Traditional wisdom suggests that rabbits outrun foxes because they are running for their lives while the foxes are running for their dinners.

I recently met a woman who had moved here from Miami two years ago who was originally from Cuba. She went to Miami as a refugee. There the Spanish community found her some work  in a high end furniture store in order to help her secure her legal status there. When she started working there she spoke no English although the majority of the clients this company served were Americans who spoke no Spanish. She secured landed immigrant status and did her best to learn a bit of English when she wasn’t working 16 hour days. A few years later she was recognized as the company’s top sales representative in a field of over 250 sales representatives from across America - despite the fact that she still spoke no English and most of her clients did not speak Spanish. 

This woman's story reminds me of a quote from my own Mother, a post-war immigrant from Germany; “Desperation is a very good motivator. Believe me.”

Frankly, I don't think that those who are looking for “work-life-balance” stand a chance against women (and men) who are this desperate + motivated.  

I grew up in a very religious Christian household. Sunday was a day of rest + worship. I got to wear my best cloths to church and read out of the books that helped parishioners keep the faith; the bible, the hymnals and the catechism.

Compared to other books in our home, the quality of these three spiritual reference books was far superior to the school books and storybooks that we had at home – except maybe our Encyclopedia Britannica – the forerunner of the world wide web.

Religious books were manufactured, distributed, used and cared for differently. Those differences helped make them special. And special = premium priced.

When I saw this box lid in the garbage, it reminded me of how fundamental religion was in my grandparent’s generation (1890 – 1970), how its hold on secular society was challenged and altered in my parent’s generation (1920 – 2010) and how it’s become deconstructed, devalued and commoditized in my generation (1950’s to present).

Along the way the “value” of many religious brands, and many other brands we once held dear, have changed, declined - or died.

Many mass produced products have become ubiquitous and can no longer defend a premium brand or price proposition because cheaper does not equal better.

“Everything Christian For Less” puts a whole new spin on the price + value of your relationship with God.

I attended an event that featured Lawrence Levy, the gentleman who helped Steve Jobs make Pixar a billion dollar household name. Mr. Levy was there to tell us how he ended up at Pixar (Steve Jobs called him), what he found when he got there (a weird money losing mess with lots of upside potential) and how he turned Pixar into an animation powerhouse (by focusing on their USP and their unfair disadvantage).  

Here are the key points that he made that evening. While I learned most of them years ago (and credited my mentors below each lesson), I’ve recapped them here because these lessons pay dividends throughout your business life – and maybe beyond that one as well.

Passion is not a substitute for knowledge.

• Roger Gallerini, V.P. BBDO, Detroit.

Don’t hire people who are like you.

• Judith Elder, V.P. Ogilvy + Mather, Toronto.

Step back and assess things before you act.

• Howard Breen, CEO, MacLaren McCann (U.S.).       

It’s more import to get to the right answer than to be right.

• Hugh Dow, V.P. Media Operations, MacLaren Canada.

Giving the create team control is scary.

• Every single account director that I’ve met in my career. 

Be open-minded and nonjudgmental.

• Julia Wehrmann, my mother.

Remain open to what comes your way.

• Julia Wehrmann, my mother + Charlie Convey, my poodle-man + creative muse.

People need to want to change (their own stress levels). You can show them a new way but you can’t force the new way upon them. 

• Psychology 101 at Ryerson and Dr. Richard Bandler, NLP Founder.

LOUISE DAGENAIS Passed away peacefully at home with sister-in-law and friend of 41 years, Ruth, by her side on Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Predeceased by her partner and soul mate, Rick Carlisle. Sadly missed by her Dagenais and Carlisle families. Well- respected production manager and art buyer at Ogilvy & Mather Toronto for over 25 years, Louise was so much more than her accomplished career. Her passions ran from promoting emerging artists and mentoring young industry professionals to books, fine food and wine, her cottage in Coboconk, which she and Rick built together . . . and her amazing collection of frog figurines. Her travels took her to Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico and a cruise to Alaska with Ruth just a month before her death. Lou was a continual role model for strength. Originally from Quebec, she came to Ontario in her teens with limited English but rapidly became fluent by reading and watching movies. If she didn't know how to do something, she figured it out. Family and friends marveled at her creative spirit, ingenuity and loyalty. While saddened by her death, everyone who knew her is happy to have been part of the work of art that was Louise's life.

A Celebration her life will be held at the Donalda Club, Toronto, August 6th from 3-6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lou's memory to Doctors Without Borders.

Obituary  ::  Helga Marie Wälzer Peroutka

My good friend Helga Marie Wälzer Peroutka was born on April 4, 1921 and died on July 1, 2018.

In 1938, when Helga was seventeen, she was engaged to Karl Luchs (born 13.o4.1920) with her parent’s unconditional blessing. But because he was born “of mixed race”, the Nazi army sent him to Terezin in 1941. On May 13, 1943 Karl Luchs was sent to Auschwitz Birkenau and died there on June 9, 1943. 

Helga met Frank Peroutka after the Second World War in Czechoslovakia and married him there in 1948. They fled their homeland in 1949, arrived in Halifax in 1951 and became Canadian citizens in 1956.

Helga and Frank had a wonderful life in Toronto where their home overlooked the Scarborough Bluffs and was just a short walk from the public tennis courts. She and Frank played tennis into their eighties and travelled extensively for business and pleasure.

When Frank passed away on May 1, 2009, Helga said that "he took all the fun in life with him."

In February 2010, when Helga was 89, her friend, Heinz Haischt, brought her Toby, a little red miniature poodle puppy to care for. Helga and her Tobitsky quickly became inseparable and Toby helped to pull Helga through her last years, her last months and her last days.

Helga bore her burdens and her years with grace, dignity and without complaint. She was kind, considerate and generous to those she liked, respected or loved. Her childhood was magical, the war years horrible, the post-war recovery arduous and her 61 years with Frank, bliss. 

On Helga's behalf, we thank all of the support staff at Amica Bayview Gardens who went out of their way to make Helga's last few years a very dignified journey. 

A Celebration of Life and Interment will be held at Mount Pleasant Funeral Centre, Toronto on Tue., July 24 at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable donation in memory of Helga to the SPCA, The Toronto Humane Society or the animal support agency of your choice.

Obituary  ::  Helga Marie Wälzer Peroutka