Food for thoughts...
M

It is said that successful people often lack balance in their lives, I can attest to that. BUT I don't think it has anything to do with success, I think it's hard to have balance, PERIOD. 

A man who I met online just few weeks ago told me 'Make the right choice, not the childish one. I need a woman in my life, not a child' while I was complaining about my jet-setting and impulsive ways.... Though I agree with him and he has a point, I couldn't feel but be defensive towards his comment. 

At 18, I held a scholarship into one the most competitive and toughest programs in Canada's prestige university.

By 19, I had made my first short film, my 1st commercial music video and a team of 35 talented individuals working for me.

At 21, I had my own multimedia company, working international projects. 

By 24, my parents were enlightened on the topic of racism when they were forced to accept the choices I was making in my dating life, befriending a man of 'colour' and putting a fight when they threatened to disown me. 

By 25, I made headlines world wide for my work in television and was coined as one of the 'top ten up and coming producers' by executives.

Today, I have a wonderful, talented and loyal set of friends who are MY family. I have projects and jobs across the globe... I am also a shopoholic, I have often put myself in thousands and thousands of dollars in debt, I always surpass limits and boundaries, I break laws and procedures... But I am who I am because of it. Will I stop this? No, but I will try to better control my impulses. 

We all know the story of Steve Jobs, a cautionary tale, a man who changed the world but at the price of alienating almost everyone around him. Need I say more???

So to the man I am dating now, do you want a multitalented, recognized & hard working child, or a woman who can wash your dishes, and put babies into this world? Take your pick. 

love, 
Mary, the spoiled brat! 

I came across a great article on John Donahoe, CEO of eBay and I have to share some pieces of it here. It was inspiring to read specially since I am in the midst of creating a digital platform for a wholesale and retail company which combines mobile, web and apps. 


"It's no longer about local or global, online or offline, small-seller or big-seller. It's about local and global, online and offline, small-seller and big-seller."
I've been saying this for years now. The world is global, if you have an idea and want to succeed, think international, not local. Don't be afraid to dream!


"The mobile device has become the central control system in consumers' lives, and it's blurred the lines between online and offline."
Yes it is expensive to take your business mobile or even online but you have to recognize mobile is the future. Today's generation (like myself) don't bother checking e mails, facebook, eBay, or even check Starbucks menu in real life, we seek our mobile for all that. 


"We're less focused on what our competition is doing and staying focused on driving innovative technology and platforms that allow consumers to have great shopping experiences. There will always be new start-ups, new formats, and new ideas, but we're well positioned to be one of the key leaders in this new world of commerce." - Donahoe. 
Right on. I always say, no one can do the same thing as me so I don't care who tries to copy me or what my competitors are doing, I know I am focused on always providing the best and the latest. This is all you need to stay ahead. 

To read the full article, click here. 

My 2 cents, 
M

Click on imand view in large. Great infographics for everyone to know. 

I think the idea of crafting all your answers, plans & solutions before going into action, is old school. Today, we need to point and shoot.... and build during the process.... 

Much love, 
M

The Inevitable
 A friend of mine predicted blockbusters bankruptcy while he was managing one of the NYC locations ... few years later, what happened? It did. I don’t think television will go bankrupt but do think it is losing viewers quicker than ever before.  
 

All TV content must be available on DEMAND
As a viewer in 2012, I find it absurd to sit in front of the TV at 9PM to catch my favorite show and if I don’t, I miss it. I pay 60$ every month for the cable package and still don’t get to watch my shows. This viewership model will disappear in the future, no question about it. There are an increasing number of people who do not understand this model and soon, the new generation will stop watching television all together. Today, people are used to everything coming to them on web and mobile. So rather resisting the inevitable, networks need to transition from their current model to one where ALL content is available on demand.

Curate TV programs
If I can watch whatever I want whenever I want, why bother watching television at all? We’re on the edge of having all content available on web (that's if it's not there already!). Soon, logging online to watch a favorite tv show will be as easy as pressing the ON button on the televisions remote control. Broadcasters need to adopt a user friendly, intuitive ‘curating’ approach to their channels where users can browse through content that is similar in style or topic (sort of like Pinterest boards). Networks need to embrace these methods and create innovative ways to engage with their audience and continue making $$$. Bottom line is, we need more topic specialized channels, more different types of content and more ways of interacting with content. 

Broadcasters must change the way they make $$$
In the last few years, there have been major budget cut backs, production halts & lack of advertisers. Now we are seeing encouragements on co-productions, international formats and reality based content. It has become obvious that it is increasingly difficult for broadcasters to make profits in this decade. It’s mainly because networks have not figured out how to make money online and offline (hence the term transmedia: the ability to tell a story through different platforms IE: TV, web, mobile, print…).

We are starting to see some content on demand (IE Netflix) and other ways where broadcasters are bringing your choice of programming to you at a touch of a button. But the problem still remains: people are watching less television and skipping through commercials or they go directly online because they don’t want commercials. So there needs to be a major re-vamp on the networks formula of making $$$. There are many different ways to make money online and on the plus side of that, marketing is much more efficient on web/mobile then it is on TV to reach your target audience (on my most recent project, I had 2.7 million hits in 9 moths on the web). New businesses ( and some old ones) are starting to invest in this medium as a promotional tool, so it’s time for networks to do the same….

Just sharing my 2 cents...
M

The idea of cleaning early morning used to sound silly to me ... actually ... I never allowed my mind to think the full thought "I need to clean, shower, take my time and make breakfast and clean up after that then look fabulous before I head out the door" and do all that before 8AM. Who wants to admit to something like that? Not me. But as time passed, I realized this morning routine is what calms me, it centers me and it  helps me to have a very productive kick-start to my day. Hence I make sure to wake up an hour early to allow my zen activities every morning...

My point is.... your ZEN moments can be the very same thing you do daily and without knowing it, it helps you calm down. Now, if you take a moment and discover what it is, you can do it as many times as you need to calm yourself from the daily stresses life hands over to us. 

For me.... my house is always CLEAN :) Cleaning, specially in the morning, is my zen :) 

I just returned from Switzerland where I was fuelled with creative ideas that have once again set me up with the pillars I need to start building a full, dynamic and entertaining new year! 

For those interested in participating in the development of my next development for television, send me an e mail and we can get a conversation going.... 

Otherwise, I would like to say.....

This summer has been beautiful. I made it a point to myself to stay in shape and continue my workouts, I thought a little reminder would benefits you :) 

Cause I owe it to myself to live
healthier, longer, happier and stronger

Since February of 2012, I've lost over 30 lbs and continue to lose. I have also put on mass and I can now run and even jog uphill :) 

I encourage you to start today if you haven't already. It's never too late. 

1love
Mary