Easter weekend involved dozens of progeny, including many grandchildren, coming to Gramma’s homestead. A well behaved bunch of young adults, most of whom are Millennials, 17 to 25 yrs old. Much of their conversations involved …wait for it…science. Huh? Not the latest Gaga tweet? Not Bieber’s new haircut? Not which smartphone is the sleekest, or [...]

Wisdom, Skill, Virtue: Real or mythical, there’s something compelling about the idea of someone who embodies all 3 traits eg the warrior-monk, noble yet humble, dedicated to a larger cause. A thinker who is rich in spirit, yet willing & able to act decisively. The Shaolin priest-warrior; the taciturn dispossessed Ronin; a self-sacrificing Knight Templar; [...]

Had a discussion with a friend recently about the Millennials, a generation who get a bad PR rap for being ‘withdrawn into themselves & their devices’. My experience is that they are indeed connection-focused. They believe Virtual is Virtuous, and we’re just going to have to adjust. A fellow prof won’t allow any cellphone surfing [...]

Had an interesting chat with a promising Seneca Marketing grad struggling to decide between adding Sales skills or Social media skills. I admit my Crystal ball was unclear on this dilemma. If a Marketing grad rounds out their skills with Sales techniques- and proves able to ‘close a sale’- it certainly can be beneficial to [...]

Lately I’ve seen a few initiatives all focused on creating a community of like-minded folks, or building on a community. I would define “Community” as ‘a manifestation of meaningful connections’. Websters defines it as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest, living together within a larger society”. Recent examples? A TV ad [...]

I was at the AutoShow yesterday; the vehicles were smokin’ hot; but many of the staffers were freezing cold. The staff you select for a consumer show is crucial. It reflects on your image; after all, staff gives a ‘first impression’ of a brand. I never understood why companies bother to exhibit at a show, [...]

Even as brands go global and, at their best, are ever more valuable, some recent trends point to brands being more vulnerable if mis-handled. I won’t call brands today ‘fragile’, but I might say that sins can now hurt a brand faster than ever. Especially given the growing power of ‘The Fifth P’ of Marketing [...]

Next week, the college course I teach in Entrepreneurship, which has been focused from the start on BUILDING a business, will shed light on BUYING a business, or buying a FRANCHISE. Those 3 choices are all very distinct; they force one to really reassess what one wants & who one is: Building a business is [...]

Another new study suggests that Wii Walks are better than Real Walks- ie seniors who do ‘walk’ exercise with Wii’s are more engaged mentally than they are in real walks; consequently the Wii is a better approach for retaining mental agility. We’ve previously seen how Alzheimer’s patients benefit from puzzles & game therapy. Pilots are [...]

A spirit of selflessness goes with this season- so here’s a note to all Managers. Be thankful for the folks that keep the trains running on time, the products getting out the door, the taxman & regulators’ staying out of your hair, and the customers happy. Santa may get all the attention & credit- but [...]