My Journey To A Proof

Too bad I am writing this blog after the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game. It was really a heartbreaking loss. The only victory in the series for me is that they made me watch hockey for the second time in almost 11 years in Canada (the first time being in the last Vancouver Olympics). I think it's a great game.

Anyways...

Have you been in a situation when people tell you things about you that you don't see yourself? It has been the case with my wife telling me that I snore when I sleep. I kept denying it until yesterday. Now she had the proof. Do you know what she did? She recorded me while sleeping last Saturday. When she played the recording, I couldn't believe what I heard. I thought it was a train or something. The only thing I could say was: “you caught me on a day I played Basketball. I was just exhausted...” I think my wife should be in the CSI movie series.

Anyways...

Today, I went to support my good friend Motivatorman at a workshop he was presenting for entrepreneurs. It was a real slam dunk. Very well done. As I got there just a few minutes before the presentation, he asked me if I could take a few videos of him doing his stuff. I agreed. So, I had to sit on the front seat to get a good view. Guess who was there next to me? Charlie my former coach.

It has been a while since I talked to Charlie. After the presentation, we had an opportunity to talk some more, and of course, with her usual (soft) way, she suggested some stuff to me which were so scary. Do you know why? Because they put me way off my comfort zone. I agreed to take on this project. So stay tune, I will keep you posted.

That is the thing with good coaches. They know how to push the right button to make us want to do more and be more. Once we respond to these requests, even though they are uncomfortable, they make us grow. Discomfort is a good thing. I have learned to embrace it, even though they are most often a tough pill to follow.

So, if you are now in an uncomfortable and difficult situation. It's time to cheer up. Do you know why? It's growth time. Something to think about.

Moral of the story? Do you want to take advantage of your coach? Just snore when you sleep and you will be recorded.

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey To M-Bridge

Her name is Sophie. We have been friends for over four years now. We met in a very unusual way. I was asked to be part of a team designed to produce a DVD to be handed to new immigrants to Ontario. A year later, we were called to watch the DVD and see if it had all the elements we had discussed. Guess what! Sophie was in the movie. I saw her , and in my mind I was like “I know this lady but I don't know where”. As it turned out, I was in the same class with her in a course I was taking at that time.

The same evening I went to my class. Guess who I met in the elevator? Sophie! I told her that I saw her in a movie. She went: “What movie?” We have been friends ever since.

As I came to know Sophie more, she shared with me a project she had started. Her dream was to help professional newcomers to integrate the Canadian society. She had created an organization called M-Bridge. It is a volunteer operated federally-registered non-profit organization providing educational services on Canadian workplace and social culture.

I have been one of the M-Bridge speakers for years now, and I am also part of their advisors. For almost two years though, I have not been available to do any workshop for them, but I made sure to promote the organization to different speakers who gladly accepted to give a hand.

Last week, I was back to M-Bridge again. After my presentation, I sat down with Sophie who gave me an update. They have now over eight hundred members, they operate on two locations in Toronto, they are frequently featured in the media, and this past weekend, they were invited to Ottawa to visit the Federal Parliament. What a success! Things are really falling into place for them.

You may be thinking that it has been a smooth road for Sophie, Alex, Pauline, May, and other faithful volunteers at M-Bridge. Far from the truth. When Sophie told me what she personally went through in her life the last few years, I couldn't believe what I heard. This lady is a true warrior. She had overcome hardship that very few of us can endure. I was blown away. It was like a movie. I told her that when she writes her first book, I will be the first one to buy it. WOW!

That's the thing with dreamers. They go through so much hardship without losing the focus of their dreams. Why that? In the words of Paulo Coelho, author of “The Alchemist”.

“We who fight for our dream, suffer far more when it doesn't work out, because we cannot fall back on the old excuse:”Oh, well, I didn't really want it anyway.” We do want it and know that we have staked everything on it and that the path of the personal calling is no easier than any other path, except that our whole heart is in this journey. Then, we warriors of light must be prepared to have patience in difficult times and to know that the Universe is conspiring in our favor, even though we may not understand how.”

Well said sir.

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey To An Early Morning Schedule

As Friday was winding down, my wife and I were planning the next day. We knew Saturday would be busy, so we decided we would wake up early. Knowing my wife so well, I knew it would not be an easy task. You see, my wife can go to sleep at 3 AM, it won't bother her. Waking up early? That is not her thing. She operates on a schedule so different from mine.

And here we were, Saturday morning. As usual, I woke up very early. I knew it was a difficult task to wake my wife up. At 8.30, I thought it would be time for her to wake up. I tried and tried, but she would not even open one eye. At one time I even wanted to throw cold water on her face for her to wake up. It came down to that. But nothing could help. She was coming up with excuses not to wake up. At one point she said to me: “Please don't keep on waking me up. I am already up. I am just praying!” Her “prayer” went on for forty five more minutes. God must be really pleased with her lol. I told you. Any excuse would do for her to sleep some more. The funny thing is that she doesn't even remember telling me all of that. I guess her prayer was very private lol.

Our sleeping habits are not the only thing that we don't share. Her TV watching habits used to drive me nuts. Talk about multitasking. My wife can watch three shows at the same time, text with her sister while sharing with me how her day went. How in the world can you do that? When I am watching a movie, that is the only thing I do. I cannot talk to anybody. I want to hear everything. How about watching NBA? Not only that is not her thing (at least for now! Lol), but every time there is a time out, she changes the channel and I just want to shout: bring back my game please!!!! To which she says: “What's the deal! They are not playing now!” It takes me a while to explain to her that it is only a twenty second time out.

In almost three years of marriage, I came to understand one thing. My wife and I think and do things differently. There is nothing wrong with that. We are just different. But I learned it the hard way. At first, I wanted her to be like me. Guess what! It cannot work. That is the truth with everyone of us. Each one of us is unique. That's the beauty. But for us to understand each other, we have first to acknowledge that we are created in such a way that each one of us has his or her own way of doing things. Once we understand that, and give others the space to be themselves, life becomes easy. It is hard to do at once (our own ego being in the way) but it is fun once it is fully working. Something to think about.

Moral of the story? Do you want to have more sleep in your life? Just pray for forty five minutes and you will change the channel on your TV

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey To Ten Months of Parenthood

I know that you missed me last week. Don't worry, I am back now.

It has been a very busy week. I have learned that once I became a parent, I don't own my schedule any more. I got to be flexible, otherwise it would be hard for me to keep up with everything..

Last Tuesday was the ten month birthday of our daughter. We did not celebrate the occasion (my wife suggested we wait two more months). Skylar has grown a lot. But, being with her almost twenty four hours, I cannot see her growth until I see some of the pictures we took several months ago. Isn't funny how we do not see our own progression, until we take a look at our past? I learned that from a baby.

It has bee ten months of total blessings (even though the word “rest” is now out of my dictionary).

A few weeks ago, Skylar was sleeping next to me, and I couldn't help but notice how peaceful she was. A few minutes passed, and she woke up. She did not see that I was there, just next to her. Do you know the first thing I saw when she woke up? Her smile. She smiles all the time, and for no reason at all. I guess she was happy to wake up. Then she saw me. Her smile became bigger. I was like “I wish I could wake up everyday like this...”Smiling for no reason at all. I learned that from a baby.

It has been a few weeks now that our baby is in a daycare. The first days were so hard for me to let go. I would leave her at the daycare and, right away I wanted to go back and take her back. I was missing her already. I took a while for me to get used to her absence. I couldn't wait for five o'clock so that I could go and see her again. Even though it was hard to let go, I knew it was necessary as she is learning so much being around other kids and with child care professionals. Sometimes it has necessary to let go of what we have so that we can receive more. I learned that from a baby.

The list can go on. I learned so much in the last ten months. Am I ready for a second one? (let me stop here. My wife is looking at me with a look that says “shut up!”).

Moral of the story? Do you want to learn lessons from a baby? Just smile with no reason and you will have a busy schedule

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey To A Great Event

Some strange, yet interesting stuff have been happening the last few weeks.

I have started a habit of writing down a number of people that I would like to talk to during the week, and instead of me calling them, for some reason, it's them calling me. Have you ever had that experience? You are thinking about someone, and all of sudden, the phone rings, and it is exactly that person who is calling you? It is really cool.


It happened to me again on Thursday. I was thinking about a lady friend of mine, and before I knew it, I received a text from her, inviting me to an event she was putting together this weekend. I told her that I would come, and before saying goodbye, I simply asked her: “Do you need an MC for your event? I can certainly help”.


That is how I found myself on the stage this Sunday, hosting an event that, a few hours prior I had no idea it was going to happen. To tell the truth, I leaned about the organization when I arrived at the event. I had no idea what I got myself into.


As it turned out, it was an organization that started in Montreal, then expanded to other places in the US and Haiti. Now, they are launching their chapter in Ontario. I was really impressed by their vision. They want to positively impact the world by recruiting volunteers to work on projects on education, environment and fight against poverty. Their goal? To recruit one million volunteers!! How about that?


It was pure joy for me to be part of this celebration. As I was listening to the different speakers, I couldn't help but thinking about how it would be fun to join this movement. A million people? That is a great dream. I have no doubt they will make it happen.


I remember a long time ago, I heard someone say that if we want to have a big dream, all we have to do is be around dreamers. How true is that! That is why it is so key to be in a positive environment, around people who encourage us instead of putting us down whenever we have great ideas. Something to think about.


Moral of the story? Do you want to be part of a million people movement? Just write down the names of the people you want to meet this week and I will give you a call.

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey With Chris

hope you all enjoyed the long weekend as I did.

While I was thinking about what I was going to write about today, I received a call from Chris, a good friend of mine. We have been trying to connect for months but for some reason we couldn't until today. It was truly great to hear from him.

Chris is a very successful salesperson and speaker. Several months ago, he told me that he felt the need to change his target market. He felt he was called to speak to the youth. Why? Well, Chris successful career did not come without facing and overcoming a number of challenges himself when he was younger. He now believes that his story can bring hope and help change the lives of young people, especially students.

While speaking with Chris today, he shared with me what had happen to him in the last few months. It was mind blowing. He managed to connect with the right people, some of them were longtime friends of his, who happen to be working with young people (is that a coincidence?)

Chris has travelled throughout Toronto speaking to students with a passion and energy that those who know him have all come to love.  His career is really taking off and going in an entirely new direction.  After spending time with Chris while in our Mastermind group, as well as sharing time as a friend, I have no doubt in saying that he will surely make a difference. His story is truly stunning!

I think Chris' story is typical of those who find their calling, or purpose in life. Once we connect to what we are really called to do, things fall into place like magic. We still face challenges but from these challenges we learn lessons which strengthen and empower us to go to the next level. Sometimes it's hard to understand life's tragedies, but they become diamonds when we share with others how we overcame them. These diamonds of victories can be seen all throughout Chris' life and it is these lessons that he now shares with young people everywhere.  Gongrats my man. You rock!!

 

Moral of the story? Do you want to find your purpose, just call me in the morning and I will write about you in my blog.

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman

My Journey To The Raptors Game

I received two great gifts last week, among which a ticket to the Raptors game. In fact, I had an option to bring a friend. However, it was on a short notice that, the few friends I talked to were not able to make it. So, I went alone.

I know the Raptors are now out of the Playoffs picture, but an NBA game is still fun to watch live. They were playing Carmelo Antony's New York Knicks. This guy can score at will. He is really impressive.

Getting to the Air Canada Centre, I couldn't help but remember many years ago in Burundi watching the game on TV with friends late night (I mean, really late), and now I can see it...live in person. It's mind blowing.

Every year in June, we knew it was the NBA Finals. In my network of friends only my friend Kennedy had access to NBA games. So, ten, sometimes fifteen of us would gather at his house (and this happened for years) at least three times a week to watch the games. Kennedy was so used to us coming that he had food ready, even a bed for those who wanted to sleep before the games came on TV. I am talking 1 am or 3 am depending on the game. Kennedy was (and still is) an awesome guy.

I remember going to Kennedy's with my friend Kijanya. He went to sleep a few hours before the game and asked us to wake him up when the game starts. So we did. But he was so deep in his sleep that he requested to wake him up later at half time. So we did. This time he just said: please wake me up when they are in overtime!!! How in the world did he know the game would go to overtime? Long story short, he never watched the game. He slept all the way.

Sometimes the game would end at 6 am, and we had to go to work at 7.30 in the morning. At that time my friend Ziaddy and I were high school teachers and it was during exams. Can you imagine us standing for hours while waiting for the students to finish their exams knowing that we did not sleep at all at night? It was challenging man! But we did it.

That is what happens when you have passion for something. Time doesn't matter. Sleep? What's that? Everything seems to stop when you know you're doing what you love to do. I would leave work at 1.30 pm, and I was on the Basketball court from 2.30 to 6 pm, them at 7 pm, I was at my other job at the radio station...I remember my manager coming to me to remind me that I had to take my vacations otherwise I would loose them. The word “vacation” was not in my vocabulary because I was doing stuff I loved to do that it did not seem I was working.

What's your passion? What it is that you would do, even for free, and still have fun (and sleepless nights). It is a good question to ask ourselves. Once we find an answer for that, life will never be the same.

Moral of the story? Do you want to find your passion? Go to an NBA game and you will spend sleepless nights.

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The Journeyman