I am interested in the history of technology and I have a soft spot for the machines that became milestones in the history of computing. Recently, I had the opportunity to get an early NeXT Cube, the same computer that Tim Berners-Lee used to invent the World Wide Web! NeXT also happens to be the company that Steve Jobs founded after he got kicked out of Apple Computers. Although, for the longest time, it looked like NeXT would fail, it eventually sold to Apple to delivering the technology to develop the now very popular Mac OS X and bringing back it’s legendary founder as CEO. I also think Elisabeth managed to turn this into a very funny video. So with out further words…. press Play!

Currently on SmibsTV, you can watch an interview between Smibs founder Peter Urban and influential photographer Michael Reichmann. The interview took place in September in Toronto, ON and profiles both Reichmann and his company Luminious Landscape. The Luminous Landscape website is an excellent and highly trusted source for photographers. We rely heavily on Michael’s expertise when it comes to reviews and opinions for cameras and photography equipment. If you are a photography enthusiast, we definitely recommend Reichmann’s website (currently in its 10^th year of operation) for it’s articles and rich content.

We are very thankful to Michael for his participation in SmibsTV. If you get a chance, click on the SmibsTV link and watch this and prior episodes.

(Editors note: If you are wondering who produces and edits SmibsTV, it’s Smibs’ own New Media Intern Elisabeth Szabo.)

Watching a show about venture capitalism is not supposed to be this fun.  Airing on CBC on Tuesday nights, Dragons Den is a show in which entrepreneurs pitch their businesses and ideas to wealthy industry experts in the hopes of securing capital.  The show is successful on two fronts.  One, the contestants are usually completely delusional (see: insane) and pitch useless garbage to some of the most successful business people in Canada.  Two, the Dragons are quite funny (see: brutally honest) and do very little in the way of sparing the feelings of the entrepreneurs.  I don’t know what it is about seeing someone’s dreams crushed on national television, but I know I am entertained.

Entertainment value aside, Dragon’s Den is also a serious learning tool for potential entrepreneurs.  The Dragon’s discuss things like business evaluations, product viability and potential markets.  The show provides a rare insight into the investment and negotiation process and believe it or not a few deals usually are made on the show. Whether you are interested in business or you are just a sadist who enjoys a public humiliation, check out Dragon’s Den. (8pm locally, Monday airing on CBC).

Growing your business SMART really comes out of living your life with awareness. Today I want to explore the topic of life balance and share with you my thoughts, revelations and inspirations.

As I’ve grown older I’ve begun to look at things like work, after work, exercise, eating, and spending time with friends and family in a totally different way. Just out of University and for many years following I really sectioned my life. I was one person on the job and when that ended I could start my ‘other life’, which included aspects such as friends, family, exercise, etc. In our society today this is how most people function: in essence they become two people, following the rules of business and the professional sphere during the day and then ‘being themselves’ at night.

Take a moment to imagine what it would be like to just stop being your ‘work persona’ and just being the real YOU all the time, embracing your idiosyncrasies and taking the time to develop real relationships with co-workers and clients from a mindset of caring and interest. This change is a matter of a very simple perspective shift, but also a very powerful one.  What I suggest is using the real you as your secret weapon that makes you stand out. The real you will attract like-minded peers, partners and clients, providing you a real personal brand that will help you succeed whether you are an employee or business owner. This is not a new concept, some of those who have embraced this idea have been very successful such as Gary Vaynerchuk from Wine Library, Rick Mercer of the Mercer Report and Oprah Winfrey.

As for me, I try to build real relationships in my life without discriminating between work and play. I make sure that my house, my office and my whole life reflect my personality so that there is congruency among them. When I spend time with those around me I am truly interested in their success whether they are loved ones or even my competition. I try to not merely base decisions on the bottom line, but listen to my gut as well. When I look back (and I encourage you to do the same) my best decisions were made by listening to what feels right and what is in alignment with who I am, rather than just the basic facts.

A good book on this topic (although a few years old) is Love is the Killer App by Tim Sanders.

I would really love some discussion and sharing on this topic.

We often talk about the success of businesses maximizing on branding power – the elusive consistency intended to permeate each and every pore of the face and conduct of your organization. From the look and feel of products to the way customers are treated, a business’s brand speaks volumes about its missions and values. By practicing what they preach – down to how the telephone is answered – businesses hope to establish a reputation that will stand as precedence to all future client interactions. Done right, a well-established brand works as free advertising. You rarely see marketing materials for Starbucks: their brand says everything for them.

But what we don’t discuss enough is internal branding, or in more straightforward terms: human resources. How an organization treats its employees is the backbone of its brand, because if you can’t get the people you are paying to drink the Kool-Aid you likely won’t stand a chance with clients. Treating your employees with respect and encouragement goes further than you can imagine. I’ll use two case examples from my personal experience to illuminate what I mean.

Scenario A was with a relatively high-profile organization with goals and values that I thought to be in alignment with my own. I found shortly after being hired that the glimmering façade of the organization was hardly congruent with internal ideologies and the treatment of employees. Although the pay was acceptable, it didn’t take long before I became dissatisfied with my job – the money wasn’t making up for the lack of appreciation, and the belittlement I felt when interacting with superiors made me feel like my skills were dispensable: I was a means to an end. So what did I do? It started out innocent, gazing longingly out the window for extended periods of time without guilt. Then it was taking five minutes to surf for new sheets. Then checking my personal email. Pretty soon I had a window open for Facebook at all times. Take that, crappy employer! I’m exaggerating for effect, but my negative employer relationship truly affected the efficiency and the quality of my work. I just didn’t care. And if any of my friends asked me about my job, I was eager to dispel the myths about the allegedly philanthropic organization I was working for. That’s bad branding.

Scenario B, working for Smibs Inc., needn’t be spoken of anonymously. And not just because I relish in a good opportunity for sucking up (just kidding!). Little things like affirming when your employee has done a good job and rewarding them when the time is right goes a long way. When my employer takes a short amount of time to check in and say a friendly hello, it gets returns in the form of dedicated, productive hours of work because I know my presence and skills are appreciated and that the role I play is valued. Having flexible workday hours makes me feel respected and responsible. Because of this, when something important comes up I don’t hesitate to come early or stay late. My job satisfaction doesn’t merely translate into a positive review about my company to my peers. They don’t even have to ask – I brag about my job all the time and wouldn’t hesitate to promote my employer’s services if the situation presented itself.

Employers would probably discover less need to hire more people if they treated the ones they already had with more appreciation and respect. Get your employees excited about what you do and encourage them to see themselves as a part of your overall vision. This way, even if only in theory, you are making them shareholders in your company and giving them a sense of responsibility for their work. Choose people you feel you can trust and despite the risk factor, trust them. This strategy of internal branding translates into a team of individuals who, like you (the business owner or manager), are eager to get your company’s message and brand into the outside world.

The treatment of employees is a large topic, and there are many things you can do to improve human resource management for your business that I don’t have space to list here. Please leave a comment with your employer/employee relationship tips!