My old man died this year.
Wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to live forever.
At least that’s what I believed at age 12.
To me he was a superhero with larger-than-life friends. There was nothing that he could not do if he put his mind to it. He lived as if life were his personal plaything to do with as he pleased. He often treated life casually and often ignored signs of danger. I know…I argued with him often enough about the dangers of crispy pork rind well after he had been diagnosed with diabetes and was on home dialysis treatment. He did not give in then either. Dismissed my concerns with a wave of his hand, then changed the subject.
He had a sense of humour. Well, actually, he loved telling stories. He loved to laugh but he loved an audience even more. His grand kids will attest to that! At every gathering as far back as I can remember, he and his cronies held court around the bar telling new stories of conquest and re-telling the old ones that somehow never seemed to grow stale with the endless retelling. The group around them grew and changed over the years, but the basic format remained.
He was an optimist. Correct that: he was naïve and unrealistic. He did not believe that he couldn’t get what he wanted. Every time. In fact, when I look back he did get everything he ever wanted: kids, friends, grandkids…good times. And the timeless ability to pass on his wisdom in the stories. You just had to listen carefully.
He was tough and ornery. If you crossed him, he ‘wrote you off”. Never spoke to you again…gone from his consciousness. Usually lasted about a week. Month tops. Another party or get together and all was forgiven. He did not have many enemies.
He yelled at me and pushed me constantly. At 12 this sucked. Kept it bottled up for years. Only after having kids of my own did I come to terms with his behaviour: he was imperfect! Duh!
He was not perfect. Far from it. He often talked about ‘shoulda, coulda, woulda’ when it came to things that he could have accomplished in his life. “Hmmm…wonder where I get it from”? Over the years I have learned to overcome ‘shoulda, coulda, woulda’. Thanks Dad.
He was supposed to live forever.
On September 23, 2008 forever arrived.
I was there until the end. He went peacefully and with what I swear was a smile on his face. Seemed to be saying to us even then, “I had a ton of fun…sorry it had to end so soon…keep the party going for me”
I will.
Helping Companies Create Marketing That Stands Out | Brand Marketing | Project Management
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
When is @#$% Acceptable?
The following was submitted by MN. Thank you.
And with thanks to the original author, they are shared with you this week.
There are only eleven times in history where “@#$%” has been considered acceptable for use. They are as follows:
And with thanks to the original author, they are shared with you this week.
There are only eleven times in history where “@#$%” has been considered acceptable for use. They are as follows:
- "What the @#$% do you mean we are sinking?" -- Capt. E.J. Smith of RMS Titanic, 1912
- "What the @#$% was that?" -- Mayor Of Hiroshima, 1945
- "Where did all those @#$%ing Indians come from?" -- Custer, 1877
- "Any @#$%ing idiot could understand that." -- Einstein, 1938
- "It does so @#$%ing look like her!" -- Picasso, 1926
- "How the @#$% did you work that out?" -- Pythagoras, 126 BC
- "You want WHAT on the @#$%ing ceiling?" -- Michelangelo, 156
- "Where the @#$% are we?" -- Amelia Earhart, 1937
- "Scattered @#$%ing showers, my ass!" -- Noah, 4314 BC
- "Aw c'mon. Who the @#$% is going to find out?" -- Bill Clinton, 1998
and a drum roll please............!
11. "Geez, I didn't think they'd get this @%#*^ing mad." -- Stephen Harper, December 2008
Merry Christmas!!!
Coogie Beach, Sydney, Christmas 1997
While not as well known as Bondi Beach its neighbour a couple kilometers down the coast, Coogie Beach turned out to be a fabulous gem. And a great place for my kids and I to spend our Christmas vacation 1997.
Getting there was definitely more than half the fun.
We departed Toronto squeezed into economy seats aboard a 747 for the first 10-hour leg to Honolulu. We arrived around 10 pm and found ourselves ‘trapped’ in the in transit lounge for the 3-hour stop over before boarding our flight to Sydney. Challenging to say the least to keep 3 kids (14, 14, 10) amused for 3 hours late at night, jetlagged after one 10-hour flight about to board a second one.
The longest 10 hours of my life.
Back of the bus experience for the flight to Sydney. Seriously…we were 10 rows from the back of the plane, squeezed four-abreast in the center section. Was going to be a long night. Tetris saved the day…night.
We arrived in Sydney to a glorious summer morning. Even though we were traveling in late December, and we had left behind winter in Toronto, they were entering their ‘hot’ season. Glorious!
We made it through morning rush hour traffic jet lagged and all. Our destination: the Holiday Inn, Coogie Beach.
1 kilometre of powdery, white sand hugging a crescent-shaped shoreline. Bluffs at both ends guarding entry. Big whitecap waves crashing ashore. This was going to be excellent.
The running route I found was heaven itself. Two different routes along the shoreline. My favourite was found heading south.
Ran along the boardwalk past the seawater pool up the head of the southern bluff. Then down the dirt trail sharply. Ocean to the left, craggy rocks to the right. Trail meandered along and around wonderful rock outcroppings that revealed new vistas of the ocean around every turn. Up and down constantly. Squeezing past other runners out for their morning run.
Lots of other runners.
“I could live here”
My route took me about 3 kilometres out to a tiny sand beach where I turned around for the trek back to Coogie. Ocean on the right, rocks on the left. Scenery same but different.
Fantastic finish back on the flats of Coogie Beach.
After a shower and change of clothes, breakfast on the outdoor patio of a café on the beach.
Merry Christmas!!!
Getting there was definitely more than half the fun.
We departed Toronto squeezed into economy seats aboard a 747 for the first 10-hour leg to Honolulu. We arrived around 10 pm and found ourselves ‘trapped’ in the in transit lounge for the 3-hour stop over before boarding our flight to Sydney. Challenging to say the least to keep 3 kids (14, 14, 10) amused for 3 hours late at night, jetlagged after one 10-hour flight about to board a second one.
The longest 10 hours of my life.
Back of the bus experience for the flight to Sydney. Seriously…we were 10 rows from the back of the plane, squeezed four-abreast in the center section. Was going to be a long night. Tetris saved the day…night.
We arrived in Sydney to a glorious summer morning. Even though we were traveling in late December, and we had left behind winter in Toronto, they were entering their ‘hot’ season. Glorious!
We made it through morning rush hour traffic jet lagged and all. Our destination: the Holiday Inn, Coogie Beach.
1 kilometre of powdery, white sand hugging a crescent-shaped shoreline. Bluffs at both ends guarding entry. Big whitecap waves crashing ashore. This was going to be excellent.
The running route I found was heaven itself. Two different routes along the shoreline. My favourite was found heading south.
Ran along the boardwalk past the seawater pool up the head of the southern bluff. Then down the dirt trail sharply. Ocean to the left, craggy rocks to the right. Trail meandered along and around wonderful rock outcroppings that revealed new vistas of the ocean around every turn. Up and down constantly. Squeezing past other runners out for their morning run.
Lots of other runners.
“I could live here”
My route took me about 3 kilometres out to a tiny sand beach where I turned around for the trek back to Coogie. Ocean on the right, rocks on the left. Scenery same but different.
Fantastic finish back on the flats of Coogie Beach.
After a shower and change of clothes, breakfast on the outdoor patio of a café on the beach.
Merry Christmas!!!
Another Corvette Story
1986.
Vancouver.
Expo 86.
Summer in Lotus Land.
Had planned on renting a Ferrari 308 for the day but an unfortunate incident the day before we were due to pick it up put it out of service. Still wanted an exotic drive up to Whistler however and were forced to choose between a convertible Porsche 911 or a Corvette.
Fortunately we chose the Corvette.
Did not however start well.
After removing the ‘easily removable’ glass roof panel (took some effort from two of us) and stowing in the area behind the seat, we realized there was very limited room for our luggage. Oh well, just going up for the day anyway.
Got in. Or make that crawled down into the extremely tight form-fitting seats. Huge drive tunnel and tight foot well dominated the interior. High cowl limited forward visibility.
Once settled in, engaged the clutch and twisted the key. Big V8 thundered to life and settled into a throaty idle. Slipped the lever of the 4-speed manual transmission into first, eased off the clutch and gingerly depressed the accelerator…and promptly stalled it.
Swear Word!!!
Never impressive to stall the car in front of the wife and the rental car rep.
Got ‘er going on the second try however. Gave it gas…left a small patch of rubber.
Driving through downtown Vancouver in traffic on our way through Stanley Park to the highway up to Whistler was not my shining moment behind the wheel of this unruly beast. Uncomfortable with the heavy clutch. Clunky shifts did not help. Heavy steering. “Did this thing really have power steering?”
Lurched from traffic light to traffic light cursing the decision to rent this beast.
All was redeemed however once we escaped city traffic and found the open road from Horseshoe Bay up to Squamish. Once up to highway speed, steering lightened. Found out the true meaning of torque…left it in 4th most times and simply pressed the accelerator.
Along one long uphill stretch we found ourselves behind a couple of slower moving cars. There was a break between them and three more vehicles. Planned to pass the first two and tuck in behind the three before the road curved to the right.
Dropped down to 3rd. Squeezed gas pedal and pulled out.
“Where did those two cars go”?
“Wow”!
Shifted into 4th still on the gas.
Past the second group of three.
Oops…corner coming up fast now.
Pulled back in touched the brakes to set up for the corner, back on the gas to blast around it.
Only took seconds.
Sunny day…ocean on the left…mountains on the right. Perfect!
Vancouver.
Expo 86.
Summer in Lotus Land.
Had planned on renting a Ferrari 308 for the day but an unfortunate incident the day before we were due to pick it up put it out of service. Still wanted an exotic drive up to Whistler however and were forced to choose between a convertible Porsche 911 or a Corvette.
Fortunately we chose the Corvette.
Did not however start well.
After removing the ‘easily removable’ glass roof panel (took some effort from two of us) and stowing in the area behind the seat, we realized there was very limited room for our luggage. Oh well, just going up for the day anyway.
Got in. Or make that crawled down into the extremely tight form-fitting seats. Huge drive tunnel and tight foot well dominated the interior. High cowl limited forward visibility.
Once settled in, engaged the clutch and twisted the key. Big V8 thundered to life and settled into a throaty idle. Slipped the lever of the 4-speed manual transmission into first, eased off the clutch and gingerly depressed the accelerator…and promptly stalled it.
Swear Word!!!
Never impressive to stall the car in front of the wife and the rental car rep.
Got ‘er going on the second try however. Gave it gas…left a small patch of rubber.
Driving through downtown Vancouver in traffic on our way through Stanley Park to the highway up to Whistler was not my shining moment behind the wheel of this unruly beast. Uncomfortable with the heavy clutch. Clunky shifts did not help. Heavy steering. “Did this thing really have power steering?”
Lurched from traffic light to traffic light cursing the decision to rent this beast.
All was redeemed however once we escaped city traffic and found the open road from Horseshoe Bay up to Squamish. Once up to highway speed, steering lightened. Found out the true meaning of torque…left it in 4th most times and simply pressed the accelerator.
Along one long uphill stretch we found ourselves behind a couple of slower moving cars. There was a break between them and three more vehicles. Planned to pass the first two and tuck in behind the three before the road curved to the right.
Dropped down to 3rd. Squeezed gas pedal and pulled out.
“Where did those two cars go”?
“Wow”!
Shifted into 4th still on the gas.
Past the second group of three.
Oops…corner coming up fast now.
Pulled back in touched the brakes to set up for the corner, back on the gas to blast around it.
Only took seconds.
Sunny day…ocean on the left…mountains on the right. Perfect!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tim and Chris run in Tours, France
The plan had been to spend the first day or so quietly relaxing in and around the city of Tours, France with my friend Tim who had been there studying for the past year. Did not happen that way.
Started with me getting on the wrong train at Gare d’Austerlitz in Paris for the hour or so trip to Tours. I checked and double checked the schedules and still got on the wrong train! I had a pre-paid ticket from Paris to Tours but got on the train that was non-stop to Bordeaux bypassing Tours entirely…
Of course I did not find that out until after we had left Paris. The conductor who checked my ticket was not amused.
Turned out to be a good guy though. And although he spoke little English and I spoke no French, we devised a plan to get me off the train.
In the town of Poitiers, about an hour south of Tours, I understood from him that the train would slow to a crawl to make it through the station. I had one chance to ‘disembark’: jump!
Don’t try this. But if you do, plan to land running!
My one piece of luggage and I managed to do this without incident and managed to purchase a ticket back to Tours.
Finally made it. 4 hours late. Great friend that he was, Tim met me at the station. The only way to thank him seemed obvious: go out drinking. But not until after he had whipped up a platter of his famous ‘Stove Top Nachos’. Didn’t want to drink on an empty stomach.
Hit three different establishments that night. From a seriously dark ‘club’ playing loud, angry punk to a dance club heavy on disco.
Stumbled back to his funky apartment in the center of the old section of Tours. Decided before we fell asleep to go for a run later that morning to ‘run it off’.
Alcohol clouds judgment.
Got up around 9 am. This was not going to be fun.
We pulled on our running gear. No talking. Head pounding. Legs: never felt them.
We plodded out through the narrow, cobblestone streets and headed toward the Loire River and the trail that led into the country.
The half hour out was hell. Once into the countryside, we found ourselves on a dusty, quintessentially French country road. They do not tie up their dogs…amazing how fast you can run with a hangover.
The return leg back actually was quite pleasant. By then of course we had exorcised the demon alcohol (a couple of quick stops in the bushes). We ran smoothly along the river, actually started to converse. Finally started to enjoy the scenery: the light really is softer in France.
And of course, had to sprint to the finish.
Observations: Never jump off a moving train, never run after a night of drinking. If you do both, don’t think.
Started with me getting on the wrong train at Gare d’Austerlitz in Paris for the hour or so trip to Tours. I checked and double checked the schedules and still got on the wrong train! I had a pre-paid ticket from Paris to Tours but got on the train that was non-stop to Bordeaux bypassing Tours entirely…
Of course I did not find that out until after we had left Paris. The conductor who checked my ticket was not amused.
Turned out to be a good guy though. And although he spoke little English and I spoke no French, we devised a plan to get me off the train.
In the town of Poitiers, about an hour south of Tours, I understood from him that the train would slow to a crawl to make it through the station. I had one chance to ‘disembark’: jump!
Don’t try this. But if you do, plan to land running!
My one piece of luggage and I managed to do this without incident and managed to purchase a ticket back to Tours.
Finally made it. 4 hours late. Great friend that he was, Tim met me at the station. The only way to thank him seemed obvious: go out drinking. But not until after he had whipped up a platter of his famous ‘Stove Top Nachos’. Didn’t want to drink on an empty stomach.
Hit three different establishments that night. From a seriously dark ‘club’ playing loud, angry punk to a dance club heavy on disco.
Stumbled back to his funky apartment in the center of the old section of Tours. Decided before we fell asleep to go for a run later that morning to ‘run it off’.
Alcohol clouds judgment.
Got up around 9 am. This was not going to be fun.
We pulled on our running gear. No talking. Head pounding. Legs: never felt them.
We plodded out through the narrow, cobblestone streets and headed toward the Loire River and the trail that led into the country.
The half hour out was hell. Once into the countryside, we found ourselves on a dusty, quintessentially French country road. They do not tie up their dogs…amazing how fast you can run with a hangover.
The return leg back actually was quite pleasant. By then of course we had exorcised the demon alcohol (a couple of quick stops in the bushes). We ran smoothly along the river, actually started to converse. Finally started to enjoy the scenery: the light really is softer in France.
And of course, had to sprint to the finish.
Observations: Never jump off a moving train, never run after a night of drinking. If you do both, don’t think.
Milford
This experience took place at a high-security facility in Michigan outside of Detroit known as the Milford Proving Ground. It is the vast 4,000-acre, secure compound guarded with the intensity of a military base that General Motors uses to develop and test new models. It is awesome. And a select group of us had been granted access for a very special day of car driving.
Six of us started out with the short-hop flight from Toronto to Windsor. Less hassle than flying into Detroit’s Metro Airport. Picked up suitable vehicle transportation: a Pearl white Cadillac Sedan De Ville secure in the knowledge we were flying the flag of support. Didn’t realize though that Cadillac’s were reserved for only certain staff levels…made quite the impression at the gate to the compound! Security clearance was surprisingly easy…our chariot must have impressed the guards: they immediately directed us to the test track that was to be our home for the day.
Lost of cars on hand in the paddock of the test track. Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile. Ford and Chrysler. Toyota, Nissan and Honda. BMW and other select European manufacturers. Four hours to drive as many of them as we could over a special road course.
Heaven for a car guy. We were all car guys that day.
First the inevitable briefing in the marquee tent. Rules explained: Keep the cars on the paved surface at all times. One lap each time. Strict 50 mile per hour speed limit. Enforced by GM Police with radar half way along the course. Zero tolerance…one infraction and you parked it for the day. Seemed like a buzz kill at the briefing. Changed our opinion once behind the wheel of our first ride: no one had mentioned acceleration…torque from big engines is a wonderful thing! And as the day wore on we realized that the Radar cop was only interested in maintaining the 50 MPH limit at the halfway point of the track…we learned the brake and acceleration points before and after his zone.
Overall impressions: loved the BMW 5 series on hand for the day. Best balanced of all the 40+ cars assembled. Pontiac Grand Prix an excellent second choice and for the difference in $’s, the clear winner. Honda’s and Toyotas drove well but lacked the special ‘something’ to get the heart racing. We had the Corvette for that.
Rear tires were worn to slicks by the end of the day.
The Corvette. L package. Stick shift. Heavy clutch. Limited forward visibility…forget about the rear. Serious cowl shake upon start up. And with the drive shaft running inches from your right side, you could feel this monster itching to be let out to play. Tons of low-rev torque.
Eased it out of the paddock area to the start of the circuit.
Engaged 1st gear and rolled gently onto the gas. Floored it around 20 MPH and held on…“Whoa…this thing is fast”.
Shifted into 2nd at around 3,500 revs and hit 75 MPH. Lifted and braked hard before the speed trap…engine compression and brakes down to 50 MPH. Pushed forward into the seatbelt harness.
Once safely past, sunk the right foot to the floor and shifted into 3rd. Quick glance to check speed: over 90 MPH!
Did not make it to 4th.
Very hard braking and downshift to 2nd to scrub speed before the entrance to the paddock.
Big grin.
To end a near perfect day, we chose a restaurant in a not-so-good part of downtown Detroit to debrief over steaks, scotch and cigars. Long dinner.
We slept the sleep of the contented on the plane back to Toronto.
Six of us started out with the short-hop flight from Toronto to Windsor. Less hassle than flying into Detroit’s Metro Airport. Picked up suitable vehicle transportation: a Pearl white Cadillac Sedan De Ville secure in the knowledge we were flying the flag of support. Didn’t realize though that Cadillac’s were reserved for only certain staff levels…made quite the impression at the gate to the compound! Security clearance was surprisingly easy…our chariot must have impressed the guards: they immediately directed us to the test track that was to be our home for the day.
Lost of cars on hand in the paddock of the test track. Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile. Ford and Chrysler. Toyota, Nissan and Honda. BMW and other select European manufacturers. Four hours to drive as many of them as we could over a special road course.
Heaven for a car guy. We were all car guys that day.
First the inevitable briefing in the marquee tent. Rules explained: Keep the cars on the paved surface at all times. One lap each time. Strict 50 mile per hour speed limit. Enforced by GM Police with radar half way along the course. Zero tolerance…one infraction and you parked it for the day. Seemed like a buzz kill at the briefing. Changed our opinion once behind the wheel of our first ride: no one had mentioned acceleration…torque from big engines is a wonderful thing! And as the day wore on we realized that the Radar cop was only interested in maintaining the 50 MPH limit at the halfway point of the track…we learned the brake and acceleration points before and after his zone.
Overall impressions: loved the BMW 5 series on hand for the day. Best balanced of all the 40+ cars assembled. Pontiac Grand Prix an excellent second choice and for the difference in $’s, the clear winner. Honda’s and Toyotas drove well but lacked the special ‘something’ to get the heart racing. We had the Corvette for that.
Rear tires were worn to slicks by the end of the day.
The Corvette. L package. Stick shift. Heavy clutch. Limited forward visibility…forget about the rear. Serious cowl shake upon start up. And with the drive shaft running inches from your right side, you could feel this monster itching to be let out to play. Tons of low-rev torque.
Eased it out of the paddock area to the start of the circuit.
Engaged 1st gear and rolled gently onto the gas. Floored it around 20 MPH and held on…“Whoa…this thing is fast”.
Shifted into 2nd at around 3,500 revs and hit 75 MPH. Lifted and braked hard before the speed trap…engine compression and brakes down to 50 MPH. Pushed forward into the seatbelt harness.
Once safely past, sunk the right foot to the floor and shifted into 3rd. Quick glance to check speed: over 90 MPH!
Did not make it to 4th.
Very hard braking and downshift to 2nd to scrub speed before the entrance to the paddock.
Big grin.
To end a near perfect day, we chose a restaurant in a not-so-good part of downtown Detroit to debrief over steaks, scotch and cigars. Long dinner.
We slept the sleep of the contented on the plane back to Toronto.
Buzzwords
With thanks to friends at a large advertising agency in Toronto, the following buzzwords were gathered mostly from their large automotive client who used them liberally. Always get a chuckle when I think of the context in which these would have been uttered. If you've heard any new buzzwords, please leave your comments for all to share.
- Repurposed
- Anecdotal
- Between the goal posts
- Bogey
- Top-box
- Synergies
- Bubbling up
- One could say
- This is two-pronged approach
- Rules of engagement
- Level-set
- Under the radar
- 40,000 foot view
- Bringing ideas forward
- Strategizing
- At the end of the day
- Diagonal slice
- If you will
- Noodle
- Dialoguing
- Cross functional
- Bundle up
- Silo's
- Buckets
- Integrated cross functional
- Thin edge of the wedge
- Deep dive
- Right out of the chute
Thursday, December 11, 2008
2005 1st Quarter Business Sayings
2005 was a very good year. Lots of angst in the boardrooms and meeting rooms about growing sales and market share. Didn’t seem that the good times would never end. And they didn’t…not in 2005. Picked up a great deal of mangled sayings that year. Here are the first of them:
- Gut check / Gut instinct
- You are peeing on me and telling me its raining…nice try!
- Flushed out
- Sell them like popcorn
- The secret is in the pudding
- As soon as its announced that the new blonde is coming to school, the old blonde is dead
- We are in the soup and don’t know what’s coming down next
- Don’t know when we are going to be hit with the turnip
- Go back and stroke it
- One foot on the casket
- Curiosity teaser
- Picking the fly S out of the pepper
- I don’t want to mow your lawn
- Prime the pump
- Common sense ain’t that common
- It is but it isn’t
- The proof is in the numbers
- Don’t equip it, strip it
- Exactly right
- Way, way, way
- Too much vanilla ice cream makes you sick
- Anthropomorphize
- Let’s be seagulls
- Put it on the hood
- Scooped out of the chute
- Trying to chase too many rabbits and not catching any
- Consensed
- Let’s not let a few details ruin a good story
- The pig in the snake
- Jump through a brick wall
- Cheeks in the seats
- The challenge is to decide what the challenge is
- The objective is the goal
- We have to find a way to achieve the objective
- If you go and ask and the answer is no, then you have to make a decision
- Coming down the pipe
X Trail vs 9-5
The alternate title for this story could have been, “It keeps going, and going…”.
Our long-in-the tooth Nissan X Trail is still in the family continuing to provide extremely solid and reliable duty. It shares the garage with a Saab 9-5. I swear the X Trail goes to sleep each night with a smug grin on its face.
Simply put, the X Trail just goes about its business without complaint. It drives very smoothly (for a non-car). Has decent acceleration for a 4 banger. And actually handles the twisties fairly well. Black with tan interior. Going on 115,000 kilometres.
It sits up high with a good view down the road. Has great all-round visibility. Above average fuel economy.
Versatility not an issue. The rectangular shape combined with flat fold-down rear seats produces very usable interior volume. It comes in handy for transporting materials from Home Depot (too many occasions to remember), furniture from Ikea (we have more Pax units than student housing), plants and gardening supplies. We have moved houses and apartments. We have set up booths at trade fares. We have even moved into and out of a retail store.
And we have not necessarily been kind to it. We remember to change the oil every 6 months or so. We finally replaced the cracked windshield after a year. We wash it every so often. Clean the carpets…actually we have never done that. But we do shake out the rubber floor mats every so often.
It does eat rear brakes though. We found Sheridan, a fantastic repair shop in Oakville that does great service at reasonable prices. Basically, it drives well, handles everything thrown at it and doesn’t complain with the minimal servicing.
With the addition of winter tires, we have plowed through three winters north of Toronto, where it snows every day from December to April. Changeover cost $60 and completed in 45 minutes.
The Saab…
A tad more high-strung unfortunately. Gun Metal gray with gray leather interior. Now slightly over 85,000 kilometres.
2.3 LitreTurbo engine goes like a bat out of hell. Especially in ‘sport’ mode. Fold down rear seats that lie flat allow versatility not expected in a premium sport sedan. Lovely heated leather seats take the pain out of the cold winter mornings.
Needs TLC on the servicing however. Even though the service intervals are around 24k.
Kept clean to within an inch of its life. Sally, my wife openly laughs at that. Dash painfully clean; carpets spotless; seats ‘fed’ each month to keep supple.
Moved houses and kids apartments a couple of times. Handles skiis and snowboards easily.
Long highway drives to Ottawa and Montreal a real pleasure. The 9-5 gobbles up the highway with ease while drinking Sunoco Premiun at a relatively thrifty rate. Unless in ‘Sport’ mode.
To sum it up: needs lots of love, complains a bit, takes a while to warm up. But rewards with a great driving experience.
And the winner is…X Trail!
Actually the Saab was ahead down the stretch. Winter tire changeover did it in: $180, 2 1/2 hours.
X trail grin keeps getting wider.
Our long-in-the tooth Nissan X Trail is still in the family continuing to provide extremely solid and reliable duty. It shares the garage with a Saab 9-5. I swear the X Trail goes to sleep each night with a smug grin on its face.
Simply put, the X Trail just goes about its business without complaint. It drives very smoothly (for a non-car). Has decent acceleration for a 4 banger. And actually handles the twisties fairly well. Black with tan interior. Going on 115,000 kilometres.
It sits up high with a good view down the road. Has great all-round visibility. Above average fuel economy.
Versatility not an issue. The rectangular shape combined with flat fold-down rear seats produces very usable interior volume. It comes in handy for transporting materials from Home Depot (too many occasions to remember), furniture from Ikea (we have more Pax units than student housing), plants and gardening supplies. We have moved houses and apartments. We have set up booths at trade fares. We have even moved into and out of a retail store.
And we have not necessarily been kind to it. We remember to change the oil every 6 months or so. We finally replaced the cracked windshield after a year. We wash it every so often. Clean the carpets…actually we have never done that. But we do shake out the rubber floor mats every so often.
It does eat rear brakes though. We found Sheridan, a fantastic repair shop in Oakville that does great service at reasonable prices. Basically, it drives well, handles everything thrown at it and doesn’t complain with the minimal servicing.
With the addition of winter tires, we have plowed through three winters north of Toronto, where it snows every day from December to April. Changeover cost $60 and completed in 45 minutes.
The Saab…
A tad more high-strung unfortunately. Gun Metal gray with gray leather interior. Now slightly over 85,000 kilometres.
2.3 LitreTurbo engine goes like a bat out of hell. Especially in ‘sport’ mode. Fold down rear seats that lie flat allow versatility not expected in a premium sport sedan. Lovely heated leather seats take the pain out of the cold winter mornings.
Needs TLC on the servicing however. Even though the service intervals are around 24k.
Kept clean to within an inch of its life. Sally, my wife openly laughs at that. Dash painfully clean; carpets spotless; seats ‘fed’ each month to keep supple.
Moved houses and kids apartments a couple of times. Handles skiis and snowboards easily.
Long highway drives to Ottawa and Montreal a real pleasure. The 9-5 gobbles up the highway with ease while drinking Sunoco Premiun at a relatively thrifty rate. Unless in ‘Sport’ mode.
To sum it up: needs lots of love, complains a bit, takes a while to warm up. But rewards with a great driving experience.
And the winner is…X Trail!
Actually the Saab was ahead down the stretch. Winter tire changeover did it in: $180, 2 1/2 hours.
X trail grin keeps getting wider.
The Unfinished Marathon
I did not complete the race.
I entered my first marathon after experiencing a few years of success running in numerous 10k’s and half marathons. By then I had become a serious runner and had achieved my personal best in a 10 k. Was in great shape.
Did not show enough respect for the distance however.
Toronto Marathon. October. I had been training hard. Long runs to build up endurance combined with speed work on the local high school. Unfortunately I never actually ran the full distance during training. Felt confident that I could do it during the race. This would come back to haunt.
Began well enough. Right pace. Breathing well. Comfortable.
Light rain began shortly after the start as we headed east from Nathan Phillips Square. It stayed until near the end and kept the temperature cool.
Kept up the pace after the slight downhill to Lakeshore where we headed west toward Parkside Drive. In a great pack of runners all chatting and moving well. Wet but not cold.
North on Parkside for the climb to St. Clair. Uphill all the way combined with short, intense inclines. Slowed a bit, but still at a comfortable pace. Attacked on the inclines to keep motivated. Speed work came in handy.
At the right onto St. Clair, facing the long, straight route into East York, realized a couple of things: first, ‘this was a dam long race!’; second, ‘what was that pain in my left knee?’. The folly of never having completed the full race distance in training reared its head.
Increasing pain in the knee as we crossed Yonge Street. Still confident though when I realized that I had hit the halfway point in under 2 hours. Ahead of schedule even with the slowing pace. Finishing in less than 4 hours still seemed possible. Foolish thought.
The transition from confidence to despair happened quickly.
Through leafy Leaside still heading east and closing in on the 30 km mark, the rain combined with the cool temperatures and the increasing pain in left knee to knock me out of the race.
Pace slowed to a walk. Eventually stopped to try and ‘stretch it out’. Didn’t help.
Runners and even walkers passing constantly.
Finally made it to a medical tent. Shivering cold. Wet. In pain. Mentally devastated. In inconsolable despair. Defeated. 13 km from the end of the run.
Waited along with the other unfortunates for the ‘clean up’ bus. The vehicle following the last runners picking up those not able to finish.
Took over an hour and a half to make it back to the finish line. Longest 90-minute ride of my life.
The bus dropped us off about 50 yards from the finish line. Time clock still counting. Well past 5 hours. Not many people around. Found my bag, changed quickly and went home.
Didn’t talk about it for quite some time. Loosing to myself not something I wanted to share.
Stop running competitively for quite some time after that.
Unfinished business…
I entered my first marathon after experiencing a few years of success running in numerous 10k’s and half marathons. By then I had become a serious runner and had achieved my personal best in a 10 k. Was in great shape.
Did not show enough respect for the distance however.
Toronto Marathon. October. I had been training hard. Long runs to build up endurance combined with speed work on the local high school. Unfortunately I never actually ran the full distance during training. Felt confident that I could do it during the race. This would come back to haunt.
Began well enough. Right pace. Breathing well. Comfortable.
Light rain began shortly after the start as we headed east from Nathan Phillips Square. It stayed until near the end and kept the temperature cool.
Kept up the pace after the slight downhill to Lakeshore where we headed west toward Parkside Drive. In a great pack of runners all chatting and moving well. Wet but not cold.
North on Parkside for the climb to St. Clair. Uphill all the way combined with short, intense inclines. Slowed a bit, but still at a comfortable pace. Attacked on the inclines to keep motivated. Speed work came in handy.
At the right onto St. Clair, facing the long, straight route into East York, realized a couple of things: first, ‘this was a dam long race!’; second, ‘what was that pain in my left knee?’. The folly of never having completed the full race distance in training reared its head.
Increasing pain in the knee as we crossed Yonge Street. Still confident though when I realized that I had hit the halfway point in under 2 hours. Ahead of schedule even with the slowing pace. Finishing in less than 4 hours still seemed possible. Foolish thought.
The transition from confidence to despair happened quickly.
Through leafy Leaside still heading east and closing in on the 30 km mark, the rain combined with the cool temperatures and the increasing pain in left knee to knock me out of the race.
Pace slowed to a walk. Eventually stopped to try and ‘stretch it out’. Didn’t help.
Runners and even walkers passing constantly.
Finally made it to a medical tent. Shivering cold. Wet. In pain. Mentally devastated. In inconsolable despair. Defeated. 13 km from the end of the run.
Waited along with the other unfortunates for the ‘clean up’ bus. The vehicle following the last runners picking up those not able to finish.
Took over an hour and a half to make it back to the finish line. Longest 90-minute ride of my life.
The bus dropped us off about 50 yards from the finish line. Time clock still counting. Well past 5 hours. Not many people around. Found my bag, changed quickly and went home.
Didn’t talk about it for quite some time. Loosing to myself not something I wanted to share.
Stop running competitively for quite some time after that.
Unfinished business…
Friday, December 5, 2008
My 1st 10K
How hard can it be to run 10 kilometres? 10,000 metres. On city streets in familiar neighbourhoods. In a crowd of other runners just out for fun.
My mistake was that I was actually going to do this in a competition with my client.
Bad Idea!
He was a serious runner. In top, ‘ripped’ shape. He worked out with weights! He had his Walkman (this was of course well before Ipods).
I assembled for the anticipated start alongside him at the 4 minute / kilometer marker. Seriously naïve optimist. And to make matters worse, I had set my Timex watch to beep at 4-minute intervals. I was sure that after 10 beeps I would be crossing the finish line.
Horn sounded. We were off.
Good pace for the first 3 kilometers. Adrenalin. Lots of people around. Lots of early race excitement. Beeps every 4 minutes more or less coinciding with the kilometer markings.
This was going to be easy. Why hadn’t I done this before?
Looking back, it was easy to see where the plan started to go awry. At the time I was clueless.
Around the first water station, I slowed to grab a cup. Gulped it down and tried to get back up to pace. Breathing a little ragged for a hundred metres or so. Noticed a few runners passing me. Strange.
The next 4 minute signal went off. Hmmm…where’s the kilometer marker? Nowhere in sight. Better pick up the pace. Oops.…legs not responding.
Sweating now. Breathing more shallow and ragged. Slowing down…running in slow motion as more and more runners began to pass me.
5 km mark. Dam. I was never going to finish this stupid race!
Don’t remember kilometer 6 to 8. Do remember the infernal beep from the Timex. Had no idea where I was and at what pace I was running. Knew that my original target time had gone out the window. Prayed that I wouldn’t cross the finish line last. Desperate to do it now in under an hour. (Yes, even in that distressed state, my mind could still do the math).
At 9 kilometres showing 54 minutes on my wrist, I realized I had a chance.
Learned there and then that the mind is the most powerful thing.
Picked up the pace. Ignored the pain in my legs and my chest. Pushed. Made it with 30 seconds to spare.
Never went looking for my client.
My mistake was that I was actually going to do this in a competition with my client.
Bad Idea!
He was a serious runner. In top, ‘ripped’ shape. He worked out with weights! He had his Walkman (this was of course well before Ipods).
I assembled for the anticipated start alongside him at the 4 minute / kilometer marker. Seriously naïve optimist. And to make matters worse, I had set my Timex watch to beep at 4-minute intervals. I was sure that after 10 beeps I would be crossing the finish line.
Horn sounded. We were off.
Good pace for the first 3 kilometers. Adrenalin. Lots of people around. Lots of early race excitement. Beeps every 4 minutes more or less coinciding with the kilometer markings.
This was going to be easy. Why hadn’t I done this before?
Looking back, it was easy to see where the plan started to go awry. At the time I was clueless.
Around the first water station, I slowed to grab a cup. Gulped it down and tried to get back up to pace. Breathing a little ragged for a hundred metres or so. Noticed a few runners passing me. Strange.
The next 4 minute signal went off. Hmmm…where’s the kilometer marker? Nowhere in sight. Better pick up the pace. Oops.…legs not responding.
Sweating now. Breathing more shallow and ragged. Slowing down…running in slow motion as more and more runners began to pass me.
5 km mark. Dam. I was never going to finish this stupid race!
Don’t remember kilometer 6 to 8. Do remember the infernal beep from the Timex. Had no idea where I was and at what pace I was running. Knew that my original target time had gone out the window. Prayed that I wouldn’t cross the finish line last. Desperate to do it now in under an hour. (Yes, even in that distressed state, my mind could still do the math).
At 9 kilometres showing 54 minutes on my wrist, I realized I had a chance.
Learned there and then that the mind is the most powerful thing.
Picked up the pace. Ignored the pain in my legs and my chest. Pushed. Made it with 30 seconds to spare.
Never went looking for my client.
Isuzu Imark
They were actually a player in the automotive industry once. And although they were known for their trucks (Trooper’s and Rodeo’s…more about those in a later story), at one time in the late 1980’s they were in the car business.
This is about the 3-door sports coupe with the badge of honour: “Handling by Lotus”. Yes, somehow, Isuzu’s management had convinced Lotus to massage the suspension and other handling bits to produce a well-balanced pocket rocket. Best kept secret in the industry.
The experience that still brings back goose bumps occurred at the long gone racetrack east of Vancouver. The client-sponsored exclusive event for the new Dealer network was set up to showcase the performance of the vehicles. Classroom sessions combined with track time.
The highlight of this particular event involved being driven around the track by real racing drivers. They took us out individually and demonstrated the full performance envelope of each vehicle. The pinnacle point of the day was the ride at near race speeds in the Lotus-massaged Isuzu Imark.
Three laps. Warm up, hot lap and cool down. Not sure if that was for the passenger or the car.
My turn. Race helmet on. 3-point seatbelt tightly cinched. Really tight. Final instructions: brace feet firmly in foot well; hold on. Only took until the first corner of the warm up lap for those instructions to kick in.
Out of the pit lane, accelerating up to the first corner and sharply across the apex down the hill and we were off.
The warm up lap went quickly. Too quickly. The driver handled the car at 12 –10ths of my ability. And this was the warm-up lap!
Remember coming back up the pit straight past the start/finish line and my driver mentioning casually that we were now going to accelerate up to speed. First corner coming up quickly now. Gentle falling away right-hander. Brake. Brake! BRAKE!! Car tossed sharply across the apex, right wheels riding the curb. Don’t remember if he touched the brakes.
Accelerating hard again down hill toward corner two. Sharp right-hander. Driver side wheels now riding the curb setting up for the corner. Still accelerating. Driver actually talking calmly explaining what he was doing. Don’t remember what he said. Screaming in my mind for him to use the brakes. Instead, shifted down through two gears. With a quick stab at the brakes in between. To ‘neutralize’ the balance he said. To get my heart racing I wanted to yell back!
Quick right turn of the steering wheel and we were drifting sideways. Right wheels aggressively over the curbs now. Me holding on with both hands. Both feet braced. Bum off the seat. Screaming for delight in my head.
Don’t remember much after that. Learned that you can sweat sitting still.
Cooldown lap a serious anti-climax.
What a rush!
This is about the 3-door sports coupe with the badge of honour: “Handling by Lotus”. Yes, somehow, Isuzu’s management had convinced Lotus to massage the suspension and other handling bits to produce a well-balanced pocket rocket. Best kept secret in the industry.
The experience that still brings back goose bumps occurred at the long gone racetrack east of Vancouver. The client-sponsored exclusive event for the new Dealer network was set up to showcase the performance of the vehicles. Classroom sessions combined with track time.
The highlight of this particular event involved being driven around the track by real racing drivers. They took us out individually and demonstrated the full performance envelope of each vehicle. The pinnacle point of the day was the ride at near race speeds in the Lotus-massaged Isuzu Imark.
Three laps. Warm up, hot lap and cool down. Not sure if that was for the passenger or the car.
My turn. Race helmet on. 3-point seatbelt tightly cinched. Really tight. Final instructions: brace feet firmly in foot well; hold on. Only took until the first corner of the warm up lap for those instructions to kick in.
Out of the pit lane, accelerating up to the first corner and sharply across the apex down the hill and we were off.
The warm up lap went quickly. Too quickly. The driver handled the car at 12 –10ths of my ability. And this was the warm-up lap!
Remember coming back up the pit straight past the start/finish line and my driver mentioning casually that we were now going to accelerate up to speed. First corner coming up quickly now. Gentle falling away right-hander. Brake. Brake! BRAKE!! Car tossed sharply across the apex, right wheels riding the curb. Don’t remember if he touched the brakes.
Accelerating hard again down hill toward corner two. Sharp right-hander. Driver side wheels now riding the curb setting up for the corner. Still accelerating. Driver actually talking calmly explaining what he was doing. Don’t remember what he said. Screaming in my mind for him to use the brakes. Instead, shifted down through two gears. With a quick stab at the brakes in between. To ‘neutralize’ the balance he said. To get my heart racing I wanted to yell back!
Quick right turn of the steering wheel and we were drifting sideways. Right wheels aggressively over the curbs now. Me holding on with both hands. Both feet braced. Bum off the seat. Screaming for delight in my head.
Don’t remember much after that. Learned that you can sweat sitting still.
Cooldown lap a serious anti-climax.
What a rush!
Things You Wish You Could Say At Work…
Often I get caught not being able to think of a witty rebutal. No longer! Below are a number of sayings you can confidently select from depending on the situation:
- I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of S.
- I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce.
- How about never? Is never good for you?
- I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public
- I’m really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
- I’ll try being nicer if you’ll try being smarter
- I’m out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
- I don’t work here. I’m a consultant
- It sounds like English, but I can’t understand a damn word you’re saying.
- Ahhh…I see the screw-up fairy has visited you again.
- I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
- You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
- I have plenty of talent and vision. I just don’t give a damn.
- I’m already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
- I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.
- Thank you. We’re all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
- The fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you’re an artist.
- Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.
- What am I? Flypaper for freaks?
- I’m not being rude. You’re just insignificant.
- It’s a thankless job, but I’ve got a lot of Karma to burn off.
- Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
- And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be?
- Do I look like a people person?
- This isn’t an office. It’s Hell with fluorescent lighting
- I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.
- Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
- If I throw a stick, will you leave?
- Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
- Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
- I’m trying to imagine you with a personality.
- A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.
- Can I trade this job for what’s behind door #1?
- Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
- Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
- Chaos, panic, and disorder – my work here is done.
- How do I set a laser printer to stun?
- I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted a salary.
- Oh I get it…like humour…but different.
Monday, December 1, 2008
2004, 141 - 158
· What’s the net net
· Circle back
· the ‘Hope and Pray’ Strategy
· Sit Anal (Situation Analysis)
· Presentation without demonstration is just conversation
· Food for thought
· Partner with the Partners
· When the puppy drops
· Take the haircut
· Brie and Chablis
· I am going to take your idea and put it in my parking lot
· Guessing intuitively
· Lets do some numbers
· Challenge
· Let’s capture that
· Circle back
· the ‘Hope and Pray’ Strategy
· Sit Anal (Situation Analysis)
· Presentation without demonstration is just conversation
· Food for thought
· Partner with the Partners
· When the puppy drops
· Take the haircut
· Brie and Chablis
· I am going to take your idea and put it in my parking lot
· Guessing intuitively
· Lets do some numbers
· Challenge
· Let’s capture that
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Another Example of Social Marketing: "Do It Now"
Consumer confidence at an all time low. The financial markets floundering. House prices headed the wrong way.
Fear is in the air and it does not smell good.
The paralysis of the individual is the belief that one small effort will have no major impact. I beg to differ.
And I did something small today. Via facebook. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=37799026266
Over the next few weeks I will provide updates on how this 'experiment' is progressing.
Fear is in the air and it does not smell good.
The paralysis of the individual is the belief that one small effort will have no major impact. I beg to differ.
And I did something small today. Via facebook. Check it out: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=37799026266
Over the next few weeks I will provide updates on how this 'experiment' is progressing.
Social Marketing: Daily Challenge
Marketing is about connecting. What you do after you have established the relationship forms the basis of your success. Here is an organization that has started with a simple idea: a daily challenge to do something good. I have met them. They represent a sincere effort in applying their talents to growing this site. Check them out to see how simple it is to start with a good idea and grow from there: http://www.dailychallenge.org/blog/
How it started
I actually hated running. Probably down deep, still do. Obsessed now after over 25 years. But in my mid-20’s weighing in at 225 lbs with a 42” waist and with health issues beginning to develop, I had to do something.
So I pulled out a pair of beat up sneakers. Found an old pair of sweat pants…wasn’t hard, that was my usual at-home look. Paired that with a hooded sweater over multiple t-shirts. Wasn’t cold, but with the hood up I didn’t want to be recognized as I plodded through the neighbourhood. At night.
With all the naïve optimism I could muster, I kissed the kids goodnight and headed out for my very first ‘long’ run.
Started well enough down the driveway. And thankfully the route I chose for that first run was downhill. This was not going to be so bad after all.
Until I ran out of breath. About 100 yards into my ‘long run’. Had to stop. Bent over. Gasping for breath. Dam!
Walked for a while. Breathing back to normal. Started running again. Shuffling actually. I was not going to be beaten.
Didn’t make it another 100 yards. Lungs about to explode out of my chest. Stopped again. Desperately wanted to sit down this time.
“This is a DUMB idea”.
Only kept going because if I quit then and returned home, it was going to be tough to explain this 5 minute ‘long run’.
With a combination of shuffling and walking I actually made it around my planned circle route back to the house. Sprinted…OK, shuffled faster…up the hill back to the house. Yes the one that I had so confidently headed down on the start of my first run.
Went straight to the basement to change out of the completely soaked sweats. In pain. Second day pain much worse. Didn’t go out again for a week.
Stuck with it though. Stop and start, days on, weeks off. Finally stuck when I went clothes shopping and realized I had dropped to a 38” waist. It was working!
After that it was 5 days on, 2 off.
And then the need to compete hit…
So I pulled out a pair of beat up sneakers. Found an old pair of sweat pants…wasn’t hard, that was my usual at-home look. Paired that with a hooded sweater over multiple t-shirts. Wasn’t cold, but with the hood up I didn’t want to be recognized as I plodded through the neighbourhood. At night.
With all the naïve optimism I could muster, I kissed the kids goodnight and headed out for my very first ‘long’ run.
Started well enough down the driveway. And thankfully the route I chose for that first run was downhill. This was not going to be so bad after all.
Until I ran out of breath. About 100 yards into my ‘long run’. Had to stop. Bent over. Gasping for breath. Dam!
Walked for a while. Breathing back to normal. Started running again. Shuffling actually. I was not going to be beaten.
Didn’t make it another 100 yards. Lungs about to explode out of my chest. Stopped again. Desperately wanted to sit down this time.
“This is a DUMB idea”.
Only kept going because if I quit then and returned home, it was going to be tough to explain this 5 minute ‘long run’.
With a combination of shuffling and walking I actually made it around my planned circle route back to the house. Sprinted…OK, shuffled faster…up the hill back to the house. Yes the one that I had so confidently headed down on the start of my first run.
Went straight to the basement to change out of the completely soaked sweats. In pain. Second day pain much worse. Didn’t go out again for a week.
Stuck with it though. Stop and start, days on, weeks off. Finally stuck when I went clothes shopping and realized I had dropped to a 38” waist. It was working!
After that it was 5 days on, 2 off.
And then the need to compete hit…
Running to stay alive
Not actually the same as Forest Gump running around the continent. I run in smaller circles.
Began running in my late 20’s. Started after I saw the scales hit 225 lbs.
Dam, I was fat!
42” waist on a 5’ 10” frame. Yuck. Did not like the self-image one bit. Knew I had to do something to ‘fix’ this. Decided on running.
That’s the quick background. I plan to share my running stories on this blog. Runs in cities, towns and country trails across the US and Canada and around the world. 10k’s: personal best achieved at age 32. My marathon: never actually finished it. Ultimately Triathlons: the best experience.
Lost the weight. Kept it off. Significantly slowed the onset of health issues.
Perhaps most importantly, learned more about myself, and how to cope with the challenges in life. Got me through the tough times.
I hope you enjoy them and share back.
Began running in my late 20’s. Started after I saw the scales hit 225 lbs.
Dam, I was fat!
42” waist on a 5’ 10” frame. Yuck. Did not like the self-image one bit. Knew I had to do something to ‘fix’ this. Decided on running.
That’s the quick background. I plan to share my running stories on this blog. Runs in cities, towns and country trails across the US and Canada and around the world. 10k’s: personal best achieved at age 32. My marathon: never actually finished it. Ultimately Triathlons: the best experience.
Lost the weight. Kept it off. Significantly slowed the onset of health issues.
Perhaps most importantly, learned more about myself, and how to cope with the challenges in life. Got me through the tough times.
I hope you enjoy them and share back.
The Gremlin
Can’t remember what year it was. Or the colour. Looking back, it doesn’t matter. It belonged to a good friend and it gave us freedom.
It was not stock!
First the exterior. Beginning at the rear. A lifter kit plus heavy-duty shocks raised the rear about 6 inches. Large oversize tires on aluminum rims were installed to give it that ‘jacked up’ look that was the rage at that time. At the front, smaller tires on similar rims replaced the stock tire/wheel combination.
The hood. Gigantic hole cut through the hood to allow for a ‘shaker scoop’. Big scoop. Blocked some forward visibility.
Side pipes. I know, I know. We disconnected the standard exhaust system from the manifold back. Installed headers and a ‘Y’ splitter to divert the exhaust to humongous side pipes below each door. Careful exiting. We never could get them sealed properly so the noise was tremendous.
The interior. Fur on the dash! It was the rage at that time. Seat covers in a similar shaggy material over the split bench seat. New shifter for the 3-speed manual transmission. No fuzzy dice…that would have been overkill.
Sound system. New aftermarket AM/FM cassette player jimmied into the dash in the hole where the factory system had been. Big speakers mounted in the rear.
The driving experience. Once inside and buckled in…and after you got over the serious downward slant of the seating position combined with the reduced forward visibility…driving the thing was actually relatively pleasant.
In a straight line.
With virtually no weight over the rear combined with the big tires, lighting them up from a stop was easy. Once hooked up, second gear came up quickly. No tach so engine sound the only guide to shifting. But you only had to do it twice.
It was not good in the twisties.
Tail happy. Never a problem to get it to step out around city streets at legal speeds. Basically you just needed to head into a corner, brake early, shift down and trounce on the gas pedal half way through the corner. The combination of tire and engine noise through a relatively easy-to-control slide was worth the price of admission.
We were young and foolish once…
It was not stock!
First the exterior. Beginning at the rear. A lifter kit plus heavy-duty shocks raised the rear about 6 inches. Large oversize tires on aluminum rims were installed to give it that ‘jacked up’ look that was the rage at that time. At the front, smaller tires on similar rims replaced the stock tire/wheel combination.
The hood. Gigantic hole cut through the hood to allow for a ‘shaker scoop’. Big scoop. Blocked some forward visibility.
Side pipes. I know, I know. We disconnected the standard exhaust system from the manifold back. Installed headers and a ‘Y’ splitter to divert the exhaust to humongous side pipes below each door. Careful exiting. We never could get them sealed properly so the noise was tremendous.
The interior. Fur on the dash! It was the rage at that time. Seat covers in a similar shaggy material over the split bench seat. New shifter for the 3-speed manual transmission. No fuzzy dice…that would have been overkill.
Sound system. New aftermarket AM/FM cassette player jimmied into the dash in the hole where the factory system had been. Big speakers mounted in the rear.
The driving experience. Once inside and buckled in…and after you got over the serious downward slant of the seating position combined with the reduced forward visibility…driving the thing was actually relatively pleasant.
In a straight line.
With virtually no weight over the rear combined with the big tires, lighting them up from a stop was easy. Once hooked up, second gear came up quickly. No tach so engine sound the only guide to shifting. But you only had to do it twice.
It was not good in the twisties.
Tail happy. Never a problem to get it to step out around city streets at legal speeds. Basically you just needed to head into a corner, brake early, shift down and trounce on the gas pedal half way through the corner. The combination of tire and engine noise through a relatively easy-to-control slide was worth the price of admission.
We were young and foolish once…
'All New' Mangled Sayings
With thanks to the person who sent these to me, below are some excellent sayings that you can add to your vocabulary immediately. Have fun!
BLAMESTORMING.
Sitting round in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
SEAGULL MANAGER.
A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
SALMON DAY.
The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.
CUBE FARM.
An office filled with cubicles.
PRAIRIE DOGGING.
When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.
SITCOMs.
Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a "home business".
SINBAD.
Single income, no boyfriend and desperate.
PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE.
The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get itto work again.
ADMINISPHERE.
The rarefied organisational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the "adminisphere" are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve. This is often affiliated with the dreaded "administrivia" - needless paperwork and processes.
404.
Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found" meaning that the requested document could not be located.
BLAMESTORMING.
Sitting round in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
SEAGULL MANAGER.
A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.
SALMON DAY.
The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die.
CUBE FARM.
An office filled with cubicles.
PRAIRIE DOGGING.
When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.
SITCOMs.
Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids or start a "home business".
SINBAD.
Single income, no boyfriend and desperate.
PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE.
The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get itto work again.
ADMINISPHERE.
The rarefied organisational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the "adminisphere" are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve. This is often affiliated with the dreaded "administrivia" - needless paperwork and processes.
404.
Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found" meaning that the requested document could not be located.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
69 Valiant
I had made it through three years of post secondary in Kitchener without a car. But now with the opportunity to grab a great job in Guelph, I needed a car. But with two years of school to go, buying it and affording the ongoing expenses was going to be a challenge.
First, I established my budget: $500. Cash.
Second, find a car that at that price that wouldn’t embarrass me. Although I was prepared to sacrifice that based on my low budget.
Third, find a reliable car. Failing that, one that I could keep on the road as cheaply as possible.
The search began in earnest. Visited used car lots. Looked at cars that dripped fluids. Drove ones that pulled to the left. And to the right. Looked under hoods. Inside trunks and doorframes. Under carpets.
Saw a lot of clunkers.
After an exhaustive search…actually about 3 weeks…finally found it. A 1969 Valiant. Cream. Slant 6. Bench seats. AM Radio. Clean. No visible rust. Nothing dripping. Owner claimed it had been serviced regularly and only driven by his wife to the grocery store. Believed him although the mileage was suspect.
Drove it around the block once and deemed it to be in ‘perfect condition’. Asked $750 certified. Got it for $500 without the safety. Cash. No receipt. Drove it home that night. Oh, yes, I completed this transaction under cover of night!
But I was thrilled. My first car. I had stayed within budget and had found a car that was not too embarrassing to be seen in. Reliability was promised but yet to-be-determined.
The driving experience: once up to highway speed, the ride was actually relatively smooth and it generally went in the direction it was pointed. Rear leaf springs and non-power, non rack-and-pinion steering will do that.
Reliability: after a couple of weeks, found out that a couple of cans of 10W30 once a month kept the engine alive. It didn’t leak; it burned oil.
That car lasted over two years driving back and forth to Toronto, Guelph of course, and all parts of Southern Ontario. Survived a full three sixty at midnight in January on Highway 7 on my way to Guelph.
When its time was finally up, after a seized cylinder killed the engine, I managed to sell it for $125 cash.
Loved that car.
First, I established my budget: $500. Cash.
Second, find a car that at that price that wouldn’t embarrass me. Although I was prepared to sacrifice that based on my low budget.
Third, find a reliable car. Failing that, one that I could keep on the road as cheaply as possible.
The search began in earnest. Visited used car lots. Looked at cars that dripped fluids. Drove ones that pulled to the left. And to the right. Looked under hoods. Inside trunks and doorframes. Under carpets.
Saw a lot of clunkers.
After an exhaustive search…actually about 3 weeks…finally found it. A 1969 Valiant. Cream. Slant 6. Bench seats. AM Radio. Clean. No visible rust. Nothing dripping. Owner claimed it had been serviced regularly and only driven by his wife to the grocery store. Believed him although the mileage was suspect.
Drove it around the block once and deemed it to be in ‘perfect condition’. Asked $750 certified. Got it for $500 without the safety. Cash. No receipt. Drove it home that night. Oh, yes, I completed this transaction under cover of night!
But I was thrilled. My first car. I had stayed within budget and had found a car that was not too embarrassing to be seen in. Reliability was promised but yet to-be-determined.
The driving experience: once up to highway speed, the ride was actually relatively smooth and it generally went in the direction it was pointed. Rear leaf springs and non-power, non rack-and-pinion steering will do that.
Reliability: after a couple of weeks, found out that a couple of cans of 10W30 once a month kept the engine alive. It didn’t leak; it burned oil.
That car lasted over two years driving back and forth to Toronto, Guelph of course, and all parts of Southern Ontario. Survived a full three sixty at midnight in January on Highway 7 on my way to Guelph.
When its time was finally up, after a seized cylinder killed the engine, I managed to sell it for $125 cash.
Loved that car.
Chapter 20: “Expand the bullseye”
The antithesis of focusing on hitting the target is summed up in this. Whiff of desperation in the air. “We sell to a broad market” is another way to couch this conversation. Run for the exit when you hear this uttered. It is not possible to be all things to all people. Both your staff and customers must know what you stand for.
Chapter 19: “If you are drowning in four feet of water and come up two feet, you are still drowning”
If it is possible to actually enjoy the humour that is often inadvertently present in a business meeting, then this line probably sums it up. In fact, my wife often reminds me to think about the stock market gyrations when the market has been down for some time and the media reports, “stock market gained 100 points today”. Lost in that story is that the gain remains significantly below the overall market loss. And what everyone really wants to know is when is my portfolio going to start gaining in value once again?; when am I going to get to retire? So unless you have the ability to breath under water, the best solution is to hold your breath.
Chapter 18: “The Puzzle Palace”
This is the place you go to have all your questions answered. It is a house of worship. It is a mindset. It is simply it.
As you may have guessed, this is the response to being overwhelmed by facts and figures; by charts and graphs. Meeting after meeting the latest interpretation of the endless reams or research and data is trotted out to explain the … continued sales decline and market share loss. Selling less, but with more information, market segmentation, integrated tactics and overall analysis. Whew! “Now explain for me again how any of this will actually reverse the sales decline?”
As you may have guessed, this is the response to being overwhelmed by facts and figures; by charts and graphs. Meeting after meeting the latest interpretation of the endless reams or research and data is trotted out to explain the … continued sales decline and market share loss. Selling less, but with more information, market segmentation, integrated tactics and overall analysis. Whew! “Now explain for me again how any of this will actually reverse the sales decline?”
Friday, November 14, 2008
Chapter 17: “Now we are getting into theory”
The real silver bullet has been found! Now, if only I had found out the information that I really needed before the sales curve had fallen off the chart. And I really liked that job: lots of meetings to fill the day. No actual work: “Sorry I missed your call…I am in meetings all day today…but leave a message and I will get back to you before the end of the day”. What day??? Thankfully there is Voice mail. Old school I know, but you can say you ‘spoke to the person” and not have lied too much.
The theory of the theory is that you never have to actually state what the theory actually is. The theory is the theory. It is not real. It is an opinion. It cannot be proven. It is often wrong. No right-minded person would actually believe that “that” theory actually made any sense. In fact, the person who uttered the theory must have lived in “the ivory tower” for much too long. Well, that’s the theory anyway.
The theory of the theory is that you never have to actually state what the theory actually is. The theory is the theory. It is not real. It is an opinion. It cannot be proven. It is often wrong. No right-minded person would actually believe that “that” theory actually made any sense. In fact, the person who uttered the theory must have lived in “the ivory tower” for much too long. Well, that’s the theory anyway.
Chapter 15: “Process check”
If I see one more presentation with a flowchart that attempts to tell me that all I have to do to succeed in this world is check on the process of my work, I am going to throw up. In my world the best check that the process that you are using is actually working is results: if it works, keep doing it. Now THAT is a process check!
Chapter 16 “I need the information to figure out what I need”
Ah, the silver bullet. Let’s see how this works. I need something. So lets get some information. Then, once I have the information, I won’t actually have the answer. What I will have are more questions that will of course need more information. Which will need us to do more research. That will require more analysis. And of course, more charts and graphs. Then we will have to have more meetings to discuss the results of the findings and the implications of the information. Which will lead us to making decisions that we will make as a team because as we all know, we need to reach a consensus…ahhh…where was I?
65 Mini
Mom called it her Mini Minor. Red with a black roof. Right hand drive (brought from England). Stick shift of course in the classic ‘H’ pattern. Sliding front windows. 13” wheels. Can’t remember if it had a radio, but I do remember the large round dial in the center of the dash. Didn’t have headrests and don’t ask about seatbelts. Air conditioning? Slide the windows open.
This was Mom’s car. She liked small cars and loved tossing it around the curves. Felt like a go cart even though power was ‘well under’ 90 hp.
My job on the weekend was to wash and clean the Mini. Something that I eagerly looked forward to each Saturday morning.
At the time we had a single car driveway on a steep incline with a wrought iron gate at the bottom of the driveway. The Mini lived under the car port beside the house. Dad parked his car immediately behind when he arrived home.
This particular Saturday morning Dad had to go out for the morning so he backed the Mini down the driveway for me to do my chores. As usual, he left it in gear (reverse) and engaged the parking brake. And of course his final instructions to get Mom to drive it back up the driveway once I had finished. The unspoken was that I was NOT to drive it.
Bright sunny morning. Dad away. Mom busy. Chores complete. Time for my first drive. Not so good at listening to advice at that age. After all, I had ridden shotgun long enough to know that you had to engage the clutch to shift gears.
Did I mention that it was a steep driveway? With a closed iron gate at the bottom?
I slipped behind the wheel. Confidently grasped the wheel with my right hand. Engaged the clutch. Released the handbrake. Surprise, surprise…the Mini started rolling down the driveway. And with me being all of 10 years old at the time, not having a clue about how to stop it.
The resulting damage to the car and the iron gate was relatively minor. The damage to my ego much larger. The punishment was grounding for the balance of the weekend, but I swear I saw a small smile on Dad’s face.
Never did get the ignition started for my first drive. And Dad never repaired the damage to either the car or the gate.
This was Mom’s car. She liked small cars and loved tossing it around the curves. Felt like a go cart even though power was ‘well under’ 90 hp.
My job on the weekend was to wash and clean the Mini. Something that I eagerly looked forward to each Saturday morning.
At the time we had a single car driveway on a steep incline with a wrought iron gate at the bottom of the driveway. The Mini lived under the car port beside the house. Dad parked his car immediately behind when he arrived home.
This particular Saturday morning Dad had to go out for the morning so he backed the Mini down the driveway for me to do my chores. As usual, he left it in gear (reverse) and engaged the parking brake. And of course his final instructions to get Mom to drive it back up the driveway once I had finished. The unspoken was that I was NOT to drive it.
Bright sunny morning. Dad away. Mom busy. Chores complete. Time for my first drive. Not so good at listening to advice at that age. After all, I had ridden shotgun long enough to know that you had to engage the clutch to shift gears.
Did I mention that it was a steep driveway? With a closed iron gate at the bottom?
I slipped behind the wheel. Confidently grasped the wheel with my right hand. Engaged the clutch. Released the handbrake. Surprise, surprise…the Mini started rolling down the driveway. And with me being all of 10 years old at the time, not having a clue about how to stop it.
The resulting damage to the car and the iron gate was relatively minor. The damage to my ego much larger. The punishment was grounding for the balance of the weekend, but I swear I saw a small smile on Dad’s face.
Never did get the ignition started for my first drive. And Dad never repaired the damage to either the car or the gate.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I have died and gone to Heaven
It never ceases to amaze me how deeply I am immersed into car culture. The excitement car business can be rekindled with just one simple experience. Mine happened on February 14, 2008 when I attended the VIP night at the Toronto auto show.
After wandering rather aimlessly for about an hour, sampling the hors d’oeuvres tables washed down with a couple (OK, more than 3) cocktails (Vodka tonics, lemon) chatting up a number of old friends, I found myself in front of the Ferarri stand. With low expectations. Although the entry was open, it was clear that unless you were a VVIP (sports star, media celebrity, very rich guy), the closest you could get was a safe 10 feet from the 430 Scuderia.
Some background. From my first words at age three (“Opel Kadet”…my dad was driving a very cool 2 door coupe from Germany) I moved very quickly to master the word, “Ferrari”. I collect models, I have built models, and I follow the ups and downs of the Ferrari team in Formula One. I enjoyed the driving of Gilles Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and even Felipe Massa. I have enjoyed the watching various 430 models race at Mosport. However, I have never been closer to an actual car than 10 feet. Tonight however was to be different. (maybe it was the suit…good advice from my wife).
Man behind the rail says to me, “Want to get closer?” Didn’t have to ask twice. I had just met Saint Peter and he said I had been a good boy.
Peter (not his real name of course) turned out to be the Dealer principal from a dealership in Alberta. He was a Ferrari fanatic. We talked about the copious amount of carbon fiber in the car and the serious de-contenting that helped make it faster. We talked about the speed of the shift…seriously fast! We talked about how Ferrari was more concerned about the security of this car than the Schumacher F1 that was at his dealership in Alberta. We talked and talked and it was clear under the watchful eye of the other Ferrari officials that I could not actually touch the car.
And then the magic. In a low conspiratorial voice he very casually mentioned that if I was very, very careful, I could sit in it.
Let that sink in a minute. Only 5 destined for Canada. More expensive than my house. 2 feet away. And I was going to get to sit in it. I was going to be the guy who got behind the velvet rope.
The actual experience is nearly impossible to describe. And no less vivid some months later. This must be what it feels like to be in a fighter jet. Purely functional. Not an ounce of frivolity or waste anywhere. Everything exactly where you would expect it to be. For a car with no extras, the seat fit perfectly, the steering wheel fell to hand, the instrument panel directly in the line of sight. Beyond comfortable. I mean PERFECT!
And carbon fiber absolutely everywhere: door panels, seat, gear paddles, console, and engine bay.
I sat there for what must only have been a couple of minutes but what felt like a lifetime. Maybe the cockpit of the F1 car would have been more perfect but I’ll have to read about it.
Getting out was actually easier than I expected. Found the door latch first time exactly where you would expect it to be and made a relatively graceful exit. With a grin that will last a lifetime.
Saint Peter never told me his name. He didn’t have to. He new that he had just let me into heaven.
After wandering rather aimlessly for about an hour, sampling the hors d’oeuvres tables washed down with a couple (OK, more than 3) cocktails (Vodka tonics, lemon) chatting up a number of old friends, I found myself in front of the Ferarri stand. With low expectations. Although the entry was open, it was clear that unless you were a VVIP (sports star, media celebrity, very rich guy), the closest you could get was a safe 10 feet from the 430 Scuderia.
Some background. From my first words at age three (“Opel Kadet”…my dad was driving a very cool 2 door coupe from Germany) I moved very quickly to master the word, “Ferrari”. I collect models, I have built models, and I follow the ups and downs of the Ferrari team in Formula One. I enjoyed the driving of Gilles Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and even Felipe Massa. I have enjoyed the watching various 430 models race at Mosport. However, I have never been closer to an actual car than 10 feet. Tonight however was to be different. (maybe it was the suit…good advice from my wife).
Man behind the rail says to me, “Want to get closer?” Didn’t have to ask twice. I had just met Saint Peter and he said I had been a good boy.
Peter (not his real name of course) turned out to be the Dealer principal from a dealership in Alberta. He was a Ferrari fanatic. We talked about the copious amount of carbon fiber in the car and the serious de-contenting that helped make it faster. We talked about the speed of the shift…seriously fast! We talked about how Ferrari was more concerned about the security of this car than the Schumacher F1 that was at his dealership in Alberta. We talked and talked and it was clear under the watchful eye of the other Ferrari officials that I could not actually touch the car.
And then the magic. In a low conspiratorial voice he very casually mentioned that if I was very, very careful, I could sit in it.
Let that sink in a minute. Only 5 destined for Canada. More expensive than my house. 2 feet away. And I was going to get to sit in it. I was going to be the guy who got behind the velvet rope.
The actual experience is nearly impossible to describe. And no less vivid some months later. This must be what it feels like to be in a fighter jet. Purely functional. Not an ounce of frivolity or waste anywhere. Everything exactly where you would expect it to be. For a car with no extras, the seat fit perfectly, the steering wheel fell to hand, the instrument panel directly in the line of sight. Beyond comfortable. I mean PERFECT!
And carbon fiber absolutely everywhere: door panels, seat, gear paddles, console, and engine bay.
I sat there for what must only have been a couple of minutes but what felt like a lifetime. Maybe the cockpit of the F1 car would have been more perfect but I’ll have to read about it.
Getting out was actually easier than I expected. Found the door latch first time exactly where you would expect it to be and made a relatively graceful exit. With a grin that will last a lifetime.
Saint Peter never told me his name. He didn’t have to. He new that he had just let me into heaven.
How it begins
Cars. Sports cars. Fast cars. New cars. I have a deep fascination with cars and the automotive industry. Always have. From early days crawling through the service bays at my Dad’s service station repairing tires and getting thoroughly covered in grease to more recent experiences in owning, driving and talking endlessly about cars.
My particular preference is toward small, efficient yet powerful cars that handle really well both at high speed and through the twisty stuff. I prefer the form follows function philosophy. And from the stories to follow, you will note that I am not afraid to try some oddball stuff.
I have started this blog to share my stories. Cars that I have driven. My impressions in cars that I have driven and been a passenger in. Cars I wished I had driven. Road stories. There will be some trucks, but mostly it will be about cars.
I hope you will comment with your own stories and forward on to like-minded individuals. Should make for interesting reading. Hopefully it stirs up discussion.
My particular preference is toward small, efficient yet powerful cars that handle really well both at high speed and through the twisty stuff. I prefer the form follows function philosophy. And from the stories to follow, you will note that I am not afraid to try some oddball stuff.
I have started this blog to share my stories. Cars that I have driven. My impressions in cars that I have driven and been a passenger in. Cars I wished I had driven. Road stories. There will be some trucks, but mostly it will be about cars.
I hope you will comment with your own stories and forward on to like-minded individuals. Should make for interesting reading. Hopefully it stirs up discussion.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Chapter 14: “Selling less hasn’t worked…lets try selling more
One of the greatest mysteries of the current business age is the theory that you can cut, cut, cut (expenses and people) to grow your business. Now, I do understand the concept of pruning, but it seems to me that most organizations cut the roots, not the branches. I have actually heard of organizations that cut the human resource department; out-source it because it is non-core. Guess the “people” are not that important.
What if they actually tried selling stuff. Maybe even tried the unthinkable: actually built a better product. Something that was better than the competition but priced lower. Oh wait, that would be the pioneer… :)
What if they actually tried selling stuff. Maybe even tried the unthinkable: actually built a better product. Something that was better than the competition but priced lower. Oh wait, that would be the pioneer… :)
Chapter 13: “Thinking through some thoughts”
Ever sat through a meeting when you wished there was a universal volume control that you could use to turn down the volume on the person dominating the room? You would love to suggest that she keep her thoughts to herrself but then that would show that you were not a team player. And you just buy that fancy new car didn’t you. By putting the downpayment on your credit card. With a car allowance that doesn’t cover the payments. And with quite the spike in the insurance payments. Just wait for the first service appointment with the service advisor in the suit who directs your car to the technicians dressed in their spotless white coats. But then, the 30 seconds of fame at the traffic light is worth it isn’t it. Guess you will just have to put up with evesdropping on the thinking. Better turn that volume up again.
Chapter 12 “Put that one on the list of things we do to screw things up”
The unfortunate thing of course is that despite all the writing to the contrary, all the PR flack that is uttered, no organization is perfect. Horrors! In fact if there is one thing I did learn in my years in advertising is that most organizations institutionalize imperfection. How many of you have observed ‘screw up clients’ who ‘couldn’t market their way out of a paper bag if you gave them instructions’. How do they make money? How do they survive? The truth is that it all runs on the concept of borrowing. Borrowing money, time, advice, interest, faith and on and on. Mortgaging the future. Faith if you prefer. It would in fact be easier to look for the things that actually do work. But then that would assume that we didn’t screw that task up as well.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Chapter 11 “The Pioneer is the one with the arrows sticking out of his ass”
This is why you never want to lead, why you always want to follow. Why it is in fact better to watch someone else launch a new product first. I mean, what if it fails. “Spit on first mover advantage”. Sit back, wait to see if there is actually a market for that thing. Then just before your boss comes looking for you to find out why you have let the competition gain the advantage, you simply steal their idea, launch a competing product that leverages their immense investment in brand building and watch not only your sales but your profit margin shoot through the roof. You may never be number one, but you won’t have any holes in your butt either.
Chapter 10 “We need to plan the plan so that we have a strategic plan”
The fun part of any meeting is actually feeling all the hot air that escapes from the vastly more intelligent and superior people than you who feel they simply have to make a statement or must contribute to the meeting. Usually the whole thing devolves into a series of contradictory statements and filled-up flip charts (wish I had the franchise for markers). And the more stressful the situation, the less the humour...the more the charts look like unintelligible The inevitable outcome is that the meeting must end with an action plan that everyone nodds and says yes they will support. But immediately after the meeting adjourns, if you listen really carefully you will inevitably hear the muttering, “Not a snowballs chance in hell that I am going to support that crazy plan…but this binder will take up some space on my shelf”
Chapter 9 “We need to keep our options open…but we need to decide right now”
Close cousin to “Hurry up and wait”. Usually uttered by sales types. After endless hours of listening to the drone of the ‘challenges’ that need to be overcome. Of course the best thing about a large organization is that you never actually have to make a decision. In fact, it is best never to actually have to make a decision. And if you can get away with it, to never put yourself into any position where you may have to make a decision. Decision makers don’t get rewarded…they get more work.
The real reason though is that individuals don’t actually matter in an organization. The team, ah, the team. That is the answer. To ensure that all the options are kept open, and look brilliant in the process, suggest this as the ultimate answer to making the decision.
The real reason though is that individuals don’t actually matter in an organization. The team, ah, the team. That is the answer. To ensure that all the options are kept open, and look brilliant in the process, suggest this as the ultimate answer to making the decision.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Chapter 8 “Big dog in the house”
This is in fact the only effective way to actually get something approved. Have the most senior client at the table to make the final decision. And yet it is not with its hurdles. First of all, your client is likely three rungs down the hierarchy. He gave you the original brief which of course has been massaged beyond any hope of actually being able to deliver any creative that will actually engage the target customer. The big dog of course never actually read the brief: he will know great creative when he sees it. And this is not to be your day.
Second, if the big dog client is at the table, rest assured that the big dog agency guy is going to be there as well. And since he has some many years of experience and gobs of knowledge, he actually doesn’t need to review the brief either. Yes, yes, he will know great creative when he too sees it.
A flash streaks through your mind: why don’t we let the two big dogs just meet over lunch and decide what they want to do. While this is what will eventually happen, it is unfortunately necessary to go through the charade of actually believing that any of the underlings actually have a pov that anyone wants to listen to.
Second, if the big dog client is at the table, rest assured that the big dog agency guy is going to be there as well. And since he has some many years of experience and gobs of knowledge, he actually doesn’t need to review the brief either. Yes, yes, he will know great creative when he too sees it.
A flash streaks through your mind: why don’t we let the two big dogs just meet over lunch and decide what they want to do. While this is what will eventually happen, it is unfortunately necessary to go through the charade of actually believing that any of the underlings actually have a pov that anyone wants to listen to.
Chapter 7 “Stuck on a wet leaf”
Generally referred to as not having enough traction or power to get out of a fairly simple situation. Automotive industry cliché. In the days of 200 horsepower economy cars, one can never have enough horsepower. (sic). Lost on all: huge, oversize vehicles bearing not the slightest resemblance to their functionality driven in cities by small people with big egos need more power. Where are we racing to?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Chapter 6 “Swim like a boat anchor”
The result of taking it at both ends.
Unfortunately the ultimate result of not being able to successfully read the minds of all the crazies that are attracted to advertising and marketing in the first place is to either quietly go crazy yourself, or learn how to hold your breath for a very long time. And for all the “we are all one team” rhetoric spouted by your company, the reality is that they are looking for a scapegoat. Someone who will be shoved off the gangplank in a big show of action. And even though you may think yourself a good swimmer, the real point is that you are not really expected to swim. In fact, it is a big disappointment should you actually rise to the surface. “Knife in the back” does not even begin to describe the pain you will now endure.
Unfortunately the ultimate result of not being able to successfully read the minds of all the crazies that are attracted to advertising and marketing in the first place is to either quietly go crazy yourself, or learn how to hold your breath for a very long time. And for all the “we are all one team” rhetoric spouted by your company, the reality is that they are looking for a scapegoat. Someone who will be shoved off the gangplank in a big show of action. And even though you may think yourself a good swimmer, the real point is that you are not really expected to swim. In fact, it is a big disappointment should you actually rise to the surface. “Knife in the back” does not even begin to describe the pain you will now endure.
Chapter 5 “Taking it at both ends”
Every account person knows the meaning of this. First of all is the agency: no matter how hard you work, no matter the hours of ‘face time’ you put in, you can never please your boss, the creative guys, the media people. Then you take the work to the client for presentation. Yes, that great, award winning “if only they would let it run without revisions” creative that was conceived late one night in a desperate last-minute boozy haze of smoke that resembles nothing of the brief (instructions to revise the brief ringing in your ear) creative. And after the long setup of reviewing the strategy, the results of the research (pre-test) with its obligatory powerpoint charts that has put the client into an apparent slumber, the saviour-of-the world creative is finally revealed by the creative lead dressed up in his ripped jeans. To resounding…thud! If fortunate enough to actually have the client ‘like’ it, and only want you to ‘tweak’ a few things, you escape to the post-mortem meeting (bar) to commiserate, belly-ache and generally bitch about the stupid client. If the presentation actually goes badly, on to the blame game: creatives bitching at the account people for not getting the brief right. Account people leveling equal blame for not following the brief in the first place.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Chapter 4: "“That’s critical…that’s important”
Dictionary definition time. “Critical”: something that you cannot do without. “Important”: something that has great meaning. Conclusion: This is something that you cannot do without that has great meaning.
Chapter 3: 'Find a way to join the dots'
If only I had figured out before I got into all that debt to make it through university that all I had to do was join the dots. It does seem incredulous that highly educated and intelligent people will say that in a meeting. What dots? Do you need a special pen?
This statement is closely related to, “We have to find a way to grow sales”. Isn’t that what the business plan is supposed to do? That is supposed to tell us the way. Too bad we can never respond, “execute the business plan”
This statement is closely related to, “We have to find a way to grow sales”. Isn’t that what the business plan is supposed to do? That is supposed to tell us the way. Too bad we can never respond, “execute the business plan”
Friday, October 3, 2008
Chapter 2 “There are always two ways to fix a problem”
Finally, the answer that we have been waiting for. There is a right answer. In fact, there are two. Knowing that, you can shorten those moments of angst when your boss (client) has rejected all of your good ideas and you stare at the computer screen fruitlessly hoping that the answer will present itself. What of course is missing from this is the unsaid: there is a right way and a wrong way to fix a problem”. Getting it right leads to promotions, money, glory…oh sorry, this is advertising…more late nights, no more money absolutely no glory. Getting it wrong is bad: passed over for the promotion, assigned a new account, or most horribly, asked to help out on new business pitches.
Chapter 1 - My thoughts are in parallel with yours
This was actually the original title of this book. I mean, can you think of a better comeback when someone (your boss) interrupts your “eyes wide open nap” while she was droning on with another powerpoint presentation featuring charts with coloured intersecting lines that are supposed to mean something. The way to deliver this one is to actually pause for a minute to allow you time to come out of your haze, raise your hand to your chin in a contemplative manner before finally delivering the line. And the best part is that this response is guaranteed to work every time. The downside however is that this is a one-time response. Once used, it can never be used with the same people again. But used strategically (another favourite over-used word that will covered later), it shows just how smart you really are.
Introduction - What I learned over 25 years in advertising
Did I become a better person? Did I save the world? No, and no. What I actually learned is that it is possible to survive in the world of advertising by writing down the mangled statements that clients use when they feel they need to use the latest cliché to make their point. Keeping track of these kept me from going completely crazy during what turned out to be one endless 25 year long meeting.
So I started to write them down. Called them “The list”. Sent them to friends and associates. Encouraged to publish them. I hope you enjoy
And no, I never did come to any startling conclusions about the value of advertising.
So I started to write them down. Called them “The list”. Sent them to friends and associates. Encouraged to publish them. I hope you enjoy
And no, I never did come to any startling conclusions about the value of advertising.
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