Baldo Minaudo’s Blog

I’ve travelled to many cities around the world.  It’s not always a pleasant experience going through airports and the job that airport management and employees have certainly isn’t an easy one.  So, imagine my surprise when I was greated with a polite “How may I help you sir?” as soon as I walked through the automatic doors at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

To begin with the airport wasn’t busy at all, which made everything a lot easier.  But, as I waited to board my plane I couldn’t help but notice how observant all the Air Canada employees were.  So much so that when I was returning from buying a snack I could here one of the employees point out to the other that I was over there.  Never mind that he knew where I was, but also knew who I was.  Now, that made me feel important and valued, not like just another number.  Do you know what I mean?

Even before I made it to the gate, as I had passed through security the personnel were adhering to their security measures, yet very considerate and respectful.  But, then again I didn’t give them any reason for problems - right?  Well, yes but the experience itself was different from other airports.

I was a little surprised when I saw the airplane though.  I didn’t realize that my agent had booked me on a Dash 8.  In case you’ve never been on one a Dash 8 seats 37 passengers, excluding staff and pilots.  I almost giggled when the stewardess was asking the 13 passengers to sit in different seats to balance off the weight.  This is very important when flying small planes as I learned when I was going through my flying lessons.  It was a great ride as the plane climbed through the thick layer of fog brought on by a day of snowing.

All in all I give the BWI a 8.5 out of 10.  They lost points for not allowing passenger pick-up in front of the doors and gained points for giving away the first hour of parking for free.  They also lost points for limited offering of snacks throughout the terminal.

Which is your favourite airport?

This Friday I went to dinner with a friend.  We had searched on the internet for a restaurant where we could enjoy some good food and maybe make some friends.  I had clearly remembered passing this area the Saturday before and it was very much like an inner city nightmare, a place where I wouldn’t stop, let alone eat.  I scratched my head and wondered if this was really the same place.  So, off we were to Fells Point on the waterfront, but a funny thing happened along the way.  Why driving along E. Biddle Street we suddenly realized that the people were professionally dressed, walked in a straight line and seemed to be in a generally happy and sociable mood.  So we parked our car (lucky to find a free parking space on the street) and ended up at ‘Thai Landing’ restaurant near N. Charles Street and E. Biddle Street and while listening to my friend lament about how Vancouver is such a better city to live in than Toronto I enjoyed a wonderfully prepared cuisine by an attentive (but not overly so) staff.  I knew this would be a good restaurant when I entered the front door and saw a dozen awards from various magainzes and associations placing it among the best places to eat in Baltimore.  Yet, the price was very affordable. 

After finishing my dinner and taking in all my well-educated (Ph.d molecular biology) and athletic (certified personal trainer) friend had to say about Vancouver I put my urban planner hat and pointed out a few things that she had not achnowledged about Toronto, as well as some negatives about Vancouver that she was ignoring.  You see what triggered all this discussion was the question that my friend posed to me - “Do you think Toronto is a good place to live?”.  My answer was “I’ve travelled to hundreds of cities around the world and lived in most of them from between a few days to several weeks.  For me, I would rather live in Toronto than any other city all else being equal (such as career, family, etc.).  There are however some smaller communities that I would consider living, especially for raising a family in the early years.”  Apparently, this reply didn’t sit well with my friend and I found myself listening to someone with a mission to change my viewpoint.  Of course, she didn’t change my viewpoint because you see in my travels I not only looked at the cities I visited as a tourist, resident, and business traveller, but also an entrepreneur, sociologist, immigrant and urban planner.  I also find comfort in that Toronto has been successfully ranked by independent international organizations as a top world city.  Yet, I also agree that the quality of life in Toronto during the reign of the present mayor for whatever reason has significantly decreased. 

Well, back to what happened on Friday.  We crossed the street to Sammy’s Trattoria.  There we waited for 10 minutes for a place at the bar.  The place was very busy.  My friend turns to me and asks, “What do you notice about this place”.  “Lots of things what do you mean?” I reply.  My friend clarifies, “What do you notice about the people?”  I look around and notice that for the upscale decor they tend to be more casually dressed than Torontonians would, but a good mix of age groups, some university students, some in their sixties.  “There aren’t any Afro-Americans in here” she points out.  I look around and notice one Afro-American waitress, but everyone was caucasion with the exception of one oriental man.  Come to think of it Thai Landing also didn’t have many Afro-Americans there.  I think to myself is this the same Baltimore?

Two spaces open up at the bar and we finally get to order our Tiramisu dessert and coffee.  Before our order is even taken the couple next to us strikes up a conversation.  That was a real pleasure and the first time that someone in Baltimore that I hadn’t met tried to strike up a conversation with me without asking me for a hand out.

Turns out that Karin is a business lawyer and Greg is an Oracle database programmer.  And they have lived in both El Paso and Washington D.C. previously and therefore were able to speak intelligently about Baltimore.  I received quite an education about what has happened in the last few decades in Baltimore, as well as about the nightlife, where to eat and the neighbourhoods to check out.

Turns out that the property tax rate in Baltimore is 2.2%, compared to Toronto’s 1.25%, but they are not as stringent on updating the property assessment as Toronto is.  The second significant thing I found out is that the reason there are so many boarded up (and I mean blocked in homes) in the city is because the government has taken back the property due to unpaid property taxes.  This in turn has increasing caused the tax base of the city to decrease.  But, combined with the increasing crime rate within the core, which was addressed in a band-aid fashion by putting more strongmen police officers on the street as well as thousands of videocams on the street, has resulted in huge budget requirements.  In ordre to meet these increased requirements, the city had to raise its property taxes.  It’s all in the numbers my friend, higher expenditures lower revenues, spells disaster.  A lesson that many uneducated poticians throughout North America don’t seem to be able to learn.  And yes, this also applies to politicians in Toronto.

So, as I’m preparing for sleep that evening I think to myself was that the same Baltimore as last Friday?

Last week I was listening to CNN Business News and an Editor from a well-known business publication was interviewed.  In her comments she stated that their research found that most successfull small business people don’t plan to the detail of a business plan.  Which I agree with.  However, if you take that statement at face value one may believe that most successful small businesses don’t have a business plan, which I disagree with.  In her statement this editor did not define a ’successful’ small business and I suspect she used very vague census definitions, which basically classify any business that’s been active for a certain period of time and paying its bills as successfull.  Well, by my definition that is not success.  I believe success should be defined as a healthy, prosperous business that is meeting the financial needs of the business owner to a greater degree than if that business owner were to be working full time for a competitive salary.  And by my definition, I can tell you that only about 2% of small businesses that have been in business for 5 years would be considered successful.  Now, here’s the important part.  Almost all of those successfull businesses that I’ve come across have a business plan.  Sure, I’ve come across businesses that have had a good year or two, but without a plan they usually fizzle out.  You see, they may happen to find a need, gap or whatever to fill but what happens when the competition moves in or their product becomes obsolete?

But, that’s not the reason why I was motivated to mention this editor.  The real reason is her second comment that all an entepreneur needs is that one idea.  Excuse me?  That one idea?  I have hundreds of great ideas and I know many people that have.  So why isn’t everyone with a great idea a great entrepreneurial success?  Anyone that’s spent any amount of time in business or near entrepreneurs knows that the success in business comes from implementation.  Ideas are nothing until they get implemented!  Yet, this self-proclaimed expert on small business is saying the exact opposite.  It is in her statement that she reveals her ignorance and incompetence as a small business expert.  So, how is it that she’s the publisher of a well-known business publication?  Hmmmmm.  And how many would be entrepreneurs are being led into a false direction because of this careless and incompetent woman?

As I always say, careful from whom you recieve your counsel.  Advice is free, especially when it is useless to begin with.  You want to succeed in business be your own counsel and look at what has truly worked for others.  Starting any venture, business or otherwise without a plan is no better than buying a lottery ticket - some succeed, but most lose their money.

If you are considering starting your own business, drop me an email and I’ll be happy to discuss it with you.

Good Luck

There is much discussion lately about the Power of Intention.  However, there is a sister concept that has not been mentioned, yet is more powerful and that is the Power of Attention.

After years of working in the personal development field and coaching others in their personal growth I’ve refined my discovery of the Power of Attention.  Well, I’d like to take credit for it, but really I first learned about it well I don’t know - when I started in Kindergarten.  It works something like this, “where you put your attention, things will happen”. 

Over the years I’ve seen this concept appear in various forms and in various areas.  For example, have you ever noticed how when you start thinking about something you see it everywhere?  When you think about buying a certain car, suddenly you notice it everywhere.  Or when you get a parking ticket and you start noticing parking bees everywhere.  This also exists in the scientific world in that what scientist look for they find.  It’s like they see thousands of things, but the only ones that register are the ones that they think about.  The mind somehow subconsciously filters all the non-attention elements.

There are many studies that look at why people see some things, yet don’t notice others.  It reminds me of when my cousin visited from Italy and we decided to drive to New York.  We were walking on the side walk in a very busy street full of concrete and high buildings and all kinds of hustle and bustle.  Gianfranco turns to me and says (in Italian of course), ’Look - what is that’.  And he walked me over to a tree in a concrete planter about 20 feet away.  He reached up and slightly bent a small branch to look at somekind of insect that was cacooning on a leaf.  Okay, we’re in the middle of the concrete jungle full of sounds, traffic and people and he notices this insect?  Hmmmmm.  I thought about it a lot and wondered why he would notice that.  Then I realized that nature is where he grew up and where he puts his attention, therefore it is what registers with him.  Another man may have noticed how dirty the sidewalk (a janitor) or how slow the traffic was moving (a cab driver).  

As in all knowledge is power.  So, I ask how can this knowledge be used?  Let’s see - well if you where you put your attention determines that which you consciously notice.  And what you notice is what is in your mind.  And what you hold in your mind you create into reality.  Then, it is logical to conclude that where you decide to put your attention will create your environment conducive to that which is the focus of your attention.  Hence, criminals attract crime, lovers attract love, workers attract work, etc.  That would also explain why as adults we are often a reflection of the items that caught our attention as children.  Once that bolder starts to roll, it’s difficult to change it’s direction you know.

So, where are you putting your attention?