sports, Toronto

Inspirational Person – The Good Doctor

I suggested a few blog posts ago that I would highlight a couple of inspirational people a month in this space. I’m gonna cut that down to one. At least. That way I can still host a few guest blogs and write about other things. However, don’t be surprised if I highlight more than one person a month. Thanks for understanding. And now, on with today’s show…

Roy “Doc” Halladay.

I know. He’s been in the news a lot lately regarding a potential trade away from the only professional baseball team he’s ever played for. He’s a multi-million dollar pitcher. Many consider him the best at his craft. Even George W. Bush likes him (Dubya was a part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball club before he was President of the U.S.).

So why is he this month’s Inspirational Person?

Is it because he plays for my favourite team? Is it because he’s so good? Is it because Doc is topical? Not at all.

Focus.

It’s something I strive for. And I know many of you strive for it.

Focus is that thing you do with a single-minded purpose. Whatever your purpose and vision is (heck, whatever it is that you do think about and do on a daily basis) demands that you be focused. We all need to be focused to complete our “task” with excellence.

It’s what Doc does. Everyday. Not just every fifth day when he is on the mound. But everyday, he prepares himself – mentally and physically – so that when he is called upon he displays excellence. These past few days, we have seen him answer question after question about the why and where and when of the trade rumours (especially during last week’s All-Star game). And what what his answer? It was calm and professional. How did he pitch? Well, yesterday, he pitched a complete game six-hitter for another complete game victory over the American League leaders, Boston Red Sox.

How does he do it?

Focus.

And that’s why he’s this month’s (and this blog’s) inaugural Inspirational Person.

If you have a suggestion for an Inspirational Person you’d like to see featured here, please email me at karim_kanji at hotmail dot com.

Photo Credit – http://infieldfly.wordpress.com/tag/roy-halladay/
reading, sports

Leading From The Heart.

Another one bites the dust. A book that is. This is one “leadership” book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Duke basketball legend and coach, Mike Krzyzewski, wrote a book in 2001 titled, Leading From the Heart.

Here’s what you’ll read in this book: A narrative of Coach K’s (as he is affectionatly known) life from growing up in Chicago to leading Duke’s basketball program during their 100 year anniversary.

Leading From The Heart is a great book. And here is why it is for me: Because Coach K describes in detail his conversations, thoughts and actions in a variety of different situations. Situations that everyone – sportsperson, student, business tycoon, employee – can relate to.

The best part is his take on winning and success. I think you’ll enjoy it.

So, if you’re on a team, lead a team, or want to achieve the success that the Blue Devils have, this is a great book to pick up this summer and enjoy on your hammock.

Happy reading!

What are you reading this summer?

health

Sapna – guest post form Shereen Mir

A while ago I put out a request for topics for me to write about. A friend I’ve yet to actually meet, Bhupesh Shah (@ethnicomm on Twitter), suggested I write about South Asians (as I am one) and how their lifestyle and eating habits may prove to be fatal. My sister (@faizakanji on Twitter) also suggested I write something for Father’s Day.

So, this post is dedicated to the dreamers, the South Asians and Dad.

I hope you enjoy.

Why I decided to join SAPNA –My story, my sapna

I saw his pale face, wearing a blue hospital gown. My heart was beating rapidly, as my family and I gathered around him with worried faces. It was the first time I had ever seen my dad in the hospital.


What had just happened? My father experienced a heart attack. Although heart attacks are common among South Asians, my dad was unaware that his lifestyle and eating habits almost proved to be fatal.

Like many South Asians, my father loves to eat. Halwa, nihari, biryani, you name it and he ate it. As great as these popular South Asian dishes taste, such foods are rich in fats and oils and can cause serious damage to your health if eaten excessively.

In fact, many South Asian dishes contain ghee and fatty oils, which increase the level of LDL cholesterol and aggravate the tendency to develop insulin resistance syndrome – a condition that encompasses many illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

South Asians are predisposed to insulin resistance as compared to Caucasians due to having a higher central disposition of body fat, leading a more sedentary lifestyle, and eating food rich in oils. The best management and prevention of insulin resistance and its associated health conditions involve a change in lifestyle – eating healthier and being more active.

According to a 2006 study conducted in the UK that interviewed South Asians regarding undertaking physical activity as a part of their diabetes management, most South Asians were aware of the importance of physical exercise, but didn’t feel the need to engage in it because it didn’t fit their cultural norms and expectations. Some believed that their obligation to the home didn’t allow them enough time to exercise, or others believed that they were already active enough because they were engaged in a lot of physical labour or household work.

My father too believed that he didn’t need to exercise. His heart attack could have been easily prevented if he was more aware of the severity of its implications. Although I am lucky that my father is still alive, others have been unfortunate in losing their family members and other loved ones to a heart attack, diabetes or other health conditions commonly found in South Asians.

Thinking of my loved ones in mind, I sought an avenue where I could not only help my family be healthier, but help others and their families as well. That’s when I realized that my sapna (dream) could be fulfilled by turning to SAPNA (South Asian Professional Network for Awareness), an organization that strives to increase the awareness of health-related issues facing the South Asian community.

As a volunteer at SAPNA, I realized that I wanted to be a part of a community devoted to nurturing one of the greatest gifts of life – the gift of good health. At SAPNA, I strive to increase the general knowledge and awareness of two major health related issues facing South Asians – diabetes and heart disease.

References

Barnett, A.H. et al. 2006. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk in the UK South Asian community. Diabetologia 49:2234 –2246

Das, U.N. 2002. Metabolic Syndrome X is common in South Asians, but why and how? Nutrition 18(9): 774-776.

Ehtisham, S. 2005. Ethnic differences in insulin resistance and body composition in United Kingdom adolescents. Journal of Clinical Endrocrinology & Metabolism 90(7): 3963-3969.

Lawton, J. et al. 2006. “I can’t do any serious exercise”: barriers to physical activity amongst people of Pakistani and Indian origin with Type 2 diabetes

Shereen Mir is a volunteer member of SAPNA’s marketing and communications committee. You can read her tweets @shereenmir!

Uncategorized

Friday Lesson – Create

At least once per month I will highlight a business, life or even funny lesson here. My purpose is not to teach nor preach but to share some of the crumbs I’ve gathered from other people’s tables.

At my workplace and business I’ve come to learn that one of the best ways to attract business is to paint as positive a picture of myself, my service/product and my company as I possibly can. What I used to do was tear down my competition as if they were some sort of alien enemy hell bent on my destruction. In fact, what I do today is heap praise on my competitors when their name or brand is brought up by my clients.

Why?

Lesson – You attract what you project. If I project positiveness and goodwill this is what I will attract. Therefore, if I’m negative (towards myself or others) THIS is what I will get in return. If I’m positive, I will reap positive returns.

This is why the following article confused me. Kill Your Competition. I believe if we all want more business we should focus on uncovering our clients or prospects needs and fill that need. Bashing the other guy doesn’t bring anyone any business.

And I think we can say the same thing in regards to our relations with people. Small people talk about other people. Successful (in life) people talk about concepts and ideas.

What are your thoughts? What approach do you take in life/business? Do you spend time tearing down or building up? I’d love to read your thoughts and ideas.

Uncategorized

Update

With July just a few days away, I thought I’d let you know what you can expect from this blog over the next few months.

Once a month I’ll highlight and maybe discuss a lesson I’ve learned. It may be a life lesson or just an interesting life observation. I enjoy reading, so maybe I’ll share something from my books.

Twice a month, I’ll introduce you to a specific person who I’ve learned from. Some people prefer to remain anonymous so instead of names you may just get a description of their character and why they have inspired me.

I hope you enjoy this new “series” as much as I enjoy bringing it to you.

To start us off visit my good friend, Sameer Vasta’s, blog at itellstories.org. You’ll find my first take on an inspirational person.

Have fun!

Is there someone who you’d like to highlight here? Maybe someone famous or a good friend of yours? Or maybe a life lesson you’ve just learned? If so, just email me your story at karim_kanji [at] hotmail [dot] com.

blog

Your Call

I enjoy writing about the books that I read. I enjoy telling you about cool and interesting things that I come across.

However, I also understand that it’s also not always about me.

So, I’m going out on a limb here. (It’s a limb because I have not a clue how many people read this blog and would want to comment)

What would you like me to write or talk about? The choice is yours.

There are a few “rules of engagement”: Rational, reasonable and tasteful suggestions please.

Here’s what I will do in return: I will write about the suggestions you provide. If there are any really interesting one’s I may even choose yours as a theme to write about on a regular basis.

What would you like me to write about?
social media, Toronto

Hockey – The new battleground for social media.

Hockey is top of mind for many people these days. Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins are providing hockey and NHL fans with a great display of technique, passion and skill.

Then there is the “battle” taking place in Arizona. Balsillie versus Bettman.

Whether you or I believe or agree with what Mr. Blackberry is doing with his makeitseven.ca campaign is not the point of this post.

What Jim and his team do understand is that the power of social media tools are helping them to make a concerted effort to bring a hockey team to the Hamilton, ON residents. And it’s not just the makeitseven Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Here is a list (without links because you can find most if not all if you enter makeitseven.ca in your web browser of choice 🙂 ) of the “tools” he is employing:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • makeitseven.ca
  • Email updates to supporters (just sign up and become one!) on each and every legal and non-legal moves and initiatives
  • the makeitseven.ca shop where fans can buy merchandise
  • the HaveAVoice blog and community where fans can interact and share with each other
  • Photo and video galleries
  • Corporate partners (which are listed on the site) have also put out radio and tv commercials (at least in the Toronto area) which ask their customers to support the makeitseven campaign

This may sound like much ado about nothing. Here’s the thing though: Mr. Balsillie is a billionaire who does not have to garner public support in his bid to buy a hockey team. He just has to pay his lawyers enough and buy the team. He has the financial resources.

Why is this campaign a study in social media then? Because of what Mr. Balsillie has learned from running Research in Motion: In short, it is the public – the Audience – who is responsible for either the success or failure of any business, team or campaign.

This story and fight are far from over. I believe this is just the beginning of both this campaign and how future corporate sports battles will be fought.

What are your thoughts? What do you think of the makeitseven initiative?

social media

Social Media – Superhero? (updated 6/1/2009)

Here’s our team picture from yesterday’s events courtesy of http://www.casiestewart.com/:

My brother is Mr.Facebook on the right. Was part of a team of... on Twitpic
(original photo can be found here – http://twitpic.com/6eex3)

I have had the great opportunity to participate with numerous fund-raising events this past year. TwestivalTO, GREENtuity, GetInLine and now the World Partnership Walk with the A Social Movement Team.

The one thing they all have in common – besides helping to raise funds for worthy charities – is their use of online social media tools to raise awareness, a following and funds.

I could go into a discussion about the relevant merits of these tools. Do they work? Does joining an online cause really translate to much needed awareness, co-operation and funds? Why do they work/not work?

The one thing they absolutely do is engage more people that were never involved before. There is a generation of people who love to engage in social causes that used to be marginalized. No matter the reason they were. Today, however, more charities and other causes are embracing the “wired generation”. So much so that these same techie folks are now leading the way.

The more people we have helping out the more people that end of being helped. And that’s a good thing!


So, I am inviting all of you to this Sunday’s World Partnership Walk in Toronto (If you live in another city please click HERE.). Look out for this year’s Super Hero’s and thousand of other Torontonians as they walk towards smart solutions to solve global poverty.

Are you walking?
reading

The Choice

I’m finally getting back to my proper reading habit/schedule. I’m trying to read 24 books for 2009.

I tried another John Maxwell book. Even Psycho-Cybernetics started out with a promise. Yet I seemed to have gotten myself in a lull after speeding through 4 books early on this year.

So I decided to go to a classic. Someone whom I’ve always enjoyed reading. Og Mandino. He has a way of combining words together on paper that makes me want to continue reading well into the night. Only Malcolm Gladwell, recently, has done this for me.

So I turned to his classic, The Choice.


The Choice is a timely book. During these days of economic uncertainty and the pressures of choosing between financial survival (as we add a third job to our already hectic schedules) and family stability ring true for many people today. This is not the theme of The Choice.

In this book, we find a very successful breadwinner having to choose between the principles he believes in and teaches or succumbing to a life-altering decision.

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I highly recommend that father’s pick this book up today and start reading.

What book did you just finish reading? I would love to hear your thoughts on what you’re reading and if you’ve read The Choice, did you enjoy it?

Uncategorized

To Do Lists

I’ve always believed that if I wanted to get something done, it would have to be on my “to do” list.

This is Victoria Day long weekend in Canada. Only self-employed types and restaurant servers will be working on Monday. Which brings me to the point of this post.

What do you have on your to-do list this weekend?

I’m planning to get some barbecueing done; enjoy Toronto with my wife and son; maybe stop off at the Ontario Science Center (we have a family pass till July); do a little spring cleaning and do some business building.

Business building? Why? Because it’s all about time. A good friend of mine does not get to enjoy long weekends like the rest of us normal people do. Why not? Because many years ago he worked during long weekends. Now he has a successful business and is enjoying the fruits of his labour. His business provides him with the income he needs to enjoy a very nice lifestyle without him needing to work more than a few hours per week. So, he always has long weekends.


So this weekend, I’ll be doing some business. Oh, I’ll also enjoy the weather and friends and family.

What are you doing this long weekend?