They were just a simple pair of lady’s trouser socks. Sure I wore a nice pair of black dress pants and a very hot pair of Stuart Weiztman heels, but the socks themselves, well, they were a just ho-hum.

One day, if the team at Cole + Parker has their way, my typical morning routine of grabbing boring, uninspiring socks will change – and so will yours.

Instead they hope we’ll reach for a snazzy pair of colorful, statement socks that better match your mood and carry with them a sense of pride. Say good bye to boring socks and hello to socks that start businesses.

Inspired by the ‘One for One’ business model made famous by TOMS shoes, the Cole + Parker brand co-founded by Londoners Diana Charabin and Jeff House, puts a new twist on an established idea coining the ‘One for Many’ business model.

If you’re not familiar with the original concept, Blake Mycoskie is the founder and chief shoe giver at TOMS, and the person behind the idea of One for One, which has turned into a global movement. Basically, for every pair of TOMS shoes sold, the company donates another pair to someone in need.

According to the TOMS website, the company has given over two million pairs of new shoes to children in need since 2006. The company also recently expanded its unique business model to include TOMS Eyewear, helping to save and restore sight for those in need.

So, as young entrepreneurs, anxious to make a difference and feeling inspired by Mycoskie’s contribution to society and his approach to meaningful business, Charabin and House asked, “How do we achieve a similar impact without copying the idea or getting the “been there, done that” response in the marketplace?”

This debate on a Sunday afternoon drive was the launching pad for the new One for Many movement that is gaining momentum and with any luck at all, is heading toward critical mass to put Cole + Parker on the international map.

At first glance the company sells socks – really cool, vibrant, buck-the-trend kind of socks designed by Juan Mendez, a native of Columbia who lives in Canada and are produced thanks to product development leadership of Joe Patterson based in Carlsbad, California.  

In reality, the socks are the seed money for a budding entrepreneur somewhere in the developing world. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the socks are given to Kiva, a non-profit organization that has already facilitated over 400 million dollars of micro finance loans. Kiva’s track record shows that 98 per cent of the loans are repaid and once it is, the money is re-loaned to other entrepreneurs creating a sustainable cycle.

Mr. House found his passion was micro finance and seeding start-ups in developing countries when he was working on the front lines in Columbia and heard pitches from entrepreneurs who were anxious to seize opportunity. Add that life-changing experience, marry it with his love of socks then pull together a team of serial entrepreneurs with the boldness to move a project forward in a hurry and within five months, Cole + Parker has launched and is building momentum.

In an effort to get the project off the ground, the team opted for crowd-source funding through Indie Go Go. So far they have reached their initial $20K financial goal, just in time for their pitch on CBC’s Dragon’s Den tomorrow (Wed April 3rd). Whether or not they are successful and recieve the backing of one of the dragon’s will remain a secret until the show airs next season

I’ve already pre-ordered my socks – I can’t wait to see what they look like once they start distributing the product. So long boring black trouser socks, hello bold and meaningful coverings for my feet that will ultimately start businesses.

That night, an executive from Research in Motion was the keynote speaker and talked about the future of mobile. As I was typing notes about his talk on my Palm Pilot, he laughed and said “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Later that same night, as luck would have it, I won the door prize and became the proud owner of my very first BlackBerry. I’ll never forget it. In a matter of days, I was officially a BlackBerry loyalist, a sentiment that has never wavered.  Even during the difficult times, as my friends were jumping ship and going to what they called the “cool side”, I was still proud to be using a piece of Canadian technology.

Aside from a serendipitous beginning to my relationship with BlackBerry (really, I don’t think the executive rigged the draw, but maybe I’m wrong) this phone stands for so much more than just a device for typing and talking. For a decade, it’s been the symbol that has joined me as I communicated with the outside world.  

There is no other object that has been by my side as consistently as my BlackBerry. It’s outlived every inanimate object in my life from overpriced-but well-worth-it shoes and purses, furniture to cars. It has been the one constant companion in my over-loaded life of multiple social media channels, constant connectedness, the writing of hundreds of columns and two books. It’s been dropped in puddles, forgotten and gone back for, lost in my purse, slid between the seats of the car and buried under paperwork, but it’s never been out-of-sight or out-of-mind for very long. Once it even fell down the garbage chute from the 20^th floor and was successfully, albeit difficultly, rescued.

In fact, the only thing the BlackBerry symbol hasn’t outlived is my family and close friends and yet, it plays a huge role in my ability to stay connected with them.

To put so much stock into a symbol may seem dramatic, but one only has to lose their phone or forget it at home for a day to realize how much we, as a society, rely on the smartphone.

To me, the BlackBerry stands for Canadian potential in the marketplace and how innovators who work hard can take an idea and influence the world.

Granted, BlackBerry also stands for the many business challenges growth can present. It’s an example of how when you lead the pack with innovation, others are bound to catch up and if you’re not careful,  one day you will find yourself chasing your competition rather than having it chase you.

Over the last several years, being a BlackBerry loyalist has not always been easy. The gentle ridicule of friends saying you should switch to Android or listening to them blab on about the functionalities of the iPhone has been frustrating to say the least.

Until tomorrow, my main retorts have been the incredible security, the keyboard and the enterprise functionality that BlackBerry has to offer, none of which have won a debate over a glass of wine. It got to the point where I caved and bought an iPad just to see “what I was missing”. I only use it for quick internet searches and reading, so all of the apps are lost on me.

When someone disses my BlackBerry, I feel the same protective feeling one gets when someone insults your friend or doesn’t like your dog. It sucks, but tomorrow that will all change. At least I hope it will.

Finally, I’ll be on the “cool-side” again proudly touting the merits of the BlackBerry 10 which at this point, even with the benefits that come from being a BlackBerry Elite member, are still speculation.  The suspense is getting to me. I just can’t wait to see if the BlackBerry10 is all that we could imagine. It’s just a matter of hours before we know if this device will be the flagship that saves and invigorates a company that has fought through some tough times and if it will prove that thoughtful innovation can bring BlackBerry back to the top.

I’m curious, which events will you attend? How do you choose? Do you have specific criteria you use to target your efforts?

GETTING CONNECTED: Professionals run the risk of overwhelming their schedules and their wallets

With so many events available, be choosy

The get back-to-school and back-to-business feelings that happen after Labour Day also mean there’s a sudden influx of event invitations.

The “networking circuit” goes from summer lull to high action. With so many events happening, it’s difficult for organizers to rise above the noise and get momentum on ticket sales. Professionals run the risk of overwhelming their schedules and their wallets.

The first post-summer lull event I attended was a social gathering at the new restaurant Blu Duby on Dundas St. Among the conversation topics was the incredible number of events happening in the next five weeks.

A short list includes the CEDASS fundraiser with guest Peter MacKay on Sept. 15; the Little Black Dress Event for Wellspring on Sept. 21; Braz for the Cause Fling ’Em for Breast Cancer on Oct. 19th; and the Sue in the City Live from the Runway Event in support of Make-A-Wish Southwestern Ontario on Oct. 11 that I’m excited to emcee! There is also the new 100 Women Initiative on Oct. 1 that seems to have a lot of momentum given its a few weeks away and they are already well past their goal with registrations at 170 and counting.

To attend these events means five evenings out of your life and approximately $300, which is a significant and potentially worthwhile investment of time and money.

If you’re looking to expand your network and make a contribution to our community, then these would be options, but how do you choose? Add the regular business networking association activities and you could wonder when you have time for work.

There are four elements to consider when filling your networking schedule:

• your purpose for networking

• the people you want to meet

• what you like to do

• your resources.

Ensuring an event meets three out of four requirements means you’ll get the most value out of event-going and it will get you closer to your goal and keep you from overloading your to-do list.

Purpose: Are you trying to increase sales, contribute to the community or just get broadly connected? Understanding this will help you measure your results after events and better judge which ones are more likely to get you to your goal.

People: Who is your target market for sales? Are they involved with specific events making it easy to interact with them socially? Are there people who you truly enjoy hanging out with so when you go to an event then it feels like social time?

Love fashion and hanging with the gals? Then go to “Live from the Runway.” Are you passionate about making a difference in Southern Sudan? Then go to the CEDASS event. Can’t stand large crowds? Then don’t go to any of them and find alternate ways to network or contribute. You won’t be able to make genuine connections if you’re miserable, and life is too short to be miserable.

Resources: It’s easy to blow the budget with all that is happening. Instead of being reactive to invitations, be proactive. Make a decision about how much time you’ll devote to networking and take special note of times that are off-limits for networking and reserved for family time. It’s also important to set a budget — not just for the tickets, but remember most of the money raised for charity is done so through the auction and other add-ons.

If events don’t fit with the four focus elements above or they don’t seem like they’ll be an amazingly good time for you, then don’t be afraid to say no.

1. Don’t forget your legs.

The idea of wearing nylons on a hot summer’s day may seem like torture, but there are times in professional situations when it’s a requirement. Jo-Ann suggests that in the heat women should wear a lower danier stocking, which refers to the thickness of the nylon. A cool summer sheer could be as low as an 8 or 15 denier, whereas a typical nylon would be 20 or 40, tights are even higher. If you choose not to cover your legs in the office, then be sure they are smooth, shaven and free of cuts and bruises. For the 99% of us who don’t have model like legs, she recommends using a foundation or tanning agent to give a more polished look that can complete the outfit.

2. Ignore the trends, unless they work for you.

While fashion may be fun to look at, it’s not always appropriate to wear. The key is to be sure you’re in the right look given your personality and lifestyle. There are some things that look great on the rack, but just won’t work in real life. Lisa Ferguson, who is celebrating 3 years in business at Accents by Fisher and Company is the first to suggest that 4 inch spike heels may not be a practical choice if you’re standing all day. Instead, choose a fashionable flat or lower heel. You can also wear a more comfortable shoe on the way to and from events or the office and then wear the fancy ones when you want to look your best. For me, that means choosing the right shoe for stage or on set, but will make a point to have an alternative pair for driving and walking to the location.

3. Plan in advance.

If you walk into any retail location you can see that fall wardrobe is in full swing. It may seem early, but the benefit of shopping now is that you can make wise choices that complement the pieces you already have hanging in your closet.

If mid-August seems early for Fall fashions, try choosing Falls’ fashions last May. It was in May that we ordered my new Joeffer Cadoc wardrobe at his “trunk show”. A trunk show was a new concept to me. It basically means that designers swing through town with samples of their garments for the next season.  By ordering in advance, you have the foundation of your wardrobe already decided and then you can build from there with confidence. Choosing the main outfits in advance, made it easier to choose which shoes and boots would be needed for fall and so my second trunk show was for Stuart Weitzman. It was the least “reactive” shopping experience I’ve ever had. It also feels weird to order and leave the store without anything in hand, but then it’s fun to pick it up!

4. Invest in a quality foundation.

In today’s economy, we all want to stretch a buck as far as we can. The idea of spending big money on a suit can seem like too big of a leap for some; however, Jo-Ann explained that it’s better to invest in a high-quality foundational wardrobe and then mix and match with less expensive pieces. For example, they have a program where nine pieces can actually create 36 different outfit combinations. The natural tendency is to buy 36 different outfits separately, rather than integrating the same pieces together with accessories. The higher quality pieces generally wear better so while you may spend more up front, overall you’ll spend less because you have fewer pieces that can last longer.

Regardless of your budget or your favourite store, being strategic means you can avoid the all too familiar – and very expensive – story of having impulse purchases hanging in the closet with tags still intact long after the purchase.

What are your tips for developing a professional, well-put-together wardrobe?

A friend shared a story with me. Her boss used his “door” as his gatekeeper. If it was open he was available, if it was closed, he was not. A simple, yet very effective approach.

How about you? What distracts you from getting the work done? How do you overcome it?

Align your interests with networking. The summer is the perfect time to incorporate what you love to do with your professional networking efforts. Love hanging on the patio, playing a round of golf or playing beach volleyball? Invite contacts with similar interests to join you for such activities. Networking during hobbies that genuinely interest you can greatly increase your enjoyment and effectiveness. Forcing yourself to do activities that are not aligned with your interests or personality can make networking seem like a contrived chore – and we don’t want that.

Make plans with co-members from your networking group. Many networking groups, committees and volunteer boards take a hiatus for July and August. Instead of losing touch with fellow members, schedule time with them one-on-one or in small groups. Sometimes when we just attend meetings month after month the relationships don’t develop deeper than the official activity of the group. Changing the circumstances around meeting –such as moving from a board room to a patio – can change the dynamics of the connection.

In case you don’t want to link to the column, here is the copy:

Networking in the summer takes a different pace, but it shouldn’t stop. In fact, this is a prime time to strengthen relationships in your professional network. Since there are fewer facilitated networking opportunities and the pace feels more laid back, it’s easy to let the summer months slip away without growing your professional connections. Here are some ideas to help you maximize the summer slowdown from a networking perspective.

Set objectives. Like any good plan it begins with the end goals in mind. Think about your last year in business or with your career. What was missing? More importantly, who was missing? Is there a target group where you’d like to be more connected? Are there people who you’ve been meaning to connect with but it just hasn’t happened yet? If by September you could accomplish one thing that would make your professional life better, what would that be? Set a plan to make it happen.

Review your current network. Now is a great time to export your entire database and print it. Include your regular contact management system as well as online portals you use for professional connections such as Linked In. You can sit by the pool and go through them one by one. This exercise is so powerful to remind you of who you already know. Sometimes in networking we gravitate towards meeting new people and yet we have a gold mine of contacts already in our sphere of influence. This alone could create a list of 20 or 30 people who you can touch base with over the next few weeks.

Block networking time. For those who struggle to include networking into your schedule, try to block a day a week specifically for networking meetings. Those who love talking with people could conceivably get seven or eight meetings into a day – breakfast, a few morning coffees, lunch, afternoon tea, afternoon drink plus have dinner. Introverts are cringing with the idea of having that many one-on-one meetings in a day, but the point is it’s easy to do volume networking once you make it a priority.

What are you doing to ensure the summer doesn’t pass you by? Are you networking? What tips can you share with fellow readers?

Thanks to the new digital landscape, one of the most significant changes that businesses have to contend with is the expectation of 24-hour access. We’ve become a “now” society.

Questions posed today need to be answered today. If you don’t answer when your prospects ask, the risk is your competition will.

It’s the same with comments on platforms such as Twitter. Joining a conversation seven days after it happened loses the power of engaging in the dialogue altogether. Once the delayed response finally arrives it seems irrelevant as most of the time people have long since moved beyond that conversation.

While real-time response rates on social media are ideal, it may not be realistic for companies, but in today’s changed reality, companies that want to excel in the digital space need to find an answer that works for them and their target demographic.

The opportunity for companies is that their prospects and clients are engaging online. The conundrum is determining how you become part of that online activity in a way that strengthens your brand’s relationships.

Authentic engagement would equate to engagement when your customers are talking about you or using your service. If you can’t manage real-time responses, which is a mistake for some segments, then make it a policy to respond within 24 hours.

Simple techniques such as sending Google alerts to your mobile device and changing your settings so alerts and direct messages are forwarded to you when they occur can help you keep an eye on the conversations during all hours.

Though it’s fair for the average businessperson not to want to respond on a Saturday night, if you’re operating a bar or restaurant and have decided social media is a marketing strategy, then you don’t have a choice but to be online, monitoring and engaging, on Saturday night.

Saying “Hey, hope you had a great night” to your followers on Sunday morning when they’re hungover doesn’t have the same value as chatting with them while they were having a good time. The morning after is not when you can monitor the dialogue to see if there are prospects who should be partying at your bar instead of your competition’s. The opportunity would be lost. Real time is required, and in a case like a bar or restaurant, it’s predictable.

Some hotel chains have become really effective in their online approach. It’s another segment that requires a real-time monitoring and response policy. A person who comments on your hotel may only be staying for a day, so getting a response two days later, which happens often, is irrelevant.

The best example of completely missing the timing boat is my experience with a high-end vacuum company. For months, on the weekend, I would complain about the $600 waste of an investment in this supposed high-suction vacuum. My disappointment gave product fans the chance to be ambassadors. Unfortunately, while the company was responsive, they were only responsive on Monday mornings at 9:30 a.m. How many people, aside from fortunate stay-at-home moms, are cleaning their floors on Monday morning? I know I certainly wasn’t thinking about floors at that time so the responses became distractions.

So, while 24/7 may not be possible, at least consider the most likely and relevant time for your end user and be ready and willing to connect, engage and respond online during those times.

When determining your social media strategies and how you will accommodate 24/7 expectations, think about your end user. When are they most likely to be using your product or coming to your establishment?

If it’s the mommy market you’re after, be sure you’re available at night after they’ve put the kids to bed.

If you’re looking to encourage people to come to your patio for a beer after work, focus your activity in the late afternoon.

So many segments are so obvious and yet people aren’t making the common sense arrangements to match their social media efforts to the natural ebbs and flows of their target demographic.

Social media offers you brand exposure and the opportunity to engage in the marketplace which results in sales over the long-term. In the old days of traditional media, the small business owner would not have had the resources to engage in campaigns large enough to start an impactful conversation.

Now, with the barrier to entry removed there is no reason for the small guy not to outshine the deep-pocket company. There is just no excuse for not being a part of the conversation. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s still better to get involved online. It’s such uncharted territory, no one really knows what they’re doing so you’ll be in good company. The reality is, people are already having conversations about your product or service – the choice you have is whether or not you’re going to be part of the dialogue.

Here’s an example of how social media resulted in a sale for the local retailer winning over the big box store, followed by a recommendation on how to capitalize on it further and make it happen more often.

Yesterday was a big day for me because I bought an iPad. Now, you’re probably thinking, buying an iPad does not make for a ‘big’ day – but I’m a BlackBerry loyalist (to the point that I bought the PlayBook when it was full price) and so this was a new experience for me. As a social media enthusiast, I turned to Twitter before taking the plunge. Despite knowing the iPad model I wanted, I forgot to consider where I would buy it.

As I was pulling into the plaza at Hyde Park and Fanshawe Park roads there were too many choices. Walmart and the Future Shop were right there. If I drove a few more lights up the road, Best Buy, Masonville Mall and other electronics retailers including Rogers and Bell were all easily accessible choices.

My tweet was simply this:

“Need recommendation in a hurry: Where’s the best place in #ldnont 2 buy iPad? Point me in the right direction folks.”

The conviction with which Mac Outpost was shared and realizing it was a smaller retailer that had obviously made some of my Mac-Loyalist friends happy, was enough that  I hopped in my car and drove away from the big box stores on the north end of the city and drove to central Wharncliffe.

After my purchase was complete I tweeted “ Loved my shopping experience @MacOutpostLon – proud owner of new 4G 64GB iPad!! Can’t wait 2 take out of box. Thx for recommendation.”

Imagine your service or product. If someone asked about it online, would you have a bunch of loyal followers who would recommend you or would you be monitoring the local activity so you could jump in and offer to help?

This was an excellent shopping experience and an excellent example of how social media can lead to sales. There was just a one thing missing: the retailer.

When considering social media strategy, one major element is determining your approach to engagement. Why would you let a conversation about you – positive or negative – happen without you? Once you’ve achieved the goal of creating a positive conversation, how are you responding and becoming a part of it? What is your policy of engagement? It may be unrealistic to expect a retailer to respond immediately – especially in this case when they are focused on real-life customers at that time – but why not respond at the end of the business or first thing the next morning? With mobile technology is so quick to monitor and respond to your mentions it would take less than thirty seconds.

It’s easy to pick on this example because it’s such a positive experience that I’m sure the Mac Outpost folks won’t be offended. I certainly wouldn’t highlight a negative example publicly, but this kind of social media faux pas happens a lot in the twitter space.  As you build your strategy please consider this.

Not responding is the equivalent of being at a dinner party and letting the host go on and on about how great you are while you turn your chair around and put your back to the guests so you can ignore them during the entire conversation.

It’s obvious that Mac Outpost has fans. They have 189 followers, however they are only following 1 person (granted one of my faves @carmilevy) but not once did they acknowledged the conversation, despite pushing out tweets since it happened. Had they engaged in the conversation within a timely manner, it just would have been icing on the cake and had that much more brand endorsement power.

The opportunity to recognize their brand ambassadors was missed. By not following their Mac loyalists (even before this conversation) they miss the opportunity to nurture those relationships and encourage more cheer leading on their behalf.  Why not take advantage by following their customers, engage in conversations and in the midst of it all, likely convert some more folks who are heading to Best Buy and Future Shop.

There’s no doubt, I’m a book junkie. If it’s in the biz-category and claims to impart some value on my life, I will likely buy it. Not all books, however, are created equal and not all books deliver on the front-cover promises, but Gitomer’s always do.

It was consuming books that changed my life’s direction when I was working as a receptionist during the day and bartender at night. When I had a night off, I inevitably spent it combing through the book shelves, and to this day, while I have less time to browse, I still love going to Chapters Indigo and seeing what jumps out at me.

Last time Gitomer spoke in London, ON, I was speaking for a client so couldn’t attend. That was disappointing. This time, (he’s coming tomorrow), the schedule worked out and I am excited to be there. As a speaker and author I am a huge believer that it’s important to consume the content of others to keep us on our toes and inspire us to create our own content. With all the changes and new business beginnings in my life right now, I am especially excited to be taking time for a dose of perspective and inspiration. Not to mention, it makes good business sense to take a few hours to get out of the “weeds”.

Even though the topic of “leadership” (Thursday’s session) isn’t really as relevant as say “sales” or “attitude” would be, I still think it’s a priority to be in a room of positive thinkers. Friday morning’s social media session is just a given for anyone who is trying to figure out that space.

So what about you? What are you doing this week to inspire you, challenge your thinking and develop professionally? If the answer is “not much” then consider one or both of Jeffery’s sessions. Last minute tickets are available – you can get them online by visiting here.  Let me know if you decide to go and I’ll see you there.

If you were one of the 200 people who watched the Chick-fil-A Leadercast London event last year, you’ll know what a powerful day it can be and local organizers are prepping for yet another day of inspiration.

If you weren’t there, you may be wondering what the heck is the Chick-fil-A Leadercast? Basically, an Atlanta organization brings some of the world’s best speakers together on one stage thanks to the title sponsor Chick-fil-A. The show is broadcasted live to an estimated 125,000 people at over 600 locations via technology and London, Ontario is one of those locations.

Speakers this year include two of my personal favorites: John Maxwell and Marcus Buckingham. While I’ve never met John Maxwell, I have all of his books and they’ve inspired me over the years. I had the good fortune to interview Buckingham a couple of years ago in Toronto. Here’s the Happiness Comes Before Success story that came out of that discussion. As I developed my career Buckingham’s strength finding tools were pivotal for me as it helped me understand who I am better.

Mark Morrison, who is the local lead organizer for Chick-fil-A Leadercast London is hoping that this years attendees will double to 400. While his real world job is as vice president of partner relations for Bark Communications, it is obvious that he has made a significant effort to promote and coordinate this event – and so has the organizing team.

Mark explained to me the essence of the day is to inspire and educate people to make those thousands of daily decisions in a way that complements personal values.  The topic of leadership seems to be taking a more holistic approach these days. It’s not just about the CEO leading in the office. It’s about leading in every facet of life. This is a day for people to reflect, for professionals to slow down, and get connected with other forward-thinking individuals.

When Mark shared the thousands of decisions we make each day, I was quite surprised. When you actually think about it, it’s impossible to count. Personally, I had a good laugh as I tried to prove the 8746 decisions a day theory. The decision to start counting my decisions counted as a decision. Then the decision to give up counting because I lost track was yet another. So I’ll have to take their word for it.

Most of our decision-making happens automatically, but how different would our lives be if we forced the automatic decisions to the forefront of our minds and ensured each one was aligned with our values and life priorities?

I suppose one decision to make is whether or not to attend the London Leadercast event this year. For me, the decision is yes.

To register visit LeadercastLondon site

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