Disruptive Thoughts

The Importance of Hope (or, Barack Obama on Entrepreneurship)

March 1st, 2008 Comments

Alternative title for this post: Barack Obama explains the difference between entrepreneurs in the US and Canada.

Dave, my brother, asked me the following question the other day: what’s the biggest difference between entrepreneurs you’ve met in Canada and entrepreneurs you’ve met in the States?

My intial response - “one’s the majors the other’s the minors” - left me unsatisfied. That explanation covers entrepreneurship but fails to explain entrepreneurs.

The biggest difference in entrepreneurs?

The answer lies with Barack. » Read the rest of this entry «

Songs of the Year - Best of 07: Number 4

March 1st, 2008 Comments

One of my favourite bands is Stars, a Canadian group based in Montreal with ties to Broken Social Scene.

I played their album, In Our Bedroom After the War, constantly during the late fall. It’s a bit more poppy than their previous release. That’s not a bad thing. Although I did miss the raw emotion that was felt in some of their earlier work.

As a groomsman’s present my best buddy Greg got me tickets to see them in Toronto. The two of us had a memorable evening and the band - originally from Toronto - put on an incredible show in front of their hometown fans.

My favourite song on the new album is The Ghost of Genova Heights. It’s fitting that the most memorable moment of a memorable evening came when Torquil drunkenly reappeared on stage during this song wearing a suit of lights.

The Ghost of Genova Heights by Stars is my fourth favourite song of 2007.

Say Hello to Mkama

February 24th, 2008 Comments

A new addition to my Kiva portfolio, Mkama is a 43 year old Tanzanian entrepreneur. He started his clothing business 8 years ago. Mkama works 12 hours a day, has taken one Kiva loan already and is now looking to scale his business.

He’s also the first entrepreneur in a developing country that will benefit from my new incentive program.

Regular readers know of my love for Kiva and how they’re reshaping the world of philanthropy and helping to change the world by creating an “online lending platform” that connects lenders to entrepreneurs in developing countries. The service aggregates small amounts of money from individuals in the developed world and distributes micro-loans to individuals in developing nations, allowing them to find a path out of poverty. A remarkable thing.

Mkama, I’m glad to help you out. Looking forward to following your progress over the months.

Songs of the Year - Best of 07: Number 5

February 23rd, 2008 Comments

I’ve moved a lot over the past 5 years. 7 times. There’s something about the first night in a new place. Anticipated excitement. The thrill of daydreaming about what the place can look like.

There’s always a tradition I follow that first night: plug in receiver, hook up speakers, and listen to the song of the moment on repeat while I dance around the place.

Al can attest to this. When I showed up in T.O. I celebrated my arrival by taking out a street lamp with my UHaul and then toasted the moment by listening to Mr. Brightside about a hundred times.

Last June I closed on my house, an old little two bedroom near the heart of Westdale. I moved two things over the first night: my bed and my stereo. It was hot. I was sweaty. Forever I will remember blasting my 5th favourite song of 2007 over and over while I ran around the place, blown away that it was ‘mine.’

My 5th favourite song of 2007 is of Montreal - suffer for fashion.

Songs of the Year - Best of 07: Number 6

February 18th, 2008 Comments

The lethargic pace with which I’m working through this list has little to do with the minimal attention I’ve given this site. It has everything to do with public taste catching up to my eclectic ear.

Kidding, of course.

Although, I do continue to believe there will be a day when the world understands the brilliance that is Brother Ali.

I remember coming across him for the first time. It was at a live show in a tiny club in Toronto. Al and I - stained by sweat and soaked in beer - left the club and spent a long walk home trying to figure out not who the unknown opening act was but why he sang so passionately about being a minority.

Sure we were young and drunk. But a white male singing about the struggles of a minority? “Maybe he was doing an Ani Difranco cover song?” Maybe. For the entire concert? “Meh, maybe he’s that artistic.”

Turns out he’s albino.

His second full length album on RSE released this year. It’s stellar.

Here’s my favorite song on the album and my 6th favorite song of 2007.