My eldest son was job-shadowing me today. It’s part of a school program whereby a student “shadows” an adult throughout a workday. We started this morning in the office and then spent the rest of the day travelling between various meetings. It was fun having him tag along.
Later in the afternoon I asked him to start building a database for the business. He could glean all of the required information from local websites, and got off to a good start on the task today.
I had also asked him to type a few words to contribute to this blog entry, but he has yet to do so. Perhaps tomorrow.
The other day, while working away in a coffee shop between meetings, I overheard two local golfers talking about the game they, and I, love. The timing seemed right, so I walked up to them, handed them my card, and explained that Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will open this summer. They laughed at the coincidence and then quickly started asking quite a few questions.
Since it’s coming to midnight, it’s about time to pack it in for the night. Just three more “work” days in this week, and lots to do, so must get some rest!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Fire Trucks Needed Here
I find I’m playing a lot of catch-up these days. The volume of work is increasing and my systems aren’t keeping up.
Throughout most of January I just worked very long hours, taking 5 or 6 hours sleep per night. While I was able to keep up, I also became sick.
It’s important to develop systems and work habits that are sustainable in the long run. Clearly, for me at least, running on 5 or 6 hours of sleep per night is not such a system.
I generally use my weekends to catch up on tasks that have slipped during the week, and also to keep organized. Weekends are also a great time to work on those Important but Non-Urgent tasks.
I’ve been busy or away from the office for four out of the last five weekends. Thus, I haven’t had much opportunity to get caught up and organized.
I wrote a letter to the editor of The Record newspaper. It was published yesterday.
You can find it online here, or inline below.
Fire trucks needed here
I read with interest your Feb. 9 coverage of the Cambridge fire department's planned donation of two "worn-out city fire trucks" to Pakistan (Turmoil In Pakistan Stalls Fire Truck Gift).
I have no doubt that the trucks would be put to good use in Pakistan. However, they are also badly needed right here in Canada, in any one of the countless small town and village volunteer fire departments that dot our largely rural countryside.
I'm quite certain that in my hometown -- Cannington, Ont. -- the fire department would love to "upgrade" to these 18-year-old trucks. They would likely be able muster enough volunteers to physically push the trucks, by hand, the approximately 200 kilometres between Cambridge and Cannington.
Cannington made the news this past Thanksgiving weekend when a historic church and several vehicles were lost to arson.
Whether the trucks are donated to a community in Pakistan, or a rural community within Canada, I'm certain they'll be put to good use. I simply hope that the Cambridge fire department has at least considered domestic needs, rather than simply looking abroad.
Stephen Southern
Kitchener
Throughout most of January I just worked very long hours, taking 5 or 6 hours sleep per night. While I was able to keep up, I also became sick.
It’s important to develop systems and work habits that are sustainable in the long run. Clearly, for me at least, running on 5 or 6 hours of sleep per night is not such a system.
I generally use my weekends to catch up on tasks that have slipped during the week, and also to keep organized. Weekends are also a great time to work on those Important but Non-Urgent tasks.
I’ve been busy or away from the office for four out of the last five weekends. Thus, I haven’t had much opportunity to get caught up and organized.
I wrote a letter to the editor of The Record newspaper. It was published yesterday.
You can find it online here, or inline below.
Fire trucks needed here
I read with interest your Feb. 9 coverage of the Cambridge fire department's planned donation of two "worn-out city fire trucks" to Pakistan (Turmoil In Pakistan Stalls Fire Truck Gift).
I have no doubt that the trucks would be put to good use in Pakistan. However, they are also badly needed right here in Canada, in any one of the countless small town and village volunteer fire departments that dot our largely rural countryside.
I'm quite certain that in my hometown -- Cannington, Ont. -- the fire department would love to "upgrade" to these 18-year-old trucks. They would likely be able muster enough volunteers to physically push the trucks, by hand, the approximately 200 kilometres between Cambridge and Cannington.
Cannington made the news this past Thanksgiving weekend when a historic church and several vehicles were lost to arson.
Whether the trucks are donated to a community in Pakistan, or a rural community within Canada, I'm certain they'll be put to good use. I simply hope that the Cambridge fire department has at least considered domestic needs, rather than simply looking abroad.
Stephen Southern
Kitchener
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Thoughtfulness
It’s been a busy few days. Most of the weekend was spent in London, ON with my two boys. My eldest was in a hockey tournament there, and my youngest joined us to make it a nice father-sons bonding time.
The team won their three round-robin games quite handily, 4-2, 4-0 and 7-2. They also won their semi-final, by a score of 4-2, despite being down 2-0 well into the third period. However, they came out on the losing end of the final, 3-1, with the third opposition counter going into an empty net. They had a lot of fun, they developed new memories, and all probably grew a little too.
I had some wonderful moments with my youngest son, as we waited for games to begin, or for his older brother to change after each game.
On Friday evening, after the team’s first game, the entire team was in a room off the main lobby, playing mini-stick hockey. (It seems they can’t get enough hockey!) My youngest was up in our hotel room, with me. That is, until his older brother called up on our two-way radios and asked him to come down and join the team as they played mini-sticks. My youngest was very happy. That was a very thoughtful thing to do.
My youngest spent all of each game sitting inside, behind the glass. He was generally drawing, or reading. However, on Sunday, during the final, he came out to ice level, and stood with me, during the final minutes of the game. When I asked him why, he said it was because it was the final and he wanted to be out there. Again, very thoughtful.
Yes, dad was pleased. Thoughtfulness is so very important.
Monday was spent plotting a course for the future, while also talking about how we have arrived at our current position. I had extensive discussions and made quite a bit of progress on a number of fronts. Those discussions carried into today as well, with even more progress made. There was certainly some confusion and miscommunication, which was unfortunate. But that will happen, and it has now been rectified. It’s all about making sure everyone involved is on the same page, and we’re moving together, in a common and understood direction. As long as everyone involved is absolutely committed, and each understands that the others are also absolutely committed, virtually anything can be achieved. That’s how great teams do great things.
Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will open this summer, and we look forward to serving an active and enthusiastic membership, as well as the general public.
The team won their three round-robin games quite handily, 4-2, 4-0 and 7-2. They also won their semi-final, by a score of 4-2, despite being down 2-0 well into the third period. However, they came out on the losing end of the final, 3-1, with the third opposition counter going into an empty net. They had a lot of fun, they developed new memories, and all probably grew a little too.
I had some wonderful moments with my youngest son, as we waited for games to begin, or for his older brother to change after each game.
On Friday evening, after the team’s first game, the entire team was in a room off the main lobby, playing mini-stick hockey. (It seems they can’t get enough hockey!) My youngest was up in our hotel room, with me. That is, until his older brother called up on our two-way radios and asked him to come down and join the team as they played mini-sticks. My youngest was very happy. That was a very thoughtful thing to do.
My youngest spent all of each game sitting inside, behind the glass. He was generally drawing, or reading. However, on Sunday, during the final, he came out to ice level, and stood with me, during the final minutes of the game. When I asked him why, he said it was because it was the final and he wanted to be out there. Again, very thoughtful.
Yes, dad was pleased. Thoughtfulness is so very important.
Monday was spent plotting a course for the future, while also talking about how we have arrived at our current position. I had extensive discussions and made quite a bit of progress on a number of fronts. Those discussions carried into today as well, with even more progress made. There was certainly some confusion and miscommunication, which was unfortunate. But that will happen, and it has now been rectified. It’s all about making sure everyone involved is on the same page, and we’re moving together, in a common and understood direction. As long as everyone involved is absolutely committed, and each understands that the others are also absolutely committed, virtually anything can be achieved. That’s how great teams do great things.
Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo will open this summer, and we look forward to serving an active and enthusiastic membership, as well as the general public.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Tuesday at the Masters
Parmasters Memphis (Tennessee, USA) has orchestrated a discount on a trip to the Masters. The discount is available to all Parmasters Memphis members. This is an example of the periodic, over the top, benefits of Parmasters membership, and also an example of the service mentality found in everything that we do.
This is the email that went out recently to all Parmasters Memphis members:
Dear Members:
As a valued member of Parmasters, I would like to take this opportunity to present you a wonderful opportunity to go to this year's Masters Golf Tournament. Please review the information below and when you call, please make sure you reference "Parmasters" to receive the special discounted price of $1,500. Retail cost is $1,675.
MASTER'S PRACTICE ROUND
TUESDAY, APRIL 8TH
Deadline to Register is Friday, February 29th or until the plane is Sold Out!!
Masters Trip Hotline is ###-###-#### (Sorry, Parmasters Memphis members only.)
This trip is being offered to all Parmasters Members at a reduced price of $1,500.00.
Includes:
1. All day at the Course
2. Air/Ground transportation from Memphis
3. Meals and refreshments
4. Master ticket for the day
5. Gift package, taxes & gratuities
Schedule:
1. Departs Memphis, 7:00 AM (private jet)
2. Arrive directly into Augusta, GA around 8:30 AM
3. At Augusta National by 9:30 AM
4. Back to Memphis around 7:00 PM
When you call, tell them you are a Parmasters Member to receive discount.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Mired in Important and Urgent Tasks
I have an earlier than normal start tomorrow. My eldest son is playing school hockey at 7:00am at a local arena. That means a 5:30am rise, which is about an hour earlier than the norm.
I’ve been lamenting lately the amount of time I seem to spend on paperwork, GST returns, statements, etc. Thus, of late, I’ve also been thinking a fair bit about those Important but Non-urgent tasks that I have blogged about many times in the past.
To have a truly effective day, we must have both energy (to do the work) and focus (to know what work to do). Energy is generally not a problem, at least not for me. Focus, on the other hand, is where my thoughts have been lately.
I don’t believe I spend much time on Non-Important tasks. But rather, I believe it’s tasks that are Important and Urgent that are tying me up. And thus, I have little time left for those tasks that are Important and Non-urgent.
Of course, efficiency could form part of the solution. If I could become more efficient, I could accomplish more in the same amount of time.
So I suppose, I should be contemplating both focus and efficiency.
One area I must also explore is leverage. While we don’t have a large team yet at Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo, we do have the nucleus of a very effective team. Perhaps other team members could share some of these Important and Urgent tasks.
Lots to think about. Solutions, we hope, to follow.
I’ve been lamenting lately the amount of time I seem to spend on paperwork, GST returns, statements, etc. Thus, of late, I’ve also been thinking a fair bit about those Important but Non-urgent tasks that I have blogged about many times in the past.
To have a truly effective day, we must have both energy (to do the work) and focus (to know what work to do). Energy is generally not a problem, at least not for me. Focus, on the other hand, is where my thoughts have been lately.
I don’t believe I spend much time on Non-Important tasks. But rather, I believe it’s tasks that are Important and Urgent that are tying me up. And thus, I have little time left for those tasks that are Important and Non-urgent.
Of course, efficiency could form part of the solution. If I could become more efficient, I could accomplish more in the same amount of time.
So I suppose, I should be contemplating both focus and efficiency.
One area I must also explore is leverage. While we don’t have a large team yet at Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo, we do have the nucleus of a very effective team. Perhaps other team members could share some of these Important and Urgent tasks.
Lots to think about. Solutions, we hope, to follow.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Communicating to Future Members
I spent some time earlier this evening drafting up our first email to prospective/future members. As mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve recently exhibited at both the London and Hamilton Golf and Travel Shows. At both shows patrons had the opportunity to enter our draw for Free Golf for LIFE! Some 1300+ golfers did so!
Of course, not all entrants included their email address. And some did not check off a box on the ballot that gave us permission to contact them. But many did include their email and many did ask us to contact them regarding membership options.
This will be our first large-scale communication to prospective members! It’s an exciting time. The email should go out later this week.
I was also reminded this evening that I am very blessed. It’s so easy to focus on the challenges in life, or in business, and not see the many opportunities and existing blessings. It’s so easy to constantly want more, or want it faster, or as some say, to see the glass half empty, rather than half full. In fact, as became clear again tonight, my glass is quite full, I am blessed, and I should spend more time in a deep state of gratitude. It’s a journey, not a destination. I shall trudge on.
Of course, not all entrants included their email address. And some did not check off a box on the ballot that gave us permission to contact them. But many did include their email and many did ask us to contact them regarding membership options.
This will be our first large-scale communication to prospective members! It’s an exciting time. The email should go out later this week.
I was also reminded this evening that I am very blessed. It’s so easy to focus on the challenges in life, or in business, and not see the many opportunities and existing blessings. It’s so easy to constantly want more, or want it faster, or as some say, to see the glass half empty, rather than half full. In fact, as became clear again tonight, my glass is quite full, I am blessed, and I should spend more time in a deep state of gratitude. It’s a journey, not a destination. I shall trudge on.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
10 Myths of Franchising
Tom Matzen, the President, CEO and Co-founder of Parmasters Golf Training Centers Inc., did an interview with Franchise Whale in mid-January. Anyone considering a franchise would do well to listen to this interview.
Tom is quite well known in the franchising world as an outspoken crusader working to uncover the ugly underbelly of the franchising world. As CEO of a major franchisor, this may seem uncharacteristic, but it’s not.
Parmasters is a highly ethical franchise system, lead by a highly ethical CEO. By ensuring Parmasters leads the way when it comes to ethical franchising, and speaking out against unethical franchising practices, Tom sets Parmasters apart in a dramatic way.
You can listen to the interview here.
Tom is quite well known in the franchising world as an outspoken crusader working to uncover the ugly underbelly of the franchising world. As CEO of a major franchisor, this may seem uncharacteristic, but it’s not.
Parmasters is a highly ethical franchise system, lead by a highly ethical CEO. By ensuring Parmasters leads the way when it comes to ethical franchising, and speaking out against unethical franchising practices, Tom sets Parmasters apart in a dramatic way.
You can listen to the interview here.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Snow Day
It’s been another long stretch with little/no blog activity. I knew January was going to be a busy month. CRAZY busy really! And it was. There was simply too much to do and too little time in which to do it.
I generally catch up on things on the weekends. Two weekends ago, January 19 and 20, we had a booth at the London Golf and Travel Show. Actually, my last blog entry was just before the show. And this past weekend I was in Ottawa.
I had a fantastic time in Ottawa. It was a time to recharge the batteries and focus on the most important aspects of my life. Such times are currently far too rare and short lived.
The London Golf Show was very productive. We offered attendees a chance to enter a draw for Golf for LIFE!, and all but a few Show attendees were eager to enter. The draw will be held at our Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo grand opening!
Tomorrow and Sunday we’ll be exhibiting at the Hamilton Golf and Travel Show. We’re looking forward to another lively weekend with golfers of all ages.
And today is a snow day. All buses and schools in Waterloo Region are closed/cancelled. I had risen a little earlier than usual to take my eldest son to a school hockey game. We were up at 5:30am for his 7:00am game. But, with schools and buses closed/cancelled, hockey is also on hold.
Time now for a brief workout, before meetings with our landlord.
I generally catch up on things on the weekends. Two weekends ago, January 19 and 20, we had a booth at the London Golf and Travel Show. Actually, my last blog entry was just before the show. And this past weekend I was in Ottawa.
I had a fantastic time in Ottawa. It was a time to recharge the batteries and focus on the most important aspects of my life. Such times are currently far too rare and short lived.
The London Golf Show was very productive. We offered attendees a chance to enter a draw for Golf for LIFE!, and all but a few Show attendees were eager to enter. The draw will be held at our Parmasters Kitchener-Waterloo grand opening!
Tomorrow and Sunday we’ll be exhibiting at the Hamilton Golf and Travel Show. We’re looking forward to another lively weekend with golfers of all ages.
And today is a snow day. All buses and schools in Waterloo Region are closed/cancelled. I had risen a little earlier than usual to take my eldest son to a school hockey game. We were up at 5:30am for his 7:00am game. But, with schools and buses closed/cancelled, hockey is also on hold.
Time now for a brief workout, before meetings with our landlord.
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