RISCARIO INSIDER: legacy

Showing posts with label legacy. Show all posts

November 23, 2014

CAREER ADVICE FOR GRADE 8 STUDENTS

I’ve got a newfound respect for educators after guiding 30 lively Grade 8 students through the Junior Achievement Economics for Success program with Dana Mitchell for Advocis during Financial Literacy Month. Thanks to teacher Maureen Deeney and Principal Julie Aube at Christ The King Catholic School for the opportunity.

Here is career advice for students to consider.

Look For What’s Missing

Spotting what’s missing is more valuable than seeing what’s there. What’s missing leads to opportunities. Searching hones your detective skills and helps you stay curious. You get better at spotting distractions and identifying the real clues. You’re not looking for Waldo. You’re looking for where Waldo isn’t --- and wondering why.

Observe the challenges other people face and look for solutions.

Do they have trouble with deadlines? Learn to meet them. Do they start studying too late? Start earlier. Do they forget assignments? Find a system that works for you. You’re then building skills which are scarce and hence valuable.

Develop The Habit Of Saving

Saving means putting something aside now to have more later. Money is an example but not the only one. What about

saving time: you can do some things more efficiently (which may mean investing time in developing a process) and stop doing some things which don’t need to be done (note: leaving your room untidy may not be an acceptable idea).
saving health: we have only one body for life. Exercising, eating well and sleeping enough build resilience and help preserve what may be your most valuable asset.
saving attention: with all the demands and distractions around us, we’re tempted to multitask and prioritize. Both are exhausting. Cutting out stimuli simplifies life. Maybe you’re too knowledgeable about happenings in sports and music. Entertainment is important but maybe less would do? (extreme example: years ago, I stopped watching TV, listening to the radio and reading the newspaper.)

Be Generous

We can each help others for free. We can give of ourselves, our time, our attention, our caring. You’re then making the world better in your own unique way. You’re also changing yourself. You’re thinking in terms of abundance (giving) rather than scarcity (hoarding).

You’re helping change the world since some of the people you help will follow your leadership and help others too.

Develop Portable Skills

You’re unlikely to stay in the same role forever. You’ll likely advance in your career and might even change careers. The cause might be opportunity or necessity. Either way, you’re better prepared if you keep developing your skills.

A portable skill stays with you and helps regardless of what you do.

For instance, communication is essential. Are you improving your ability to read, write and speak? Are you mastering new media? For instance, you write differently for school assignments, blogs and tweets. Other portable skills include managing your time, getting along with others and finding problems to solve. How can you lose by getting better?

Build Your Network

Success requires willing support from the people you know and — more important — the people they know.

You already have a network. How well do you plant seeds, nurture and prune? Consistent generosity gets noticed and can be free (e.g. the gift of information). Most people feel obligated to give back. Reciprocity is the #1 universal principle of influence.

If you’re in Grade 8 now, you’ve lived your entire life with the Internet. Connecting, sharing and staying in touch is easier than ever via social networks. In-person contact still matters, though.

Market Yourself

You can’t expect the world notice your brilliance without your help. You need to stand out (or at least be good). You need to be remembered. You need to be findable. The Internet makes this easier for those who bother.

Persist

The path to the future includes drudgery. Persist. To quote Zig Ziglar:

When you do the things you ought to do,
When you ought to do them,
The day will come,
When you can do the things want to do,
When you want to do them.

Best wishes for a wonderful future.

June 1, 2014

REFLECTIONS ON THE GLOBAL CHANGE INITIATIVE (@CSLCsummit)

The first-ever Global Change Initiative (@CSLCsummit) took place from Friday evening until Sunday evening at Toronto City Hall (May 30-Jun 1, 2014). The location makes a big difference. We were in the Council Chambers. The acoustics are terrific — even for music. The tireless organizer is Dev Ramsumair I spoke about Right is Might: Social Justice and Corporate Profits. I’ll let you know when the recording gets released.

I’ve never been to an event like this. I’m picky about exchanging business cards and this was the first time I ran out.

Extreme Variety

You can see speakers on different topics at TEDx events and elsewhere. The Global Change Initiative did too, plus extras like

the Livegreen Toronto awards gala
a fashion show featuring real women from the Toronto chapter of networking group 85 Broads
performances by the cast of RENT, rockers The Loft (can’t find their website) and reggae group The Steady Rebels
a panel discussion in which speakers were asked questions by the Avenue Q puppets

A Standout Presentation

One presentation which wasn’t recorded won’t leave my head. Kelly Drennan of Fashion Takes Action talked about sustainability. Did you know that

unsold clothing often ends up in landfill rather than getting donated
you’ll spot the new ‘in’ colours by looking at the dyed waterways near the factories
2/3 of the environmental harm from fashion occurs once we have bought the clothing

Carol Roberts (speaker) and Dev Ramsumair (organizer)

Sometimes you don’t recognize the calibre of the people you already know. I was delighted by the interactive presentation by Carol Roberts of Stellar By Choice (@CarolLeads) who helped close the conference. She’s been a peer mentor for years but I never saw her speak before.

Extended Length

Many events last one day and leave you numb. There’s something magical about meeting new acquaintances for 2-3 days in a row. You get time to build a relationship and follow up on conversations. Podcamp Toronto runs two days but all eight TEDx events I’ve attended end in a day (unless you go to the after-party).

The Global Change Initiative took place over a weekend. That reduced time away from work and made the conference feel more relaxing.

Live streaming

I’m not a big fan of live video streaming. Unless you’re attending in person, you won’t get the same experience but you’re still committing time. I’d rather watch the videos afterwards when I can pause, fast forward and skip selections.

The Global Change Initiative was recorded using the many cameras built into the Council Chambers. The recordings are to be released during the year with promotion by reddit. That’s different, easier to consume and builds interest in next year’s event.

You Are Not Alone

In the 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss reminds us that there are many causes and there’s no value in a my-cause-is-better-than-your-cause argument. Luckily, different causes attract different people. I talked to supporters of initiatives like patient advocacy (@Piroska_Bata), educating children in Vietnam (HelpKidsToSchool.org) and seals of approval for health care products (@CleanCareSeal). As you likely know, my cause is financial education through Money 50/50, this blog and Taxevity.

I was surprised at the similarity in the challenges and techniques advocates can use. In hindsight, this is now “obvious”. Whatever you do, you’re bound to find help in unexpected places.

Overall, The Global Change Initiative created a wonderful feeling that continues to linger.

Links

PS A highlight for some was sitting in Rob Ford’s chair.

PPS Here's my slide deck

Right Is Might: Social Justice and Corporate Profits from Promod Sharma

February 15, 2014

CELEBRATING 7 YEARS OF BLOGGING

Tick tock. Time passes.

This blog started on February 18, 2007 — seven years ago this month. What’s more, the writing has continued. There’s personal satisfaction in not quitting.

You’ll find over 700 posts (357 here at Riscario Insider, 338 at Marketing Actuary and 10 at Money 50/50). That’s over 350,000 words, based on a conservative estimate of 500 words per post. You’ll also find the Riscario wiki which launched in 2006 (word count not known).

The beginning

Blogging felt fresh and full of possibilities in 2007, the year the iPhone launched. I thought I had things to say that needed saying. That seemed more important than knowing how to write.

I had many unanswerable questions but didn’t use them as excuses to delay.

Would anyone read? Yes!
Would the ideas run out? No. More keep arriving
Would there be time to write? Yes — a question of priorities
Would I quit? Not yet (but stopped podcasting two months ago after 250 episodes)

Most personal financial bloggers peer in from the outside, a perspective which is valuable. There weren’t many insiders who blogged. There still aren’t (where is your advisor’s blog?).

Today

Blogging is easier today thanks to the platforms available (I still use and recommend Google Blogger). That means more blogs. That means more difficulty in finding a niche and standing out. There are advantages to being an earlier adopter and consistent in posting.

Blogging is also harder today thanks to conflicting demands on our time. Also, readers have higher expectations for quality content and ease of reading.

The Future

If I were starting afresh, I’d focus on creating video instead. The transcript could be turned into a blog post and the audio into a podcast. Thanks to Toastmasters (why I finally joined) and podcasting, I feel more comfortable in front of a video camera.

I’ll continue blogging and plan to create more video. Thanks for reading year after year!

July 20, 2013

HOW HONEST ED TURNED $212 INTO $100 MILLION

Toronto landmark (or eyesore) Honest Ed’s is for sale. I often pass by this one-location-only discount store at Bloor/Bathurst. I haven’t been inside since I was a kid.

The 350,000 square feet of land (including the 160,000 square foot store) may fetch $100 million and get turned into more condominiums.

The Start

“Honest Ed’s … inception came at the time when merchants were notoriously unscrupulous.” --- Toronto Star today

How did Ed Mirvish start Honest Ed’s? It’s difficult to know. A common story is that he cashed in his wife Anne’s life insurance for $212. That’s $2,210 in today’s dollars (according to an inflation calculator from the Bank of Canada). Neither amount is big. Sometimes a little is enough. Maybe Ed was unable to get money from the banks and wanted to avoid loan sharks.

His father died when Ed was only 15 (the Cake Boss was 17 when he lost his dad). Neither father had life insurance. Like the Cake Boss, Ed left school and started working to support the family. Ed died in 2007 just days away from his 93rd birthday. There’s no telling how much life insurance he had.

The Capital

It’s easy to forget that permanent life insurance provides much more than a death benefit. If you pay more than the cost of the insurance, the excess builds up in a tax-sheltered environment with whole life and universal life insurance. You might lose this accumulation if you “buy term and invest the difference” because you might buy term and spend the difference.

You can access your equity in your permanent insurance by

“surrendering” your policy for the cash value, as Ed did (which can have tax implications)
borrowing from your policy via a policy loan (Walt Disney did this (Investopedia, Dec 2011) to help raise money for Disneyland)

Lenders sometimes want life insurance as collateral for a loan. In this case, a portion of the premiums may be tax deductible. Ted Rogers used life insurance in this way.

Hybrid

Some purchases give you more than one benefit. Ed converted life insurance protection into cash. That’s not possible with term coverage. He turned that cash into retail income and real estate. That’s not possible by renting.

What will happen to the Honest Ed’s location? How about a Walmart or Target with condos above? You cam still shop till you drop and then take the elevator home.

Podcast 229

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS Do you remember Sam The Record Man?

May 19, 2012

KEEPING PROMISES WHEN NO ONE’S WATCHING

When I ran a department, my team of 10 met every second Friday morning with whoever was present. I wanted the meetings to continue when I was away unavoidably. Instead, they would get canceled. Perhaps my staff saw the meetings as an imposition they wanted to avoid.

At work, we don't have a choice.

When you voluntarily join a small nonwork group that meets regularly, you do. There will be temptations to cancel meetings when a member is unavailable. The reasons vary: sickness, holidays, weather, conferences, clients, ...
Sometimes the reasons are unavoidable. Sometimes canceling is due to laziness or "not feeling like it".

Commitment

A meeting is a commitment and a commitment is a promise. That promise is to you as the promisor and to the rest of the group. Break a promise and you break a chain. Trust decreases.

I look for ways to keep promises, even when that's inconvenient. I sometimes go to a meeting even if other attendees cancel. If you show up, you've achieved a victory. You've planted another sequoia acorn in the forest of your character.

Zig Ziglar said, "If you do what you ought to do when you ought to do it, the day will come when you can do what you want when you want to do it."

Going to a meeting may not be the most enjoyable thing you can do at the moment, but maybe that's what you ought to do?

Fellow Victors

If some of the others show up too, you've strengthened a bond. The discussions are invariably better than with full attendance. There's more time for each participant to speak. The discussions go deeper. There may be unexpected tangents. You might get to know more about each other's personal lives. You build trust.

The "show up" pact works in public (e.g., blogging regularly). It also works in private when no one else know. In both cases, you know. And you're worth it.

The Others

Problems arise when others break promises. Say your advisor. You know they've failed you but in their minds, they not even know there's a problem. Maybe they're consistent in failing to deliver. Maybe you learn the pattern and make allowances. Isn't that rewarding misbehaviour? What will that get you?

If the offender is a family member or boss, you've got complications. Even then, you can focus on your Circle of Influence (yourself). By keeping your own promises to yourself, you'll build a habit that helps you keep other promises. Maybe you can nudge others to keep theirs. Or ditch the promise breakers.

Podcast 169

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS This is the May long weekend but this post still shipped …

February 18, 2012

WHERE IS YOUR ADVISOR’S BLOG?

The global 2012 Edelman Trust Barometer ranks financial services at the bottom again (even worse than banks). In this environment, how do you know if your financial advisor is looking out for your best interests?

The same study shows that social media has had a dramatic 75% increase as a source of trusted information. Granted, the base was small but that’s a major increase.

Blogging is an excellent way for advisors to continually show they're on your side. Does your advisor have a blog? If not, why not?

Questions

Here are some questions to ponder.

When did your advisor’s blog start? [Why not earlier?]
How many posts are there? [Why not more?]
How often are new posts added? [If less than weekly, why?]
When was the last post published? [If more than a week ago, why?]
Does the content educate you or sell to you?
Who writes the content? [If not the advisor, why?]
Is the content worth reading? [If not, why?]

Advisors continually look for more clients — even they claim to work “by referral only”. Blogging is a way to stand out.

Excuses?

I've been telling advisors to blog since mid-2007. They have many excuses for doing nothing. Three of the most common are: not allowed, no time and not able to write.

Not allowed

Large organizations rarely permit advisors to express opinions in public without pre-approval ... and maybe not even then. Policies can prevent online activity like posting links to articles, expressing opinions in groups or leaving comments on blog posts. Internal restrictions might even ban testimonials to outsiders on LinkedIn.

How bland.

Since bland doesn’t bring ka-ching, the organizations leave a loophole. Advisors are allowed to make questionable claims in seminars and meetings. Why? There's no proof of what took place. It's easy to claim that what you inferred, they did not imply.

Advisors who want to express themselves and show they put clients first could leave and start their own businesses. If that's too drastic, they could go through the process of getting their content pre-approved. While the results may look boring and generic, they can still do something.

No Time

Advisors make time for what matters to them. Shouldn't that include clients?
An advisor who doesn't have time might be unproductive. That's where Pick Four or other programs help. Perhaps the advisor's business has grown and requires more staff. That's a good situation unless the problem is retaining staff.

Can’t Write

Not everyone can write but they can learn. It's not as if we were born walking, talking or cycling. Written communication skills are essential and well worth mastering. Nothing bad could happen from improving. Help is available.

Excuse Busters

How do you explain amateur financial bloggers? They could use the same excuses as advisors but found solutions instead. They have the additional handicap of being outsiders. They need to spend time learning before they know enough to tell you. An insider has a huge edge.

Anniversary

This month marks my fifth anniversary of blogging. That's over 500 posts and 250,000 words. I had no training and “talent” is a myth-conception. We learn by doing.

I’ve been encouraging advisors to blog since 2007. I thought that advisors with the courage to share valuable free content on a regular basis would learn how and stand out. In return, they’d attract more clients, retain more clients and raise standards for laggards.

Podcast 156

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS What do you think about advisors blogging, podcasting or creating video?

October 8, 2011

RIP: STEVE JOBS “BUTTONED UP”. HAVE YOU?

When they built you, brother,
they turned dust into gold.
When they built you, brother,
they broke the mold.
— Bruce Springsteen

How fickle we are. How quickly we forget.

We were terrified by 9/11 but now it's 2011. This week, we're shocked by the death of Steve Jobs. Next time, something else will jar us.

Each time, we Think Different for a bit. We're tempted to do something that matters but life gets in the way. Our most vivid memories fade. Routine returns to rule. We become part of the conforming crowd in the ‘1984’ commercial. But only with our consent and inaction.

Talk

We love talking but talk alone doesn't improve our lives. Or the lives we care about. We must act. We're surrounded by uncertainty. Each breath could be our last. Let that knowledge empower us. Not immobilize.

Steve

They say you can't take it with you,
but I think that they're wrong.
'Cause all I know is I woke up this morning,
and something big was gone.
— Bruce Springsteen

Steve Jobs died at 56. He had pancreatic cancer and stepped down from running Apple just weeks ago. His death still came as a shock around the world.

Steve was relatively young. He could get the best health care in the world but his $6.7 billion couldn't buy him good health. Isn't that a valuable lesson?

As a Buddhist, Steve would have a theoretical understanding of mortality. In 2004, cancer gave him a personal perspective. He saw that his own life was finite. He shared his experiences at Stanford in 2005. His speech is well worth (re-)watching or (re-)reading … after you finish this post.

Buttoned Up?

"My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes."
— Steve Jobs (2005)

Is your life "buttoned up" now while you have time to prepare? Steve didn't need health insurance to cover his hefty medical bills or disability insurance to replace his lost income. Steve didn't need life insurance to provide for his family. Few of us can say the same.

Suppose Steve wanted insurance. Too bad. You can only get coverage when you don't need any. You buy insurance with your good health.

Unless your health is improving, waiting until tomorrow is always worse than applying today. Getting approved can take months. If your health changes while you're waiting, you may be required to pay more — if you're even insurable. I'm working on a case right now where no coverage is available at any price.

Steve did more than button up for his family. He also took care of Apple. That’s called succession planning and is easily mangled, especially by small business.

Inevitable

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it."
— Steve Jobs (2005)

We keep seeing the importance of planning but seeing isn't doing. We can focus on our circle of influence. Do what you can, while you can.

Yes, there's always tomorrow, but not necessarily for us. That's why what we do today matters so much. The winter chill is on the way. Are you buttoned up?

Podcast 138 (5:06)

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS Steve, thanks for making our lives better.

September 17, 2011

LIFE LESSONS FROM A 50 YEAR OLD

Last month, Dad turned 75. This week, I'm 50 and finally feel I understand my purpose in life.

So much has happened since 1961. Man landed on the moon. The Berlin Wall fell. Compact discs replaced vinyl records and cassette tapes. Computers became personal and affordable. Air conditioning changed from a luxury to a necessity. GPS navigation reduced arguments on family road trips. Phones became mobile and smart. What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time to be alive.

The greatest marvel is the Internet, which was born in 1957. We now have instant access to nearly anything and anyone from almost anywhere. Often free. What a liberator!

Childhood

As a child, I had a lingering fear of nuclear war between the Americans and Russians. What if annihilation started by accident? We’d be just as dead. I wasn't terrified to the point of losing sleep but I was concerned. The 1985 song Russians by Sting was reassuring but I wish I heard it in the 1960s. If you were born after the fall of the Berlin Wall, you may not understand the Cold War era and might be more worried about terrorism.

Overall, childhood was great. I walked to school and played with friends outdoors. We didn't worry about knives or guns at school but we played with toy weapons. I read the Hardy Boy mysteries. My favourite TV show was the police drama Hawaii-Five-O which aired Friday nights at 10 PM. I was in agony when the schedule briefly changed to Thursdays because there was no way my parents would let me stay up that late with school the next day.

There were so many marvels. Life kept getting better. I excelled at my studies and looked forward to a rosy future despite the rocky economy.

Family

Someone who'll help me see things in a different light.
All the things I detest I will almost like
--- Depeche Mode, Somebody (1984)

I grew up in London, Ontario where my parents gave me an excellent foundation. I didn't want to live alone but didn't know if I'd ever find someone who could understand me. Sharmila did. We've been married since 1988. Having an anchor and companion makes life rewarding.

Our son, Jeevan, was born in 1994. Parenthood brings challenges but mostly rewards. He goes to university next year and might leave home for the first time. That would be an emotional experience.

40 in Sept 2001

Turning 40 is meant to be a milestone. My birthday was mere days after 9/11 and the end of innocence. I didn't feel like celebrating during that numbing time.

I was focused on my career since life at home was running smoothly. For security, I especially wanted skills which were

portable: useful in other companies (e.g., communication, management, leadership)
complementary: not overlapping what others did

That's still a great strategy.

I was Actuary, Individual Insurance at National Life, insurer for the wealthy. I reported to the company's sole Senior Vice President, Rene Trudeau. I also had dotted line responsibilities to General Manager, Individual Division, Prem Agrawal. Both listened to me and helped me grow. They reported to the President, Vince Tonna. I had considerable leeway, 10 staff, and a corner office (a childhood dream) with an excellent view towards Queen's Park.

The Wrong Wall

My boss was going to retire and I figured I'd get a portion of his role, a company car (another childhood dream), and live happily ever after.

In 2004, the parent company started dismantling my company. My 10 staff were gone and I was reporting to an assistant vice president in Quebec City.

What a boot to the head!

To paraphrase Stephen Covey, I was climbing the ladder of success only to find it leaning on the wrong building. I realized there was no security in the corporate world. Your future depends on the whims of upper management and investors. How do you build a solid future on a shaky foundation?

Security comes from bringing in revenue. I switched to helping top advisors with advanced marketing until I got booted out in November 2009. By then I built the skills to help you directly.

50 CANDLES

Turning 50 is a big but pleasant transition. I now feel I understand why I'm here on this planet.

The corporate world teaches well but stifles change. Even if you make the decisions, you face compromises in quality and timelines. The advisor world is disappointing because of the conflict between what's right and what's lucrative. That leads problems in deciding who you can trust. Among the wealthy — the best served segment — 33% lack confidence in their advisors. That creates a tremendous opportunity.

Since childhood, I've wondered how I could make the world better in my own small lost-in-the-rounding way. I knew I had more to offer but didn't access to the right tools.

New Tools

Nowadays, we can do so much with so little. We don't need to own factories, maintain web servers, rent offices or hire permanent staff. What do you need beyond what you already have: your computer, your mobile phone and Internet access?

That's so empowering. With social media, we can even beat much larger organizations because we can make personal connections with real people. The gap between thinking and doing is minuscule. What we don't know, we can learn online just-in-time or outsource.

I’ve written assorted posts about careers to help you see the immense possibilities if you seize opportunity. You don’t need talent or permission. You need to start and keep going. If you need a boot to the head, read Linchpin by Seth Godin with an open mind.

Next 50 years

There are no free rides.No one said it'd be easy.
The old man told me this, my son.I'm telling it to you.
— John Mellencamp, Minutes to Memories (1985)

I've seen too many people — especially in the corporate world — who start coasting when they reach their 50s (sometimes earlier). They feel entitled to slow down. They aren't embarrassed to say their smartphone is "too hard" to learn. These sages know what won't work because they've "seen it all before". They look rolly polly and drink a little too much (when on an expense account). They need help with the same things month after month. They're wary of LinkedIn and still don't understand Twitter. They start dying little by little, piece by piece.

I plan to keep doing what I’m doing: learning, caring and sharing. You’re invited to the party.

Podcast 135 (9:02)

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS When's your next milestone birthday?

September 11, 2011

9/11 AND THE END OF INNOCENCE | #911plus10 #sept11

The Twin Towers were very special to me. I don’t like heights but visited the World Trade Center twice. The last time was in 1987 when I was working for Metropolitan Life. This time, I was brave enough to go to the windows and look out. You might yawn but this was a victory for me.

9/11 changed my world in a way that nothing else has. The end of innocence. The terrors that happened in other countries were now on our shores. Forever.

Today’s the 10th anniversary of 9/11. This is the first time I’m telling my story.

Where Were You?

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was on stage in Halifax, Nova Scotia unveiling my biggest initiative ever, the SaveTax Project, which gave advisors personalized, functional websites.

Something was wrong.

I was going through my content too fast. Way too fast. Elsewhere across Canada, my audiences were smaller and carefully picked — generally 20-50 advisors. That lead to more questions. Here I was on a stage in front of 100-200 advisors. That's too many for spontaneous questions. By the time I figured this out, I didn't know how to slow down and interject questions for them.

The moderator was standing at the side. I didn't know why since I had so much time left. That affected my pacing too. I finished my 60 minute session in a record 38 minutes. The moderator then told us that a plane crashed into the World Trade Center.

My presentation no longer mattered.

Reaction

I was dazed. So was everyone else. Some were watching TV in the lobby. I went to my room and turned on my set. The newscaster was saying something about a second plane, other attacks and the shut down of airspace. I couldn't understand. That couldn’t be right. Why were they reporting this? There was talk of terrorists. Everything was getting shut down. Trains weren't running. Car rentals were blocked.

I tried calling home and got through. My wife and seven year old son were safe. They didn't know what was happening. Life seemed normal. I told them to turn on the TV and that I'd phone back once I found out how I'd get home.

How would I get back to Toronto?

Cash

I changed into my street clothes and went down to the lobby. No one knew what to do. There was more speculation about terrorists. To stop their communications, the Internet and mobile phone networks might be shut down. Was that even possible? To stop them from transferring money, the banking system might be shut down.

US flights were being redirected to Halifax. All hotel rooms were now booked. Since I hadn't checked out, I was told that I couldn't be kicked out. Several colleagues had checked but could not get their rooms back.

In a daze, I went down the street to a banking machine. I figured that I'd need cash if credit cards wouldn't be accepted. I don't know how, but I managed to insert my card into the wrong crevice. Now I had no bank card and little money. I went into the bank, which had tellers but no customers. I explained what happened. Would they believe me? They seemed numb too. Without question, they retrieved my card. I withdrew $500.

Like ET

Back at the hotel, arrangements had been made to rent two vans. This was possible because our host had a personal connection. We were going to be charged mileage. The cost was over $2,000. I don't remember if that was per vehicle or in total. It didn't matter. Capitalism thrives during crises.

I got something to eat but didn’t have much appetite. The roads were eerily quiet. We drove home with minimal stops listening to AM news radio. Sometimes we got a signal right from New York City. No one said much. We just wanted to get back to our families. For a while I was seated in the last row and not beside a door. I couldn't get out. I felt choked and claustrophobic. The rear air conditioning vent wasn't working (what you expect for $2,000?). I had trouble breathing until I calmed down. I didn’t tell anyone my predicament.

At the next break, I grabbed the front passenger seat and took turns driving. I don't know how I stayed awake and on the road. After about 20 hours of driving, we were safely home.

Epilogue

In 2002, I was in Washington DC:the SaveTax Project was nominated for an eFusion award from AM Best. There was so much security. Even getting into my hotel required a security check. Vehicles entering buildings were checked. You could no longer enter the Washington Monument with a bottle of water or pocket knife. These reactive measures felt like installing a security system after the jewels are gone: well-intentioned, expensive and ineffective.

I went to the 9/11 exhibit which had opened at Museum of American History on September 11, 2002. When I saw items from the World Trade Center that had melted from the extreme heat, I was moved. Movies show more extreme spectacles but this was real. And unreal. The exhibit brought me peace in a way I can’t explain. The next step was visiting Ground Zero in August 2009 and talking to New Yorkers who were personally affected. The final step in the cathartic process is this post.

Your Story

You'll have your own 9/11 stories. I may have some facts mixed up. Can you believe that 10 years have passed? Days turn to minutes and then distort into memories.

9/11 already feels like ancient history. It's easy to forget the powerful emotions we felt at the time. Time moves forward. Our lives get busy. Details fade. That helps us deal with tragedy.

Video Tributes

Here are two musicians with close connections to New York City.

Bruce Springsteen sang My City of Ruins weeks after 9/11. You’ll find better quality recordings but this one has a special intensity.

Both of Peter Gabriel’s daughters were in NYC on 9/11. Neither was injured but he didn’t know because he couldn’t reach them. He expressed his feelings in I Grieve.

Lest we forget.

Podcast 134 (8:05)

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS This weekend, life looks quite normal. A mobile phone company is shooting a commercial several houses away. Life carries on and on and on.

August 13, 2011

DAD'S 75TH BIRTHDAY

There’s a belief that life is divided into quarters, each lasting 25 years. Our role changes in each segment. Here are the quarters
1. for your studies
2. for your family
3. to help society
4. for yourself (e.g. meditation)

It's my Dad's 75th birthday. I still have trouble believing that. Change occurs gradually. Dad doesn’t seem old. Maybe that's because he's committed his life to helping others. He was the head of the math and physics department at Regina Mundi College, a private boy's high school in London Ontario. He also taught at Catholic Central high school, also in London. He touched many lives.

Students liked him. We'd be out somewhere and former students would come up to him and say Hi. They especially remembered his jokes.

Warren Buffett looks at expenditures in an unusual way. When his wife Susie wanted to do $50,000 of home renovations, he agreed. Yet he saw the expenditure as $1,000,000, because he understood compound interest and future values. Dad is similar. He sees spending a dollar on himself as depriving others of 40-50 rupees. You'd spend $10 differently than $500 with this mindset, or the one Warren has.

Philanthropy

Dad took early retirement to help poor people in India. My mother shares this passion. They have various projects there. Unfortunately, they don't take photos to show us. Already this year, they've:

given a hand water pump for clean drinking water in a remote village
built a library
built a clock tower
donated musical instruments
created a music scholarship

I’m sure they’ve done other things. I lose track. Their biggest initiative is a school to teach

living skills to the handicapped
beautician skills to help young women become financially self-sufficient

When we visited India, I saw what they'd done with my own eyes. They were changing lives.

Legacy

My parents are leaving a wonderful legacy by helping others. Warren wanted to defer his gifts until his death. My parents want to help now. Warren has since taken this approach too, donating through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Lessons

Ever since I was a child, my parents said we're here to make the world better. I saw them helping many people throughout my life. I wasn't sure what to do. Until recent years, I wasn't comfortable dealing with people. It's been a struggle to overcome my self-limiting beliefs. I still prefer to help from a distance as blogging allows.

In grade 8, I saw a friend’s family devastated because the father died without life insurance. He didn't trust the salespeople or insurers. That stayed in my mind. In first year university, I decided to devote my life to insurance. I became an actuary to design flexible and accountable products. Later I helped advisors sell insurance. That's when I saw you're poorly served because a salesperson is not a fiduciary who's required to put your interests first. There's very little information to help you make informed decisions.

I'm not a fan of rules and regulations. In a buyer beware world, your best weapon is information. Thanks to social media, we can reach the world instantly and without any censorship. In that spirit, I started this insider blog in 2007. I was also working on overcoming my fear of dealing with the public.

In 2009, I bypassed the salespeople to serve you directly. Like my parents, my life work is helping make the world better by giving whatever we have.

The Special Day

Guess how dad's celebrating his 75th birthday?

This weekend, my parents are volunteering to help run a one day retreat. Yesterday from 5 PM to 9 PM they helped set things up. Today, they'll work from 6 AM to 9 PM. The event itself runs from 7 AM to 6 PM. That's arduous regardless of age. This year, we're here to to help them. I hope we can keep up.

Podcast 130 (5:30)

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS Happy Birthday Dad!

June 18, 2011

YOUR DIGITAL TAPESTRY IS YOUR LEGACY

Everything you do online adds to your permanent digital tapestry which grows pixel by pixel, letter by letter, frame by frame and note by note. You aren't Leonardo Da Vinci but you too can leave a Mona Lisa.

Isn't being visible online risky? Others can see you. Your mistakes are permanent. Maybe we're not important enough to leave a legacy. Let's not quit that readily.

Mistakes

I am an old man and I have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. — Mark Twain

You will mess up. Everyone does. The consequences vary. You may think everyone is looking but they're busy with their own lives. Or the latest celebrity scandal.

Doing more things establishes what's "normal" for you. As your tapestry grows in size and detail (resolution), the small blemishes and mistakes vanish. The big deviations lose their significance. You become predictable --- not in the sense of boring but as reliable and consistent.

Hiding

Like Waldo in the Where's Waldo books, your "unforgivable" mistake is somewhere. Someone could find it but few will take the time to search. Even if found, this "Waldo" may not be of much relevance — especially as time passes.

The searchers will also have a deeper appreciation of you from their exploration. Human frailties bring us closer together. We don't want perfection even in our superheroes. After all, Iron Man didn't save Leslie Bibb and the painting of Mona Lisa isn't perfect.

The Bigger Challenge

Your bigger challenge is escaping from the cage of mediocrity and fading without a trace.

You don't want to be one of the interchangeable drab minions in Apple's '1984' commercial. Instead, smash conformity with your personality. That's your free hammer.

Why Bother?

Your digital tapestry is your legacy, the past you build everyday. Your tapestry is part of the impression you make on others. This might even be the first impression.

Hiding

Staying offline is hardly a solution. Others can discuss you without your knowledge or permission. You might not even know. This is like a sign stuck to your back with the words "KICK ME" written there. You may be oblivious but you're not invisible.

You are leaving a digital tapestry even if you'd rather not. This is empowering if you choose to be the artist.
When you're gone, your digital tapestry could remembered more than your financial legacy.

Podcast 122 (3:44)

direct download | Internet Archive page | iTunes

PS When you're the artist, you'll get a kick --- instead of getting kicked.