Live Webcast - Technology for Competitive Edge

On Feb 2, I will be participating in a live roundtable discussion on technology and its impact on small/mid-sized business. The session is called "Technology for Competitive Edge: How SME’s can use technology to their benefit."

The webcast is free. Please register here (scroll 1/2 way down to the "webcast" link)

Start time - Feb 2 @ 12:30pm EST

I was asked to join the roundtable given my experience in harnessing technology to differentiate RIGHTSLEEVE within a crowded industry.

I will also be discussing my experience as a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization where I am exposed to a number of businesses that have used technology to revolutionize their business model.

The panel is made up of the following people:

• Honourable Harinder Takhar, Minister of Small Business & Consumer Services

• Mark Graham, CEO, RIGHTSLEEVE.COM & President, Entrepreneurs' Organization (Toronto)

• Noel Hulsman, Editor, The Globe & Mail’s Small Business Magazine

• Michael McAvoy, Director, Commercial Marketing, Hewlett-Packard Co.

• Janeen Stodulski, CGA, Founder & Partner, Powerwatch.ca and former past Chair of Peel, CGA

A Web Marketing and Social Media Primer for Traditional Industries

I just returned from the PPAI (Promotional Products Association International) convention in Las Vegas. I made a presentation to industry colleagues on how RIGHTSLEEVE has used a myriad of web and social media tools to help transform our business .

Please see my presentation here.

Jakers & Me

Cath and I saw Marley & Me last night, the popular movie about Marley the lab and his doting master. I loved it. Just thinking about the last 1/4 of the movie still brings tears to my eyes. I admit that there are many striking parallels between the movie and my life as the doting owner of an equally gregarious lab, Jack (Jakerton, Jakers, etc).

I created my own version of Marley & Me (Jakers & Me?) in 2004 - produced on a shoestring budget, but heartwarming nonetheless.

The purpose of this post? Well, I never really thought that I could be so influenced by a relationship with a dog. Over the past 6.5 years, Jack has seen much evolution in our family as well as at RIGHTSLEEVE when he first bounded into our office as a 6 week old pup in the summer of 2002. I remember him bombing around the office, sniffing every garbage can, playing tug of war with a T-shirt before crashing in a heap on the reception floor. The pics from the old days (2002) are hilarious.

Today, he is our VP of Customer Experience. He keeps us grounded. He keeps things light, especially in the midst of the drama we deal with on a daily basis. He has left an indelible mark on our office culture. Friends, clients and suppliers alike are enthusiastically greeted by him when they visit our offices in Toronto.

As he's grown up, he's become my silent mentor. We have tackled many business challenges together as we have walked the pre-dawn streets of my neighbourhood.

As John Grogan states in the book Marley & Me , "A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his."

What more could you want in a VP?