Cyber Silence

I have come up with a new term that fits perfectly with today’s means of communication. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to the act of ‘cyber silence’.

In an age of supposed new and much improved communication systems due to the Internet, cyber silence can best be described as getting the cold e-shoulder. Let’s face it… Hiding behind e-mail by not responding takes a lot less effort than brainstorming ways to avoid someone’s phone call. And with e-mail, you can always pretend the spam filter caught it or somehow the message got lost out in cyber space. Accountability for good follow-up and reliability doesn’t have to be such a painstaking necessity. Isn’t cyber silence a great thing?!

I don’t share these thoughts as someone who practices cyber silence, but as a regular victim. I’ve noticed this in business more than anything. Be careful what you ask for in an e-mail. If you are attempting to make someone accountable for something, chances are that cyber silence will take its toll on you. Avoiding conflict is a common trait that many of us share, and the e-mail world has no corners to be backed into.

Please acknowledge that you have read and understood this blog by not commenting. I will take your silence to mean that we are on the same page. Let’s ensure that we are utilizing our technologically advanced communication channels to the fullest. Now silence!

Business Excellence

I had a chance to attend the Collingwood Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards for the very first time. It’s always interesting to step outside the comfort zone of your own business community to see how other areas celebrate their local success stories. Every community exhibits its own unique sense of pride when it comes to the businesses and volunteers that define and set it apart.

Held at Cranberry Resort’s increasingly popular and aesthetically pleasing Bear Estate, it was a sold out affair with as many as 85 silent auction items up for bid, a delicious meal and awards in 12 categories. Congratulations to our sister site, http://www.mycollingwood.ca for nominations in 3 of them including Small Business Owner of the Year, Innovative Business and Business of the Year. The team was in great spirits and even let me take a group shot... (left to right above: Jessie, Dan, Tara & Julie). After winning no less than 9 awards at this annual event since the launch of mycollingwood.ca in 2005, I suppose it was time to let someone else win. And some very deserving businesses walked away with the hardware.

Now back to the Sound where the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its 2010 Business Awards. Online nominations are now being accepted and more details will soon emerge at http://www.oschamber.com.

All Aboard the Big Bike

I admit with no shame (okay… maybe a just a little) that until this year, I had never been a rider on the Heart & Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike. Perhaps the fact that someone close to me works at the Owen Sound office made it easier to say ‘yes’ when a team registration form crossed my desk. But we won’t mention my wife by name.

Kidding aside, I have become well informed over the past several months as to the many critically important fundraising initiatives that HSFO coordinates here in our local communities. Big Bike is a biggie and the opportunity to play ‘captain’ on the suitably named Meaford team, The Big Red Apple, was one that I simply couldn’t pass up! Meaford Chamber and Municipal staff along with Mayor Francis Richardson came dressed for the occasion and ready to pedal the streets of the Golden Town.

A Big Bike team is supposed to consist of 29 members, each responsible for raising a minimum of $50 in pledges. Despite only 9 of us showing up, the ride around Meaford Harbour and through the downtown was a surprisingly manageable workout. Our animated driver kept up our enthusiasm by letting us know when we were slacking off and occasionally leading us up to the curb just to keep things interesting. The amused stares, smiles and car honks of acknowledgement made it well worth every dollar pledged. Speaking of which, I’m proud to report that our little team brought in an impressive $700 in pledges. How about them big red apples!

The legwork is minimal and the fun is aplenty. This is my endorsement for a fundraising initiative that eats up little time and rewards tenfold. Check out http://www.bigbike.ca/ for more info.

Community Clean-up

Every year, people who are passionate about Owen Sound get together for some spring cleaning. Pitchin’ Day was held recently with an army of around 50 volunteers braving a not-so-pleasant rainy weekend with the common goal of putting the ‘scenic’ back in Scenic City. At least 5 members of the Owen Sound Fire Department dive team showed up for the occasion with masks and flippers to comb the harbour shoreline for litter build-up.

The spring clean effort has been spearheaded by the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association for the past 35 – 40 years. Originally, it was a smaller scale riverbank clean-up. However, things changed a decade or so ago when the S.S.A. joined forces with Communities In Bloom to make it a full community initiative for all of Owen Sound.

Old shopping carts, weather beaten signage, an abandoned patio chair, garbage bags jam-packed with litter… The mound of trash outside the Visitor Information Centre was enough to make Miller Waste staff blush.

We live along busy 3rd Avenue East and have had our share of old Tim’s coffee cups, plastic pop bottles and cigarette butts tossed on our lawn. By what must be sheer coincidence, things have been a bit tidier this spring. Even our family walks up and down 3rd and 4th have been litterless compared to previous years. Is the message of the S.S.A. and recent warning of finings finally getting through? One can only hope.

Let’s give kudos to our tireless community clean freaks for all their hard work and wish one and all a clean and uncluttered property this summer.

Gone FISHing

“Who are you being while you’re doing what you’re doing?” This deep and loaded question comes up when learning The FISH! Philosophy. FISH! is quite simply a way of life based on a heightened sense of awareness when it comes to the choices we make every day at work and in our personal life. The four main practices of this simple yet in-depth life/workplace strategy are:

1. Be There - being emotionally present for people, giving them your full focus, actively listening without judgement
2. Play - tapping into your creative side to make otherwise mundane tasks more enjoyable, bringing a more playful and curious attitude to everyday life
3. Make Their Day - finding meaningful encounters with everyone you come into contact with, giving others a reason to smile with a lasting impression
4. Choose Your Attitude - accepting that you choose your thoughts which in turn impact how you act, making a conscious effort to take responsibility for how you respond to others and life in general

I just had a chance to attend one of the daylong FISH! workshops at Stone Tree in Owen Sound. After getting past the mere coincidence of being the only male in the class, I was able to comfortably settle in for an enriching exploration of self-awareness through a series of interactive discussions, fun games and powerful videos. Our fearless leader was the very motivational and inspirational Deb Fawcett, also known as The FISH! Lady.

Like many attending the workshop, my pre-conceived notion was that FISH! must be an acronym for something. But in actual fact, the title is derived from the origins of the philosophy. Deb showed us the story of a group of guys working long and gruelling hours at Pikes Place, a fish market in Seattle. With the business on the verge of bankruptcy and staff morale at an all-time low, the owner gathered his troops for a last ditch effort at brainstorming a new vision. When one of the workers made the seemingly ridiculous suggestion, “let’s become world famous”, the team came together in an exceptional way. The wheels set into motion and the doomed fish market transformed into a vibrant and fun atmosphere like none you’ve ever seen. The workers have since become famous for their crazy antics and good-humoured rapport amongst themselves and with their customers. Quite simply, they learned how to ‘show up’ and adapt a bulletproof positive attitude regardless of their long and physically demanding hours on the job.

Whether you’re behind the cash at the fish market or sitting in the executive chair, The FISH! Philosophy can be applied. To learn more, visit http://www.itf.ca/.

Eat Your Greens

This week, we finally gave in and fired up the BBQ for the first time in 2010. I won’t go so far as to say it was a bad attempt. In all fairness, we did have just a bit of grill master’s rust to shake off in our first firing up of the season. Regardless, the Atlantic salmon turned out quite well with its last-minute marinade of lemon juice and margarine.

The asparagus, on the other hand, wasn’t up to our usual standard. Though the tips were slightly grilled and tasty, the stems were a little in the way of overcooked and softened.

Sometimes it’s best to stick with what’s tried and true. Until last summer, asparagus was about as popular in our household as the common cold. Then on one fateful evening, we were at the house of some friends for supper and had the best asparagus ever. The trick they showed us was simple. After you wash your greens and cut off those tougher bottom tips, try pan-frying the asparagus in a moderate amount of olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and some ground pepper and allow to fry for around 7 (or more) minutes, turning frequently with tongs until softened. The asparagus will have a slightly charred look and that’s exactly what you want. Give it a try and I’m willing to bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the difference compared to steaming or BBQing these fine greens. Our household has converted.

Now if only someone could give me a secret to tastier broccoli!

Playoff Fever Strikes

I’m not one to closely follow the NHL during the regular season. Playoff season, on the other hand, is a totally different ball…I mean…puck game. This year’s post-season showdown wasn’t on my radar until game 7 of the first round series between the underdog Montreal Canadians and first place Washington Capitals. A Habs fan I am not. But the excitement of an upset and subsequent advancement of a Canadian team were enough to get me enthused in the playoffs once again.

The ‘big bad Bruins’ are actually my team of choice. And so far, so good for Boston. Please forgive me for rooting for a bunch of Canadian players in non-Canadian jerseys!

But NHL playoff season is more than just the team you are cheering for or the thrill of overtime. In my mind, it signals that period of transition between spring and summer. The weather is heating up and the streets are becoming alive again with late evening activity on local restaurant patios, the aromas of BBQing, and cars joyriding with windows down and music up. In some subtle way, these seemingly unrelated little pleasures add to the excitement of the playoffs.

I hope you are able to capture some of the thrill and stress relief this season that only a game 7 overtime, half pound of chicken wings and fizzy beverage can evoke!