I’m reading a book about da Vinci that I picked up at a museum in Rome right now. Timely, because until Wednesday of this week I was convinced Leonardo had been reincarnated. His second life name was Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs was my undisputed business hero.
I loved Steve Jobs.
I love Apple. Continue reading “The Real Mona Lisa: Why I Loved Steve Jobs”
Somewhere, there are three sneaky people hiding in a room.
I don’t know where. Maybe in New Brunswick. Or perhaps in Tennessee. One of my friends believes they are in South Asia.
The location isn’t important — but their role in the world is. They are the barriers between you and whatever it is you need.
Maybe it’s booking a cable appointment. Or a flight, using your points. Perhaps your need is to get help with a website order. Or information on filling out a government form.
It could be anything.
But it’s far from anything. It’s a nightmare. Also known in business parlance as the call centre. Continue reading “A-ONE SCAM”
I forgot to bring underwear to the gym on Monday.
Thing is, I was up at my usual 5:xx AM that day and there really shouldn’t have been any snags. As usual, I had packed the car the night before with my work wardrobe for the day. I had also selected and laid out my workout clothes before I hit the pillow. Continue reading “Commando-in-Chief”
Most of you probably remember where you were on 9/11. So much so that I don’t even need to write the date out in a proper format.
The current and massive spate of remembrance articles, media, blogs, documentaries and news specials are probably rekindling your memories in case you have forgotten. But more than recalling where you were, I am sure a lot of your memories are about the mental stages you went through that day. Continue reading “Remembrance Day”
I don’t have the exact date, but I am pretty sure the summer of 1976 was the last time that I had two weeks off. Ever since then, I have never gone anywhere close to two weeks without earning a paycheck.
I like working. Paperboy. Busboy. Waiter. Hotel porter. Potato peeler. Car wash cleaner (oxymoron?). School newspaper editor. Account executive at a promotions agency. Marketing manager for University of Guelph athletics. Bartender at a Muskoka resort. Assistant manager at the same Muskoka resort (resort now gone…was called Paignton House). Arboretum “slave”. Grill cook at McDonald’s. Sports publicist at CNE. Food & beverage controller at a Queen’s Quay restaurant (also now gone, Spinnakers). Maintenance man at Ontario Sailing Centre. Maintenance man at a fishing (Wenona) lodge.
But since that day some 35 years ago, I have never gone two weeks without punching in. That is until three Fridays ago, when I climbed aboard a Boeing 763, bound for Rome and the first two-week vacation in the income tax-return-era of my life. Continue reading “Viva Italia”
Being funny isn’t easy. In fact, trying to be funny can often backfire. Witness my opening at this year’s Canadian Sponsorship Forum?
When I promised some insights on how to rev up your ROI, and my opening slide was entitled “Kick the Bucket” featuring a picture of Michael Jackson, the cricket choir wasn’t what I expected. Or hoped for. Yes, it’s true, MJ is worth more dead than alive. That’s the same for many a celebrity. But I was trying to make a joke.
That’s one advantage comedians have over the rest of us. When you go to a festival, or a show, or an improv night, ostensibly you come in a frame of mind to laugh. If you didn’t, well then you have issues this blog can’t solve.
Secretly, I would have loved to be a comedian. Continue reading “Ha ha ha”
The title to this blog only tells half the story.
The dates reveal that a young man has died. Even without knowing how he died, you sense the tragedy in the situation. Even without knowing the young man, you understand the grief that has struck his family. Even without reading the obituary, you can feel the sorrow amongst his friends.
That tragedy, that grief, that sorrow, has an all too familiar refrain when you start to read some of the tributes posted and received about Matthew Clayton Ludlow. Continue reading “Matthew Clayton Ludlow: September 1, 1988 – July 10, 2011”
Every time I use this space to comment on something political or controversial, I get myself in trouble.
So a while ago I stopped doing it.
But after a Canada Day weekend when the Hip, William & Kate, Wimbledon finals and the Pride Parade, all reminded me why the first weekend in July is one of the best in the year… one issue has kept chewing at me. I can’t ignore it.
So I am going to pile on. Continue reading “Piling On”
I watched the NHL Awards Wednesday night with bittersweet memories.
It was just a year ago that I helped finish two landmark deals for our clients at Canadian Tire . The first, with the NHL, provided the “Tire” with a major relationship in the hockey equipment retailing and hardware sectors. The second, with Jonathan Toews, who became the face and voice of the Canadian Tire Hockey School, the proprietary activation/ownable property we created.
Through these negotiations came some plum invitations to attend both the Awards in Vegas and the next night’s CAA Draft Party in Los Angeles. Harbouring false hopes of meeting Denzel Washington (he is one of their clients), I couldn’t wait for my trip West.
Well, ironically on the same day I returned home from Winnipeg after spending lunch with JT’s Mom and agent to cement the deal, I blew my knee out playing squash. If you read my blog with any consistency, this is old news.
That blown knee scuttled my trip. I’m still waiting for my new invitations by the way, Keith and Pat…but I have stopped checking my inbox! (-:
I bring all this up only as a segue into the real reason for my blog today. No it’s not to celebrate the Bruins victory once again. By the way, I pick goalies to cheer for once the Leafs are eliminated…so it starts pretty early, obviously! I liked Thomas and Roloson this year for their Johnny Bower-like ascension to the pros. Flashback: Bower was MY goalie coach at hockey camp some thirty-five years ago!
My blog today also isn’t about the Dallas Mavericks either. Although the fact they throttled King James, D-Wade, and Chrissy Bosh…without one word from Mark Cuban, also makes them a viable topic.
It’s also not about the upcoming CFL season and the endless favourable reviews of the Argonauts’ prospects. I mean really, do you actually think that Boatmen can make Lemonade out of Cleo Lemon? Guess I’m still a skeptic! Oh I can’t wait for my beloved Rough Riders’ return. Ottawa style, of course. Although my ten year old was sporting his Darien Durant Regina Roughrider jersey tonight! Sorry for the branding liberty!
My blog isn’t even about the NFL and the current lockout. I try not to think about it actually. It makes me shudder. I need the sound of that first crack of Steeler contact to help me forget the debacle in Dallas I paid $3,300 to attend. That doesn’t include travel or my $1,300/night closet of a hotel room…filled with Mary Jane smoke from the next room.
Funny I don’t feel the same about the impending NBA labour paralysis! I mean those guys are so overpaid, they can survive a few months off!
So at 460 words, what the heck is the topic of this blog? Well, isn’t it obvious?
I, like you, love sports. I mean I was watching an Awards Show, and so were you! I can’t believe hockey is over. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be a Vancouverite. They had the most glorious month! But let’s face it, you watched the Awards Show too. Despite the B level actors, C level bands and blondes that don’t know the difference between Saint LOU-IS the city and St. Lou-EE the player – unreal!
Monday I was doing a presentation to the OUA. It was my 11 for 11 Sports Marketing Trends. I’ve given this deck a few times and selfishly, I really like it. But I like university sport even more. It was a huge part of my university days at Guelph. It’s an aspect of our sports culture that doesn’t get it’s due.
Last Friday I was doing a presentation to the Speed Skating Canada AGM. Pretty cool having a triple Olympic medalist like Susan Auch in the audience. When I met with the 120 coaches, administrators, volunteers, and officials who power this amazing sport, it became clear to me that while we celebrate the Auchs and Le May Doans, we need to ever increasingly celebrate the equally hard working people who make it all possible.
These people love sport. They love their sport. They know that sport builds people, communities, nations.
I don’t know if you know this. I know you love sport. I know you love pro sport. I know you watched an awards show. I want you to watch OUA sport. I want you to watch Speed Skating. I want you to play sport. I want you to enroll your kids in sport.
I want you to make every day a Sports Day. Not just the day the awards are handed out.
Well our seventh Canadian Sponsorship Forum is now in the books.
I am pretty sure if you attended, literally or vicariously, you’ll agree with me that somehow, someway, we were able to top our 2010 event in Whistler. I am not a guy who makes the hollow claim that every year is the best ever. (Don’t ask me which Forum didn’t hit a high note, because I won’t answer!) But it’s pretty obvious, based on the avalanche of congratulatory notes I’ve received, that this was the best ever.
Problem is… I don’t remember it. Insert question here: Remember what? The Forum! I really don’t remember enough of it. I could blame it on the partying. I could blame it on networking with 300+ delegates. I could blame it on the seven and a half hours sleep… total…over four days. I could blame it on the stress of my opening keynote… ahhh, but that would be lying. I don’t stress over public speaking.
But seriously, the weekend was a blur. So I thought a little mental exercise might help. The exercise is quite simply: create a diary from the various mental fibers I can spark to try to stimulate more memories and somewhat hypnotically paint a picture of the weekend.
This exercise is dangerous when done alone however. So, if you are willing and able to participate, it would be most appreciated. I am not sure that I can appeal to you that this is somehow some sort of scholarly research or scientific contribution to society. However, you could add to your LinkedIn profile that you helped shape history. Even if its just the history of one M-H-3.
Okay, so it’s time to begin! Now one of the other conditions of this treatment I forgot to mention is that it must be completed in reverse. Therefore, begin at the last moment you had a partial memory and begin to fill in the pieces form there. If however, even a partial memory is not available, you are recommended to immediately race to your Facebook account and see how many pictures you may be tagged in. I in fact, am going to do that RIGHT NOW, before my boss does. Give me twenty minutes and I will be back to you.
Okay, I am back. Not that there was anything to worry about, cause I don’t have a boss, but I don’t think my clients need to see me dancing on a bar! Or under the bar I think is more appropriate.
Now to the exercise!
June 13th – 08:40
Land in Toronto via a very comfortable Porter Airlines flight. Is there any other kind?
June 13 – 07:00
June 13 – 05:00
Grudgingly got up, without my alarm, which was luxuriously set for 05:20!!
June 13 – 02:30
Finished packing. Why didn’t I finish packing earlier, like I said I would? Okay, when exactly was I going to do that?
June 13 – 01:30
Left Sir Winston’s, got in a cab. Cab almost got hit by another cab. I survived. Oh yeah, it was raining. (All this sounds pretty trivial right now!)
June 12 – 23:10
Resigned ourselves to going to Winston Churchill’s. Arrived and said hello to “my” bartender “Annie,” who I used to think was actually “Heidi.” Go back to June 9th to figure that out.
June 12 – 22:30
Tried to get into some swanky nightclub. They wanted $1,000 per table! Do I get to keep the table?
June 12 – 21:31
Watched the HEAT go DOWN in flames!
June 12 – 20:19
Ate dinner at Sauvignon in Old Montreal. Our waiter was older.
June 12 – 19:11
Relaxing in my suite with Media Merchants guys. That’s a load of bull. Felt like a dorm room after party, where the male ego of who can insult the other faster was racing out of control. Paced slowed slightly when some dellys showed up!
June 12 – 13:00 to I forgot
What a race! Our suite was right on the last turn, right at track level. When cars raced by, we got showered from the rainwater. How the heck does someone go from 21 cars down to win?!
Catering woman asks how everything is. I advised the “circumstances were much better.” (See June 10th for clarity!)
June 12: 10:44
Hanging out at the Hot Wheels Garage! We are almost out of product for demos. Three days of activating equals lots of “sticky fingers.” That’s okay it’s called product trial.
June 12 – 10:33
Hair of the dog!
June 12 – 08:00
Off to the track!
June 12 – 07:35
Wake up on couch.
June 12 – 06:30
The last three people leave my suite as the hotel security guard TASERS me.
June 12 – 01:33
Forgot I told people to come back to my suite for drinks. Taxi!!!!!
June 11 – 21:11
Went to Club 1234. Apparently the locals call it 12-34. Not sure why!
June 11 – 18:30
Off to FrancoFolies and the CINCO tent. What a setup. Open bar. Gourmet dogs. Two stages to watch from a covered porch. Awesome VIP spot. Well done L’Équipe Spectra!
June 11 – 16:00
IMI “Happy Hour” left everybody very happy! Did you get a picture with the Grand Prix du Canada trophy? Did you think it was real?
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June 11 – 15:45
I introduce “Stephen Blaney” as played by Andy Nulman. “Blaney” introduced Bill J-4, the Sponsorship Clarity Act. After convincing everyone our industry was under assault from legislation, he announced that the 2012 Canadian Sponsorship Forum would partner with Just for Laughs. It’s their 30th Anniversary. To be clear. THE CONFERENCE WILL BE IN MONTRÉAL, JULY 2012!!!!!!
June 11 – ALL DAY
We have never had a day like today. Mike Browne. Andy Shibata. Shari Willerton. Steve Podborski. David Corelli. Speaker after speaker just nailed it. Mr. Movember, Adam Garone closed us off with an unbelievable talk that garnered a massive, and I mean MASSIVE, standing ovation! I was on stage and it was electric.
June 11 – 06:11
Seriously, how am I waking up without an alarm. And why?!!
June 11 – 03:30
Walked back to hotel. Started with 15 people, finished with me. Odd…..hmmm!
June 11 – 02:11
Moved up Crescent to some dance club. Triple X maybe? I don’t know. And I can’t dance.
June 10 – 22:00
Started the Crescent Street Roulette. Will this bar take us? That one? Spin the wheel and hope. Flukily find a place called Bruitopia! Had an amazing bartender. Can’t remember her name. But I did ask.
June 10 – 20:00
Started cheering for the Bruins.
June 10 – 19:51
Headed to Tundra Lounge for Media Merchants cocktail and dinner. Yelled at catering staff. They weren’t ready for us. They blamed “circumstances.” Like?
June 10 – 19:18
Let delegates walk on Grand Prix du Canada track. Take pictures of pit crew. And Finish Line. And “Grid Girls” Glad I am not a dentist…no one was smiling. (-:
June 10 – 17:18
Went for a jog.
June 10 – 16:00
Wow what a day! We have had a ton of great presenters. Dave Thomas, Henry Storgaard, Davis Barnes, Chuck and Kyle from Cocoon Branding, Mark Stewart and now time for Don Mayo to bring the house down with his talk on research being the key to maximizing your ROI. Which he does. His presentation was laced with real time examples from the F1 Activations in the market that weekend! Real-time research!
June 10 – 11:11
Look at all these people! Registration is crowded.
June 10 – 09:30
Last time to rehearse. Now at the point where it won’t be natural, so I need to stop!!!!
June 10 – 07:45
Had a breakfast meeting downtown with a former client. Does he not like me anymore or do I just smell?
June 10 – 06:30
Rise & shine! Time to rehearse once again.
June 10th – 03:15
Somehow negotiated myself out of an after hours club with my staff and got home. As in my hotel room.
June 10th – XX:XX
What time is last call in this town anyway?
June 10th – 00:08
Invasion of my staff begins. Annie the Bartender is considering resigning.
June 9th – 23:53
Asked “my” bartender what type of French name was “Heidi?” She told me her name was “Annie” and she didn’t know why the @#$%& I had been calling her Heidi for hours.
June 9th – 22:55
Remarkably the IMI guys showed up. At a bar? Also receiving tons of emails from people on the VIA Party Train. No one told me it was open bar!
June 9th – 22:01
Made sure everyone at Winston Churchill’s knew that the Forum was in the house.
June 9 – 21:11
Ran into the Cocoon guys at resto, dragged them out drinking to help them prepare for their speech. Trust me they were kicking and screaming. Or maybe chugging and laughing?
June 9 – 19:19
After much negotiating with too many people, went out for dinner at Le Milsa on rue Bishop. Get up from your desk and go to Montréal right now and eat there. We had the “10 Meat” Turnstile. An all you can eat feast. Oh I am so going to Brazil for the Olympics and World Cup!
June 9 – 19:00
Checked out our main room setup with a phenomenal backdrop created by Event Graphics. Wow! Revved to get up on stage and start presenting!
June 9 – 17:45
Went past lobby bar, saw the IMI guys.
June 9 – 16:30
Met with a delegate from Toronto. Our offices are four blocks away in the 416. But we can never get our schedules to match. That’s what makes conferences great. Small world. Her university roommate is one of my former employees, now married to a former client. Start humming that tune!
June 9 – 15:11
Headed down to our conference area to check out setup. Could not believe the contraption that Rhoddy built for our registration area.
June 9th – 14:44
Checked into my room. It was the Presidential Suite at the Delta. Oh my! Eight rooms. Three bathrooms. Dining/Meeting table for a dozen people. Four TV’s. Three bathrooms. (I like bathrooms!)
June 9 – 13:40
Check out our Welcome Booth at the airport. Very exciting, just wish one of the staff held up an 8″ X 10″ white card with the letters H-A-R-R-I-S-O-N on it. Still haven’t gotten over not getting that at Canada Games. Apparently according to the government audit of the Halifax committee, that was their only glitch in producing a flawless Canada Winter Games!
June 9-13:30
Land in Montreal via a very comfortable Porter flight. Is there any other kind?
June 9th – 12:30
Ready for takeoff from Toronto and rehearse my Opening Remarks one more time. I am not too worried about my ROI presentation… I have a GREAT memory!!!!!!
