I just completed a very interesting 2 day experience as a member of the judging panel in this year’s Brampton Outstanding Business Achievement Awards. The City of Brampton has been running this competition for over 10 years now. It starts with an online application, the City then creates a shortlist of finalists, and it all ends with an annual gala where they acknowledge local innovators and business success stories in a range of categories. As a member of this year’s judging panel, I joined a group of local business leaders visiting this year’s finalists and conducting interviews with their owners and executives to help determine the winners. Why was I involved? I was asked to take part because ITW was honoured last year in the Information and Communications Technology category (see here and here). It was pretty cool to be on the other side of the table this year – recognizing the excitement and nerves bubbling up in the finalists during the interviews and office visits. Read more…
ITW and Glenn Davis Group with Ron Ellis
I feel pretty jazzed when I get to spend a morning combining 2 of my favourite things.
The great people at the Glenn Davis Group are longtime clients of ITW and their team is one of our most formidable hockey rivals! Their VP of Operations and their Technology Director wanted to sit down with us, share a mutual business update, and talk about some of their IT priorities for the coming year. We decided to add a little magic to the event, so we booked one of the boardrooms at the Hockey Hall of Fame. ITW is a proud sponsor of the HHOF, and so we were able to get Toronto hockey legend—and Stanley Cup winner—Ron Ellis to take us on a private tour before we sat down to talk business. Read more…
Greek Phalanx
Peridocially, Jay and I like to hold an “all hands on deck” meeting with our team. We call it our State of the Arsenal address. It’s a chance to gather everyone for half an hour and ensure we’re all on the same page and marching in sync. With so much going on lately, we decided to hold one this morning. Read more…
PT Barnum: Genius or Con-Man?
Phineas Taylor Barnum was the world’s first show-business millionaire. He could promote and sell anything. He is historically … but erroneously … credited with the following phrase: There’s a sucker born every minute. The self-serving wisdom here is clear enough: there is no shortage of people who are willing to part with their money in exchange for empty promises, miracle potions, smoke, mirrors, and fanfare.
The only thing I dislike more than losing is dishonesty. That’s probably why I don’t like magicians or clowns! Read more…
