health, Uncategorized

getting ready for Africa

A few weeks ago, I started exercising.  I need to get in shape.  It’s a health decision as much as it is a “beach” decision.  Not only do I want to be healthy, but I also want to look good.

It turns out I need professional help.  So I sought out my friend Emil.  Emil has recently moved to Toronto from New York City.  No, he’s not crazy.  He did it for a girl.  Emil is the founder of fit4lifenyc.com as well as Fit 4 Life Kids.  We met in a park in the Yonge and Eglinton area.  And he put me through a workout.

It’s so simple really.  Anyone can do it.  Here’s the video footage:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBdqj-RKCzk]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjkMSzPwgHc]

What does exercising and being healthy have do to with marketing and social media?  Nothing and everything.  Nothing in that obviously there is no direct relation.  However, in this industry, the hours worked and the time spent in front of a computer screen can be long.  Not to mention all the events (social and professional) we get invited to that end late at night and then we have to get up early in the morning.  This does not make for a healthy lifestyle.  And I figure if I’m going to succeed in this industry, I want to enjoy the fruits (and wages) of my labour.  So, if you find yourself working in the digital industry, at whatever level, I suggest a workout schedule.  You may even want to give someone like Emil a shout (I’ve left his email address below).

You can follow my journey to lower blood pressure, 165 pounds (I’m presently 175), and more energy by visiting or visit my YouTube channel and search for the health videos.

If you want to get in touch with Emil you can email him at fit4lifenyc@gmail.com.

blog, social media, twitter

quiet noise

I remember when I used to work at one of Canada’s big banks.  During my last year there the tellers (of which I was one) finally received internet access on our terminals.

I used this “privilege” as much as I could.  Especially emails.  My siblings and cousins would exchange dozens of emails a day.  We would be discussing irrelevant things like why this hockey team sucks or why that business venture was a scam.

Today, we still communicate online via email.  the discussion have changed little.  However, sometimes we wish “such and such a company” would change the way they do things.  And this gets me thinking:

The company or brand we are talking about can’t read our emails.  We are having a private and closed conversation.  Not only can the brand not participate but maybe there are customers or fans that want to chime in.  They can’t because they don’t even know there is a conversation happening.

Unless we take these conversation public or open.

And this is where blogs, Twitter and Facebook groups come into play.  Using these tools to have conversations allows a few things to happen when we’re talking about brands:

  1. We open up the conversation to people with similar or differing views.  This is a good thing because at times we think the way we’re seeing things is the only way to see things.
  2. We open up the debate to the brands.  Now this is interesting.  What the brand does is up to them.

As a fan and consumer of brands here’s what I’m hoping:

That they’re “listening”.  Companies should be using these listening tools to listen to what is being said about them so that they can improve their product or even their messaging.

Whether or not a company decides to jump into the conversation is up for debate.  Listening is the start.

Now, getting back to these conversations…

If you’ve got something to say, here is what I would suggest:  say it loud.  Use a public forum so that as least something has the chance of being done about it.

Otherwise consider the email you sent to your cousin griping about “such and such a company” to be nothing but quiet noise.

books, reading, Uncategorized

not available

Last weekend I was offline.  I didn’t tweet.  I didn’t even check my twitter stream.  I did not even go on Facebook or check any email.  The closest thing I came to using the computer was seeing how the weather was going to be.

In today’s age of  “always being available” I found this past weekend to be refreshing.  And busy.

Now I was anxious.  But only a little.  I have an event that happens in less that one month and there are people who are counting on me.  But they all have my phone number.

So what did I do that kept me busy?

  1. I watched almost every Thomas The Tank Engine and Bob The Builder dvd and vhs we have with my son.  And we do have alot of videos/dvds.
  2. I read a few stories from Malcolm Gladwell’s “What The Dog Saw”.
  3. I took afternoon naps.
  4. We fed ducks at Harbourfront.
  5. We celebrated my sister’s birthday at her cool downtown condo.  (She cooks a great green curry something or the other. Really.)

So, I know it’s only Tuesday afternoon.  But why not “schedule” to be offline this weekend.  It doesn’t have to be this weekend.  I’m just suggesting to keep the smartphone in your desk (or at least data free) and your laptop powered down.

You’ll be amazed to see how much you can accomplish and how free you can be when you’re “not available.”

I would love to hear your thoughts on unplugging yourself.  Has anyone ever tried it recently?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DTFwYZ6YJU]

crowdsourcing, social media

Let’s play ball fans

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. Nor do I look at everything as “the glass is half full.” However, I must say that the current attendance numbers for our Toronto Blue Jays is a little concerning. Ok, very concerning.

The Jays, again, are off to a hot start. There is no competition from the Maple Leafs or the Raptors and Toronto FC are off to a horrible start again.

10,610 paying customers walked into the Rogers Centre last night. This was only two days after selling out the place during Opening Day.

This is the problem.

As a baseball fan and as a fan of the Blue Jays I want to help. And I’m hoping you want to help too.

So, for the next 7 days please leave a comment. Really, leave a suggestion or two. (If you’re reading this on Facebook, please take the time to come on over to www.KarimKanji.com and fill out the comments section)  And invite your friends and fellow fans to come hear and voice their opinion.

Here’s the question I’m asking:

What should the Toronto Blue Jays do to increase the average attendance to games to 30,000 this year?

Why?

I’m going to set up a meeting with the person in charge of marketing and social media and share with him our thoughts and suggestion. (He is starting to listen and has agreed to meet with me and a colleague to hear our thoughts.)

Thank you for reading.

Let’s play ball!

health

Getting Ready

If the stars align, the gods agree, and all that good stuff happen, I should be in Mombasa with my wife to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.  From what I’ve been told (I haven’t checked Google…yet) Mombasa is on a beautiful beach.  And my body is not beach ready.  By a long shot.

I’ve got just over a month to get ready.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLHlibR0FGs&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1]

Fit4lifenyc and the Fit4lifenyc Blog

Any tips or suggestions?  Comment below or on any of my daily health vlogs.

Ok. I checked Google.  Beautiful.

Uncategorized

Born to Run

With the sub title being “”A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World has Never seen” I was hooked.

Author Christopher McDougall takes the reader on a journey that can only be described as breathtakingly fascinating.

I have read another book since I finished Born To Run but the images etched in my brain from reading it have remained.

Here’s who I would recommend the book to:  If you’re an athlete, a wannabe athlete, a weekend warrior, someone who wants to get healthy, a health nut, a vegetarian, a runner, someone who is interested in anthropology….heck, I’d recommend this book to just about anyone who even just likes a good story.

youth

Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada

The young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada (ysec.org) is an organization created by youth for youth interested in business for profit and social change.  Assaf Weisz of “ysec” gave me the lowdown of the organization and what they are looking to accomplish.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2pLiFOI8Lw&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1]

Please forward the url of this post/video to people in your communities who are looking to support or be involved with this dynamic group of “do-gooders”.

video, youth

Matt Tod empowers youth

Not too long ago I met a young man named Matt Tod.  He’s a very engaging person who is very passionate about what he does.

Here’s a quick video I shot of Matt explaining a little bit about what he does.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuJPHpBf6DA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1]

Visit Matt Tod on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MattTod

blog, social media, sports

Mainstream Media vs Bloggers – Part 2

You can find Part One here.  It was written by Eric Smith.

Some of you may know Eric.  He’s on The FAN590 here in Toronto.  He’s also the voice of the Toronto Raptors basketball team.  He also blogs, tweets, does video blogs and makes himself available to the fans, public and to bloggers like me.

So, after Eric posted his article he got attacked.  Viciously it seems.  Unfairly as well.

I’ve had the opportunity to interview Eric for Techvibes.  Back last December, this is a bit of what I wrote:

The ability for people to self-publish blogs creates the perception that all authours are experts which is far from true.  Eric feels the ability to be properly accredited and cultivate important contacts is a privilege that most independent bloggers don’t have.  Traditional sports media are still able to access player and coach interviews as well as seek sources that the average Joe probably can’t. 

I’m not an expert in media or blogging.  Although I report for Techvibes, I don’t consider myself a reporter.  I’ve even done presentations where I admit that I don’t even consider myself “media”.  And I don’t even think I can hold a keyboard to some of the more prolific bloggers out there.

But what really upsets me about this situation is that various sports blogs seem to have bashed on Eric’s opinion.  It’s one thing to have an opinion.  It’s quite another to think that just because someone is a blogger this means that they are more objective or have more to offer. 

As bloggers, here is what we have to offer.  Our unbiased opinion.  And really, that’s all.  What Eric Smith provides is opinion as well.  However, he has the ability to access people, events and information that we can’t.  The only way we get information is from people like Eric.

There is a place for both bloggers and msm.  To take the low road and bash someone because of their job is classless.

That’s just my opinion.  What’s your’s?