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)
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, August 13, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
My Wonderful Journey Of Eighteen Years
Eighteen years ago today, I embarked on a wonderful journey – a journey that has made me whole (as a human being). I got married to Karen, the love of my life – and eighteen years later, we’re still going strong.
My brother in-law, suggested that I meet Karen (a friend of his). He explained that she was “articulate, meticulous and well organized.” I on the other hand am in-articulate, don’t see details and am not-that-well organized. In other words, on paper, the match could not have been poorer.
I called Karen the day after I got her number and we went out a few days later for dinner downtown Toronto. We had lots to say to one another and the conversation was fluid (well, the drink or two that we each had, did help). We closed the restaurant that night and I dropped Karen back at her apartment.
Very sadly, within minutes of me dropping Karen at home, she learned of her father’s passing in Florida, where he lived. Karen spent the next ten days in Florida with her mother and brother. I’d learned of the passing from a mutual friend and promptly left a message for Karen offering my condolences. On her return, Karen called me and we hung out a time or two or three. There was something there and so we started dating – we’ve never looked back. Twenty two months later on August 7, 1994, we were married in Toronto. We’ve also been blessed with two children – Jason (14) and Amanda (11).
By any measure, we’ve had an eventful marriage. We’ve seen lots and done even more. We’re a happy family during a time when marital affairs seem the order of the day and when divorce is rampant. But like everything in life, I am a big believer in continual learning, growth and improvement. Eighteen years into my journey, here are a few things that I have learned:
1. ‘Fess up – No matter who you are or what you do, from time to time, you’ll screw up. We all do. A big screw up or a small screw-up – ‘Fess up and say (and mean), two very powerful words --- “I’m sorry"
2. Know your limit, and play within it. We all have different limits and thresholds. Know what they are and stick to your limits. I make no secret that I work really hard, and play really hard. It’s the playing hard that keeps me working hard and then the working hard that keeps me playing hard – and while I know that I push the limits on both fronts, I always stick within them. Important for sure!
3. Don’t sweat the small sh*t. Yeah, I know I have an irritating habit or two – for sure. And so does Karen. It’s small stuff like which direction the tube of toothpaste is put back into the drawer. Does it really matter? No – so then don’t worry about it. And we both have not sweating the small stuff down to a fine art.
4. Being generous in love is a good thing. The love you make is directly proportional to the love you take. Don’t take too much love without giving. Be good to yourself. And be good to your spouse. Not some days. Not even most days. But everyday. Show your spouse random acts of kindness every day - I really mean that!
5. It’s a journey – not a destination. This is so true and becomes more and more true as the days pass. Marriage is all about it being and ever-improving-work-in-progress. Think of marriage like a picture an artist paints, or a sculpture and sculptor does. They’re always tweaking, observing and refining – and so should any smart spouse in a marriage.
This reminds me of the song that relates closely to marriage. Time Warp. It’s a classic from the Rocky Horror Picture Show --- “It's astounding, time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll. But listen closely, not for very much longer. I've got to keep control.”
a. Time flies – make the most of every second
b. Madness – be spontaneous. Change things up a little. Sometimes being a little silly is a good thing
c. Always, always – be in control of your emotions. Never ever let them control you.
Karen – thanks for the first 18 years. Here’s to the next 18. I love you very much.
My brother in-law, suggested that I meet Karen (a friend of his). He explained that she was “articulate, meticulous and well organized.” I on the other hand am in-articulate, don’t see details and am not-that-well organized. In other words, on paper, the match could not have been poorer.
I called Karen the day after I got her number and we went out a few days later for dinner downtown Toronto. We had lots to say to one another and the conversation was fluid (well, the drink or two that we each had, did help). We closed the restaurant that night and I dropped Karen back at her apartment.
Very sadly, within minutes of me dropping Karen at home, she learned of her father’s passing in Florida, where he lived. Karen spent the next ten days in Florida with her mother and brother. I’d learned of the passing from a mutual friend and promptly left a message for Karen offering my condolences. On her return, Karen called me and we hung out a time or two or three. There was something there and so we started dating – we’ve never looked back. Twenty two months later on August 7, 1994, we were married in Toronto. We’ve also been blessed with two children – Jason (14) and Amanda (11).
By any measure, we’ve had an eventful marriage. We’ve seen lots and done even more. We’re a happy family during a time when marital affairs seem the order of the day and when divorce is rampant. But like everything in life, I am a big believer in continual learning, growth and improvement. Eighteen years into my journey, here are a few things that I have learned:
1. ‘Fess up – No matter who you are or what you do, from time to time, you’ll screw up. We all do. A big screw up or a small screw-up – ‘Fess up and say (and mean), two very powerful words --- “I’m sorry"
2. Know your limit, and play within it. We all have different limits and thresholds. Know what they are and stick to your limits. I make no secret that I work really hard, and play really hard. It’s the playing hard that keeps me working hard and then the working hard that keeps me playing hard – and while I know that I push the limits on both fronts, I always stick within them. Important for sure!
3. Don’t sweat the small sh*t. Yeah, I know I have an irritating habit or two – for sure. And so does Karen. It’s small stuff like which direction the tube of toothpaste is put back into the drawer. Does it really matter? No – so then don’t worry about it. And we both have not sweating the small stuff down to a fine art.
4. Being generous in love is a good thing. The love you make is directly proportional to the love you take. Don’t take too much love without giving. Be good to yourself. And be good to your spouse. Not some days. Not even most days. But everyday. Show your spouse random acts of kindness every day - I really mean that!
5. It’s a journey – not a destination. This is so true and becomes more and more true as the days pass. Marriage is all about it being and ever-improving-work-in-progress. Think of marriage like a picture an artist paints, or a sculpture and sculptor does. They’re always tweaking, observing and refining – and so should any smart spouse in a marriage.
This reminds me of the song that relates closely to marriage. Time Warp. It’s a classic from the Rocky Horror Picture Show --- “It's astounding, time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll. But listen closely, not for very much longer. I've got to keep control.”
a. Time flies – make the most of every second
b. Madness – be spontaneous. Change things up a little. Sometimes being a little silly is a good thing
c. Always, always – be in control of your emotions. Never ever let them control you.
Karen – thanks for the first 18 years. Here’s to the next 18. I love you very much.
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