A Coup d'État - Canadian Style

For the last 3 months, Canadians were proud to tell the world that they knew how to keep their country in order, being the only major economy not being hard hit by the Wall Street's meltdown and related economic downturn...

This may prove to have been a bit presumptuous... Now it does look like Canada's economy is set to shrink like other parts of the World. But also, Canada is the stage of a "legal coup". After receiving a second minority government mandate, the Conservatives are on the verge of being pushed out by a very strange coalition composed by headless liberals, separatist bloc MPs and left wingers of the NDP.

This post is not taking stand for one party or the other, but I couldn't resist commenting on this very strange, Brit style, Coup d'État. Canada does look like a banana republic sometimes.

Let's see what happens and how our Governor General deals with it!

Outliers

I have wanted to write more during the last few weeks, but with all that I have committed to accomplish, I simply face an uncontrollable limitation... days only have 24 hours!

This post will be like most of my recents, short.

I bought Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Outliers. I got the audio version (at Audible ) and listened to it during the weekend.

Although Gladwell may face harsh critics, as he does not hesitate to qualify the fairy tales behind public icons like the Beatles and Bill Gates, his book is well written, intelligent and insightful. Please, it keeps the reader (listener) on his/her toes.

Building the Tribe

I have recently read Seth Godin's most recent book, Tribes. Godin is a very good author and a great source of inspiration. Godin's work mainly covers, explores, and explains the "new marketing" or the way ideas and brands reach us in this day and age.

With the National Broadcast Orchestra alive, the founders' group will now need to build a "tribe" of passionate music aficcionados to help organize its "backstage".

The response of the fans has been great so far and we will now launch our campaign. The Orchestra will need to raise funds, but it will also need to build a team of volunteer who can handle some of the day to day operations.

The Orchestra's website is the central point to let us know your interest. Don't hesitate... just visit us.

Finally, the last CBC Radio Orchestra's concert will be broadcasted Sunday, November 30, 2008 at 1:00 pm on CBC Radio 2. This concert was simply fantastic!

The iPhone 3G is the Best Business Phone at the Moment

I was in Vancouver last weekend for the launch of the National Broadcast Orchestra. Everything was going smoothly until the moment my iPhone crashed in the afternoon on Saturday. After racing back to my hotel room to try to reset my handset, I realized that I would not be able to do anything. This is unresting as I still had 2 days away from home and the phone is/was my main link to the World.

I had no choice but to rush to the Apple Store (around 5 pm). When I got there I talked to the concierge. She explained that there were no more available appointments with a technician that day (they call them geniuses, which in certain case is not far from the truth). I explained my situation, being on the West Coast on business and absolutely needing my phone. She went back store and came back saying that someone would take care of me in a few minutes. The genius who was assigned to my case was a young man named David. David was nice to me and very professional. He tried to fix the phone, but after a few minutes he realized that the problem was more complicated than expected. He then excused himself, went behind the same door as the concierge minutes earlier and came back with a little black box... containing a new phone.

It took about 5 minutes to activate the phone and then I had to restore my phone on my laptop (took about 20 minutes to bring my new iPhone with everything I had on the previous phone when it was backed-up, the day before)... I am not sure any handset provider out there could claim to have a strong retail presence like Apple... with well trained technicians, available at 5 pm on a Saturday... that can fix a major problem by simply giving you a new phone, no questions asked... which phone can be restored (no lost data) within minutes, all of this on your own... without having to deal with your company's MIS...

On a lighter note...

I am in Vancouver right now for the last concert of the CBC Radio Orchestra and the launch of the National Broadcast Orchestra.  It is exciting to be at the center of this project... music lovers are so passionate... it's a great buzz.

Besides the fact that I ate the best burger I have ever had yesterday (@Glowbal), the only thing I can report right now (I have 5 minutes to write this post) is that I was happy to see that my friend Laurent's Silentale was selected to present at Le Web 2008 in Paris next month.  I wish him best of luck (but since he's got a great business, he may not need to be so lucky) and I can't wait to join the beta tester bandwagon.

More to come from the Westcoast.

Rhetoric: Lessons Learned from Y2K

I was watching the news yesterday and I couldn't help it. Listening to those economists who warn us this recession will be the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, all I could think about was Y2K.

For those who were old enough, no need to explain... For all others, I can summarize by saying it was a great moment to be a consultant... From 1998 to the end of 1999, billions were spent to avoid a catastrophe, that never happened.

Fema (for Kids) gives a fun explanation about it. As for my toned down thoughts about the recession, well, I hope I'm right.

Image via Fema

Tune (down) the Message

A few years ago I read an article in an ABA magazine about lawyers' common couple related mishaps. I will try to find a link to this, but to summarize, the author was saying that lawyers develop behaviors that may interfere with normal social interaction. Although this was pure generalization, I had no choice but to agree to most of what was in there.

I am talking about this because I have had to deal with this kind of "problems" during the last few days. As I am working on the various presentations for the launch of ZeFridge, I have a tendency to get into lengthy very precise explanations about facts, details, and also about functionalities that will be featured down the road in future releases. This way of putting things may be appropriate when reviewing a share purchase agreement or building a negotiation strategy with a client, but when it comes to efficiently present a mass market product, there are better ways...

This is a humbling experience. I truly realise the value of the people who volunteer to give their advice. I am pretty sure the delivered result will be fantastic. However, I also realise how much I "depend" on those around if I want us to deliver a company that meets the expectations.

Thanks to all of you!

Embracing Micro Branding (Part 1)

My post today is a bit more personal than usual, as it deals with emotions... my emotions.  I have been in the "work force" for a little more than 14 years and have always kept a low profile.  Better be known by the right people and not get over exposure, as this can lead to unwanted externalities.  This is particularly true when you are a lawyer.

Although I picture myself as just a regular guy, I have to admit that I've been doing more than the 9 to 5 gig for most of my adult life.  From launching successfully a 2-guy commercial law firm (and working on Tier 1 work in this setting) and other ventures, to my community involvement, I have never sought any kind of recognition beyond being a competent, successful straight shooter, known by the people who need to know me.  In other words, a private guy.

My recent involvement in the rescue effort for the Vancouver based radio orchestra has lead to a personally unknown level of public visibility.  For instance, last Thursday, there was an article in the Globe and Mail where my partner in the effort, conductor Alain Trudel and myself were showcased.  I also had to give a live interview on the French CBC on Friday afternoon (I had never done that).

I did not venture into the NBO project to get anything personally out of it, including notoriety.  But for this ambitious project to succeed, I need to play the game and provide the transparency that people expect.  Even if this means that I have to get some public attention.

But my main question is... now what?  Do I embrace this new brand, that is me?  

More to follow.

 

Customer Service - A+ to Via Rail

I took the train back from Toronto last Friday.  When it got in at Montreal Central Station, I was under pressure to go back home as soon as possible.  I was being interviewed live on the French CBC at 5:48 pm, and the train got in at 5:20 pm.  So I took off as fast as I could, leaving my jacket behind.  I soon realized I had left it in the train, but as I was on a very tight schedule, I just could not go back.

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Walking on Rene-Lévesque Boulevard (trying to escape the traffic before jumping in a cab), I called the 800 number on my train ticket.  My call was answered within seconds and I did not have to press keys many times before speaking to a very nice lady.  Michelle (I do not recall here family name), after hearing my story, asked me to stay on line while she enquired.  She came back about 2 minutes later, saying the train had left the station.  She asked my phone number and told me she would follow-up personally on this matter.

When I came back home after trick or treating with my boys, about 3 hours after my call to Via Rail, Michelle was on the line to let me know that my belonging was found and would be brought back to Montreal's station.

I have to say that I am impressed.  It must have been a long time since I have seen such caring customer care. 

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

After spending the last few days doing non core stuff (a NBO related trip and hours spent working on this fantastic project, attending my volunteer projects, the weekend, etc.) I had a meeting today with A and P, two friends and member of my board of advisors.

This meeting was supposed to be a dry run leading to investor presentations in the upcoming days.  A and P are two successful investors and they are straight to the point.

Well, A and P were very nice to me, but their message was simple, get your game up to the expected level.  I have to admit that I did not work enough on my presentation and the rehearsal turned out to be a tutorial on how to do my job as a CEO.

Well guys thanks for your time and I did get the point. This will not have been wasted time!