As today is the day that our friends south of the 49th spend giving thanks, it's only fitting that I can post a link to one of our Canadian independent business owner's Web sites as his efforts and dedication to supporting Easter Seals is something that we're truly inspired by and thankful for.
Edmonton-based IBO Shaun Guthrie posted his Easter Seals' Drop Zone video today. I encourage all of you to go check it out and see what's involved. Then, like Shaun, I hope you'll look into participating in this year's event.
Earlier this year, I interviewed both Ottawa-based IBO Gregory Anthoine and Winnipeg-based IBO Diane Fedak about their participation in their local Drop Zone events. I hope that reading these stories and seeing Shaun's video helps motivate people to take that extra step and go over the edge in support of such a worthwhile charity.
As you can see, Shaun has set some aggressive fund-raising goals for the 2011 campaign, and he's looking to other IBOs to join in and support him. And we'll do our best to help all of you here at Canuck Central. Each year we try to co-ordinate your efforts as much as possible and I'm going to make a commitment to better use our social media applications to help you guys out. We'll be launching new Amway Canada and Nutrilite Facebook pages shortly, so I can use those to help share your stories, encourage support, and make people aware of what a great opportunity we have to support kids and families with disabilities.
Again, thanks to Shaun, Gregory, Diane, and all of you who have given of your time, effort, and money to support this great cause. Feel free to visit the Drop Zone Web site. This year we raised over $1 million for Easter Seals — next year, with your support, let's shoot for much more!
As always, the comments are open. We'd love to hear from you. What can we do to help you if you're interested in participating? What does the Drop Zone mean to you? And what do you think of stories like Shaun's, Gregory's, or Diane's?
A self-professed good guy – but not a nice guy — turned to the silver screen for inspiration earlier this week in going over the edge for kids and families with disabilities at the Ottawa Easter Seals Drop Zone event.
Ottawa-based IBO Gregory Anthoine rappelled down the Delta Hotel & Suites on Queen St. disguised as the Terminator. He said he felt the fictional character – and his journey — was a perfect representation of Anthoine’s real-life personality. Well, and practicality also played a role.
“I wasn’t skinny enough for Spider-Man,” he said, laughing. “Originally the Terminator was a bad guy, but if you followed the series he turned out to be a good guy later on. I think that’s cool.
“I’m not a nice guy, but I’m a good guy. When they call in the SWAT teams, they don’t want the nice cops – they want the good cops. The Terminator, he was not a nice guy, but he was a good guy and I thought it would work with me, my personality, and my body type.
Putting together the right look wasn’t that hard. “Unfortunately, I had every article of clothing in my wardrobe already, so I didn’t have to buy anything for the costume,” Anthoine said. “What does that tell you about me?”
(*** UPDATE, OCT. 7 — Greg provided us with some photos from the event, which I've uploaded to an AmwayCanada flikr page. Check them out by clicking here! ***)
He explained that it was a phone call that he received from a member of the Amway Canada management team that prompted his involvement.
“Initially [Amway Canada’s communications and government affairs manager] Angela [Abdallah] e-mailed me and said that we’re going to be doing a Drop Zone event in Ottawa, and wanted to know if I’d be interested,” he said. “I said ‘yes’ right away – if the business has an event going on, I want to attend, support and be involved.”
That was a month prior to the event. In the intervening time, Anthoine raised the requisite funds, attended the training, and prepared for the event.
“It was a combination platter of people who supported me – people in the [Amway] business and those who are out of it,” he explained. “At first they thought it was hilarious and people would donate anywhere from $5 to $200.”
For some, the idea of rappelling down a large building can cause significant anxiety. Anthoine admitted he wasn’t sure how he was going to react prior to the event.
“I was nervous as to whether I’d be nervous,” he said. “I don’t have a fear of heights, but you always wonder if you’d panic once you get to the top. Then you start thinking, ‘wouldn’t it be embarrassing if you panicked or passed out half way through.
“But then you realize that the money is going to kids that have to deal with a lot more than we do. You talk to people all the time about facing and overcoming one’s own fears – so it comes down to am I going to listen to my own seminars or not?”
Not everyone was able to conquer all their fears. And although one participant backed out just prior to going over the edge of the building, Anthoine explained he has the ultimate respect for him for getting that far.
“One guy got up there and didn’t complete it. He said, ‘I’m officially a coward,’ and walked away,” Anthoine said. “Even though he didn’t go down, he got that far – and that’s a heck of a lot farther than most people. I’m not going to fault a guy for not going through with it – he did more than most people. Despite his fear of heights, he had the guts to at least try.
“Like the great American philosopher, Clint Eastwood, said, “a man’s got to know his limitations.’ He at least raised the money and stuck his neck out despite his fears. I’m not going to fault a guy for using common sense.”
To participate in the Drop Zone, registrants must raise a minimum of $1,500 and attend training. Anthoine said that the professionalism of the training staff alleviated most concerns that participants may have had – and they left no question as to who was in charge of the rappel.
“During the training, we prepared on something like one of those climbing walls. We went over an artificial cliff just to get used to it. The guys who were doing the training were amazing and all really professional,” he added. “Of course, their suggestions were not suggestions – they were polite orders. They were saying that this was the only way it’s done and people were pretty good about following directions. After all, nobody wanted to make a mistake or get hurt.
“When I did the training, some people were a little nervous once they were in the equipment. I just leaned right back and the guys said, ‘Wow, you really trust us.’ I said, ‘What choice to I have?’”
Anthoine said that he found parallels between the rappelling experience and building an Amway business.
“[The trainers] told me that if you want to not be nervous, trust your equipment, trust your tools, and your team,” he said. “To me that was the perfect analogy to Amway. You have the support, the equipment, and the team — you just have to trust in all of them.”
When it came time for Anthoine to rappel down the building, he explained that things moved quickly. He also changed his mind as to how he was going to approach the descent.
“Once I got to the top, I said, ‘here we go,’ Things happened so quickly and you were focused on the task at hand,” he said. “I was going to stop half-way down and make a phone call on my cell. But I decided against that. I watched the guys up top and they would watch slower people, or those who spun and got their ropes tangled a bit, and they weren’t impressed.
“I decided I wasn’t going to stop – I would just go down like a flash, nice and fast, and at the very least I’d have their respect – I wouldn’t just be some hack on a rope.”
This was Anthoine’s first Drop Zone experience, but it won’t be his last. He’s already starting to investigate how he can get more IBOs involved in the event.
“It’s a nice team-building thing. At Achievers we do similar events – those semi-dangerous things where you have to rely on your team,” he said. “Next year I’d like to do a something with our group – maybe do a group event so that the funds raised are contributed to a group total. After all, our business is a group business.
“People were aware of my participation and gave encouragement – this year was a test for us and it was the first time it was in Ottawa. I think it should be here every year. Anything like this type of public event is good public relations in the general public. There’s great opportunity for team building within the group – I think this could be a time to encourage group leaders to get their entire group involved. You could have two dozen people raising money, but only the brave ones would go down the wall. You’d get more people involved.”
At 54 years old, Anthoine said age isn’t an impediment to participation and he encouraged everyone to get involved. “I saw people going down who were wheelchair-bound,” he said. “Unless [someone] has a physical issue that would prevent them from going down the building, then they shouldn’t be concerned about it at all.
&
ldquo;[The company that was in charge of the rappelling] do stuff with wind turbines and dams – it’s a big-money organization, they’re not a bunch of thrill-seekers.”
Whether it’s conquering fear, overcoming nervousness, or setting and reaching a goal, Anthoine explained that events like this help one learn about themselves.
“I would say this is why people who do things that stretch themselves, whether it’s being part of a volunteer organization or doing smaller-group public speaking, you learn that you can do more than you think you can – even if it’s just a little bit more,” he said. “I was trained, I had support, so I was confident – I was a Boy Scout: be prepared. If you’re facing a situation where you’re nervous, you can say, ‘I’m trained, I’m prepared’ and it becomes more of a mental contest.
“If you’re terrified, then you need to go back through the process. But if you’re a little nervous – and you have to remember that Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, even the contemporary acts all said that before they go on stage they’re a little nervous – you don’t let a little nervousness stop you.”
And it’s not just self-awareness that improves. “You learn things about people. My brother-in-law, after he sponsored me, told me that he couldn’t see anything on the application for organ donation,” Anthoine added. “It’s like people who stop to watch accident scenes – you hope for the best, but there could be a gory story. If that’s what it takes for me to raise a little money, then I can take being the butt of a few jokes.
“I was very impressed with the people involved. You hear about how people don’t care and how bad people are, but these people took time out of their schedule and had the guts to raise money for a good cause. They could have been home, watching a movie, but instead they raised $100,000 – they’re good people and not selfish.”
Amway Canada has been involved with the Drop Zone for a number of years and Anthoine said the positive relationship can bring benefit to IBOs. “Some people I prospected for funds don’t know I’m in the Amway business – but they’re going to,” he said. “I can tell them, I heard about this event and participated because I’m in the Amway business. It’s a smart business decision if you leverage it in a classy, subtle fashion.”
Referencing today’s official opening of the Amway Center in Orlando, Anthoine explained that the public relations efforts are important, and events like the Drop Zone are an ideal way for IBOs to get involved with the business and the community.
“I’m not a basketball player, I’m not a soccer player, but I can hang off a rope,” Anthoine concluded. “Any opportunity that we have to participate – and you don’t have to be a superstar athlete – it’s great!”
A promise to lose weight led to another type of weight being lifted off of Diane Fedak’s shoulders – and a conquered fear has been replaced by an empowering confidence in her ability to meet any challenge she faces head-on.
Fedak, a Winnipeg IBO, participated in her second consecutive Easter Seals Drop Zone event on Aug. 19, 2010. She, along with the other rappellers, raised $137,000 which will support the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities’ programs. Her efforts help to change the lives of people living with disabilities – and it’s changed her life too, both personally and as an independent business owner.
“First of all, to me, it was a life-changing event. I overcame my fear of heights and I realized I could do something that I thought I couldn’t,” Fedak explained. “It absolutely relates back to my business – there’s that heavy phone I have to pick up and call [customers and IBOs]. If I can rappel down a building, then I can pick up a phone.
“I know now that I can do what I put my mind to do.”
Fedak, who is a secretary at her Church and works as a legal assistant, watched the event from the comfort of her law office which is conveniently located right across the road from the Drop Zone site. Interest, combined with a promise she made to herself, led her to take the plunge for the first time last year.
“I work right across the street from where they do the event. I watched it for four years and I thought that I could do it,” she explained. “After the third year, I said, ‘I will do that if I lose 40 pounds.’
“I lost the 40 pounds and so I had to stick by my word.”
Beyond the aforementioned benefits of participating, Fedak added that having the opportunity to interact with representatives from Easter Seals and the SMD has changed her on a personal level.
“In my personal life, I think that I’m a more confident person. Having met some of the people from the Society of Manitobans with Disabilities and learning from them, I think I’m more accepting and more forgiving of people,” she said. “I think in some ways, I’ve become someone who is more willing to step back and think first – lots of times, I’ll just blurt something out and now I’m more gentle and accepting of people for who they are.
While one would think taking that first step over the edge of a building would be the biggest challenge, Fedak admitted that was secondary to raising the funds required to participate in the event. “The hardest part is raising the $1,500 – especially if you’re doing this for the second time,” she said. “You can’t keep going back to the well – it’s a lot of money and you don’t want to keep going to the same people over and over. This year I raised $1,688 through family, people at the Church, people at work, and fellow IBOs. “The IBOs who did help me were very enthusiastic about the event.”
She added that people are generally shocked when she approaches them with this fund-raising concept. However, thanks to the safety measures taken prior to and during the event make rappelling down a building less stressful than her daily commute.
“I’m no spring chicken – I’m 56 years old and I’m not afraid to admit it,” Fedak explained. “People would say, ‘Are you crazy? You’re really going to do that – jump off of the building?’ But it’s really not that dangerous.
“I ride a bike to and from work through downtown Winnipeg – that’s more dangerous. You have to go for training and there are five points of safety that have to fail before you fall. It’s much safer than riding my bike to work.”
Fedak said that despite her assurances, people were offering alternative fund-raising methods. “I’ve even had people say, ‘I’ll give you $50 not to do it!’”
This being her second year participating in the event didn’t make it any easier for Fedak. In fact, a delay at the top of the building added to the tension.
“I found it harder this year, for one thing I’ve had some health issues,” she said. “I also had to wait up there for 15 minutes. Even though I work on the 22nd floor on a daily basis, this is a little different. The waiting kind of played little games with my head.
“Last year was a real adrenaline rush. I had a terrible fear of heights and I had to conquer that.”
Fedak also wanted to clear up the idea that you’re jumping off into the unknown. In fact, rappelling down the building is no harder than walking, she explained.
“You stand on the balls of your feet, lean back, and as soon as your heels hit the wall you start walking backwards. If you want to push yourself away, you could do that,” she said. “There are always people in windows, looking at you and waving.”
And while some take the time to take in the scenery, Fedak admitted that she’s been able to appreciate a similar view for years. “I looked around a little bit, but I do work on the 22nd floor across the street and have since 1990,” she explained. “The view is something I see every day – it’s old hat.”
Fedak said she is pleased with Amway’s support of the Drop Zone and was delighted to see NUTRILITE®-branded products at the event site.
“I was absolutely proud that [Amway] had a presence. [The event planners] really took care of me,” she said. “There was an A+ breakfast – they had croissants, cinnamon buns and doughnuts, and they had a big huge bowl of our [NUTRILITE] food bars.
“I’d see people going after the muffins and I was saying, ‘You have no idea what you have there with the NUTRILITE bars.’”
Fedak says there's still room for improvement. She said the opportunity is there for people to learn about our products and that IBOs could benefit both from an exposure and a team-building perspective.
“Even if there are only 100 people there, that is 100 people who can learn about the products,” she said. “I also think it could be a great team-building thing. But it’s something that you have to be ready to do.
“I would absolutely recommend it to people – if they’re ready.”
Which begs the question — how do you know you’re ready? “Your mind has to be ready. I knew I was ready,” she explained. “I just knew – it’s a feeling. How do you know when you’re in love? You just know.”
Will the third time be the charm for Fedak? She admitted that she’s not entirely sure whether she’ll rappel again – but her niece has expressed an interest in participating and if it takes Fedak strapping on the harness again to get her niece to take the plunge for Easter Seals, then she’ll strongly consider it. Regardless, Fedak said she’s planning to stay involved. “I’ll do it again in 2011 if my niece does it,” she confirmed. “Otherwise I’ll volunteer to help support the event.”
Whether you’re an IBO or not, or whether you’ve supported Easter Seals in the past or not, Fedak concluded by saying that participants receive an incredible reward for participating, beyond supporting a wonderful cause and helping people live better lives.
“I now will do things that I wouldn’t do before,” she explained. “The greatest reward you get, as a participant, is the confidence you gain and the knowledge that you can do anything that you put your mind to.”
Visit the Drop Zone Web site for videos and other updates from the various events this summer. There are two more events this year — Sept. 22nd in Montreal and Sept. 27th in Ottawa. And if you’re interested in participating next year and joining NUTRILITE in its support of Easter Seals charities, please feel free to e-mail public.relations.ca@amway.com.
If you've followed this blog for any given time, you'll have noticed that I'm not one to tell you what to do. After all, who am I to be the final arbiter of what's right and wrong for you. That belief system extends throughout my life — whether it's matters of religion, romance, or finances, I firmly believe you do what's right for you. As long as you're not hurting anyone and you're not doing evil, then live your life.
That's why, in the past, I've been very hesitant about recommending causes or charities. Yes, I broke that rule to an extent in an earlier post about Haiti, but I felt that I could add something to the discussion considering my history with that region and the fact that this company, Amway Global, was supporting the efforts. Nowhere do I say, 'Do this!' Rather, I believe in laying out the facts, sharing my opinion if it's warranted, and then letting you decide what's right for yourself.
I'm very anti-pressure when it comes to these matters. I guess that's why I was so dismayed by what was waiting for me on our answering machine at home upon return from a quick, four-day excursion to visit friends and family in Quebec.
Seven messages. All from various charities. All soliciting money.
All worthy causes, to be sure. But all less likely to get money out of us because the calls are bordering on harassment. And repeated polite entreaties to stop calling are not working. I don't want to yell at some poor soul trying to do their best, but it's getting to that point.
We support a number of charities for a number of reasons: the Heart & Stroke Foundation, in recognition of their work with my father and grandfather (you may remember this); the Canadian Cancer Society, in recognition of my wife's grandfather; Ste-Justine Hospital in Quebec, who saved the lives of both our children during childbirth; and a few others here and there — including Haitian relief, United Way, and Easter Seals, all of which this company has supported. We've given clothes during drives, we add a buck or two here or there regularly when shopping, and we believe that we have an obligation to help where we can. And let's not forget the time we've spent volunteering for various causes, our kids' school efforts, and the like.
We're not saints; we could probably do more. But we try our best. Unfortunately, that seems like it's not enough.
My wife made the mistake — and I hate to use that term when talking about charitable donations — of buying tickets to a show for disadvantaged youth (the names of the various charities will remain anonymous from here on in…). Since then, we get weekly calls asking for more. We donated clothes to a local charity. Since then, we've been getting weekly calls saying they're coming by for more.
Let's start with the fact that I don't own that many clothes!!!! Sure, I have a full wardrobe, but it's pretty pared down after the last round or two of donations. I can't buy and wear clothes as fast as they want me to give them away.
Then, I guess, our names are on a list that's being passed around from call centre to call centre. Like the neighbourhood cats my wife feeds, we've apparently been tagged as 'easy marks.' (I firmly believe cats talk to each other — and by the volume of them that show up at our door at night looking for food, I believe the word has been passed around the feline world).
I get it. Times are tough and charities need support. But where do honest entreaties end and harassment begin? In the end, I have to believe I'm not the only one getting frustrated. And to what end? How many people run out of patience and decided to stop supporting altogether? How does that benefit our society? Giving once or twice a year is better than never, right?
Compounding the problem? Being made to feel guilty about saying no. If we respectfully say, 'No thank you. We choose to donate elsewhere for personal reasons,' I shouldn't be told, 'Oh, well it's only a few dollars more.' A courteous, 'Well, thank you for your support and please keep us in mind for the future,' would work a whole lot better with me. I've actually been shouted down by a solicitor as I was saying, 'No, we're not interested at this time, thank you. And would you kindly remove me from your list…' She just kept reading her script at an increased volume and ignored me — the person from whom she was trying to extract money!!!!
The absolute worst thing? When I see my money wasted. We recently received a stack of address labels — glossy pieces with our names and addresses pre-printed. Use them, we were told, at our leisure. Pay whatever you want.
Hold up. I have to imagine these labels cost someone a pretty penny. Multiply that by the thousands of people who receive them, divide by the number of people who actually pay, and what are you left with? To me, a whole whack of misplaced funds that could better be used by the people whom these charities are supposed to be supporting.
I love the PBS way of fundraising. Have a telethon, reach out to subscribers, and thank them honestly for their support. And with Social Media on the increase — especially Facebook amongst the donation-giving demographic — reaching thousands of people has never been easier. Creativity over capital! That should be the mantra.
I know we're going to continue to give, because we believe that's right. But I have to admit that it will be with a tinge of regret, knowing that our donation is buying us a whole lot of headaches in the future.
So how do you handle it? Where is the line drawn for you? Back in the day, I worked at Blockbuster Video. I used to get in trouble regularly for not following the company's rules to the letter. They wanted me to go out in the store and follow people around, making suggestions, and generally annoying them. Well, at least that's the way I feel about that type of sales. I preferred (and still do) to greet someone, introduce myself, and then simply say, 'If I can be of any assistance, just let me know.' After all, how many people really want cinematic advice from some know-nothing 18-year-old? Taste is subjective, right?
And I would imagine, for the IBOs out there reading this, this is a line
that you must tread carefully as a business owner. As an IBO, do you repeatedly call customers and downline? Does it work or do you lose people who feel pestered? How do you find the balance?
I think all of us, if we have the means, should support charities. I've worked with enough of them to know how much they do with so little. And if your financial means aren't there, then by all means give of your time. It's just as appreciated. But that's my belief — you do what's right for you. If you feel your time and money is better spent elsewhere — even on yourself — then that's your right. Altruism is great, but there is something to be said for rewarding yourself. I'm not going to begrudge you going out to dinner and a movie — not all of your disposable income has to be tithed to a charity. It's all about balance, right?
Oh, and stop calling me seven times on the Easter Weekend, OK?
… and, yes, I'm fully aware of the irony behind asking you to sign up for things and participate in contests in a post related to being harassed by solicitors. It's all in good fun!
It's kind of cool that I, as a Canuck, am able to spend the day South of the 49th, on such a historic occasion. Let's face it, regardless of your political leanings, today's inauguration of President Obama is something that will resonate for years to come. I was able to catch the inauguration proceedings on-line and on a TV here at Spaulding. And out of the mix of celebration, euphoria, pomp, circumstance, and — yes, even — hyperbole, one concept came to the fore.
In these trying times, I think much of Obama's success can be attributed to the underlying message of many of his speeches — a message of hope. But what I like most about the way he's chosen to present this concept hope is that it's never mentioned without a requirement of personal responsibility.
This is not about big government stepping in and fixing problems; this is about the average American (and, I hope, Canadian) stepping up and making a positive difference in their homes, in their communities, and with the people around them. Yesterday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day saw a record number of people get out and volunteer in the community. That's a good start, but it's just that — a start. It will quickly come to naught without further engagement.
Again, regardless of whether you're more fond of donkeys or elephants; or, north of the border, whether you prefer red, blue, yellow, or green, this message of hope resonates within us all.
In fact, I'd say that the average IBO can appreciate this message more so than others. After all, what is this business but an opportunity of hope based upon a foundation of personal responsibility, effort, and dedication? You get into this business to help people live better lives, and to create a better future for you and your family. I've seen the willingness of IBOs to give of themselves to support others — including literally going over the edge of a building for Easter Seals!
This is a business built upon hope, but a realistic hope that's tethered by the responsibility of fairly representing the opportunity and supporting those with whom you share this journey. Sure, sometimes some people choose to fray that tether, but still we keep going — employees and IBOs together — to learn from our mistakes, improve upon our faults, and create a better tomorrow.
Nothing's ever perfect, let's face it. Ideally, we'd like our governments to be accountable, forthright, and working in our best interests. Yet sometimes there are those who exploit the power of office for nefarious reasons — and that's no different than any other walk of life. In any business, political, or social environment, there will be those who prey upon the others for personal gain — and sometimes the lure of the almighty dollar ($1.20 in Canada) can be too much for those to resist.
Yet those people are the minority. The majority of people want to do right by others and live honourably; they want to be a part of the solution, not the problem; and they're willing to put in the effort that's required to affect change.
President Obama is selling hope and several people are buying. And that's good news for IBOs who are willing to do things the right way. But selling hope is not enough — especially if it comes at the cost of one's reputation. Hope can only be purchased through the coin of effort and dedication.
The good thing, though, is that the return on your investment is a better future.
Over to you. Why did you join the business? What are your thoughts on hope? And what do you envision for the future?
All the best,
Jay
*** AFTER THE FACT ADD: You may or may not have noticed (I'm not sure if you readers head south of the CyberBorder), but Beth Dornan all the way over at the Amway Global Insider blog wrote a post on a similar topic – if you haven't done so yet, check it out here!
Crown Ambassador Jim Janz is on stage now, speaking before a packed house. I caught up to him just before he went on to share his thoughts on Pathways.
And he's not the only jewel in the IBO crown on hand. I also caught up with Diamonds Jake Funk and Jay Lee. But why read about them when you can listen to them here:
And it's over. Months of planning, weeks of build-up, hours of set-up, and a whole lot of laughs — done in just two days. But it was a blast.
We had thousands of IBOs, Customers, and visitors pass through the entrance and a good time was had by all. And coming back to my hometown was successful in a number of ways:
We introduced a few to the pleasures of smoked meat sandwiches and steamies (although a certain someone still has an unnatural aversion to cole slaw, which prevented her from getting the full experience;
The Amway Global Canadian family grew by two, as Nicole and Cindy both became grandmothers on Friday and Saturday respectively. A heartfelt congratualtions to both;
We single-handedly boosted the dairy industry in Quebec. I've never seen so much milk and cream disappear — 51 litres of milk and 36 litres of cream, gone. If you're looking for a solid stock to buy, take a look at Alberta's dairy operations come mid-November;
We raised thousands of dollars for Easter Seals Canada through the generosity of those who attended the event. All Pathways expos are free, but we collect donations at the door. You opened your hearts and your wallets and your caring will truly make a difference for those dealing with disabilities; and
Thousands of new and old IBOs, faithful customers, and a whole host of people new to Amway Global cleared us out of our samples and information — which bodes well for future sales, because after all, once you try Amway Global Exclusive merchandise, there's a good chance you'll become a regular customer.
So we've packed up, headed back to the hotel, and are gearing up for the flight home. And in about three weeks we'll be doing it again, taking the Pathways to Success expo to Calgary, AB.
Calgary — you have a lot to live up to. I think I can speak for all of us at Amway Global's Canadian operations in expressing our thanks to the people of Montreal. From the staff at Place Bonaventure, to the support staff who helped us set up the gig — especially Stronco and Sharon, to everyone who made us feel welcome, let me say you have no idea how much we appreciate what you all did this weekend.
Personally, going to these events is extremely rewarding. As the writer in Canada, I'm often behind the scenes and I don't hear much from the people out in the field — unless there's something wrong, then we all hear. But when we come to these events, we see the fruits of our labours, we hear how appreciated our efforts are, and we feel like we're making a difference. As much as these events serve to generate excitement and help motivate IBOs and Customers, they doubly provide us with that same motivation to do the best we can to make this the business opportunity of choice for all Canadians.
Before I go, I want to remind you that we've got another major event just around the corner. Next week the HomeSense Skate Canada International event will be taking place in our nation's capital. We've got a team of Amway Global staffers ready to invade ScotiaBank centre, handing out information, and manning (or womanning in this case) a booth on the arena concourse. Combine that with arena rink-board advertising and the regular rotation of our Artistry essentials commercial and thousands more Canadians will be exposed to the Amway Global brand in general, and Artistry in particular. I'll be getting missives from Ottawa and I'll share them with you right here, North of the 49th.