Tag: kids

Lying to your kids and a Kodak Moment

Today I learned:

1. Don’t lie to your kids: If you accidently break one of your daughter’s toys you need to own up to it. The other natural alternative – telling her it was destroyed by the wolves in the backyard who ate it when it was left out last night – is just a story full of holes that will be picked apart by your highly analytical child at roughly 3:17 am.

2. A Kodak Moment: On the drive to work I listened to an article from the Economist contrasting Kodak’s failed attempt to transition its brand from a dying industry, with that of rival firm Fuji-film which has successfully altered its course, surprisingly, towards a position within the cosmetic industry (among other ventures).

At lunch I found another Kodak article, this time by Seth Godin, that addresses the difficulty successful incumbents have in identifying a new course – my favourite quote being Kodak was “so in love with their success that they insisted the world change in their favor, as opposed to embracing the future that was sure to arrive.”

The lifecycle concept applies to every company in every business and (simplistically speaking at least) only the speed of transition for the industry really differs. Despite that, it is amazing to see how many companies live in the present rather than planning for tomorrow.  Personally, it certainly made me think about what percentage of my day I spend in the present and what percent I spend planning for the future. I decided to setup a simple reminder – a bit of “Kodak Time” is now scheduled into my monthly calendar.

As a aside, a special message to the strategists at Kodak:

Dear Kodak,

Digital printing will not save you guys, either.  It might not even be viable by the time you get good at it.

Sincerely,

Logic.


I am turning into my dad, but my kids aren’t turning into me

Today I learned:

1. I am turning into my dad:  I checked the twitter feed of a person I come in contact with frequently through work. Everything I saw was professional and above board, but I couldn’t help but notice the timing of the posts. Tweet after tweet during regular work hours.

That bugs me.

Alot.

And worse, I fear that along with the appearance in the workplace of things like purple hair, tattoos, and hipster mustaches, I am pretty sure it would bug my dad too. Am I growing old or more conservative? And which of those is worse?

2. My kids aren’t turning into me: I told my oldest daughter we could do whatever she wanted today. Her plan? “Let’s go buy flowers for Mommy.” This is a thought, unfortunately, that virtually never occurs to me. It led me to conclude, unfortunately, my kids are not turing into me and maybe I should be turning into them.

Pocket Espresso to Go and A Lesson from Gonzo

Today I learned:
1. Is that a Shot of Espresso in your Pocket?: On a trip to Italy  two years ago I discovered a weakness for Pocket Espresso to Go. My love for the team at Ferrero grew further today when I got the chance to sample the chocolatey version of their product.
This lead me to conclude I love all related espresso products that fit comfortably and safely in my pocket.  Unfortunately I also learned it is not easily imported to Canada, and worse yet (according to this fellow blogger and Pocket Coffee aficionado) the espresso version is not made in winter. Madness. What could be better in winter than sipping espresso on demand, straight from your pants? Anyone visiting Italy this summer?
2. Super-Gonzo: After watching The Muppets movie on the weekend, today at the breakfast table our four year old proudly announced “Gonzo can fly because he wears a cape.” This gave me a vivid flashback of myself on a bright summer day in the early 80’s, worn out blue velvet cape billowing in the breeze, and proudly perched on the railing of my sundeck. Like father, like daughter? Let’s hope not.
There are some lesson parents can teach kids, and there are some things kids need to learn for themselves. I better keep a keen eye on the deck closely this year to help make this lesson the former, not the later.

PVR with my Dad and Story time with Angry Birds

Today I learned:

1. The concept of the PVR is lost on my dad. This is despite the fact he owned one before me.

Our conversation tonight:

Me (immediately upon Dad’s arrival): Don’t tell me what happens in the hockey game, I PVR’d it.

Dad: You’re going to want to watch the first period, and then not much else until the shootout.

The lesson saved me a couple hours I guess.

2. Story time works with Angry Birds: In an attempt to mix things up, story time with my daughter has recently involved a fictional monkey (which she appropriately named Parakeet) and his travels around the world, supplemented by photos from google images of different cities viewed on our Ipad.

Inventive I thought, but admittedly I just wasn’t up for it tonight. Fighting a bit of a cold my creativity was waning, but I figured out a way to deal with it.

Story time tonight involved a gang of very angry birds who were intent on knocking over bad-guy pigs. Why? Well, the pigs had eaten all their birdseed of course. She seemed to enjoy it, and in the meantime I passed 5 more levels so I am calling it a win-win. I now have an idea for tomorrow too – an alligator that is sad because he want a bath, but he can’t find the water!

My kid poops at Sport Chek, and The Economist

Today I learned:
1. My kids poops at Sport Chek: I have taken my four year old to Sport Chek five times in her life and everytime she runs for the public washroom telling me she needs to poop. Based on today I now think it is ingrained in her, like some sort of Pavlovian response.  It’s better than prunes.  If the kid has any problems with regularity down the road I will just take her shopping.
2. The Economist: Since completing my MBA last spring I have had a bulls-eye painted on my forehead that every marketeer trying to flog a magazine subscription has been aiming for. With the unrealistic belief that I should now have lots of time for periodicals I have fallen for just about all of them too. It puts me in an odd spot – at work I try to stay as paper free, while my home is cluttered with magazine after magazine, and most get barely more than a quick glance. The only exception is The Economist. It doesn’t get read at all.
At then end of the day though, it is the only one I wouldn’t give up. I stream the audio version from my phone while driving and peruse the online version during lunch and at night.  If I had to pick one (and as soon as the renewal letters come I will), it is the only one I would keep.

I’ll never go to the bathroom alone again, and it’s never good when your daughter says…

Today I learned:
1. I’ll never go to the bathroom alone again: My problems in the bathroom are officially solved. No more awkward balancing of the laptop on my knees. All logistical problems have been flushed away. Now that we have an iPad I really can’t imagine going to the bathroom alone again. The only problem that might come up now is getting me out of there.
2. It is never good when your daughter says: “Daddy, you’ll never find your keys!” Today our pleasant little four year old was laughing and laughing while I madly searched the house for the my keys.  A fun game, apparently.