Category: Uncategorized

Two leaders, two days.

Yesterday I sat with a mentor in my life. Someone I observe often.

They helped me a ton a few years ago by letting me watch how they solved problems
– management problems
– strategy problems
– interpersonal problems
– family problems
– life problems

It was of huge value early in my career

There plenty of great mentoring programs out there

But what I’m talking about isn’t formal

It’s three face to face meetings a year – that’s it

Just let young professionals understand why you’re human
ESPECIALLY if you have a rep of being superhumanly awesome

Let ’em see inside the kitchen of your mind.
Like my cooking mentors
Urban Peasant, Wok with Yan and Pasquale

Was with another brilliant professional today
In their sector they were unmatched and the sun is setting on their working life

But they didn’t build a successor. No direct mentoring at all.

And now a professional legacy is dying. What a waste.

So! Hot shot. Start today.
40 year old Directors. Start today.

30 something up and comers. Call a big name. Ask to buy them lunch.

DON’T SAY “can I pick your brain”
– that’s what zombies do

“Can I listen and learn”

I know, it’s hard for me to shut up too.

Get lunchin’

Welcome…..to your everything.

Let me just go on a tangent for a second. I WANT THAT TIE/POCKET SQUARE COMBO – I’ve been scouring the internet – I will pay anything. *ahem* back to the topic at hand.

Three smart cookies got me thinking….

Malcolm Burrows asked about a digital estate plan

Promod Sharma went through a social media black out

Susan RoAnne asked the question….service or spam?

We have insurance for our physical stuff…what about our digital stuff?

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a huge promoter of LinkedIn.
I don’t use Facebook and haven’t invested in other social media
(ok, I have a Twitter account – but because it’s connected to my LinkedIn!)
I have put all my eggs in one basket.

I have important contacts in there
Blog posts with ideas I want to remember
Recommendations that are important to my career
Book reviews of great reads

If LinkedIn starts to pull a Facebook, or if the service goes down or under

What then?

Thanks for the thought!

So I backed as much as I can up today.

Nothing huge, just cut and paste into Word.

But if there’s a digital disaster… I’ll be ok.

Something you might want to consider?

Go on the attack, do it right now.
(Ps. LinkedIn has a really cool “export” into Excel function!! )

After all, the best defense…

Now What?!

It’s a question more boomers are asking themselves as they care for aging parents – as they age too

Many of us in sectors that serve “seniors” need to understand the challenges they face.

Have more resources in our network to help them when we can’t or shouldn’t.

Those of us with family need to start having the tough conversations around these issues

Who can help? Sherri Auger.

A great teacher and speaker in my network – she should be in yours too!

Recently Sherri co-wrote this powerful book (with former Macleans editor Barbara Wickens ). The book includes:
– How to emotionally deal with illness, aging and death of a loved one
– Actual scripts for families looking to have honest conversations
– How to navigate the very confusing Canadian health and aging care industry
– The actual resources needed and steps to take when someone dies

Through her company “Caring Matters” she has been helping people deal with the tough questions for almost two decades.

Check out her blog or her book.

I asked several peers of mine to review the book they all came back with the same response.

They couldn’t stay objective. The book taught them how to start acting now!

Here’s one email I got from a Director of fundraising who I expected a technical response from….. “My mother is 81 and lives on her own. For her, it is improper to talk about private issues. Death and estate planning are two of those very private subjects.

Therefore, my brothers and I are in the dark, so to speak,
when it comes to knowing about her end of life wishes. After reading the book I called my mom and told her we need to iron out both her end of life wishes, and her late life wishes. I also said we need to make contingency plans should her health fail. Initially she was reserved and uncomfortable. But, after a few calls she agreed to a series of meetings to work out details. In our most recent phone conversation, my mother thanked me for caring and confided that she just “didn’t want to bother anyone”. For our meeting next week, we will start going over a number of items, including several that were brought to my attention by the book. Thanks again for putting me on to “Now What”. The process has begun for us.”I have watched Sherri speak from years of experience. I would trust my loved ones to her expertise and care.
Do you want to understand your aging clients or donors better?
Book Sherri to speak to your team or group.
Don’t be caught asking……”Now What?!”

A fascinating mind in the world of philanthropic gift planning, Malcolm Burrows, has a very cool job.

His insight and experience caused him to make a powerful note at a speaking engagement last month when he was talking about the state and future of “legacy planning”.

He mused on the concept of a digital will and executor.
Wonderfully enough he wrote about it recently in this really educational blog collective he’s a member of. He also mentioned this new book.

I had heard of the concept a little while back when I tripped over this quirky little powerpoint and this really great interview on CBC’s digital wonderland, Spark.

A very cool but important planning thought.
I made my quick digi-will last night. How ’bout you?

Think about it – or watch this 2 minute video.

If you don’t know the book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill you won’t have heard of a “Mastermind” meeting.

Something as simple as getting together to focus on one problem. Using all your mental power, skills and resources to help another.

The cause is good -but I’m doing it because of the individual:
Matthew Cimone

He’s had an interesting journey so far:
– International student with overseas postings
– UofT Award winner
– UN Goodwill Ambassador
– Founding a charity under 30

He’s CEO of Esther’s Echo – they use digital media to link initiatives spearheaded by local community leaders in the developing world and student-led initiatives in Canada with potential donors and investors online. The model directs funds into the hands of effective leaders and efficient projects that are often overlooked by large international organizations..

Kind of like Canadian Kiva, but using not just money but Information Technology.

He’s made my alma mater proud, he’s helping my beloved College at UofT, he’s the kind of person we need more of in non-profit and network, at this stage of their game, they could use our help.

One night’s investment, let’s help Matthew change the world?

Only 15 spots free.

6:30pm to 8:30pm
Green Beanery – ( Toronto, Bloor and Bathurst )

Use your skills to help a great peer.

Let me know if you’re interested on LinkedIn or via email.

Even if you can’t come I can send you some notes after and you can comment and send suggestions!

What the hell is wrong with me?!

I just wish I was more comfortable going to work, punching the clock and going home

I mean I have a wonderful spouse, beautiful child, a dog who is my best friend….um… and a cat ( who lives with us and does like, nothing )

But I have this nagging pain in my brain that screams at me daily

– busy or productive?
– reports or results?
– push paper or empower people?

It’s driving me insane and I thought I’d shut it up ten years ago when I decided to work for charities I love. But like Mr. Palotta, I’ve found some shocking cultural norms…

I’ve met 10,000 peers in non-profit. I’ve tested my theory at hundreds of organizations I’ve stuck my nose into from the staff, board and management level.

HERE’S THE SECRET —- *ahem* — I want to change the world.
But only between 9 to 5. And never on holidays or weekends.
There are 100,000 of us in Canada and we run the system
Anyone that screws with us, will be treated like trouble – and purged

My life would be easier if I bought in.

But I can’t and I’m so grateful to my spouse who supports me
who allows me (as the slightly larger earner in our family)
-to take a risk

And declare WAR on the clock watchers, on the many people who have no…. “skin in the game”

These pictures I found to encapsulate the concept of “Grass Roots” are kind of scary but appropriate! Real grass roots enablers know it’s about using every resource, the very blood in our veins (“it’s in us to give” right?!)

– to help the terminally ill in a hospice
– to humbly serve the youth who turns to the street
– to support the new mother who decides to choose life
– to support the older man who has lost his life to addiction

I’m not a very smart guy, but I want to change my own life to be a part of the solution. It’s confusing to find out that destroying this system of perceived stability will bring more “work – life balance”

– The charity that kills it’s office addiction will get more out of telecommuting employees who focus on results and not killing time in a cubicle
– The staff person who can be present for his kids, have a full time job WITH benefits is all too happy to use the powerful corporate skills built over a life time
– The mother who is not fired because she gets pregnant (which is par for the course in all charities, we just sugar coat it) will bring her new knowledge and life experience to a team that dynamically engages and retains her
– Taking boards from the 7pm zombie-walk through an agenda to a dynamic mix of online content, afternoon AND evening meetings and onsite visits will find not just more done but more contributed both ways

I draw my strength from you network – thank you for all you share and teach me
Hundreds of you are changing this system and humbly, I beg to learn from you

Together, we march forward, the army of the passionate!

Bring it on Monday.

January 2011 – I was confused!

I have a non- work “networking meeting” face to face minimum five days a week

I keep a database of what good referrals would be for my network

I’m astounded about the LACK of understanding of some of my best contact’s business!

Gave me great focus as I set my goals and themes for 2011

If you are a service professional who relies on good referrals you need to learn how to quickly share how you spend your time, how your business works and what your ideal referral looks like

For me, it all traces back to the fifth habit of the classic Steven Covey book: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND,
THEN BE UNDERSTOOD

When I remind people of this, they all say “Oh, I read that book ten years ago”

Great, so what!

I needed a big reminder that this is the key

So! This is the THEME of my networking in 2011

If I have granted you admission into my network then it’s up to you to:
– Teach me about your business
– Teach me what your ideal referral looks like ( and what a bad one looks like too! )
– Teach me how to talk about you

I met a guy for coffee this week that literally said, I’ll forward you an intro email to help connect me to others.

Brilliant! Something I can modify but I don’t have to worry about misrepresenting you.

So network. If you want to do more of what you love in 2011 – let’s meet.

I’m all ears.

We all have that band

Their music walks with us when we were young
and then every day since then

every powerful moment
every painful moment
every moment of joy

For me, that band was the Barenaked Ladies.

Their first ever release on the yellow tape in 1991 ( when I was in grade nine ) was the first indie cassette to go platinum in Canada. Their album Gordon was a major hit and they have been closer to me than my family ever since.

I have every album and know every lyric

Then, in July of 2008 – Steven Page was arrested and it was the beginning of the end.

Now, I can’t help how I feel ok so please don’t think that I’m trivializing this very important subject…..but I kind of felt like my parents got divorced.

Do I go with my troubled hip Dad who strikes out on his own? Or stay with the family who is trying to keep the same old same old afloat?

I’m not smart enough to judge so I just said that this part of my life was over and I washed my hands of both of them.

But I never really understood what Steven went through, how could I? I have touched mental health in my life as the leader of a Toronto food for homeless program for five years and volunteer for seven. But I still don’t “get it”.

This week Steven had the impossible GUTS to host the “mental health” special with CBC. A series of shows discussing the issue from the inside out and even a call in show.

So maybe my petty little healing with the music I love can take place. But either way, today my hat goes off to you Steven Page, man that took guts.

The shows were so personal and powerful. You did this country a service by helping us get one step closer to understanding.

I highly recommend a listen.

Do home purchases and sales ever go “smoothly”?
This is one of the biggest investments in our life.

As anyone reading this blog knows, networking is my thing.

So you’d assume I know 1000 Real Estate Agents right? Wrong.

We had one when we purchased our first home.
Transaction went well, but she moved out of province.

Didn’t figure we’d need one until a move took us by surprise.

A cold referral – yikes!!

When I think of agents, I think of agent Smith from the Matrix. I was expecting to get slapped around and referred to as “Mr. Nazareth” a lot.

I listened to a lot of “I have the best agent” stories for a couple weeks.

But finally, the right referral. I saw the good work, I heard the words that gave me the comfort to make the call. The team was everything we had hoped for in the short timeline we had.

They were certainly tested. We sold at a bad time, our property was no rolling estate in the hills. But close the deal they did. With style, taste and keeping our nerves at bay.

This is the Trilogy Team of Chestnut Park.
They are my agents.
They protected my family when our back was against the wall
– and they have my loyalty for life.

If you’re looking, then this is where I’ll send you.

I’d wish you luck, but if you call them.

You won’t need it.