Culture

Re-Thinking Technical Trades

Re-Thinking The Identity of Technical Trades 

The first few months of my training in North West, Alberta (Grande Prairie) I conformed to every stereotype of what I perceived the trades where all about. The western lifestyle and way of doing things is night and day compared to Eastern Canada. When I make this distinction I am specifically talking about the emphasis on work life balance and to be more precise  the lifestyle and occupational health/safety standards of those who work in the Oil & Gas sector.  The government of Alberta is very aware of the stress toll this sector experiences; the reality of drug, alcohol abuse and aggressive domestic violence leading to broken homes due to long periods of time away is a huge productivity and societal health problem.

Beyond The Stereotypes 

Stereotypical view points like the one above are not static but instead very fluid and the situation in the west is changing rapidly. There is currently a surge of strong responsible well educated young professional talent from the east that is moving west. Fundamentally competition for Human Capital  from a Supply & Demand level leads west but there is also competition for talent in occupational sectors and it is my personal opinion that in the next 10-25 years the jobs of the future will continue to be in the technical trades. We all know of the Lawyer, Doctor, Engineering route which is a universal societal occupation of status, power and talent however in the same breath Carpenter, Electrician and Pipefitter are equally in the same category under “High Skilled” occupations. The only difference is in the tools required to do the job and the need for workforce mobility the 9 to 5 lifestyle, North American dream that was sold to a generation of millennial’s is something of the past. There is no such thing as job security, the only security is in an individuals ability to adapt, and to be the best at what they do in order to keep a competitive advantage over their peers.

Tools Required To Do The Job 

 

 

 

 

I’ve recently been listening to Earl Nightingale a 1950’s motivational speaker who’s simple viewpoints on life, success and living have resonated with me.

 

 

 

Something that I think is forgotten sometimes because Canada is such a strong a stable country politically and economically is that we are competing on a global level in business. Our academic institutions are generally highly regarded as the best in the world, howeve

 

 

 

In order to make my point as clear as possible, it was

 

 

, however moving west and living is not necessarily the ideal circumstance for a majority of people in the population.

 

 

 

 

This is especially alarming when you look at the fact that from my estimate of working a year in the north that 80% of the population working in these fields is . Now this is something that is an issue throughout the world and in every region of the country, however I will

 

matter where in the world status is a huge motivation for individuals who want to enhance their quality of life.

 

 

Cutting cost and austirty is not always the best opition, sometimes what is requried instead of cost cutting is changing in the mind the perception of what it means to be in a certin occupation andth

 

in the sector not for the enjoyment but to cover cost,

 

Overtime as I have matured in my understanding of the trades and where the future is leading things I am more convinced than ever that the synergy between the East and West is slowly fusing together. What I mean by this is that the academic/technical expertise

 

not just from a cultural stand point as inter-provincial mobility enhances but from a technical and business standpoint also.

 

 

 

 

Progressive Canadian Politics

The Conservative Party of Canada would do the same as Patrick Brown if smart and move back to its Progressive “Red Tory” roots, for any chance of surviving or will Elizabeth May and the Green Party of Canada get there first?
 
At this moment in time Justin Trudeau is visiting Barack Obama, Drake has the keys to the city , DMF Energy Inc. is on the right path, and Facebook is planning on teaming up with the NFL for live streaming,for the record according to NPR, a consultant with SAP said 100,000,000 hours of video is consumed globally each day.

Understanding Anger

Understanding Anger 
Anger is an emotion that tells us when something is wrong. We can feel angry when something is beyond our control or feels unfair, when we feel we can’t reach a goal, or when someone is hurt or threatened under too much stress. Anger can involve a wide range of feelings. Sometimes the results of these feelings end in violence, the repercussion of these acts have a grave impact not only on the individual who commits the crime but on society a whole. Not all these acts are trialed, passing the homeless man on the street, or the beggar downt 
 
I know the emotion of anger very well, we all do, the difference is some of us grow and learn from it versus allowing the emotion to control us.Within my community there is a lot of anger, however at the same time an amazing amount of love, support and compassion. I’m proud of my Halifax, Nova Scotia (former city) roots but I’m a nationalist and always dreamed of exploring the word,

The Best Of Me

I haven’t been very active sharing my thoughts the last few years, I’ve been in the field with my head down working embodying the mantra “less talk, and more action” . That level of laser focus has brought forward many positive results but as the saying goes “great achievement is usually followed by great sacrifice” and my situation is no different, it’s not easy being away from the ones you love, the opportunity cost of time is real.

The magnitude of events which have transpired throughout 2020 has left me somewhat speechless. Seeing people I love and care for hurt and struggle hasn’t been easy, I’ve taken great inspiration from the strength showed by so many. As the leaves fall and we prepare for winter I’m reminded of the beauty that comes from letting things go, somethings are better left not carried.

Fear, doubt, indecision, stress, worry… are all very human emotions that we have within us, coming to grips with a global climate shift, social injustice, war, the Covid-19 pandemic all these things must be acknowledged.

It’s been a constant reminder all year to not take any day for granted and to live with gratitude. I wanted to take this moment to write this post to thank my friends, mentors and family who through the years have believed in the best of me. I definitely have many shortcomings, to many to list although I know there are many who wouldn’t mind naming them I’m sure.

I’m constantly learning, trying to find ways to improve, to get better and be a credit, not a debt to society. I’ve loved, loss, and have truly tried to live life to its fullest. I’ve embraced challenges and overcame obstacles I thought were once insurmountable. We never know what the future has around the corner, sudden change and the unknown can cause great distress and worry however for me the discomfort and power of those emotions has dissipated. I’m not wishing 2020 away, the chaos of life is an opportunity to get better, the opportunity to rise even if we fall.

I truly believe everything good in me is the result of the good influence, love and support of my friends, mentors and family. I’m grateful for you all more then you can imagine, this post is just a small thank you. The gifts you’ve already given me are life long, to many names to list you all already know who you are.

My love and gratitude always.

Best,

J

Ontario Central Focused

Ontario has always been my home and remains. I’ve been fortunate to also have deep Atlantic Canadian roots and Western Canada experiences. I’ve been exposed to various cultures and environments in Canada for so long it has no doubt shaped my adventurous spirit. In 1995 passing the welcome to Mississauga sign when moving from Toronto with my brothers and mother I recall seeing the population sign say 350,000. As of this year in 2018 Mississauga is peaking towards 1 million. The GTHA has grown significantly the last 20 years with no change of pace expected, this extends to the Waterloo Region as well, a place I equally feel and call home. 

I’m not an economist, politician or public policy professional however I’m an aware engaged private citizen. This upcoming Ontario provincial election will have a lasting impact on the policy direction on not only where Ontario is headed in the future but potentially Canada as a whole with the federal election coming up in 2019. All eyes will be on Ontario the next few weeks as the new government forms and people take to the polls. Some will care, many will not, however the results will make an impact direct or indirect on everyone’s wallets. 

Debt when properly used as a financial instrument of leverage allows our country and economy to expand at great lengths. Financing student, vehicle, consumer purchases, and housing. Debt is a tool of financial freedom and flexibility, however when mismanaged or abused it can have extreme negative consequences and become a prison. I think it is very prudent and responsible that before leveraging our future cost anymore collectively as a province and country we don’t abandon our principals of fiscal responsibility. The same responsibility that is placed on every home and individuals budget should be shared for those who govern. If Ontario’s Auditor General’s calculations are accurate we really do need to reflect and re-consider the direction we’re going and how will get back to balance or if that is something that is even valued anymore. 


A Healthy Creative Mind

Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich has been a blue print of success for countless generations. I recall being introduced to it several years ago by my mentor Issac Goodine the same person who introduced me to the author James Allen and his book As A Man Thinkith, a publication I specifically give a lot of credit for helping me to overcome an intense emotional and personal setback while training working alone in Alberta in 2014.

I often repeat “Self Control is Strength, Right Thought is Mastery, Calmness is Power”.  That is the ending passage of  As A Man Thinkith that resonates deeply within me, such a simple passage with deep meaning. Internal Strength, Mastery and Power comes from Self Control, Right Thought and Calmness these are characteristics I pride myself on having but at times with anything in life, sometimes waiver. 

Sometimes during challenging or difficult life scenarios we often use our rational minds instead of feeling our way through the situation. However this strategy can lead to a betrayal of ones internal truth because the thinking is centered around the ego. The more you use your analytical mind to try and overcome situations or rationalize a decision the more fear based and negative emotions have a feeding ground to fester.  

As a creative I’m constantly influenced by my environment I’m inspired by many things however nature, people and enlightened conversations always light a spark. Kayne West recent interview with “Charlamagne Tha God” was very interesting because it was an inside look at a creative during a time of transition. Although most media outlets have focused on his political position and comments about slavery I was more interested in his mental health rehabilitation and recovery and how it’s rejuvenated his prospective. The quote below I think was one of the most important and personally relevant so I thought it would be worth sharing. 

Kayne West Quote – Interview With “Charlamagne Tha God”

“When you want to express yourself sometimes words can get in the way. Just this innate feeling that we have, when someone’s trying to talk you into something, and you’re like look, this just don’t feel right. Get out of your head, go from your gut, that’s what I’m big on, stop strategizing so much and stop setting so many plays. Stop doing so many things based on fear, the universe will assist you when you’re acting in love. When you’re acting out of love it’s as if one drop of water and the ocean is your army, when you act out of fear it’s just you alone and your money.”

“Bravery is more important than perfection.”

– Kayne West 

 

Halifax Citadel: Historic Site of Canada

With the outbreak of WW1, few blacks were serving in the Canadian military because of the racial attitudes prevalent at the time. Initially, some blacks attempted to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but most were rejected. The Department of Militia and Defense’s policy towards recruitment was to defer to the judgement of the individual commanding officer, and since many held deeply ingrained beliefs about the inferiority of blacks, very few were accepted. 
 
 via Parks Canada. http://bit.ly/24LSVEF
via Wikipediai http://bit.ly/2agvrBv

J. Cole – Be Free

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The Future of Personal Development

With every negative so comes a positive, this is the universal law of nature and can’t be thwarted. Coming to terms with this reality is extremely important and something that I’ve taken a great deal of time to research, understand and implement within my own life a system and lifestyle that embodies this sort of balance. 

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Having vision without purpose you are just a boat tossing in the sea however with Determination, Motivation and Focus you can create and cast your sail to discover wherever your heart leads. The case load of work I have is extensive and only recently have had the time to work through many of the files because of my travels the last 3-5 years  however with a more solid foundation and credibility behind me I’m looking forward to getting through and addressing each one. I’ve categorized my GTD (Get Things Done) list into 5 categories for simplicity (Legal, Business, Non-Profit, Personal, and Government). When these files are updated the real fun and adventure can start, however until then I’ll make my way through each one. Before you can explore the world, you must first build your wings with personal development so that you may fly safely to your destination.  

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I really believe the following  Jim Rohn quote below embodies the future of Personal Development and Mental Health, it strikes a great balance between self-reliance and mutual co-operation something we surely could use a lot more of. 

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Supporting JaBig’s Journey

Since 2011 when I discovered DJ JaBig he’s been playing some of the soundtracks to my life. Mostly during the working hours of the day or deep into the evening his range of musical taste matches mine during the softer times when one’s imagination and writing flow needs space to grow. It wasn’t until recently that I learned just how cool and adventurous he really was. Currently he is riding his bike across Canada,  playing DJ gigs and sharing his love of music. Recently Shia LaBeouf made the news for standing in an elevator for 24 hours, although I think he’s a legit good actor his “stunt” is no match in terms of Art & Life than this journey and Guinness World Record being attempt by Canadian JaBig.  To learn more about him and his journey click map image below or visit www.jabigjourney.com.

Photo Credit: Magda M https://www.facebook.com/Magdalena.M.Photographer

Photo Credit: Magda M

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Jabig1

His  Youtube channel has well over 300,000 subscribers, and his classical/house mixes at times range from 50,000 views to well over 2,000,000  in today’s digital age where contributions and connections are made through the web just as easily as in person I think JaBig is a tremendous asset to the world, the fact we share a flag as fellow Canadians is a bonus and should give us all a sense of pride. #JaBigJourney

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