One late night post

Recently is the first time I have been justified in my obsession with old music, I'm talking 1940s and older maybe. I can actually answer most of the questions on the Buzzcocks, feather in my cap I hear you say, silently anyway!

They say that a smell can take you back to that place, that time; and music does the same for me. What I would give to see the Stones play! And there is a longer list of people I want to see live, but for the moment my poor old laptop and I are the only ones who enjoy what I call my mouldy oldy fine collection. But I'm no dinosaur, I have a lot of the recent stuff too, but it helps me to keep track. And I have new found respect for the shuffle button.

Imagine this, like tonight, start with me working away on some creative, sprawled all over the floor buried in papers and 32 little Lindt Gold Bunnies lined up to keep my company, add a little bit of AC/DC's She Likes Rock N Roll, next on to The Rolling Stones' Gimme Shelter (remind me of Sunita's essay on the Stones); then a fairly modern one of Deadmau5's excellent remix of Medina's You and I. Hit the next button to Lips Inc's Funky town (I always have to listen to The Bangles' Walk like an Egyptian for my mom)...on to Alanis Morisette's Thank You; and yes at this point I am crooning broken lyrics; throw in a bit of Curtis Mayfield's Superfly (the only tune that suits Gregory House's new fire cane) and Black Sabbath's Iron Man; a dash of Stillwater's Running Free, a smidge of Engelbert Humperdinck's Release Me, a tad of Coldplay's Shiver, an ickle bit of Moby's Porceline (best concert at This is London). Now how can I forget The Beatles' Day Tripper, The BeeGee's Tragedy, Toxic Avenger and Orelsan's N'importe comment (visiting Vivienne), The Global Deejay's remix of The Mamma and Papas's Califonia Dreaming (Ritesh and his highway driving), Fat's Domino's Blueberry Hill (reminds me of breakfast and the Jukebox at Blueberry Hill at 7am with Omar, after staying up the whole night playing cards). How dare I leave out Lenny Kravitz's American Woman, Micheal Jackson's Don't Stop Till You Get Enough (spending the whole summer listening to David singing only the "Ohh" sounds MJ makes), Bobby Darin's Mack the Knife, Incubus's Drive and Frank Sinatra's My Way (which I saw a street performer playing today, very well might I add, at the street corner with a paper bag on his head, and, yes you guessed it, tonight I walked home singing the only lyrics I remembered of the song). To continue with my endless playlist: John Lennon's Imagine(the lyrics of which I learnt by heart), Franz Ferdinand's Matinee, Never Tear Us Apart by INXS (which is set on Charles Bridge, the most beautiful place in all of Prague), Massive Attack's Teardrop (I miss my conversation with Evan about the meaning of this song),Phil Collins's sick drum solo in In the Air tonight, Morena My Love by Tom Boxer (Mona and her BMW) and finally before I am done, The Animal's House of the Rising Sun.

And oddly without knowing it 29 songs later, I am done with work and it's good night moon.

Inspired by The Ask

A respected business leader once said, "The word ask is no longer a verb, it's become a noun and it is now known as The Ask"

Mumbo jumbo? Marketing buzz words? I thought so too, but only initially. Only when I allowed the meaning to wash over me did I realize the truth in every word.

The dictionary defines it as: to call on for an answer, and there are various other interpretations along the same lines. In contemporary usage the word has been reappropriated a whole new meaning. It is fascinating to note that while it is an ordinary word, it transcends our understanding of the language as we know it. It brings to mind the Oral society of Marshal McLuhan and the repercussions of the written word. Now I'm not going to get all philosophical on you, dear reader, but just take a minute to decipher what I could mean by the difference between ask and the ask.

I find myself converted to a disciple of the ask. It's not just an idea, it's a way of life.

Steve Nash said, and I am paraphrasing here, you will miss every shot you don't take. This sentence while perfectly logical on it's own, can be connected to the ask in a rather perverted fashion.

So what in the world am I on about you might ask, and I'm going to put your mind at ease. Come with me on this journey, the universe is a limitless vacuum where we are left to essentially fend for ourselves. From the Darwin to evolutionists, we cannot agree how we came to be on earth, but now that we are here, our lives are what we perceive it to be. It is widely known that what we see around us is our perception of it and not necessarily its exact form. The ask becomes powerful here because to make the ask, we must know what we want. Call it a sales technique but it's definitely a very zen life choice. To distill the meaning, I would define it as what we know of our final destination to ensure that all efforts are mindlessly yet effectively directed at what we ask for.

This is the mantra:
I am determined to ask for what I want. I know I will always get what I want and sometimes I will get what I need because I ask for what I want. It might be the long way around but essentially in it's purest form, it's the optimized route.

The fabulous thing about this idea is that it is a paradigm shift. It shifts the onus from the universe to ourselves and empowers us with the power to ask for the ask.

The day I met Roger Federer!!!

At the outset, it is important to note that I have been following Roger Federer's career since 2004. When I was a kid running around trying to bump into tennis players. Not like that has changed much but this is back in the day when Roger was a rising star in the ATP Rankings.

The first time I saw him play was at the Dubai Tennis Championships. I have gone there as a child and seen many great players but this time everything was different, I was mesmerised by his technique and game. I have followed his career ever since and for anyone who knows me intimately, you would know this!

Right now, he is in Toronto for the Rogers Cup. He played some amazing games against Michael Llodra and Thomas Berdych. I was there to watch the Michael Llodra match at the sponsors' booth since the company I work for is a sponsor of Roger Federer and the Rogers Cup. He came to meet my team after his match. It was the defining moment of my 6 year obsession.

It made my day! I was even able to give him a red envelope with a fan letter!

It was awesome! He is a gentleman, he stood with all of us and took photos and signed whatever we asked him to. He made us all laugh.

I wish him all the best in this tournaments and the ones up ahead. He has played very well since the beginning of this tournament and here's wishing he wins the Rogers Cup, after all it has his name on it!

Season of chances

The title although quite vague, seems to explain what I feel.

So a lot of random yet wonderful things have happened in the past week and I want to share these crazy and random stories.

So it all began last Sunday, I was showing a friend around Toronto and I took him to the O&M building, we stood there for 10 minutes talking about my job strategy and my communication with them. On our way out, I bumped into the person who interviewed me! on a Sunday, how random is that! I didn't say hello at the time and I have been kicking myself for it ever since. But I did send her an email and she replied, my heart soared and there was a huge smile pasted on my face all day.

Then on Thursday I went for drink with the work crew, and first of all I should mention this is an awesome place in the heart of downtown, off to the east. I wind my way through the entire place and past a few bars, and land up at the table. I greet all the VPs of the company and they put me in charge of getting the shots, reasoning that I was the youngest of the group and the last out of university. I agreed and on my way to the bar, I thought I saw someone I know out of the corner of my eye. I wasn't sure, so I finished my thought with my boss and turned around and said his name, audible but just not. He turned around and it was him! I was wondering who is screwing with me but he was sitting at the next table. It was great, I got the chance to see him, in the most random fashion. Meeting him refilled me with all the ideas I learnt at the event I met him at. I played the host and served others. As my reward, I got to spend some valuable private face time with the leaders in my business. This is valuable because not only did I learn about how they work and how they got there, I got to express my desires to them.

And the cherry in my drink, was that the next day I continued my rock music conversation with the VP.

What a great week!!! How was yours?

Digitally Distinct and you?

Trumpeter Swans

I was amazed to read about Trumpeter Swans, it seems they are monogamous for their entire lives...what a lovely thought!

I am not going to go down the rabbit hole talking about the mating habits of Homo sapiens. But I think it is an amazing metaphor for loyalty.

I read recently how a consumer didn't like the fact that advertisements talked of having a meaningful relationship with his deodorant. I agree and disagree with him. We only have eyes for our pet brand, just like we seek the company of people we know and like. They say brand loyalty forms at a young age, but I feel as though brand recognition comes at an early age, evidenced by my nephew only liking the golden 'M' of McDonald's. Brand loyalty comes at the time when we consume consciously, especially since we spend our hard earned money, how ever hard or easy it was to get. With the amount of choices in today's marketplace, finding a brand to fit your lifestyle is as elusive as that perfect human relationship.

I am very happy with the relationships I have with my family, friends and brands. I cant consume as much as I'd like to but the intention is the most powerful drive, and as marketeer I seek to make these connections, so I understand how rare it is to find it. I found my Trumpeter Swan, have you?

Why I smile on the train

I recently read this book by Dr. Jim Muncy called 'One Door, Two Locks', and I must say it opened my eyes.

I used to think I was always right, about everything, or that all my thoughts and ideas have merit. Not that they don't but he quoted Albert Einstein's observation that the problems we face can't be solved with the same thinking that created them.

So it's Spring cleaning time, filing away all my thoughts in deep folders, properly cross referenced for the future. I am aiming to train myself out of bad habits and into approaching every new thing without preconceived ideas from my deep database of random information. This approach has its flaws too but after preliminary assessments to my attitude toward the project in question, I am going to follow what a great man once said, " God has given us two ears and one mouth, use it in proportion".

It has made me a happier person, humbled by the realization. I am living in today and taking full opportunity of what I have before I move on. I cannot stress the importance of this decision but I strongly feel you must come to the realisation on your own, nothing that you believe in strongly was because you had to believe it.

When you pursue your passion everyday, there is a constant smile on your face, a spring in your step, warm sunshine, enlivened senses, and honestly that is what I am content with.

Until next time....

Wine and Cheese

Recently I went to a Wine and Cheese event. I quite enjoyed the parings and like the speaker said "Wine and Cheese is a marriage made in heaven". The speaker is a wine expert having sampled wines from all around the world and has a book out called Ask the Wine Doctor.

With the Maître Fromager he paired cheeses with the wines to bring out either a contrast or a complimentary flavour. As we are told, we put a bit of cheese on our tongue and once it was warmer, we press it to the roof of the mouth(palette) and sip the wine. The flavours mixing is noticeable to even a naive and untrained tongue. The Wine expert discussed the flavours he got from the wines. I even guessed a few like Pear, Black Cherry, Leather, Tobacco, Acetone etc.

For your parties you may try these:
- The Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa) with Grey Owl
- The Rocca delle Macie Chianti Vernaiolo (Italy) with Hercule
- The Caliterra Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile) with Tomme de Gross Ile
- The Taylor Fladgate First Estate Port (Portugal) with Bleu Elizabeth

The Sauvignon Blanc/Grey Owl and the Chanti/Hercule are my favourites. The Port/Bleu Elizabeth is an acquired taste due to the high presence of Brandy.

Thank you Edward Finstein!

With thanks...

Today I had the immense fortune to meet with a personality so large, it is hard to describe. This man walks the walk and talks the talk. He is no preacher because he practises what he says. The man I am talking off is the author of an amazing book which is a tool out of the toolbox of life. The book inspires me to make what I want achievable and encourages you to plan for success. Many people say the same thing but he is so giving with his valuable time. I am truly grateful to him and I would attribute my new found energy to his teachings.

He gave me a copy of his book and signed it 'Pursue Your Passion Everyday' and 'You Rock!!'. He pish-poshed my feeble excuses of not having his book and magnanimously gave me the book. Again, I am in his debt.

He is an amazing personality and I wish him all the best in life.

Difficilis, querulus, laudtor temporis acti. Se puero, castigator, censorque minorum

Difficilis, querulus, laudtor temporis acti. Se puero, castigator, censorque minorum.

What does it mean? It means "Testy, a grumbler, inclined to praise the way of the world when he was a boy, to play critic and to be a censor of the new generation"

And if you know me, that is who I am. Comments?