Baldo Minaudo’s Blog

This Tuesday was the last session for the MetroActive Writer’s Club at the University of Toronto for the 2005/2006 season.  Cindy Stone and Amy Lee have done a marvelous job running the club and I’ve learned so much from the sessions. 

I’ve been so inspired by these writer’s club sessions that I still was in attendance even though I had an important contract to review for a business acquisition.  So, you can say that although my body was there my spirit was on this deal.  I wonder if it was my left ear on the speaker and my right ear on the contract on my laptop screen.  How does that multi-tasking work again?

Anyway, I must have been doing something right because I walked away with lots of learning and still reviewed and made notes on a 42 page legal document.  All the life of a Venture Capitalist - who said it is boring?

and although I had a last minute

There times when being a Venture Capitalist can be quite glamorous, unfortunately tonight is not one of them.  I’m writing this entry while in the middle of a meeting with a group of investors out of Hong Kong.  There are several of them and they will probably keep me up until 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning.

You may ask yourself, as I’m asking myself right now - why am I doing this?  Well, it has to do with something called a big carrot.  You see, I’ve spent months on the acquisition of this company and perhaps hundreds if not thousands of hours.  Yet, if and when I complete this acquisition the financial and achievement rewards will justify the time and more.

Yet, on this Saturday night, while many of my friends are up at their cottages with their families and others are enjoying their deserts on the Danforth or on Yorkville Avenue, I sit in front of my computer awaiting the next question or request from the investors.

Okay, I admit - so I’m kind of lonely.  Here I am answering questions with sophisticated answers and explanations.  The businessmen on the other end of the MSN Chat are looking to me with the solutions to their challenges and to create innovative structures to get around obstacle after obstacle.  And they are coming up with everything from Chinese government intervention to local securities requirements.   One by one I address each issue all the while wishing there was someone in the room I could talk to. 

I flip on the television so I can keep abreast of international news.  Being a Venture Capitalist requires that I stay on top of social, political, economic and demographic developments around the world.  The world’s commerce is a delicate weave of strings and loops and it is up to me to keep an eye on the major ones.

Oh, looks like there’s another question waiting for me.

Well, my friends enjoy your Saturday night.  And get ready for me because when I finish this deal, we’re going to party, party, party together.

So here I am sipping my coffee and working on my computer at Timothy’s in front of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  The patio, as usual is busy with business professionals stopping between meetings for a coffee or refreshment.  Only today the downtown core is busy with thousands of tourists wearing conference batches from some American Psychiatric convention.  “I didn’t realize there are so many sick Americans” is a thought that comes to my mind.  Then I think, well if there’s 300,000,000 Americans and 30,000 attendees at this conference and that’s less than one-tenth of the practitioners.  Then there must be about 300,000 practitioners, or one psychiatrist for every 1,000 Americans. 

My focus turns to my laptop and start to instant message with one of my partners in Hong Kong.  Meanwhile the birds are flying around the patio looking for crumbs fallen from the tables of the unaware patrons.  Twenty minutes pass and I feel a tug on my suit trousers.

I look down at the computer bag between my feet and there on the top of it at about my knee level is a fluffy little baby robbin chirping and tugging at my pant leg.  What a surprise this is.  I look around and no one seems to be notice anything.  How did this little bird make its way through the busy patio?  And more importantly, why did it come right to me.  It is as though it has specifically sought me out.

I move my bag away and encourage it to along its way but, it continues to climb onto the handle of the bag and sinks its feet in.  Now, what did I do as a child when I played with birds?  Oh yes, now I remember.  I extend my finger and put it above its feet pushing gently on it lower legs.  It takes a step and climbs on my finger - it worked.

So, now I have this little fluffy bird chirping on my finger and the business suit clad professionals around me have noticed and are beginning to stare.  I guess they’re not used to watching a man in a business suit with a baby robin perched on his finger in the middle of the downtown core.

I look around me for a place to put the bird.  There’s a tree next to the patio.  I walk over and try to play it on the tree, but with no luck.  The bird has sunk its feet securely around my finger and has no intention of letting go.

After about ten minutes of trying this I gently grasp the bird with my other hand and after gently applying some pressure it finally lets go and I place it on the tree.  Nearby are some birds chirping heavily and flying around.  It must be its parents.

I go back to my computer and my conversation.  “My apologies Robert, but I was distracted by a visitor” and I’m back into the business chat.  Five minutes pass and I hear baby chirping nearby.  I look down and there’s the same baby robbin, back up on my computer bag chirping at me.  “What?”  I say out loud.  What is going on? 

Is this a messenger from God or the Universe? I ask myself.  Why does this little bird keep coming back to me at the far end of a patio with at least 20 people in it.  It has to work its way through pedestrians and patrons walking around and moving their feet to get to where I am.  Why me?

Why me?  What is the message?  What is behind this?

Today I spoke at the “Learning For Life Forum” presented by ACCES (Accessible Community Counselling & Employment Services) and South District Toronto Social Services.  My topic was on Lifelong Learning through Networking.  Afterwards, I participated in a panel discussion on Learning For Life.  On the panel with me were:

* Randy Taylor, Author of “Life Before Can’t” and media personality, who spoke on overcoming barriers to learning.

* Audrey Rose Burns who shared the art of being open to new experiences and learning opportunities.

* Maral Maclagan from TVOntario’s Independent Learning Centre who spoke on innovative, alternative educational resources to achieve your goals.

* Andres Berrio who shared his experience as a newcomer to Canada and his successful transition to employment.

The Moderator for the day was Indira Naidoo-Harris, Producer of South Asian Programming for OMNI TV.  Indira did an excellent job at creating and fostering an interactive and inspirational discussion.  I recommend her for any association that’s looking for a capable facilitator or moderator.

Randy Taylor was also a great speaker and did a great job at helping the audience gain new perspective into the things that hold them back from their success.

Maral Maclagan did an excellent job at sharing with the attendees how the Independent Learning Centre can help them with their learning and to succeed in their career.

On the other hand, I was very much taken back and disappointed in Andres Berrio a refugee who entered Canada only 18 months ago and talked about his experience.  He shared with us as to how Canada has supported him with different programs and how Canadian families have helped him.  He even raved about the food that he ate while living in the house of another family here in Canada.  However, he kept referring to Colombia as being his country and to you people and your country whenever referring to Canada or Canadians.  So, I ask myself why are we doing this?  Why are we bringing individuals into our country, our homes and supporting them when they don’t even consider themselves part of us?  What is it going to take before they actually return the commitment to be ‘Canadian’?  Do we just  keep giving and giving and they keep taking and taking?  When is enough, enough?  Andres Berrio, I hope you read this because what you’ve done is insult the very people and country that have been helping and supporting you.  How about you start being Canadian and give back to our Canada by being part of “US”.

All in all the day was a great success.  Many individuals received much information.  Although, I do believe that in order for some of them to get out of the situation they are in, which is on some kind of support program they will need to change the way they think.

I was reminded of what happens when individuals start getting supported by agencies and programs.  I saw it in the questions and faces of some of the attendees at the Forum.  Many would ask how can I get more support, or I need support.  Very rarely did I hear, what do I need to do to become successful or get the career of my choice.  Why is it that the more that we give to some people, the more they want to take? 

The whole experience has been a great reminder to me about the difference in the mentality of successful people and unsuccessful people.  Those that are successful believe that they can accomplish what they put their mind to.  Those that are unsuccessful believe that they are not good enough or are permitted to succeed, that they have to be given or take what they can.  I’ve learned in live that both of these types of individuals are right.  The question is “Which type have you decided to be?”