Change is inevitable – learn to ride the wave

If there is only one lesson I can share, it would be that change is inevitable. Learning to accept change, and not fear it, or fight against it to maintain the status quo is the only way growth can happen. Sometimes the known is what is holding us back. A tiny shift in our perception could lead to the next big thing. Don’t be afraid of change - embrace it.

My only caveat is that change for the sake of change is often counter productive.

Reading Seth Godin’s Blog – Who will save us, sparked this train of thought this morning.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/02/who-will-save-us.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

Should Profs assign their own books?

The article listed below at globecampus.ca addresses this concern.

I agree there could be an ethical dilemma in professors assigning the very text they have had a hand in creating. However, I have found that when a prof is using their own text it proves to be better matched to the course content and worth the purchase price. Having taught myself in the past, I can see the value of creating your own text, especially when what is currently available on the market does not suit the class syllabus.

When I find myself in a position to teach again, I would consider writing the text if nothing available were suitable.

http://www.globecampus.ca/in-the-news/article/should-profs-assign-their-own-books/

Busy is good!

Busy is good, or so they say. I am definitely busy this semester!

I have taken a placement at Brescia University College (an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario in London). I look forward to Monday’s and feel that I have a great mentor in Julie Maltby. I have already been fortunate enough to design greeting cards,  interview students for marketing profiles, track Brescia in the media, write press releases, and so much more!

On Tuesday’s I can be found at the offices of the North America Railway Hall of Fame, working as part the Canada Southern Railway Station project. I have written weekly press releases, and been given total creative freedom over their member newsletter re-design.

I have classes Wednesday – Friday at Fanshawe. I have also taken on freelance writing for the St. Thomas/Elgin Weekly News, and The Londoner. Watch for my byline!

Busy is good! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Experience is the best teacher, and I am going to get as much of an education as I can this semester.

MIA

I haven’t posted anything for a while for several reasons;

1 – I wasn’t sure I wanted to maintain a blog. It was just an assignment, not a lifelong commitment.

2 – I felt I had too much to do with final papers, projects and exams to study for.

3 - Did I really have something to say?

Well, I have decided to post when I do have something to say. (At least when something seems important to me.) Which means the blog  may not be updated regularly. It maybe once a week, but then who knows when inspiration will strike.

Rogers and Bell Wage War in the Courtroom

Telus sued Rogers, now Rogers is suing Bell over advertising claims to be the most reliable/fastest network.

I say stop suing each other and just get competitive pricing, better plans, packages and bundles! It would be nice to see pricing similar to what’s available in the US with mobile services. Bell and Rogers still practically have the market tied up, we need more competition to force improvements to service and better consumer pricing.

Maybe that’s just me.

More details about it in the Globe and Mail article link below.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/now-rogers-sues-bell-mobility/article1384460/

Virtual Employees

An article caught my attention about a marketing company that is entirely virtual; no employees, no payroll, everyone is freelance.

Starting out like this is a great way to keep overhead low, but would quality or deadlines suffer? There are many companies using freelance, or contract workers. Time will tell if this trend continues. I can see the appeal to employers; no salaries, no benefits, paying only for work completed. Downsides; brand identity may suffer, corporate culture will be non-existent, consistency may suffer, and no company picnic or Holiday party.

Have a look at the article in the Globe and Mail and chime in.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/business-incubator/founded-on-freelance/article1369268/

Social Media Job Search Help

Mashable, a social media blog, is helping with job searches in the social media field.  If this is where you want to be, let Mashable help. For starters, Mashable’s Job Lists section gathers together all their resource lists, how-tos and expert guides to help you get hired. In particular, you might want to see their articles on How to Leverage Social Media for Career Success and How to Find a Job on Twitter.

http://mashable.com/2009/11/25/mashable-jobs-nov25/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29

Museum London gets a great gift!

An untitiled sketch on paper in charcoal and pencil, from 1930, done by Arthur Lismer, was donated to Museum London by a couple in Utterson, Ontario.

Museum personnel have dubbed it Lismer and Friends Seated Around The Table as it shows the artist and other members of Canada’s most celebrated group of painters, such as J.E.H. MacDonald, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnston and Lawren Harris and their contemporaries, Bertram Brooker and Merrill Denison, gathered round a table at the Arts & Letters Club in Toronto.The museum is building an exhibition on it’s new work titled Around the Table.

The exhibition opens on Dec. 19 and runs until Apr. 4.

For more information contact Museum London. http://www.museumlondon.ca/

 

Fanshawe fashion students Rock N Runway Revolution

Fanshawe fanshion students will strut their stuff  this Thursday November 26th, starting at 7pm at the London Music Hall. This years theme is focused on Rock n Roll inspired designs.

Fashion design and fashion merchandizing students work together on the show.

Tickets are $30 with proceeds going to My Sister’s Place.

Read more in the London Free Press

http://www.lfpress.com/life/fashion/2009/11/23/11888366.html

This 1980s inspired design, created by Tabitha Adams, is one of more than 50 designs that will be featured at the Rock N Roll Runway Revolution fashion show by Fanshawe College students Thursday at the London Music Hall.

Kindle comes to Canada

The Kindle e-reader

I am an avid reader. I have always been addicted to books, even as a child.

I am not yet sold on the idea of the Kindle e-reader.  I have downloaded e-books and read them on my laptop in the past.  For me there is no substitute for an actual book.  I have shelves filled in my home with various books I have bought over the years that I have kept to read again someday. It isn’t uncommon for me to read a book more than once. I just don’t think an e-reader like Kindle can replace a book. Maybe it’s about turning the pages, or just the way you can curl up in your favourite chair on a lazy Sunday with a good book and a cup of tea to relax. I just don’t think an e-reader would feel right. It may be nostalgic, but I will stick with my books.

You can read more about the Kindle launch in Canada in this Globe and Mail article. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/kindle-comes-to-canada/article1367340/