Segway to a New View

I love technology.

And I certainly love dance.

Recently, I saw a remarkable marriage of the two, in a sleek, contemporary fusion of multi-media and art. The videography is pretty sweet, too. Set to Justin Bieber’s “What do you mean,” the YouTube sensation features five guys “dancing” on hover boards. The choreography and execution are flawless, making it rather mesmerizing to watch. 

You have to see this:

They make it look so easy, don’t they? 

Segway – the product name was chosen for its similarity with the original spelling segue, meaning a smooth transition from one place to another. 

Is this the next generation of transportation in urban areas? Still banned in many places, hover boards and electric scooters like the Segway offer many opportunities for pollution reduction and relief from traffic – similar to bikes. So, should they be considered more seriously as alternate modes of transportation as city congestion continues to increase? 


A model similar to the ones in the video were featured recently on an online coupon site, Buytopia, for $379 (reg. $699) 

Beyond the practicality of urban commuting, they’re just plain fun to ride. I have glided on the Adventurer all-terrain model of the Segway several times while on vacation in Mexico. 

Once you get used to balancing your weight to control the movement of the glider, you feel a sense of freedom. A leisurely spin around your neighborhood or a faster zip down the road gives you the chance to see the world with an unobstructed view and with unmatched agility. Battery-operated and rechargeable, the Segway has hours of power to keep you moving, and is surprisingly quiet.

Get your glide on

I encourage you to try it out; go out of your comfort zone, see things from a different perspective and expand your reality. Glide your way into the next generation of transportation and exploration. 

Once you’ve experienced the thrill of the glide, you will appreciate even more the skill in the video.

Take a Segway tour and experience the glide: http://www.segway.com/tours/

Art Illustrates Life

As a marketer, my passion goes beyond words. 

I am also a very “visually-oriented” person. Those who have worked with me know that I have an unusual attachment to my white board. That’s because I must be able to whip out my dry erase markers (many colours, naturally) to brainstorm, mock-up a concept, sketch an image, plot out a strategy or visualize a process flow.

Those may sound like boring visuals to the non-business type.

But in fact, they all require forms of creativity and “stretch thinking.”

And sometimes, the best way to think outside the usual box (aka your head) is to map it out visually, in whatever form works for you. Personally, I like my whiteboard. And, occasionally, other hand-held media.

I am influenced both in my visual design and writing by other artists, of all genres. This includes painters, poets, musicians, dancers, actors, fashion designers, architects, graphic artists and other craftspeople.

Being tactile is an important element of creativity.

It helps to get out of the brain and to explore new concepts with your hands. That’s why many great artists work in several media, including Pop Art master, Tom Wesselmann.

 See more Tom Wesselmann art here.

Wesselmann's first ever gallery exhibition in Canada was held at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts a few years ago. I loved his use of vibrant, unapologetic colour, seductive figures, and larger-than life installations. Through his art, he depicted many elements of American culture, most notably during the 1960’s and 170’s. Touring that exhibit was a feast for my eyes and I was unquestionably impressed.

I wonder how this artist will influence my work as a marketer and communications professional. Perhaps he already has.

Feed your mind (and free your mind) with art.

I try to make it a habit to seek opportunities for exposure to different art forms. It’s so enriching to allow yourself to consider other forms of expression and communication. This is how we learn to understand the human psyche and how to connect with each other in a meaningful and memorable way.

Essentially, the more you experience life from different perspectives, the more rich your contribution will be to anything you undertake.

What art will you discover today?

Here are a few suggestions:

10 Bizarre forms of modern art

10 Fascinating art forms you’ve never heard of

20 Unusually awesome art mediums (media)

[Author's note: I couldn't help but notice this gross mistype on the MMFA's Beyond Pop Art website when they hosted Tom Wesselmann’s exhibit:]

Fortunately, the MMFA has better proof-readers setting up the exhibits. I scanned each paragraph that described the artist's life and career, each carefully transposed onto the gallery walls, French on top, English on the bottom. I can vouch only for the English. 

Emotion...or Passion?

So often has the word “emotional” been used in a negative context that it now almost always indicates a weakness or otherwise undesirable trait.

More often, it is women who are criticized – by both men and by other women – for being “too emotional.”

On the contrary, I feel we are lacking emotion, in business and in life. It’s as though we’ve become afraid of expressing ourselves for not wanting to be judged as a blubbering fool or a big old softie.

Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and former star of CBC’s show Dragon’s Den, was interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulous. Her thoughts on emotions?

“I make no excuse for being emotional in business. Business is emotional. If you’re not emotionally engaged with the business you work for or that you’re building, then what the heck are you doing every day? Why are you doing it?”

I argue that I’m not emotional, but rather passionate. There is a fundamental difference. Being emotional is when no matter how you try, you are unable to conceal your feelings, which are usually viewed as negative. Being “emotional” always seems to indicate a socially undesirable behaviour such as crying or shouting. Crying indicates weakness. Shouting indicates a lack of control. It’s sad that we have these ideas as they serve only to deaden our motivation and self-expression.

Passion, on the other hand, means being outrageously committed, believing wholeheartedly, and being prepared to fight for something you believe in. There’s an intensity that comes along with passion. Not everyone demonstrates it in the same way, but many who are fiercely passionate are also very expressive. Why? Probably because their passion spills out of them. I know it does with me.

I was once reprimanded after a heated argument over something I felt was a gross injustice, with a smug reminder, “This is a civilized company.”  I remember the gag in the back of my throat at that ridiculous and demeaning statement .These statements are often made by people who never get excited about anything. To them, passion is scary because they don’t know what to do with all the energy.

Why are we so afraid to emote? 

Have we become so catatonic that we can’t even handle the raised voice of someone who is driven to argue a point with vigor?

I see so many articles that caution women in business against getting too emotional (ex: crying) in the workplace, and advise how to diffuse emotions before continuing a discussion. What’s with all this suppression?

I’m not advocating for everyone to go around the office like raving lunatics or blubbering fools, but surely there is some happy medium. As a passion pundit, I’ve learned you need to be selective with your causes, and direct your passion where it will have the most positive impact.

One day at the office, I was tipped off that one of my project coordinators was crying in the bathroom and probably needed someone to go talk to her. Apparently, she had made a mistake on one of her projects and caused a delay in the production, which would surely upset the client. She was devastated that she had messed up and didn’t know how to fix it. She was further mortified that I, her boss, had just discovered her in her saddest state. “I’m so embarrassed!”

Don’t be, I told her. If you didn’t care about your job and about doing well, you wouldn’t be upset. In fact, if you brushed it off like it was nothing, I would be much more concerned. Don’t worry another minute, we’ll fix this.

Personally, I could go for some spirited discussions and some jumping up and down. I’m not talking about vicious, unprofessional attacking of others. No, I mean sincere passion. 

Paul Alofs does a tremendous job of outlining just how important passion is to the success of a cause, career or company in his book “Passion Capital – The World’s Most Valuable Resource.”  

He articulates exactly the philosophy I have felt intrinsically for years: passion is the catalyst for success. Passion alone won’t drive profits, but it is the foundation for longevity and prosperity.

One thing I’ve learned, however, is that not all organizations believe they need passion in their culture. It seems logical that it would be a valued asset, but it’s not the case for everyone.

I bring passion with me wherever I go, so I need to be sure that I always find a work scenario that appreciates and encourages it.

My tip: If you encounter a colleague who appears to be displaying some heated passion, give them a moment to really express themselves. Remember that this outburst is probably not about you, and is more likely a display of frustration or extreme enthusiasm. 

Find ways to harness that energy in positive, constructive ways.