes to draw conclusions about an interviewee.

The bottom line - in today’s marketplace, job seekers don’t have much time to win over hiring managers. In the same survey, a full 52 percent of HR managers polled said they form a positive or negative opinion of candidates during interviews in 10 minutes or less.

“Image is everything today, especially as far as job seekers are concerned,” said Koula Vasilopoulos, a Vancouver-based, Senior Regional Vice President at Accountemps. “Not only do job seekers need to impress the interviewer, but they need to impress all others in the company with whom they’ve interviewed or even interacted.”

And here’s the rub. Our 15-year old son Jason is now looking for a part-time job – like any other teenager, he wants the iPhone 5. We’ve told him he can get one with his first (or rather his first few) paycheques. I helped him prepare a short resume. Told him do put on a nice pair of trousers with a dress shirt. He did. His tousled, teenage face was freshly washed and his hair neatly brushed. The preppy look. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, and with his newly-minted resume in hand (with me in tow), we headed to our local mall yesterday: job-hunting.

He looked damn good, even if I say so myself. Jason’s a confident kid. He’d rehearsed his lines a few times with me. He had his act together.

He hit Pharma Plus, EB Games, HMV, No Frills and a few others – dropping résumés and completing applications. I’d hardly say he was interviewed, but a few managers saw him and seemed keen. I’d like to think he made a good impression in the 30-60 seconds he chatted to each. On our way home I told Jason that he should follow up this week with each application. “No” he said. “They’ll call me if they want to hire me.”   Yeah right! (is what I'm, thinking)

Koula and I both believe the follow-up is as (if not more) important than the initial encounter. He thinks not. But that’s OK. I’m just glad Jason is looking for work. To note, he’s also at the age where he thinks his parents are totally clueless about everything (sound familiar?). By the time he’s 20, we think, he think we’ll be smarter.

So, what are some tips I’d give Jason (or any other job-seeker).

Accountemps says it very well.

1. Attention to details. Shake hands firmly and maintain eye contact. Present a professional image. Ensure your shoes are shined, clothing is pressed, and nails are clean and trimmed.
 
2. Ace the likely questions. Make sure you know how you will respond to predictable questions, such as, “Can you tell me a little about yourself?” Research the firm before your interview and tap your network for their insights to enable you to couch your answers in the context of how you can help the company.
 
3. Don’t be cocky. Strike the right balance between presenting your accomplishments in a positive light and coming across as overly confident. Being arrogant is one of the worst mistakes a candidate can make.
 
4. Tell memorable stories. Give specific examples of how and why you’ve been successful. You’ll make a positive impression on hiring managers by sharing interesting anecdotes about how you solved tough business problems or saved an employer money.

5. Be yourself. Don’t come across as overly rehearsed. Interviewers want to get a sense of your personality and how you would fit into the office culture.

And in the coming weeks, I’ll tell you how Jason’s doing in his job search. Stay posted.

Help! I'm Having An Affair (With New York City)

I first met New York City in July 1981 when as a fresh-faced 15-year old kid, I went into Manhattan every day with my child-hood friend, Peter. We were young, naïve and innocent, bumming around as teenagers do, when we happened on Serendipity. We blew our daily budget on their decadent banana split, $8.95 in those days.

My letter of thanks to Serendipity’s founder, Calvin Holt started my love affair with that remarkable city – and things haven’t changed a bit.

I returned to New York City in 1983, met Calvin and worked at Serendipity for pocket money. We became fast friends – he was 55 at the time. A socialite. A bon vivante. A raconteur tres extraordinaire.

He showed me a side of the city that few adults ever see, let alone a seventeen year old kid from the backwaters of Africa.All nighters at Studio 54. Harvey Wallbangers galore. Long lunches on Hester Street. Whole days at the Met. Dinners at Lutece.

Sadly, Calvin departed this world - May 14, 1994. I still speak to Serendipity’s co-founder and the-late Calvin’s best friend – my friend Steven.

New York City – there is no city like you. Not quite 23 square miles big, Manhattan is home to some 1.8 million people – it’s crowded, yet sublime. And so very cosmopolitan. Where else in the world can you blow almost $700 for 250g of Osetra caviar and seconds later scarf down a street dog for a buck-and-a-half?
It’s appealing - despite the fact that I’d eat neither.

Fifteen years ago on a visit to New York City I found myself taking a train from Grand Central Station to Connecticut on a bitterly-cold and snowy Sunday night in February. It was about 9:30pm, and the station for once was eerily quiet. Ten feet away, a lone woman in a wheelchair began the familiar refrain … “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.... I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see.”

It was like she was singing for me. Just me. Twenty minutes and four songs later, I’d emptied my pockets. So had dozens of others. I’d also missed my train. It didn’t matter.

Only in New York.

Eight years ago, I took my grand-uncle, Herbie, (then in his late seventies) a retired gynecologist (and the doctor who delivered me, by the way) to watch a Sampras-Agassi tennis match at the U.S Open Tennis in Flushing Meadows. We’re both huge tennis fans. After the game we stopped at the Second Ave. Deli – a kosher, New York City culinary institution. Herbie had the smoked meat sandwich; I had the pastrami on rye. With a couple of scotch and sodas each (Herbie’s signature drink) to wash our dinner down, we rolled out of there, tipsy and content.

I’ve made innumerable trips to that city – and the love affair continues.

Last weekend I was there again. As they say in Paris (my second most-favorite city) --- “Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose.”

This time, I did not go to my many favorite haunts. Instead I spent ten fantastic hours alone - wandering. Wandering here. Wandering there. I discovered the Chelsea Market. I had cappuccino on Mulberry Street. I went to the Beacon Theatre and then to Mario Batali’s Eataly. I walked Times Square. I also spent a tremendously inspiring hour pondering social media with Peter Shankman.

Most importantly, I went to Ground Zero where almost 11 years ago to the day, cowardly terrorists brought the World Trade Center down in a heinous act of crime against humanity. All humanity. And in doing so changed the world. I paused. I bowed my head. I paid my respects to the slain. The young. The innocent. The lost forever.

Then I moved on, bitter-sweet - blending in with the millions of New Yorkers hustling to get home for dinner.

Happy, sad, funny or bizarre experiences in New York City? Don't be shy! Write them below ---

The Edenbridge Street Party

We’ve been living in our house for almost 3 years now. The boss (a.k.a Karen) and I are Mr. and Mrs. Joe average. Million Dollar Family. Jason’s 15 and Amanda' 12. We have 2 cats, Miss Kitty and Orie. Without question, we have a lot and we have a lot of good things going on too.

So a few weeks ago, when I mentioned to Karen and my kids that we’re going to organize a street party, I got (well how do you say it) a less than warm reception. Since then, they’ve come around and are now enthusiastically (well sort of) helping to put this thing together. And that is a good thing. It’s called Teamwork. Very important.

We have about 40 families on our street. Numerous pets. Many teenagers. We’re a diverse bunch of people that live harmoniously together. Edenbridge Drive is a quiet street and nothing exciting seems to happen. Oh yeah – turnover is low too and property prices have kept their value. But I digress.

I’m big on two things: Marketing and learning. And in planning this party, here’s what I’ve learned about marketing and learning:

1. Engage – I can’t stress this enough! What I mean is that work with your fellow residents, stakeholders and clients at their level, not yours. Be one of them. Show you understand their thoughts and where they’re at. As it related to the party, I designed simple invitations, printed them out and walked them door to door. I’ve also spent considerable time on the street many evenings, chatting and talking and … you guessed it --- engaging. It’s easy and very effective. Marketers, listen up!

2. People like leaders (as long as the leader is likeable) – Anyone can arrange a street party – you don’t need much skill or experience. In fact it is pretty easy. But I took the initiative (like I have the time??) and am putting this together – the wife and kids are onboard too. And if responses are anything to judge by, I have some 20 families already committed, they’re all very grateful. This is a good thing! We hope to get 20 more families to come.

3. Keep it simple – I’m finding that simple is always better than complex. Ever seen those complex PR plans that seem to say the same thing three times over? That list co-dependencies and contain scary-looking Gantt charts, each color coded? Well, I saw such a plan a few weeks ago. Not only was it not pretty, but it’s not practical, it’s also way too expensive to implement and would marshal too much of the company’s already scarce resources. As it relates to the party, we’re keeping it simple. Burgers and dogs with all the fixings. Sodas, beer and wine to drink. And that’s it. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate everyone offering to bring something, but with it comes complexity. If there’s salads, there have to be plates and cutlery – and pails for all the garbage – and serving spoons, and lots of napkins … you get the picture.

4. Keep your purpose in mind – The aim of the party is for all the families to meet one another in a congenial atmosphere. That’s pretty much end of story. And that’s what I’m doing with this one. No gourmet food. No give-a-ways. No fancy stuff. Burgers, dogs, beer, wine, soda, munchies. And that’s the purpose.

It’s Sunday 9 September at 3:30pm. If you live on Edenbridge, we’re looking forward to hanging! (Rain or Shine)

My Views About Facebook

Although I’m no stock trading junkie, I will say that I closely followed Facebook’s IPO back in May – that’s me and the rest of the world.

No question, the company’s really cool, has revolutionized the ways in which the world’s citizens stay in touch with one another and share information. I’d argue that Facebook has been a game changer. And its uber-charismatic head honcho, Mark Zuckerberg is enigmatic too. It had, or maybe still has all the trappings of success. Problem is, if the company’s stock price is anything to go by, it’s a flop.

Sadder yet, a friend was recently at their California HQ and saw a red and white poster affixed to a wall, bluntly asking “What could go wrong?” Below in black ink, someone had scrawled in tiny letters, “Everything”.



A mere four months ago, it was hailed as the most valuable tech company to ever have hit Wall Street. As I write this piece, its stocks is down another four percent, trading at $19.28 a piece – less than half of what they were three months ago. Zuckerberg and his team of hench-men/people (to be politically correct), Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Ebersman have left Wall Street and financial analysts wondering whether they have the acumen to deliver on their once-lofty promises.

Their IPO was riddled with problems with exceptionally ambitious pricing. All sizzle, no steak. Not only were Mark, Sheryl and David caught unprepared, but worse, so too were Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley – both financial titans. Now Facebook needs to convince the unforgiving street and miserable investors that it is not a fad and that indeed its business model is solid. Problem is, there’s no evidence I’ve seen to suggest it’s solid and not just a fad.

In some ways, the Facebook saga reflects the increasingly uneasy truce between The Valley and Wall Street. Simultaneously symbiotic and dismissive of one another, each is focused on making money with different approaches. Wall Street wants to see revenue and profitability growth. The Valley wants to see coolness – hence the unease. And in reality Facebook’s exec’s while they may know how their tools will forever change the world, have not revealed any such plans. It’s a disaster to say the least.

No question, Facebook’s public offering has stuffed its coffers with scads of cash. And as a result, the company is trying to show investors its aggressive expansion plans, investing in expensive engineers and data centers. But sadly, it’s not enough to stop its stock from continuing to tank. Seems like the more it invests, the more its stock dives.

Facebook’s also trying to show that not everyone is fleeing its stock like rats off a sinking ship. Reed Hastings, a director, bought $1 million in shares. But that was miniscule compared with the $9 billion in shares sold by insiders at its peak public offering price. To note also, since then, another director and an original investor, Peter Thiel, sold more than 20 million shares. What does this say about insider’s confidence levels? You judge!

I think also that wireless is where it’s at – Facebook’s biggest single challenge. "Our mobile future,” reads another poster on Facebook’s sprawling camps. The company says it’s focusing on making Facebook more attractive — and lucrative — on mobile devices. It promises to roll out new features in the coming weeks. We’ll see how successful this is (or isn’t) – the jury’s out.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on Zuck and his leadership skills. The same qualities that created his coolness factor, including his quirkiness and ambition, are now what even his most ardent fans are questioning. Methinks he’s doing a worse job of managing Wall Street than he is of managing the company. And nor does it help that Wall Street and The Valley speak entirely different languages. Translation services Zuck?

There’s a new term doing the rounds on the Internet – it’s called being “Zucked”, as opposed to being “F%^&*d”. It’s what you call someone who loses half their fortune fast. Oh, woe. Poor Zuck!

At least I’ve not been “Zucked” – my fortunes are still intact.

Note: I am neither long nor short on this stock. This piece should not constitute any investment advice.

We’re in the Dog Days of Summer – Win 25,000 Aeroplan Miles

No question, most of us work hard and long hours too – it’s a sure-fire way of getting ahead. My grandmother told me, “Jonny, wake up before the other kids do, and you’ll go further than them, even if they’re smarter” – that was 40 years ago. Wow – is it ever true today. In fact, I’d argue that it’s truer today than it was in my youth. Not to brag – but for me sleeping in has always meant being out of bed by 8:30am, even on weekends. It’s just a fact. Rule: daytime is for productivity. Nighttime, for fun and sleep. The exception to the rule being is if you work the afternoon or night-shift.

Don't be a sleeping dog during the dog days


Notwithstanding the importance of getting enough sleep, my kids however don’t really see it that way. They’re teenagers now. Regular run-of-the-mills kids. They’re sometimes rude, even arrogant. And on weekends, they sleep until 11am, 12, 1 or even 2pm. I choose my battles – this not being one of them. They know I hate it. They know it bugs me – and I hope they know the reasons why it bugs me. Enough said, but sleeping-in does go hand-in-hand with the period of year we’re now in – aka, The Dog Days of Summer.

Background - "Dog Days" (diēs caniculārēs) are the hottest, most sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August, which typically observe the warmest summer temperatures. In the Southern Hemisphere, they typically occur in January and February, in the midst of the austral summer. The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather.

But I digress!

In the workplace, I’ve never seen people slack off as much as they do in the last two weeks of August. The last 2 weeks of August make from December 15 to Jan 4 every year seem like a hive of activity – if you know what I mean. Now, I’m not saying people don’t deserve vacation, ‘cause they do, but if you’re working or showing up at the office, then work, don’t slack off. If you’re slacking off, not only are you wasting time, but you don’t deserve your salary either.

Business is going to pick-up come Labor Day. Here’s some stuff to get done during the dog days:

1. Get yourself checked up! Delaying going for your yearly physical guys? Scared about the doc’s finger? How long’s it been since you had a mammogram or PAP smear ladies? Delay no longer. Get it done. If there are any issues, the sooner it’s discovered and treated, the easier and more likely you are to recover. You know that already. Summer’s the perfect time to get this kind of stuff done.

2. Call 5 people a day to whom you’ve not spoken to in a year or more. Sounds daunting? Who cares? Don’t email them – that’s a cop-out. Call them. Say hello. Ask about their family. Catch up. Shoot the breeze. You get the picture. The most successful people are excellent networkers. They know who to call when – and they do just that. The benefits of keeping in touch are often under-estimated. As Nike says, “Just Do It!”

3. Step outside your comfort zone. Just once! It’s been said by smarter minds than I that the only way to conquer your fears is to conquer them. It’s not rocket science, duh! Maybe it’s time to do that Zoomba class you’ve been threatening to do on account of your seemingly-ever-expanding butt or maybe you’d rather have root canal without anasthetic than make a presentation. Well, forget your fears and comforts. Step out just once. Do the class and make the presentation. The second and subsequent times are easier.

4. Work on bettering yourself at something – anything! Have you longed to solve Rubik’s cube? Improve your tennis game? Get to know 5 co-workers? Be a better spouse? Lose 10 pounds? Well stop procrastinating --- the time is now.

I’ll be looking to see what you’ve done during the dog days. Blow me away with results – and if I am, you’ll get 25,000 points anywhere Air Canada or its Air Alliance flight partners fly. No kidding.