Shouting it from the Rooftops

A lot of hard work and long hours go into building one’s dreams. Books like the 4 hour work day and other spurious get rich quick business “opportunities” proclaim and would have us believe that all one needs is a good idea, some luck and some connections and we too will be living the Rich and Famous lifestyle. I beg to differ. I have watched Sean and Amy Zister work incredibly hard and long (years) to make their business, their dream a success. It has also been my privilege to play a small role in making this happen. So not surprisingly, I am thrilled for them as they continue to build their social venture “Seven Shores Urban Market and Café. It is with great respect and pleasure that I shout from the rooftop (or this blog as the case may be) about their most recent success and my certainty that they will continue to play a pivotal role in making the City of Waterloo a more vibrant, interesting and engaged place to live. Well done. Be proud- those who know you are proud of all you’ve done so far and will no doubt accomplish.

To read more about this social enterprise
click Seven Shores Urban Market and Cafe

Work-life Balance: Changing the World of Work

Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric was quoted as saying “ There’s no such thing as work-life balance. There are work-life choices, and you make them and they have consequences.” The problem with the thinking behind this quote is that is legitimizes existing workplace structures and cultures that fail to take into account societal needs as a whole. It assumes that “work” is its own world governed by fixed rules and that consequences arising from personal decisions rightfully determine one’s success in the world of work. It does not take into account that the world of work exists within a greater world; one which is becoming every more globally oriented and as such will be influenced by the cultural (“life”) values of many of the world’s countries. One, which I believe will challenge the validity of this one area of life to rightfully determine the success of one’s economy and societal wellbeing.

Cancer and Things I Never Knew (but wish I had)

It is not a coincidence that I haven’t blogged since January and that this post is about things I wish I knew about cancer but didn’t. Someone I loved dearly passed away mid-January from aggressive renal (kidney) cancer and it has not been in me to write publicly since then. But, when I read in today’s Globe and Mail about how a family didn’t know the dad had cancer until near the end because they didn’t follow-up on his biopsy results I knew today was the day to post something I’ve been adding to from time to time since January. My guess is that as I will no doubt become more knowledgeable I will update this post. Until then here is some stuff I’ve learned and wish I’d known earlier. I hope it helps.

Getting Organized:

1. Start to document what is happening. As my husband likes to point out, because of my German background I like order and subsequently also binders. But, figure out what is the best way for you to keep a lot of information organized and easy to access. You will not believe how much paperwork there is when someone gets sick. Binders work well for me. I like that I can add loose leaf paper and easily re-organize information if it later makes sense to do so- which it almost always does.

2. Keep a list of emergency number and contact information for all doctors involved in your case handy and near the front of your binder or book. Add new names as you meet new people.

3. Take your binder (or whatever system you develop) with you to every doctor’s visit. Have one section just for doctor’s visits. Date each entry and make notes of the meeting, who was present and if necessary who said what. Before your visit write down any questions you have leaving space for the answers below. This way as the doctor is giving you more new information and you are writing it down, it will still be easier to ensure the questions you came in with get answered before you leave.

4. If the illness is originally diagnosed in the hospital, start at that point to keep notes especially if medication is involved. Getting medication right can be a challenging process that can take months and may sometimes never really happen. Having information on what has been prescribed and how much and what worked and what didn’t and what may have caused a reaction and what subdued the reaction is all information you will want to have handy. To re-invent the wheel or to re-try something that hasn’t worked in one hospital when you are now in another hospital is hard on the body and completely unnecessary and avoidable. For example, there are many different drugs that can be used to bring down one’s blood pressure but if the most commonly prescribed drugs caused problems before when faced with the same problem you will want to be able to tell the doctors what worked last time and what definitely did not.

5. Make notes in your binder (system) each time you call a doctor’s office, book an appointment or are calling to follow-up on a test. It’s a great back-up tool when you’re trying to juggle doctor’s appointments, trips to the pharmacy and other responsibilities that are now suddenly yours. Also, should it happen that you have to call a doctor’s office three days in a row to get an answer to, what could be, a simple question you will want to let the person picking up the messages know that today is the third day you’ve called and no one has gotten back to you yet. When cancer comes to live in your home it is stressful enough without having your message misplaced. I suppose it goes without saying that if you haven’t heard back from the doctor’s office in a reasonable amount of time that it really is up to you to call again.

6. Keep receipts for parking, cab fares, out of town hotel costs, meals and uncovered medical expenses. Talk to an accountant to find out what may qualify as a possible deduction on next year’s taxes. Put these receipts in a separate envelope so that they do not get lost or misplaced.

Working with Doctors and Health Care Professionals

1. Take a buddy with you. If you have no significant other, enlist the help of a family member or a good friend to go with you to the doctors. Cancer is daunting, even when the prognosis is good. Having someone with you to take notes will help especially if you are still trying to digest one new piece of information and the doctor has moved onto the next or if a test result is not what you expected. There can be many twists and turns when determining what the best treatment plan ought to be. Visits can be tense and intense so having someone to debrief with and to support you during the visit is definitely worth doing.

2. Memorize the phrase “I am not sure what that means. Would you please explain it to me?” Doctors and sometimes nurses too have a vocabulary that you will likely not be familiar with. Like everyone else they sometimes forget that not everyone knows what they know. But like pretty much everyone else they will gladly explain when asked. Ask when you don’t know. Not knowing or being confused will stress you out. Avoid unnecessary stress.

3. If someone you know who has a medical background offers to help you sort through the information coming your way take them up on their offer. They may provide more insight or help you to ask questions you hadn’t thought of; plus if you let your doctors know you have a team of people supporting you it could be helpful.

4. If after going over your notes you still don’t really understand something and your support person hasn’t been able to help you find the answer you need to call the doctor’s nurse. I have found that nurses are remarkable persons; they are sometimes the angels that walk the earth. And I have never in the last 20 months met one who didn’t help when asked. I am most grateful for these individuals. Be kind to them- they deserve it.

5. Get copies of your test results. Every facility has a release of information office. There is usually a fee associated with getting copies of your test results but its money well spent. You may end up working with doctors in different facilities or specialties such as pain management. Having copies of your test results, whether its blood test results or biopsy results, can help the doctor seated across from you make a more informed decision which is always a good idea.

6. Take all your drugs with you. It is easier for the doctor to see what you are taking if you have the bottles with you. Remember to take them home again with you. Yes, I, being responsible for the medication have had to go back and pick it up after forgetting to re-pack it.

At Home

1. Start doing daily log forms. It’s a great way to make sure medication is taken properly and on time especially if you’ve gone from being healthy one day to taking 18-20 pills the next. It’s a huge adjustment so if you can make it easier do so. An excel work sheet is one solution. Having one column for the date and the times at which the medication is to be taken, followed by a list of the medications and their dose is a good place to start. I’ve also included columns on food being eaten, fluids drank (good for avoiding dehydration), symptoms, and comments. If you leave yourself some space at the bottom you can note how much exercise gets done, if the person has been able to work, or if the day has been a rough one. It makes sense that on days when you’ve got a doctor’s appointment stress levels will be high so making sure to take it easy the rest of the day and noting if that works is helpful. It is also a good way to mark what is going on in the long run because sometimes day to day progress can be slow but by looking back over a week or two you can get a better picture. This can be encouraging when some days simply aren’t.

2. When you are prescribed drugs it is always a good idea to ask if the dose being taken is considered low, standard or high. If the dose is high it is all the more important to discuss possible side effects with the doctor prescribing the drug and you will want to ask how your body will be monitored to ensure that the side effects are well managed and if possible avoided. This may involve regular blood testing or working with a doctor who is qualified to monitor and adjust medication as required. This will be especially important if it involves possible blood clots or potential liver, kidney or pancreas damage.

3. Toxicity: Some drugs may damage your organs. When these are the drugs you are required to take make sure enzyme levels are measured regularly. If possible avoid food and drinks that put an extra strain on these organs.

4. Steroids: I never knew that if one takes steroids it can cause blood sugar levels to rise to the point of being dangerous. If your doctor prescribes steroids, which is very likely if you have a biopsy as they control inflammation, make sure your blood is tested regularly (possibly weekly) for the time that you are on the steroids. I’ve been told it doesn’t always happen but it can. It’s never a bad idea to eliminate refined sugar products that can cause blood sugar fluctuations. There are many natural sweeteners such as stevia and agave on the market today that take hours to break down if you are not able to go without a bit of sweetness here and there.

5. Blood work: If regular blood work is required, especially if it is fasting blood work, request that your doctor set up a regular house call visit by your local medical testing lab. There is a fee associated with having this done. For example, in Waterloo Region where I live, Lifelabs charges $25 a house call and 5 days to process the request. Well worth not having to sit in a crowded waiting home (if there are seats) filled with people hacking, sneezing and wheezing, not to mention left behind germs.

Stay well and if not, well informed

Ten Learnings from 2010

Life is about learning and, I also believe, in sharing one’s learnings. This list started as part of an e-mail to a friend and grew from there. When it was finished her and I thought it was a good alternative to the many new year, new you, new success e-mails and posts currently out there. So here are ten of the things I learned last year.

1. I learned this year that being responsible means putting yourself first if putting another first causes you harm. A hard lesson for any caring individual, much less a mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.

2. I’ve learned that toxic people and toxic situations must always be contained if they cannot be eliminated. This means making sure that extra care is taken before and after these encounters. The same holds true for all stressful situations.

3. I’ve learned there is a time that stopping our children from making mistakes is more costly to your relationship with them than letting s**t happen. It doesn’t make it any easier to watch.

4. I’ve learned that atypical is legitimate and all the more reason to speak up or yell for what you need. Atypical can be quickly discounted by others as it isn’t readily understood. This in no way changes its impact on your life or the need for it to be addressed.

5. I’ve learned that the health care system though functioning really only works well for those who are healthy.

6. I’ve learned it’s never too late to make new best friends and that these friends can help you more than you could possibly imagine laugh and get through difficult times.

7. I’ve learned that giving 150% in any relationship is not enough if the other person fails to see the value of what you are contributing.

8. I’ve learned you can lose all the things you take for granted, and those you believe define you and still get up in the morning and start again. Something the older generation has known for years.

9. I’ve learned that if someone really loves you they’re more worried about you being able to re-build than in what you’ve lost.

10. I’ve learned that it easier to be afraid in our culture than it is to love and that the cost of choosing to be afraid will destroy your health, your peace of mind and your joie de vivre. It’s easier but it ain’t worth it.

Wishing everyone courage, good health and love for the coming year.

APPS, ANAPHYLAXIS & FOOD ALLERGIES: Making Grocery Shopping Easier (and safer)

If you are one of the estimated 15 million Americans (3 million children) or 600,000 Canadians living with food allergies you know grocery shopping always includes reading labels, understanding that product derivatives, whether they are clearly stated or not, can be just as dangerous or detrimental as their parent products and putting back intriguing new food items when they contain ingredients you’re simply not sure of. I know- I’m one of them. So how exciting to discover someone has had the forethought to use technology to address this problem and make grocery shopping not only easier, but also safer especially for “newbies” not yet familiar with the many hazards that may await them.

MyFoodfacts is an iPhone App available through the iPhone store. Once loaded the user can then program in potential food allergens and begin scanning product bar codes. Within seconds, the user knows if the product may contain one or more of the pre-programmed allergens or its derivatives. The user is then able to call up an ingredients list to determine whether this is a product they want to purchase. There are approximately 130,000 US product barcodes currently entered in the App’s data base and this number is increasing daily. The Canadian version data base, not yet released, will include about 200,000 barcodes. The company’s goal is to provide information on as many products as possible found in supermarkets. In order to speed up the process and ensure valuable consumer feed-back is part of the App’s on-going product development, anyone can send a list of the products they commonly shop for to MyFoodFacts and the company will contact the manufacturer on your behalf to obtain the necessary information to include in the data base for the next time you scan. Ingredient information is updated whenever there is a change and MyFoodFacts has the ability to detect allergens in both the product’s most current ingredient list, and the product’s earlier version’s ingredient list. Who would think that new and improved could be a safety issue?

It keeps getting better. Not only does this App help those of us with food sensitivities and allergies but its development team has incorporated a news feed component which provides updates on food product recalls in the United States and Canada as well as undeclared allergen alerts. According to MyFoodFacts creator Mike Kwiecien, “It’s surprising how many food product recalls there are. Occasionally, you read a small announcement buried somewhere in the newspaper but, unless the situation is dire, you tend not to hear about it. In reality there are food product recalls happening all the time. We just don’t know about them. Being able to build this news feed into the App was our way of making this information more easily and readily available to consumers. I think it’s important for everyone from moms to students to the elderly to pet owners to know what is happening with the food products we’re buying.”

Is this simpler than holding a box of cereal or ice cream while trying to keep your kids in the cart? Does is make it easier to identify product derivatives that could be an issue? Is it helpful to those only now discovering they have food allergies and sensitivities? Is it a great way to use technology to better our quality of life? Absolutely “yes” on all counts. Plus for those of us over 40, the font size on most smart phones is bigger than it is on those pesky cereal boxes.

Interested in purchasing the US iPhone APP or learning more about when the Canadian version will launch go to http://www.myfoodfacts.com

Secrets of a Networker Extraordinaire

Connie Deckert
LPGA Teaching & Club Professional
President Fore U Enterprises
Connie Deckert is a serial entrepreneur and one of Canada’s few full- time members of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals (T&CP). Her current focus, as President of Fore U Enterprises, is to teach more people how to play better golf to better build their businesses.
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I first met Connie at a networking event some years back. I then kept on running into her at either other networking events or women’s events. It quickly became clear to me that no matter where we met the people she introduced me where from the widest variety of sectors imaginable. There were financial planners, artists, lawyers, teachers, IT people, restaurant owners, insurance brokers and professional photographers. The list was always changing and it seemed endless. So I had to ask her about her extraordinary network and what better way to ask than to interview her and post it.

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Heike Mertins: Connie, over the years I have noticed that you know a most remarkable group of people. How long have you been building your network?

Connie Deckert: I’ve been building my network for close to 40 years now.

Heike Mertins:That’s a long time. How many different industry sectors do you think your network spans?

Connie Deckert: I have no idea: lots. Let’s list the groups I’m part of or have been part of and see if that helps. There is the EWGA (local and national), Zonta (local, national and international), K-W Women’s Business Association, and CAWEE (Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs). There is also my Leadership Waterloo network and the people I’ve met over the years through volunteering including those from the YWCA board and now the new people I’m meeting as part of the K-W Symphony Board and of course those I met through the golf club I belong to.

Heike Mertins:That’s a quite a number of groups. Out of all these connections would you say you are more tied into people from one sector than another?

Connie Deckert: No. It’s not really sector specific. Maybe the most common thread is golf. I know a lot of people in the golf business and I know a lot of people because of golf. Sport, women’s issue and media are the three most common themes that connect us.

Heike Mertins: How many hours in a month do you think you spend building and maintaining your network?

Connie Deckert: I don’t consciously do “networking”. It just kind of happens. For example last night I went to the Women’s Crisis Centre’s Awareness of Violence Against Women event. I went because I was curious. The person I went with is on the board for the centre and so we ended up sitting at one of board tables. There was a woman there, Kate, who is a client and who I’d met before through a different event. Turns out she’s on the board too. So now we have this new shared level of connection. I didn’t say anything about golf, but this other woman at the table recognized me and she told me she had wanted to take a lesson with me this year, but hadn’t managed to do so yet. Kate tells her about how working with me has really improved her game. So by going to this event, I was curious about, I strengthened my network and added to it.

Heike Mertins: Everyone talks about how important networking is. Why is your network so important to you?

Connie Deckert: Because of the talent around me I can be better. I have expertise around me to call on to strengthen me and hopefully it also strengthens them.

Heike Mertins:Could you give me an example of when your network has helped you professionally?

Connie Deckert: I belong to the EWGA (Executive Women’s Golf Association) and I volunteer locally and nationally with them. Joan Snyder was the President of the chapter association. I heard through the grapevine that there was a particular golf course that was providing complimentary green fees to pros who were taking students there. I thought this is a great opportunity for me and so I wanted to approach the woman who runs the club. Because she doesn’t know me personally I was able to use Joan’s name to create a common bond. It gave me credibility and the opportunity to take students to this club: a win-win all the way around.

Heike Mertins: I wrote a blog a while back on strategic networking. Do you think there are advantages to strategically networking over simply showing up?

Connie Deckert: I read the blog. I think it was very astute that you talked about strategy. The presentation I’ve developed on Using Golf as a Business Tool asks the same question. Absolutely, strategy is important when you’re planning to do something, networking, golf, volunteering you need to ask yourself what do you want to accomplish? I especially liked the point at the end about getting involved with things that interest you. By volunteering, whether it’s at the local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Zonta, an industry association or somewhere else you’ll learn new skills and you’ll meet new people. Figure out if these are the people you want to know, but, you’ll never know unless you get out there and do it.

Heike Mertins: If you had three pieces of advice to give someone looking to build their network what would they be?

Connie Deckert: 1. Do what interests you. 2. Listen more than you talk. You need to listen to someone to see how and if they fit with your business. Ask questions. You have two ears and one mouth. There is a reason. 3. Have your cards ready. I can have mine out in seconds.

Heike Mertins: I’m surprised you didn’t say learn to play golf or work on your golf game?

Connie Deckert: Well, to me volunteering is the first thing you want to do and that fits with doing what interests you. Playing a sport helps. And golf is the ultimate networking sport because of the time it gives you with others. Next to cricket, which I understand can last for days, golf is the longest playing sport going. To build relationships you need to have time with people and yes, you’re right golf gives you this. But golf is still a tool, one of many. There are lots of ways to build a network. You need to think of building your network as if you’re building a web and not a box.

Heike Mertins: Last question. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Tipping Point he talks about connectors, mavens and salesmen. If you were to classify yourself as one of these how would you classify yourself?

Connie Deckert: That’s easy. I am definitely a connector. I know lots of people and I know all kinds of people. I like to connect new people all the time.

Heike Mertins: Having known you now for several years I know that to be true. Thank you for your insights on building networks. Your approach is a far cry from attending only “networking” events and one I hope anyone interested in building a business will consider.

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To learn more about Connie Deckert and her approach on using golf as a business tool visit Fore U Enterprises

 

Random Act of Kindness Day: November’s Newest Holiday

November and February have long been the two most dismal months of the year. Living in Waterloo, Ontario at the edge of Southern Ontario’s Snow Belt, by the time February draws to an end shoveling snow, scraping ice crusted car windows, heavy coats and slipping on slick sidewalks have become uninspiring tasks with no near end in sight. Fortunately, February now has Family Day where families take the day off and play together.Absolutely it helps. November on the other hand despite the occasional beautiful crisp fall day, is mired on its not so sunny days with a snarky obviousness that the days are getting shorter, the summer is long gone, and that winter is right around the corner. Ugh! Other than Remembrance Day, which has unfortunately been reduced to a minute of silence for most of us, November has no real “take a break and enjoy yourself” type of holiday. Until now that is. The Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation’s “Random Act of Kindness Day”, launched two years ago (2008), promises a fun day for anyone who participates. Paying it forward and coming up with some unique way to be kind to those around us, both loved ones and perfect strangers, gets the mojo running. Everyone gets the idea and for that one day everyone makes the effort. It is definitely something to look forward to. Don’t have your Random Act of Kindness cards or looking for a poster either download them at Random Act of Kindness Day – Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation. or contact KWCF at 519.725.1806. Have Fun. I will!