MOMENTS — a lesson for someone who always has a fucking opinion

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the 50th anniversary of my grammar school — Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School. It wasn't a reunion per se but more of an invitation to come visit the school, celebrate its 50 years in the community, and spend three hours getting lost in the memories of my childhood.

I visited my grade one classroom, saw the office where I got the strap (for throwing snowballs up in the air and letting them land on my head no less), and looked out over a lonely baseball diamond where we played ball at lunch — all against the backdrop of how students are being taught today compared to the fuzzy memories of my past.

In my old grade six classroom I saw something on the wall worth a second (and even a third) look —  it was a piece of chart paper that offered insight on OPINION (written with the steady hand of a teacher, and looked surprisingly like it could have been written fifty years ago).

In a world of so called fake news, opinion that masquerades as news, a constant stream of information that's impossible to sift through, and bullshit jamming up the internet, I was encouraged to see (up on the board in big letters and bright colours) that opinion is more than something that's simply said (usually many times and very loudly) until sadly, it becomes believable fact.

As someone who is quick with an opinion, this piece of chart paper offered insight on OPINION that was a clear reminder (and lesson) for what makes up a good opinion — and anything less (in my opinion) is just adding to the bullshit that is jamming up the internet. 

It is true when they say you are never too old to learn (or relearn) something — and it's definitely more fun when you are learning it with the memories of a 10 year old boy.

iamgpe

The bullshit that is personal branding...

It struck me the other day that the whole idea of "personal branding" is bullshit, and also so very marketing — and this is coming from someone who has spend a fair bit of time in the "field of marketing". Although, I would also be the first person to say you need to develop your "personal brand" (and yes a bit of a contradiction is presenting itself).

Before you call bullshit, hear me out — and believe me I shall be brief.

The Internet has given rise to many things in such a short period of time; 50 % good and 50 % not so good — and we have all adapted. One of things that has taken off is the concept of personal branding, and although not a new concept, it has very much accelerated because it is next to simple to get a great photograph of yourself, create a YouTube channel, and set up as many social media feeds as you can handle — and if you are reasonably calculated, present yourself in the perfect light, and with the perfect personal branding. Sadly, most will be taken at face value if it looks great and if it's entertaining. Sadder still though, there's also a collective understanding that under the thin veneer that is the internet, there lives an expectation that not everything is really as truthful as portrayed — and we seem to be alright with it. Another example of the adaption to the Internet I suppose.

Becoming lost is the word reputation (and maybe even the concept); you know, the overall quality or character as seen or judged by people. Reputation is a word of substance — something that takes a long time to build, and sadly if you are not careful, can be lost quickly (and maybe never recovered). Your reputation is built upon your character and abilities, and although sometimes masked for a little while, will always truly represent who you are. The personal brand is forever nebulous and changing based on the environment that fosters it, while reputation is solid and built on your character and capability.

Maybe all I am really trying to get across is that if your personal brand is not built upon your character and abilities (your reputation if you will), then it simply is all just bullshit.

iamgpe

PS — For those who may not be familiar with the term

bull·shit [ˈbo͝olˌSHit]

NOUN — stupid or untrue talk or writing; nonsense.

VERB — talk nonsense to (someone), typically to be misleading or deceptive.

Questions to Help You Mind Your Business — A Summary.

A little while ago Renée Cormier and I were discussing business opportunities, the evolution of business, and the natural transition of start-ups and small business to keep pace — somewhere in all of this the idea of ten questions that should be asked was born. Over ten weeks we diligently posted our thoughts on each question and shared it with our various networks.

Part of the exercise was to develop our answers independently and post them together; something unto itself that was important because we wanted to offer two separate perspectives on the same question. This was a subtle reminder that people see things differently, have different ideas, and that the whole is almost always better than the parts. This was definitely apparent when people engaged with comments, thoughts, and perspectives we hadn't considered  — something which offered even a better answer to the question.

For your convenience I have listed the 10 questions and links to the answers — I'm directing you to the social media platform beBee because quite frankly the comments and engagement are the best; again, adding to a better answer

1)  What is the nature of your business? (How can I create a fuller picture of the nature of my business?

2)  Where should I spend my money?

3)  Do I need a plan for my business?

4)  Should I hire a sales person?

5)  How can maximize the value of my employees?

6)  Why can’t employees just do what I tell them?

7)  How do I build a team?

8)  How can I manage my business and still have a life?

9)  How will I know if I am successful?

10)  Do I need to be using social media and how much do I really need to do?

Thanks again to Renée Cormier for collaborating on this, and I very much appreciate those who took the time to read and engage with what we posted.

As I mentioned, it all led to coming up with better answers.

iamgpe