How To Not Get a Canadian (at least this one) Excited.
Years ago, when I had hair, I started a new phase of my career.
At the time, there was a computer aided drafting software that was making serious inroads into the market, and I resigned my ‘safe’ job and became their 68th worldwide dealer.
I had used this particular software extensively and had become quite adept at making it perform. I even created and sold custom add-ons for the software to make it even more productive.
Let’s just say I was pretty invested in the success of this product.
Imagine my excitement when I got my invitation to my first dealership conference. It was to be held in Sausalito, California. When you consider there were still snow banks in my driveway at home, this made it even more exotic to this kid.
Of the 80 or so dealers at the time, about 10 were from Canada, myself included. We could easily spot each other by the plaid shirts, toques and cup of Tim Horton’s coffee. (I’M KIDDING!!!! Just wanted to see if you were still paying attention.)
Anyways, to get back on point, the Canadians in the group soon got to know each other.
Then it was time for the opening keynote.
It started well enough.
Then the VP of Sales and Marketing came on stage.
After a weak attempt at a joke (because opening with a joke is what all the public speaking coaches tell you to do), he started in with the instructions “When I ask you how much we are going to increase sales this year, I want you to shout back ‘ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!’”
I thought he was kidding.
I was sadly mistaken.
He yelled “HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO INCREASE SALES???”
About 90% of the crowd responded “ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!”
He yelled again. They responded again.
He yelled again. They responded again.
He yelled again. They responded again even louder.
I was getting increasingly uncomfortable, and begin to wonder if Charles Manson was the next speaker.
I got up out of my seat and worked my way to the back of the room in case I had to make a quick exit should they bring out vats of Kool-Aid.
I looked around me. Others appeared to be as uncomfortable as I was.
They just happened to be all the other Canadians in the midst.
The shouting mercifully stopped and we got back to the business of the conference, but the discomfort I felt during the shouting was imprinted forever.
Even more intriguing was that those who were similarly impacted seemed to be all the Canadians in the crowd.
In discussing this later it became apparent that we had not grown up with ‘pep rallies’ in our schools, where the speaker at the front could whip people into a frenzy.
Based on the reaction in the crowd, the majority of people there were very familiar with the format of the frenzied speaker.
For the record, Canadians can get excited. Get out to one of our hockey games, or try to comprehend the magic of a ‘Hip’ concert. We (and I know this is a generalization) we don’t get too whipped up when someone tells us to get excited.
We get excited when there’s something to be excited about.
We (at least I) don’t get excited just because someone tells me to be excited.
I definitely don’t jump on any old passing bandwagon, or the latest fad.
There has to be substance.
So… here’s the point of my pondering today.
I know that beBee has got me quite excited.
It’s revitalized my blogging muse. I’m flooded with ideas for blogs.
It’s introduced me to some tremendous people from all over the world.
But…
I’m starting to feel that uncomfortable feeling when I read certain posts that are exhorting me that I need to be excited about everything on beBee and share news about beBee to all my social networks.
It’s my observation that there are an increasing number of posts that imply this.
Call me a curmudgeon, but I don’t like to be told what to be excited about.
I share posts and brag about beBee because it is worth of doing so.
I share posts and brag about beBee without expectation of recognition (or even potential ambassadorship – even though I would be delighted to be chosen).
I keep posting on beBee because it’s a great online community to belong to.
You don’t have to whip me into an excited frenzy. Just keep working on keeping the quality of posts high, and the thoughtful engagement around ideas flowing.
Should beBee devolve into a platform that needs to create a faux fan club, then I will not linger around.
Pep rallies have their place for some people, but not me.
That’s why the ‘Affinity’ model of beBee is going to work.
If you are the kind of person who loves to be exhorted by a motivational speaker at the front of a large crowd, then may I say with all respect, go for it.
Create hives with others who share your excitement.
Just don’t ask me to be down in the front row.
If I’m there at all, I’ll be at the back of the room looking for an exit.
____________________________________________
Image: ‘Canadian Curmudgeon’ via https://twitter.com/a_halibut
About the Author:
I'm the Chief Information Officer for Appleby College, in Oakville, Ontario Canada, where my team is transforming the delivery of education through innovative application of technology.I'm convinced that IT leadership needs to dramatically change how IT is delivered rather than being relegated to a costly overhead department.
In addition to transforming IT in my role as CIO, I look for every opportunity to talk about this... writing, speaking and now blogging on BeBee ( www.bebee.com/@kevin-pashuk ) , LinkedIn, ITWorld Canada, or at TurningTechInvisible.com.
I also shoot things... with my camera. Check out my photostream at www.flickr.com/photos/kwpashuk
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Comments
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #18
I share your unease Ken Boddie... Thanks for the well thought comment. We need to draw people over to beBee because of the active community here vs going out and seeking converts.
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #17
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #16
don kerr
7 years ago #15
A 'Bad Ambassador'? Is that like a Bad Santa? You're one of the good guys Paul \ always have been. always will bee!
don kerr
7 years ago #14
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #13
Thanks Phil Friedman. My wife and I had the opportunity to live in Virginia for nearly two years. Before we moved there, we (like many) assumed that Canadians and Americans were very similar except we had higher taxes and French on all our packaging. It wasn't until I was immersed in US culture did I realize how Canadian I really was. Perhaps my underlying point here is that you can't (or shouldn't) just make assumptions about all the bees from other countries, and project your own experience on to everyone else. We can learn from each other in a way that respects our own culture, without expecting everyone else to 'bee' like you.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #12
Kevin Pashuk, you make a couple of strong points, eh? Some things, however, do not translate well across the border. I remember the US. oven cleaner, spelled E-Z Oven Cleaner, which in the states read in commercials "Easy Oven Cleaner". Unfortunately, when the campaign was above the 49th parallel, it read "EeeZed Oven Cleaner" -- which sort of fell flat. Now @Renee Cormier tell us that Mikey of marketing fame was considered an influencer, when everyone I ever knew always thought he was this dumbo who would eat anything -- "Give it to Mikey, he'll eat it." None of which speaks to the core point of your post, but by example, exorts people to look beyond the facade. Kudos and cheers!
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #11
Thanks Pascal Derrien. If there was even a hint of cultish behaviour on beBee I would be far gone by now.
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #10
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #9
The ultimate endorsement for any product is a recommendation from someone you trust... word of mouth. The least effective endorsement is from someone who has only been told the product is good, and is parroting a sales pitch. (I'm not saying this is happening on beBee, but I'm using it for my comment). If Javier beBee (and the beBee team) can build a band of bloggers who are genuinely excited about this platform, then in my opinion they shouldn't have to worry about growth, even among us Canadians and other cultures that aren't RAH RAH.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #8
Thanks Ren\u00e9e Cormier. I like the pairing of 'understated and outrageous'. It does take all kinds I agree. There should be hives where the outrageous is normal with an active group... just don't expect me to be there. I'll be over in the quieter hives.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #7
I do promote beBee Jim Murray since it is worth promoting based on its merit. Your posts are most useful in helping others promote this platform appropriately. You have a gift in not making your advice sound like a directive, which is now that I think about it, pretty much sums up my whole post. THAT is why I love this platform... the comment sections are the best part to expand on ideas or further refine them.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #6
You should Randy Keho... She is 'grace' epidomized to have put up with me for so long.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #5
Randy Keho
7 years ago #4
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #3
Thanks Marta Garc\u00eda Quijada... I'd like everyone to feel a bit Canadian... but I won't stand at the front of the room and shout it.
Kevin Pashuk
7 years ago #2
Thanks Graham Edwards. I am sure that the concept of the pep rally is not ubiquitous around the world and those who have ground up with it may have a hard time understanding those of us who did not. See you by the back door.
Graham🐝 Edwards
7 years ago #1