The following passage is from the Book titled The Carpenter. I read an article by Geoffrey James via Inc Magazine a few months ago and have found it very inspirational. Each morning I read the passage below and can’t help but feel the power of positive thought when reciting it. I’ve wanted to share this for sometime however have been so busy the last few months I have not gotten the chance until now. I hope you might find it empowering and it has as positive affect on you as it has for me.
“If you truly want to be happy in life, you should tie it to a goal not to people or objects” – Alberta Einstein
Peace in Oneself
Who are you? A simple question that many find difficult to answer, our identities can be tied to many different things, in the field of entrepreneurship where ideas are encouraged, the “idea”, “concept” or outside projection can begin to influence who a person truly is. The key to overcoming being lost in any journey is to find a true sense of inner peace and self fulfillment within one’s own being. When you tie your happiness to an individual or object you will find that this feeling of happiness or sadness (emotion) is impermanent. When you tie your happiness to any independent source outside yourself, you have thus lost yourself and will in turn not be able to genuinely connect with other people. In business, trades, life in general it is all about relationships no matter the audience. I am starting to find that all too often the most important relationship that matter the most is ignored. This is the relationship within oneself, something that would seem elementary but that is easily forgotten especially when focused on impermanent ideas and concepts.
Quiet Space and Reflection
In my heart I hear the beat of the plains, the vast wild space that enlightened my heart to the possibilities and endless opportunities that live within the open heart. Quite spaces where an individual can reflect on what is most important in life, not business, politics, or a new idea but the relationships that define and help make us who we are. It is almost one full year of quiet spaces and reflection, and the loss of love burns the heart. However more than ever it is important to sink deep into thought to acknowledge and protect the best of what was lost. – Jerome L. Downey, April 2014
A Personal Love Letter, By: Alana Sharpe, to Jerome Downey, training in North West Alberta.
Love is a powerful emotion, and opposites attract.
Cory Devoe, is a 25 year old Journeyman Pipefitter, From Newfoundland & Labrador. That I trained with on a project outside Grande Prairie, Alberta with Reed Energy Group.
A new chapter begins
Life is about making decisions and some are easier than others but all have consequences. The reality of these decisions when unprepared to face them can be emotionally damaging, and lead a person astray.
“Believe in your vision, and work hard to achieve your dream. Never quit, live with integrity, unite, don’t divide.” – Lessons From My Grandfather
When deciding to advance my education it required me to move from my home and love in Ottawa, ON Canada. Unlike many of my peers who choose to advance their education by enrolling in a Masters degree. After 7 years of work experience in the finance and business technology sector, I felt that there was a missing element to my professional development that needed to be addressed. I needed to develop a hard skill, that would compensate well and support my life and small family. Despite my strong academic background and proven abilities the excess supply of undergraduates and limited demand made this a differentiation characteristic I knew would be valuable in the present, and future.
I have learned project management, procurement, health & safety, engineered drawings, and the importance of financial controls at a ground level, not to mention how to cut, thread, measure, and assemble steel production; this experience has helped balance out my liberal arts, urban, digital perspectives and allowed me to see first hand the true potential of Canadian industry development and the importance of the Build Force Canada initiative.
For more information viisit www.boilermakers.org
Sometimes I feel that modern digital technology has made our society forget about the original and real innovators in our time. Understanding the scope and importance of traditional trades is important to the long term stability, strength and integrity of our modern domestic city infrastructures.
Computers assist and aid in productivity of our work there is zero debate about that, however in the end we need strong men and women to execute and build the things we dream of. Manpower is something that can’t be replaced no matter how much technologist try.
Many boilermakers are employed in repairing, repiping, and re-tubing commercial steam and hot water boilers used for heating and domestic hot water in commercial buildings and multi-family dwellings. Sometimes these boilers are referred to as pressure vessels. Generally, a pressure vessel is a storage tank or vessel that has been designed to operate at pressures above 15 p.s.i.g. The two main tasks of boilermakers involve using oxy-acetylene gas torch sets to cut or gouge steel plate and tubes, followed by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), or gas metal arc welding (GMAW) to attach and mend the cut sections of tubes and steel plates.
Dear Jerome,
Last week the Globe and Mail reported that Mark Carney, in his final speech as Governor of the Bank of Canada, said that faster economic growth will depend on business investment and export growth. He stated that exports should be $130 billion higher now if the trajectory of previous recessions is a guide, and that the central bank expects business investment to remain below average.investment to remain below average.
In the previous Spotlight on Cleantech we discussed the contributions of small and medium-sized enterprises to as was the case before the disappearance of liquidity during the global financial crisis and the loss of more than 10 years of export gains by SMEs, including rising exports during the appreciation of the Canadian dollar starting in 2003.Canada’s exports. Canadian SMEs have proven that they can deliver $84 billion on non-resources exports annually [i],
Canadian clean technology companies are accomplished exporters, with 48% of industry revenues being derived from exports and 44% of these exports being to countries other than the US. Estimated exports for the clean technology industry were $5.2 billion in 2011, approximately 9% of 2010 SME non-resources-related exports. We forecast that the industry will deliver between $10.6 and $17.5 billion in exports by 2015, a doubling or tripling of 2011 exports.
May 1, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, today announced the conclusion of negotiations toward a Canada-Nigeria Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA). The announcement was made following a bilateral meeting that was part of Mr. Sambo’s visit to Canada from April 30 to May 4, 2013.
Photo Curtsey of businessnews.com.ng/business/
“This agreement will facilitate investment flows between Canada and Nigeria, contributing to job creation and economic growth in both countries,” said Prime Minister Harper. “It will provide Canadian companies and investors with the protection and confidence they need to take advantage of the many commercial opportunities in Africa’s most populous nation.”
The Agreement will come into force once both parties complete their respective domestic ratification processes. There are significant Canadian investment opportunities in Nigeria, including in the extractive, information and communications technology, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
Nigeria is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2006, annual bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled, reaching $2.3 billion by 2012. In 2011, Canadian direct investment in Nigeria totalled $36 million and is expected to grow as a result of this FIPA.
NIRAJ BHARGAVA, BASc, MBA, ICD.D Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Energate Inc.
NIRAJ BHARGAVA, BASc, MBA, ICD.D Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, Energate Inc. Niraj Bhargava is Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Energate Inc., a company specializing in home energy management solutions. Previously, Niraj was President and CEO of Enerstat Limited, the company that first commercialized the electronic programmable thermostat. After Enerstat, Niraj became a faculty member in Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University, Founder and CEO of Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development, and then Dean of the Business School at Royal Roads University. Earlier in his career, Niraj practiced engineering at Bell-Northern Research, marketing and business development at Northern Telecom and General Electric, and was General Manager of GE Energy Management. Niraj has a BASc from University of Waterloo and an MBA from Ivey Business School, including an International Business Certificate from Stockholm School of Economics. With his degree in Systems Design Engineering, Niraj received his Professional Engineering license in 1989.
By: JeromeDowney
Recently the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) suffered a public relations setback with the announcements of the outsourcing of jobs within the banks internal administrative IT division. This type of negative media focus has been prevalent since the 2008 financial crisis for many banks. With record job losses, home foreclosures and the rise of predatory B lending capital there has been no shortage of material for public’s scrutiny. However with that said positive solutions must come out of this financial crisis one way or another. And that is where the concept of social finance as a new financial tool of lending capital has an opportunity to succeed.
A Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) logo is seen at a branch in Toronto. (© Mark Blinch / Reuters/Mark Blinch /REUTERS)
Finance As a Tool of Equity and Growth
The financial service sector has always been an engine of economic growth for North America’s economy. The development of different financial instruments, products, services and credit approval criteria has revolutionized how money is exchanged between consumers and merchants. In Canada our finances have become increasingly digitized. We have online banking, secured/unsecured credit cards, and simple debt cards. We have online equity trading platforms and a verity of other tools that enables the economic flow of capital. However there has been little development on the technology of lending criteria. The big question social finance can help us answer is “How do we value the human element of capital”?