Reflections of a Square Peg

Lest We Forget

As you go about your day today, take a moment and ideally two minutes at 11 am to remember and respect those that gave.

And if you have to explain to anyone why - send them to Terry Kelly's video and song - they'll get it then.

The 'Art' of Personal Branding

So just how original can you be with your personal brand?

How about to the point where you (i.e. your own DNA) IS the piece of art?

DNA11.com, a Canadian based company, has developed a process to collect your DNA and then turn it in to a one off piece of art. They also do the same with your fingerprints.

Perhaps this is the ultimate in displaying your personal brand!

Lest We Forget

As you go about your weekend - in exactly 24 hours time, take a moment and ideally two minutes at 11 am to remember and respect those that gave.

And if you have to explain to anyone why - send them to Terry Kelly's video and song - they'll get it then.

Canada's Future Leaders

I just spent the most amazing morning with 20 of Canada's leading youth, who have just been recognised as this years recipients of the award Canada's Top 20 Under 20.

There were a great group of enthusisatic and engaged individuals who are already making a significant impact in this country, their communities and in the lives of Canadians. Some are running businesses, some non for profit groups and others are involved in leading edge scientific research - and not one of them is even 19 yet and one of them is just 10!

I cannot even remember what I wanted to be when I grew up, let alone accomplish what many of them have done already - truly inspiring and humbling at the same time.

To have had the opportunity to hopefully influence a little of how they approach their brands will be reward enough and hopefully I might even get to mentor a few of them over the next year as they develop their brands.

A Rae of Sunshine?

With Bob Rae and several more politicians entering the race for the leadership of the Liberal party it will be interesting to see how this unfolds in terms of the various entrants brands. Rae a former NDP leader has built a reputation as a certain style and type of politician and now he is in effect appealing to a different group - will he be able to rebrand and succeed?

And with currently only one Quebec based entrant how will that geographical bias toward Ontario impact the Liberals next time they go to the polls if they have a Toronto based leader?

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Vladamir Putin the President of Russia has hired a US PR firm to work on its image while it is the G8 leader this year. The country has more recently been building a perception of being more authoritarian - although Jon Higgins, CEO of the PR firm Ketchum gives it a different spin, blaming competing countries;

"Russia is reviving as a very strong and independent state in taking decisions. Its gaining power, gaining stability both economically and politically. Of course no-one in this world of competition wants another rival to appear in the arena."

As global competition increases we are going to see an increase in cities, provinces and countries 're-branding' themselves to be more attractive.

Do You Value Your Values?

This weekend saw two politicians thousands of miles apart in the in the news who are recognised for one thing - believing their values and standing up for them to the point of resignation.

Robin Cooke (who died this weekend) may go down in history as arguably the greatest English politician never to have been Prime Minister - he resigned from the government on the eve of the UK's war with Iraq because he could not represent a government that comprimised his values.

Benjamin Natanyahu in Israel did a similar thing over the withdrawl from Gaza - two very opposing viewpoints - but both resigned becuase they felt that if they compromised their values they would find it hard to effectively continue what they did.

That is the basis for identifying your own values in developing your personal brand - what is it that makes you upset or even angry if you were to compromise? - Your driving values.

Whats The Difference Between Canada and Yogurt?

Apparently - Culture!

This was a play on a joke recently told on a New York radio station when comparing Toronto.

But a survey released this week called the Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index placed Canada in second spot behind Australia in terms of brand power - but only ranked 18th in terms of culture and heritage - something the surveys owner says is not unusual for Western nations.

See the whole survey results http://www.nationbrandindex.com/

Branding A City

Initially I was astounded and disappointed to see that Toronto had failed to secure the venue for the 2nd July Live 8 concert - if Canada needed to make a global impression and show we are on board with this initiative surely one the worlds most culturally diverse would have been the perfect backdrop - Barrie was not it.

Then I saw all the complaining, whining, moaning about location, line up etc that came with this announcement and none of the media seemed to focus on the real story - that this is intended to pressure the G8 countries to commit to 0.7% of GDP to help Africa - where more people are dying every month than the whole of the tsunami in south east Asia killed.

Bob Geldoff was quick to challenge Paul Martin not to come to the G8 meeting unless he was prepared to do this (something he was quick to promise to Bono of U2 when the photo and PR opportunity was there about a year ago). Geldof was as passionate the other day as he was about Live aid - a consistent personal brand about a true value and belief.

I remember Live Aid and what that achieved, over 20 years later we are still allowing the same problems to repeat itself again and again - take a moment on July 2nd to listen to a few songs and remember what it is all about - whether its in Toronto or Barrie.

Belinda..Belinda..Where Fore Art Though Belinda!

I was quite amazed by the news earlier today of Belinda Stronach crossing the floor of the house of commons to join the Liberal party and be appointed immediately to cabinet.

"Power intoxicates men (and I assume women!). It is never voluntarily surrendered. It must be taken from them" - James Byrnes, US politician

I am sure the speculation will continue for days, and even weeks if the Liberals survive a no confidence vote. Was this a very sweet offer from the Liberals or a change of heart from Stronach and a true following of her passions and beliefs?

Either way I hope that her decision was born from values and authenticity, although I have never been 'comfortable' with a politician who was voted in by their constituents under one set of values, beliefs and party, choosing to 'save their political careers' by switching parties rather than doing the more honorable thing of resigning their seat and seeking re-election under their 'new found' allegiences.