More than a medal is at stake here folks

A short musing about these Olympic games...

In the months approaching the games in Vancouver, we Canadians did something very un- Canadian. We asserted ourselves as to-be owners of the podium. Own the Podium, a government-sponsored initiative promised Canadians that their Olympic athletes would stand out as a force to be reckoned with come 2010.

As of today, we hold 4th place on the medal standings. We’re hardly owning the podium. These games have been filled with countless disappointments for Canadian citizens and their athletes.

I’ve however developed a hypothesis:

If Canada wins gold in men’s hockey, all ills will be forgiven and forgotten.

If we don’t win however, Vancouver 2010 will forever be known to Canadians as the Olympic games we lost at home. I don’t envy the Men’s hockey team…they have the hopes and dreams of a nation to look after.

Our luck has really picked up these past few days but still, a gold in men’s hockey is the only way to ensure that Canadians look back fondly on these games.

GO CANADA GO!

Online? You're telling your story.

Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, LinkedIn, Four Square, Ning, Word Press—if you’re a member of any of these social media sites, or the countless others out there, you’ve already begun telling your story.

Your story shapes your online personality.

Bob Pickard, CEO of Burson-Marsteller Asia-Pacific emphasizes the value of ‘the story’ to the corporate world,“The story is the most important thing a company needs to tell its target audience.”
Whether you’re a company or an independent blogger, your story will tell your audience what to think about you.



Now that I’ve survived immersion into the world of social media, I have a new mission: To develop an online personality that is true to who I am and how I’d like others to view me.

Write your own story. If not, someone or some search engine will write it for you.



Last night Mitch Joel (CEO of TwistImage and author of Six Pixels of Separation) addressed a sold-out crowd at the Berkley Church in Toronto. In my opinion, the major take-away from his keynote speech was the necessity for an “internal conversation”. In order to properly represent yourself online, you must find out who you are. Sound simple? Nope, this is the hardest and most crucial type of conversation.

“It’s about who you are”
Bhupesh Shah on personal branding

Once you’ve done some major soul-searching (I exaggerate slightly), you can move on to figuring out what it is about you that would makes others want to get to know you. After all,

Would you want to sit next to you at dinner?

As a PR practitioner I’m always looking for the PR side of absolutely everything. Check out MY TAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA'S RELEVANCE TO PR

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I can believe it's not butter.

I love fat. These three simple words will horrify dietitians and health nuts. In fact, if you listen very carefully, you'll probably hear them planning my intervention. The simple fact is that fat makes food taste wonderful.

My favourite fat-filled foods:
• Beef stew
• Indian butter chicken
• Fettuccine Alfredo

Why has a loving declaration such as the one I’ve made above translate as blasphemy in the ears of so many?

We’ve become afraid of food.

Fat has taken the brunt of criticism in our food and diet obsessed culture. I consider myself a defender of fat. Where do I get my inspiration? French fare is laced with fatty, rich ingredients and yet as a population, the French maintain very healthy body weights. This article points to small portion sizes and satisfaction as the key to the French secret.

Alternatives

The offenders: margarine, low-fat packaged foods, turkey bacon

I can believe it’s not butter. We’ve all had to suffer through meals prepared with low-fat alternatives. Bite after agonizing bite we find ourselves longing for authentic flavour. Many of the self-touted low-fat alternatives are packed with other less healthy, unnatural ingredients such as large amounts of sodium. Let us not compromise our standards!

I am not suggesting that we overindulge in fatty foods. Balance is the key. Though I must admit that it is refreshing to see this Paula Dean video.



On a more serious note, just because I enjoy fat it doesn’t mean that I shun exercise. In fact, like many I believe that portion size, a balanced diet and regular exercise are a must. I choose to eat fat and be fit!

Be radical! Express your love for real, flavourful, satisfying, foods!

Click here for helpful “fat facts”