Timeraiser - What a year!

When was the last time you really stepped out of your comfort zone?

Because of a program called "Timeraiser" I did for the past year...
It was uncomfortable and surprisingly exhilarating!

It all began when I joined a LinkedIn group called UnitedWay Toronto GenNext.

A group that was all about "giving a damn" in your city and engaging young professionals.

The first event coming up was called the "Timeraiser 2010". As someone who works in non-profit, I thought the idea was both brilliant and fascinating.

I went to the event, it was affordable, fun, in a hip and trendy location and had incredible music
(Franklin's Fault - Incredible live band blues, jazz, funk )

Got swept up in the bidding and the concept of actually having my own original piece of art!

I work up the next day and thought, hey no sweat...I used to volunteer 40 hours a week!
But that was before the wedding ring, dog, cat, baby etc...

It was an interesting year. I met some crazy professional volunteers at a Blue Jays game, which actually led to my first blog post.

Took me outside my comfort zone
as I usually only volunteer with charities I donate to and know well.

Met many amazing professionals and continue to volunteer at the uber-professional Acces Employment Services in Toronto. I joined GenNext for a Speed mentoring evening of theirs. Very well organized, great use of time, highly recommend it.

Even when I helped out with PR for the event I was learning how to use new Twitter functions.

Did some board and other community work - all to end up back at the 2011 event.

Last night was a lot of fun. I picked up my art and capped off an amazing year.


I meet so many people who tell me "I need to get out more and network"
but I know, it's tiring! Exhausting just thinking about it.

Let me confess here:
Timeraiser gave me the motivation.
GenNext makes it easy.
The charities make it way too much fun to do something good for this world.
Make no mistake I engaged in some $$ making business networking at the event
I met new people who are professionals like me and are now part of my network
I'm a CBC radio junkie and got to meet Garvia Bailey, host of Big City, Small World

It GAVE me energy. Aided my happiness and success in work and life.
I feel almost guilty for going through the experience and ending up ahead.

So! Join GenNext on LinkedIn , Twitter or online today.

Don't miss Timeraiser 2011 in your city or in Toronto in 2012
( I'll be there! )

Thank you deeply Timeraiser and GenNext team, you have given me a great gift.

I am eternally grateful.

A new place is born - YNP Canada

This is my hat
and tonight it goes off to:

Brock Warner,
Diane Faure and the team at Stephen Thomas Ltd.

Now, I'm not going to lie.

I'm openly pissed off and jealous that they made the first move.

Others have tried, so many have flapped their jaws about it ( me included )

But no one bit the bullet, ate the budget and came out, network swinging.

Someone had to do this. Sure I hold private events for my network. But a big brand, a respected player in the community had to come out and take the lead.

Not only was it branded well but a well chosen speaker nailed the tone and the topic.

Drew Dudley and the ST team said the "unspeakable". Something I've been dying to hear from the many fundraising "associations" but just could not and would not be said.

We know the system is broken.
So make sure you know how to work it, understand why you're here
and when the time comes.....
Quit. Get out. Follow your heart, dreams and gut. There is success there.

I loved that Drew quoted from my beloved Seth Godin and Robin Sharma.
He asked us to consider how we value ourselves, our work and not to judge ourselves against the barometer of others.

I met so many new people! Very refreshing
A nod to the Humber class of 2011 great to see you out.

Although ST team... tsk tsk. Where was the commercial? The speech, ST hand stamps?

I already respected your team but I wouldn't refer you out of just gratitude - I will on the fact that you made this happen because it was the right thing to do and you kept your institutional integrity. Which is so rare.

This team continues to, as Seth Godin says "ship". FIRST.

A real contribution to our community was made tonight.

A new safe space for young third sector professionals ( I won't say nfp Drew... )

Very exciting stuff. I look forward to future events...

Sleep well ST - you did some real good today.

"Leadership and learning are indespensable to each other" JFK

Brock, Drew, Diane and CEO of ST ... Neil G

Twittervenger or Twitternoyance?

Two connected profiles.
One too weak, one too active....

I do spend a good deal of time on LinkedIn.
Make no mistake, it pays me dividends in work and life.
It's the Facebook of business.

But a select few were hogging my update page.
With good and interesting information - but too much.
Then there are the um. other posts.
The ones meant for Facebook [ I crinkle my nose at that word ]

A week ago a peer of mine confessed to me ......
"You post too much on LinkedIn, it's annoying"
Me?!?!? But then I realized that I was caught between worlds.

Too much on LinkedIN...not engaged enough on Twitter.

Just because you can link them, doesn't mean you should. Got it.

So three steps here....

1) I'm going to "hide" the updates of those who post too much on linkedin. Yes, I'll miss their useful updates but when you swear or post too much about your day or dinner - I'm out

2) I've partially disconnected my two accounts. Good for you LinkedIn, they have a new feature where you can still post but in a modified way.

3) I am going to commit to learning how to use Twitter. Found out that I've missed a few opportunities because I didn't know. I just don't want to end up like this guy.


So, I'm going to learn from the jedi masters in my business network who put out useful information....
The Agents of Good
Scott Fornum
Claire Kerr
Paula Attfield at Stephen Thomas
Jenny Henry
Kimberley MacKenzie

Thanks for teaching me how to do it right!

Just one confession to be clear.
I started using LinkedIn a lot more when we had a baby and I was home a lot more.
I'm using Twitter a lot more because I finally got a smartphone
So THAT's how I'll manage the time. Waiting for the bus!

Now my profiles will hopefully look and be more like this

a challenge to leaders - you need to be a mentor

Two leaders, two days.

Yesterday I sat with a mentor in my life. Someone I observe often.

They helped me a ton a few years ago by letting me watch how they solved problems
- management problems
- strategy problems
- interpersonal problems
- family problems
- life problems

It was of huge value early in my career

There plenty of great mentoring programs out there

But what I'm talking about isn't formal

It's three face to face meetings a year - that's it

Just let young professionals understand why you're human
ESPECIALLY if you have a rep of being superhumanly awesome

Let 'em see inside the kitchen of your mind.
Like my cooking mentors
Urban Peasant, Wok with Yan and Pasquale

Was with another brilliant professional today
In their sector they were unmatched and the sun is setting on their working life

But they didn't build a successor. No direct mentoring at all.

And now a professional legacy is dying. What a waste.

So! Hot shot. Start today.
40 year old Directors. Start today.

30 something up and comers. Call a big name. Ask to buy them lunch.

DON'T SAY "can I pick your brain"
- that's what zombies do

"Can I listen and learn"

I know, it's hard for me to shut up too.

Get lunchin'

Do you have social media insurance?

Welcome.....to your everything.

Let me just go on a tangent for a second. I WANT THAT TIE/POCKET SQUARE COMBO - I've been scouring the internet - I will pay anything. *ahem* back to the topic at hand.

Three smart cookies got me thinking....

Malcolm Burrows asked about a digital estate plan

Promod Sharma went through a social media black out

Susan RoAnne asked the question....service or spam?

We have insurance for our physical stuff...what about our digital stuff?

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge promoter of LinkedIn.
I don't use Facebook and haven't invested in other social media
(ok, I have a Twitter account - but because it's connected to my LinkedIn!)
I have put all my eggs in one basket.

I have important contacts in there
Blog posts with ideas I want to remember
Recommendations that are important to my career
Book reviews of great reads

If LinkedIn starts to pull a Facebook, or if the service goes down or under

What then?

Thanks for the thought!

So I backed as much as I can up today.

Nothing huge, just cut and paste into Word.

But if there's a digital disaster... I'll be ok.

Something you might want to consider?

Go on the attack, do it right now.
(Ps. LinkedIn has a really cool "export" into Excel function!! )

After all, the best defense...

Thinking ahead - A powerful Canadian Resource

Now What?!

It's a question more boomers are asking themselves as they care for aging parents - as they age too

Many of us in sectors that serve "seniors" need to understand the challenges they face.

Have more resources in our network to help them when we can't or shouldn't.

Those of us with family need to start having the tough conversations around these issues

Who can help? Sherri Auger.

A great teacher and speaker in my network - she should be in yours too!

Recently Sherri co-wrote this powerful book (with former Macleans editor Barbara Wickens ). The book includes:
- How to emotionally deal with illness, aging and death of a loved one
- Actual scripts for families looking to have honest conversations
- How to navigate the very confusing Canadian health and aging care industry
- The actual resources needed and steps to take when someone dies

Through her company "Caring Matters" she has been helping people deal with the tough questions for almost two decades.

Check out her blog or her book.

I asked several peers of mine to review the book they all came back with the same response.

They couldn't stay objective. The book taught them how to start acting now!

Here's one email I got from a Director of fundraising who I expected a technical response from..... "My mother is 81 and lives on her own. For her, it is improper to talk about private issues. Death and estate planning are two of those very private subjects.

Therefore, my brothers and I are in the dark, so to speak,
when it comes to knowing about her end of life wishes.

After reading the book I called my mom and told her we need to iron out both her end of life wishes, and her late life wishes. I also said we need to make contingency plans should her health fail. Initially she was reserved and uncomfortable. But, after a few calls she agreed to a series of meetings to work out details.

In our most recent phone conversation, my mother thanked me for caring and confided that she just “didn’t want to bother anyone”. For our meeting next week, we will start going over a number of items, including several that were brought to my attention by the book.

Thanks again for putting me on to “Now What”. The process has begun for us."

I have watched Sherri speak from years of experience.

I would trust my loved ones to her expertise and care.

Do you want to understand your aging clients or donors better?

Book Sherri to speak to your team or group.

Don't be caught asking......"Now What?!"

Your digital legacy?

A fascinating mind in the world of philanthropic gift planning, Malcolm Burrows, has a very cool job.

His insight and experience caused him to make a powerful note at a speaking engagement last month when he was talking about the state and future of "legacy planning".

He mused on the concept of a digital will and executor.
Wonderfully enough he wrote about it recently in this really educational blog collective he's a member of. He also mentioned this new book.

I had heard of the concept a little while back when I tripped over this quirky little powerpoint and this really great interview on CBC's digital wonderland, Spark.

A very cool but important planning thought.
I made my quick digi-will last night. How 'bout you?

Think about it - or watch this 2 minute video.