Archive for category Musings
My Tweet Weekly Summary
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on July 19, 2010
It`s been another amazing week of summer in southern Ontario. I`ve said this before, but no one enjoys a summer like a Canadian! To prove it I’m writing this blog post fire side in the great out doors, listening to chirping birds, while enjoying a glass of Prince Edward County`s finest Wines.
Here`s my re-cap of my twitter highlights this week.
- Apparently, I started my week off by my son trying to surf the hammock (I`ll have you know that no one was injured)
- The National League beat the American league in the All Star Game! The last time that happened Bill Clinton was serving his first term as President and it was 1996! I am a big baseball fan! Go Yankees!
- I wrote a blog post about being in the sales profession as being the best profession ( I love selling )
- I also got really excited about the fact that Waggware is growing like crazy (It`s awesome that we`re growing as fast as we are!)
- And finally, since I am involved in the technology industry, I`m excited about attending my second Oracle Open World! It`s gonna be another great convention in San Francisco! Looking forward to meeting more leaders in Technology and networking with the Oracle crew.
See you next week!
Re-Focus, Re-Connect, Re-Organize, Re-Charge!
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on July 7, 2010
Taking a rest is re-energizing, sounds obvious doesn’t it? Nothing can improve your health, productivity, family life and stress levels than time away from the regular grind. Yet I am shocked that half of American’s won’t take a summer vacation. With so many fruitful benefits of taking a break, we are not doing ourselves or anyone else any favours by skipping vacation. Here are the four reasons why I take a 2 week summer vacation:
- Re-focus - I’ve been spending countless mornings alone enjoying the tranquel water in solitude with nothing but a cup of coffee, my notebook, and Bible. This has allowed me to re-focus on what is important in life.
- Re-Connect – I’ve been able to focus on my relationships with my 3 children and wife spending one on one time with everyone. I played a round of Golf with my daughter, spent hours fishing with my son, and spent dozens of hours with my wife around a quiet campfire. These are moments that I will cherish forever.
- Re-organize – Taking time away allows you to take a 1,000 view of your life with no distractions and re-flect and re-tool what changes you need to make in life, relationships, career and family life.
- Re-Charge - simply put, I’m relaxed, I’m calm, and am getting the itch to make a difference in the daily tasks of regular work/life.
Here’s to vacation! What are your plans?
Out of Office Reply: “Gone Fishing”
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on June 27, 2010
I’m indulging myself in some much needed rest and relaxation. This post finds me on the North Eastern shores of Lake Ontario enjoying a tranquil summer night contemplating the importance of a sabbath rest.
Over the next two weeks I’m taking in quiet moments with family & friends, fishing with my children, embracing moments of solitude, immersing myself in God’s creation, reading a few books and indulging my creative urges by writing song (with my guitar of course).
I brought a number of books that I plan to tackle including The Screw Tape Letters by CS Lewis, The Autiobiography of F W De Klerk “The Last Trek, A New Beginning”, Linch Pin by Seth Godin and I’m re-reading Loving God by Charles Colson.
So if you find me unresponsive to tweets, emails and phone calls over the next 2 weeks it’s because I’m busy enjoying the important stuff in life.
Leadership: Create Conditions in Which Others Generate Great Ideas
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on June 15, 2010
I read a tweet this evening that inspired me to share a video I watched last night. Sally Hogshead from her Twitter account reminded both her followers and myself that:
“Your job as a leader is not to have great ideas, but to create conditions in which *others* have great ideas.” ~Sir Ken #taom
The vehicle to accomplish this is through effective communication.
Whether you are a leader in business, government, a ministry or a not-for-profit the most important job you have as a leader is to communicate. How leaders listen, engage, speak, take action and model behaviour has a direct impact on how the front line interacts with the customer, how engaged partners get results, and customers make recommendations on your offerings.
Social Media is giving leaders an unparalled opportunity to listen, engage, speak and take action. The following video is living proof of this by way of Michael Hyatt’s explanation of how he leverages social media to lead and earn influence with his employees, customers, stakeholders and partners at Thomas Nelson Publishing. Have a listen as to what he has to say at the Christian Leadership Alliance Annual conference in San Diego last year.
How Can Christian Leaders Get Started with Social Media? from Michael Hyatt on Vimeo.
Let me know what you think!
UnPlug and Read a Book
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on May 15, 2010
I’m linking to Michael Hyatt today and his post on defending books. Reading a good old fashioned book is one of the best ways to wind down, imagine, dream, contemplate, explore, expand and learn. So turn off the TV, close the laptop lid and shelve the blackberry. The experience is most therapeutic!
On my reading list this month is a good mix of economics, politics, religion, business and technology.
The Post American World by Fareed Zakaria
The Armageddon Factor – The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada by Marci Mcdonald
Concrete Is the Opposite of Abstract
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on March 8, 2010
I’ve been reading “Made to Stick” by Chip & Dan Heath and I’m considering the idea of concreteness.
Concreteness is the opposite of abstract. An abstract statement sounds something like my personal computer has high performance on the other hand a concrete statement sounds more like my personal computer has a 2.13 GHz processor. Being abstract is important if you are the commander of an Army and you require military dominance in a given region. However it’s the commanders on the ground that tranlslate that abstract statement and make it concrete (actionable) “Prepare a shipment of munitions, position troops at the border, and send in the fighter jets”. The troops need instructions to win the battle and the commanders need abstraction to win the war.
What’s more important abstraction or being concrete to winning? In what context do you use a concrete or abstract statement? I’ll share my thoughts over the course of the next few days.
Reflect On The Past & Looking Forward To The Future
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on January 3, 2010
Tomorrow marks a return to a normal routine of work, taking kids to school and the various community projects I’m involved with. Despite the holidays being very busy I managed to take a few moments to quietly read, reflect and journal about the past year and look ahead to the new year. I’m sharing a few posts that I found inspiring and practical to apply in my personal, professional and spiritual life.
- Seven Questions to Ask About Last Year (Via Michael Hyatt)
- How to make New Year’s Resolutions Stick (hint it has to to with SMART) (via Michael Hyatt)
- What the 86 Year Old Pastor Said (via Marc Driscoll)
- Organizing a Day of Silence and Solitude (via Marc Driscoll)
- Welcome to the Frustration Decade (via Seth Godin)
The Old Man River Project
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on December 17, 2009
I’ve been following the Old Man River Project since I was given a tour of their tiny boat on the shores of lake Ontario in Burlington this summer. A team of Burlington adventurers traveled from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico on the Mississippi River a 2,400 mile journey with out burning a tank of Gas.
I was delighted to see that they arrived at their destination last week and it was amazing to follow along reading their blog posts as they made down the journey down the Mississippi river that is at the heart of rich stories and history.
Here is their blog post on taking a plunge in the Gulf Of Mexico last week.
Remembering D-Day
Posted by scottvandam in Musings on November 11, 2009
Take a moment to remember those that lost their lives so we could be free.
Oracle Open World Photos
Posted by scottvandam in Musings, Technology on October 19, 2009
I have been neglecting my poor blog lately because I’ve been adapting to a newborn in the house, hard at work building a technology business and traveling across the country meeting with clients, customers and partners. My travels took me to the impressive Oracle Open World event in San Francisco and then to the desert heat of Las Vegas to attend an Energy Marketers meeting. After all of that it’s good to be back in the Greater Toronto Area where the air is a little cooler and the fall colors are at it’s peak.
It’s back to the regular grind for me!
Here are a few shots of the Oracle Open World event taken with my Blackberry (it’s not the best camera, but you get the idea)
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- Interesting analysis on who Oracle will buy next. Who do you think the giant will buy next? http://ow.ly/2zvKJ
- Back in the County taking in the final days of Summer before the rigid routines of post summer return - its gonna be a hot one today
- 1 size does not fit all RT @bitnetonline: Just because everyone's "going social" doesn't mean u & your business have to? http://ow.ly/2z1oY
- Devote at least 4 minutes in the AM with your spouse (simple but good idea) ---> http://ow.ly/2z1dD
- These are beautiful moments http://tweetphoto.com/42899309
