This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak at PodCamp Toronto.  For those who may not know, PodCamp Toronto is organized as an unconference.  A conference is a place/event you would go to to attend sessions.  An unconference is organized by the attendees.  And sessions are led.  Which means I didn’t really give a talk.  I facilitated a session would be a better way of putting it.

PodCamp Toronto is a 2 day event which brings together podcasting and social media enthusiasts in an effort to learn from each other and connect with new and old acquaintances.

I attended some really interesting sessions and made a load of new friends.  In fact, the best time was connecting with new and not so new friends at a greasy spoon on Saturday evening.  I even managed to get invited and go see a Toronto Raptors game.  And this by someone I never even knew 8 hours earlier!  Amazing!

However, I wanted to share some lessons I learned myself.  And these lessons were learned by facilitating my session.  Although I have had the opportunity to speak in private functions, this was really my first public talk.  And boy, did I learn a lot:

1. Have multiple slides per argument.  People seem to love their power points!
2. Don’t repeat yourself.  I don’t like over-preparing for presentations but I think I should start.
3. Always invite your fans.  It’s always good to have supporters in the crowd.
4. Don’t be afraid to be real.  People appreciate honesty and abhor people who are fake.
5. Involve the crowd.  An active crowd is a happy crowd.
6. Wear a loud shirt.
7. Create a hashtag (#) on Twitter to connect with everyone who attended the session.  Mine was #loudshirt.  (Obvious, eh!)

A special thanks to @coleyeung and @zeppelinsocial for the pics!  Video will follow soon.

As you may know, I’ve been doing lots of writing on different parts of the interwebs.  So what I’ve decided to do is to post here a weekly summary of my activities. 

Techvibes

• Marketing talk by WIND Mobile Chief Customer Officer Chris Robbins.
• Jordan Banks – former NHLPA executive now an early stage tech investor.
• New service for companies interested in social media – SocialTALK.
• Sony Ericsson and Fido launch new eco-phone in Canada.
• Video interview with Kunal Gupta of Polar Mobile.
• 5 Questions…with Dave Fleet.
• Getting ready for PodCamp Toronto.
• Video interview with Impact.org founder Kunal Gupta.
• Sony Ericsson looking for app developers.
• Macworld 2010
• University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team.

Fadoo.ca

• Inside the CFL replay room – Video.

iBizBook

• Housing market cooldown.

As always, feel free to be my friend on Facebook (where you can also see this week’s Raptors photos), follow me on Twitter, and watch my home videos on YouTube.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Open letter to cool brands who have hired celebrities and athletes to endorsement contracts:

Hire me.

Yes I know.  That’s a pretty bold statement.  You can go ahead and bing google me. You’ll find nothing of consequence. 

I haven’t won any athletic awards since before my mom bought me a Millennium Survival Kit.  I have yet to be featured on any celebrity magazines or websites.  Trust me.  Perez Hilton does not know who I am. 

The only red carpet I have ever been on was when my cousin got married this past summer.  And I almost tripped over that one.  I have never taken steroids or pleaded the 5th.  People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive” has never heard of me.  If I ever applied to BeautifulPeople.com I would not be accepted. 

You see, I’m just a regular guy.  I have a wife and kid and live in a house in a quiet neighbourhood in the city. 

I don’t consider myself average.  I’m just not a celebrity.  People don’t take pictures of me.  Check Flickr if you don’t believe me.

Here’s what I CAN offer you:  I’m real and authentic.  That’s my brand.  I represent the kind of person you want using your product. 

If you’re a clothing company I can assure you I wear clothes.  And being in Toronto (and this being winter) I wear lots of them.  I need various kinds of shoes to tackle various kinds of weather.  Sunglasses?  Ditto.  Food? I love to eat.  Cars?  I got my drivers licence.  I’m a consumer.  And I’m not loyal to brands (unless I get paid).

But not only that, I’m active.  I’m all over this fair city of ours.  (By the way, I will travel for money – Hello, Flight Centre!)  You can find me at trade shows, meetups, social gatherings, at baseball and football games, and at various drinking and eating establishments.  I’m an avid blogger and tweeter and my sister says I spend too much time on Facebook.

And if you ask anybody about me here’s the answer you’ll get:  He’s nice.  Now isn’t that the type of person you would want wearing your fine cologne or expensive watch?  I think so.

And here’s my guarantee to you should you decide to hire me:  I don’t have far to fall.  Unlike Tiger, Phelps, McGuire, Clemons, Letterman and various other “stars” my fall (which you are concerned about) will not be damaging.  To you.  Because there won’t be one.  In fact, there will be no fall into the TMZ world.

Here’s why:

1. I have an implied code of conduct.  – Unlike Kobe, I live on a budget.  There is no way in hell that I would jeopardize free swag just for a little late night shenanigans.
2. Although all press is not good press, you won’t have to worry about neither.  I won’t generate any press.  I’ll melt into the crowd at the local grocery store as I buy your tasty cereal.
3. I’m very good at saying sorry.  So if I forget to put the snow tires you send me on my car and something unforeseen happens, I’ll say sorry.  And you won’t have to worry about a lawsuit.
4. And if I screw up really bad (meaning the media and those damn bloggers find out I’m being paid by you) I’ll just lay low for a while.  I’ll stop tweeting, facebooking, and hobnobbing with Toronto’s social media elite.

So what do you think?  Don’t you wish your high-paid celebrity endorsers followed those same 4 steps?

You see, these are the things that the average mom and dad teach their children:

1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2. Don’t do anything to embarass your mother.
3. Learn to say sorry.
4. And if you make a mistake, it’s better to shut your mouth than to dig yourself into a bigger hole.

And it’s something that I promise I will do for you.

Now if you deem it inappropriate to hire a brand like Karim Kanji, I understand.  I mean, there is a chance I’ll be BIG someday. I mean REALLY BIG. 

So my advice to you would then be to hire that next person who fills your coffee cup tomorrow morning. 

They know a thing or two about being human. 

Hire them.

Regards,

Karim Kanji
karim_kanji at hotmail dot com

I know what you’re thinking (thanks Magnum PI!)…

“Here’s another New Year’s Eve prognostication.” Or maybe you’re saying to yourself, “Not another Resolutions post!”

Wait.  If you’ve read this far then you’re hoping, feeling or thinking, “Maybe this will be different.”  And it is. 

When a new year, or in this case a new decade, arises it is very easy to reflect upon the past and focus and plan for the future.  You want to lose weight; make more money; have a better relationship with your family and friends.  Is there anything else?  If so enter it here–> _______.  Get the point?

We all want to begin. Again.

But why?  And how?

Let’s tackle the why first.  As humans, we all have an innate desire to improve – constantly.  And that’s cool.  Who am I to argue?  I want to improve.  And I’m sure you do too.  But why?  Is it something you want to have?  A brand new car or that condo downtown?  Or maybe it’s something you want to be able to do.  Like start your own business or take one month to travel to Spain.

Here’s my question to you:  How long has this been your goal?  My guess is that it’s been in your mind or on your fridge for years.  And if that’s true then the question is not “What do I want to achieve?”  The question to ask is, “HOW do I get my goals?”

Move forward.

So let’s say you want to move to Africa.  That’s your goal.  Move forward.  What do you need to start doing to actually get there.  Do you need a job when you get there?  How about accommodation?  I’d imagine you might need to get some sort of shot. 

Personally, I have no idea about going to Africa.  But the same can be said of anything.  A goal you’re reaching towards is something none of us has ever achieved.  Besides asking ourselves what we need to prepare for, the next best step is to ask someone who has achieved what we want.  So, let’s say I wanted to go to Africa.  I’d ask a few of my cousins and uncles who have actually gone to Africa.  Simple.  They’ve gone and they are willing to help me get there. 

Want to start a business?  Ask someone who has done so.  Want to write and have your book published?  Ask a published author.  Want to learn how to play tennis?  Hire a tennis coach.  I know.  It sounds simple.  It is.

Let’s begin.  What do you want?  Find someone to help you get there.

Happy New Year!

Hey folks!  (I need to come up with a better greeting than “Hey folks!” – What are your suggestions? )

So, here’s my first attempt at video-blogging.  Should I just hide behind my typed words?  Is my face made for “radio”? I’m not the most techie guy (even though I’ve been known to write for a tech website) so excuse the amazing lighting, interesting background music and no make-up.

Other than that, enjoy.

Tina Turner once said that we don’t need another hero.  John Lennon sang about the working class hero.  Def Leppard even wanted to be your hero. Heck, even Meat Loaf thought this was a time for heroes. 

My brother once had an illustration in his bedroom that said “Have Heroes”.

However, time and time again our heroes disappoint us. 

Today, society “creates” heroes through the power of media.  Whether it be television, radio, or the various social media tools on the interwebs we have created heroes to look up to.

We had heroes on the baseball field.  We looked up to A-Rob and Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemons.  Then we tore them down for taking performance enhancing drugs and “cheating”.

We had heroes on television.  Then we threw them on the curb when we found they were cheating on their spouse.

We even had heroes on the radio.  But when he said something off colour we branded him a racist.

The latest hero.  He used to be a Tiger – the most powerful brand in the world and maybe the most recognized face globally.  Now, we can’t wait to forget about him.

Why do we do this?  Why do we build up heroes and then destroy them when they reveal themselves to be less than perfect? 

The easy response would be to suggest that we shouldn’t create these heroes.  We should look up to our teachers, fire-fighters and people we actually know.  We should have our dad, mom or brother or sister as our heroes.  I’m not disagreeing.  But to suggest that we never emotionally invest ourselves into a personality may not be realistic.

I’m a BIG fan of Neil Young.  If, for example, I were to find out that he was involved in anything shady.  Yes.  Initially.  But over the long term, I’m not so sure.  I’ll give you an example.

Chris Benoit.  you remember him?  One of the greatest in-ring professional wrestlers of all time.  He also killed his son, wife and committed suicide a few years ago.  I had a Chris Benoit DVD.  some of the greatest performances you’ll ever see.  It took me a few years before I could watch it again.  But I did.

Why?  Because I wasn’t “in love” with the person.  I enjoyed the “performance”.

You might like the service you get from a waitress or waiter at a restaurant.  Are you interested in what they do outside of work?  No.  You care about what they are giving to you at that moment.  You are thankful for their outstanding service.  And you tip them.

Why is it different when that same person is now performing in the “public”?  Is it because we choose to fall in love?  We can change the channel or leave the stadium whenever we want to.  But we choose to stay. 

And cheer.  Or jeer.

The following post has been re-printed with the permission of the author.  The original article can also be found here.

Sometimes, when I leave the ballpark with a bad taste in my mouth, I take the long way home. Come the next day, if that taste still is there, I take the long way back to the spoon that fed it to me.

Pitching isn’t easy. I’ve never said it is, not even in the arrogance of my youth. Baseball simply won’t allow it to be. No matter how good a pitcher is, he must wind and let go of the ball. In that instant, when the little white dot flies from his hand, anything can, and often does, happen.

This unpredictable nature of baseball is what leads the men who play it to create such fanciful routines, rituals and superstitions — including buckets of chicken, compulsive tooth brushing and the occasional wearing of women’s underwear. Do these things really impact the sport or are they done simply to soothe a player’s mind?

I pray. I’d like to think my invocations are more than superstition, but during times such as these, when I wander to the ballpark, when no amount of compulsive tooth brushing cleanses the disgust, when my supplication becomes frustration about the absence of a changeup, communing with the Almighty seems less than divine.

Maybe it’s how we talk, angrily calling God into the office of my mind during aimless walks around town. Telling Him He needs to shape up, because I have a life and a career and plans He’s supposed to fulfill. I offer to go halfway, but He’s always silent during negotiation, which leads me to grumbling. Come the end, when I’ve dumped it all out, I tell Him I’m tired of meeting under these circumstances.

At the end of my most recent walk/performance evaluation with God, a sound of joy interrupted our talk, pulling my attention from the destination of the locker doors to the patch of four-base-agony I was on last night.

There, on field, were dozens of happy children.

Plastic bases marked miniature diamonds in left, right and center field, populated by parents pitching soft, foamy balls to the long, loopy swings of bat-sized kids. The players were special-needs children. Some played positions in wheelchairs, others from behind braces.

Still others stood, under the pull of autism or Down syndrome.

God and I watched the scene.

When a long swing struck a ball into play, the children let loose with shouts, chasing after the white bauble like freshly lit firecrackers. Once caught, they clamored at the opportunity to throw their prize. To whom or where seemed irrelevant. Just throwing it was fun enough.

Besides, where the ball went didn’t matter. No outs were being collected. The drama was an illusion, but a pleasant one.

The kids reset. A new hitter strode to the plate, a young girl roughly 6 years old with dark hair, a darling smile and no arms. The fabric of her sleeves hung from her shoulders like a flag without wind. Her father came to her side and held a bat with a handle wrapped in a towel. The girl pinched the padded handle between her shoulder and chin. Bat secured, she dug in.

The pitch. The swing. Grounder to everyone!

Down the line ran the girl as the fielders gave chase. She hit first base, promptly ran to second, then to third. The ball was thrown straight up, then chased again. Rounding third, heading home, the slide … safe!

A home run on an infield single, and everyone was happy.

Father met his daughter at home plate, dropped to his knees and hugged her. Despite the absence of arms, she hugged him back, firm and tight. I stood taking it all in. God, I’m sure, smiled.

I couldn’t help but wonder, what did that father and his daughter pray? Was it superstition or sincerity? Were they angry when they called on God? Did they grumble about a lack of fingers to fold while praying, how it wasn’t part of their plan, how they’re tired of meeting under such circumstances?

Or were they grateful to a God that makes hugs and home runs possible, even without arms?

Dirk Hayhurst is a 1999 Canton South High School graduate and a former Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year at Kent State University. The 28-year-old right-hander currently is a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, and his book, The Bullpen Gospels: Major League Dreams of a Minor-League Veteran is available for order at Amazon.com.  You can find Dirk on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheGarfoose

London, England is an amazing city to say the least. Last summer I had a chance to catch a Blue Jays game at the old Yankee Stadium in New York City. At the time I thought New York was THE city that never sleeps. Boy, was I wrong! London is right up there with New York.

To end of this blog series from London, here are my 10 favourite things about London:

1. Size. Size is everything. London is a huge city. If you travelled from the north end of London to the south on the M25 (the circular motor/highway that encompasses London) it would take you almost an hour and a half at a speed of 100km/hr. Why do I like this? It means that there is more to see and experience: Neighbourhoods, shopping, restaurants, etc.
2. Nandos. Is there a Nandos restaurant where you live? Maybe there is one in the city you live in. In London, Nandos is everywhere! It’s as prevelant as Swiss Chalet is in Toronto. The only difference is the tender chicken, amazing variety of Peri Peri sauces and the endless supply of Coke Zero!
3. Charity Shops. I understand there is Variety Village and Goodwill stores in Canada. But really, would you brag about shopping at these places? In London, charity shops can be found in your local trendy shopping district. And the clothes and bargains to be found are plenty. I purchased a Zara brand suede jacket for under 4 British Pounds (that’s less than $10 Cdn!).
4. Roundabouts. In the city where the traffic light was invented, it is hard to believe that roundabouts still exist. However, it keeps the traffic flowing. Anyone from Toronto would love that!
5. Museums. And not just the world renowned Natural Museum with the dinasour bones. There are plenty of museums and art gallery’s in this city. And the museums are FREE. That’s right, no charge. I think Chris Anderson would like that.
6. Public Transit. London is a city where one can literally travel anywhere, and I mean anywhere, by public transit. Public transit in London includes bus, train and underground. There are various zones and times and prices to match. For example, one could travel all night long on the famous London buses for under 5 British pounds! Or, you could use all the different options and travel with your family for up to 24 hours for under 50 British pounds. Not only is the pricing outstanding, but so is the coverage. Anywhere in London is accessible to everywhere at all times.
7. No urban sprawl. This does not mean there are no “big” homes or green spaces. It means that London takes it’s space serious and does not waste it. For a city as huge, dense and populated as London, it’s incredible that it’s basically void of highrises.
8. Cobblestone. There is that “something” about roads and sidewalks make of rock and stone isn’t there?
9. Weather. London gets it’s fair share of rain and overcast days. As a Torontonian, I would swap a week of sub-zero temperatures and blowing snow for a month of rain and drizzle. It is impossible to play golf year round in Toronto. In London? Fore!
10. People. What would a city be without it’s people? I am fortunate that I could travel to London at anytime and have a place to stay. With lots of family and friends, London easily tops my list as one of the best cities that I have ever travelled to.

LTD, or Leadership Team Development is a training and mentorship team that equips and empowers the entrepreneur through a business system of duplication and more importantly, includes education and mentoring from leaders in the industry. This weekend, they are holding a conference and recognition event in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Want to follow a few LTD independent business owners this weekend?

Then check out the #Summit09 twitter feed.

Have a great weekend folks!