Blog

MH3 Coaching, Football, Life Lessons, Living Life, Opinion, Sports

Game Over?

It was a cruel irony for me to be in Pittsburgh on the weekend when the Penn State scandal erupted.

Sunday, some pals and I were indulging in being immersed in American football culture and lapping it up. It was a scene right out of a bad Tom Cruise movie. Me and the boys sitting in a greasy spoon/bar/hangout – aptly called Locals – on the South Side of the Steel City, quaffing beers and devouring all day breakfast.

The TVs were showing every afternoon game imaginable, with our attention focused on the Bills getting t-rexed by the Jets. Most of the bar was clad in black and yellow, in anticipation of the Steelers’ evening clash with the hated Browns… err, Ravens!

But between Cruise sightings (he was actually in town filming a movie, which I am pretty certain isn’t the sequel to All The Right Moves), and Ray Lewis -bashing, our talk turned solemn to the scandal erupting in not so ‘Happy Valley.’ I could not believe what I read online. No one could.

It has gotten even worse as the week has unfolded. I don’t need to rehash what has been said in a thousand places. But I do need to share my thoughts with you. Because they are sad ones. Continue reading “Game Over?” →

MH3 Blog, Cause/Fundraising, TrojanOne

One Mo’ Time!

By: Mo’Herschel Harrison
It’s been quite a year for us at TrojanOne in regards to Movember.

This past June, we had Mr. Movember – Adam Garone – bring down the house with his closing keynote at the Canadian Sponsorship Forum. If you didn’t see it, check out this link.

With all due respect to Derek Jeter, I think Adam truly deserves to be called Mr. November… Or maybe Mr. Movember.
This fall, I was asked to join the Movember Toronto Committee, aptly run by sharpshooters Jordan Vader of MLSE and Casey Rovinelli from the NHLPA. One of the initiatives we have created is a Movember Agency Challenge. For all of you in the sector who want to get involved with your own team of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, check it out and get your team signed up. Andrew Gayle (Andrew.Gayle@mosaic.com) of Mosaic, Nick Karantjas (nkarantjas@boommarketing.ca) of BOOM! Marketing, and TrojanOne’s own Michelle Conte (michelle.conte@trojanone.com) have been doing all the heavy lifting on this one. Contact any one of them for mo’ information. Continue reading “One Mo’ Time!” →

MH3 Cause/Fundraising, Events, Life Lessons, Marketing, Travel, Work

Philanthropy in the UK

When was the last time you had the opportunity to really feel like your work was contributing to a better world?

Is it an everyday occurrence for you? Or hardly ever?

For those whose profession is more noble than mine, I would expect the odds are higher that this is an everyday feeling. At least I hope so.

How do we know if our work is benefiting society? If I were a doctor or a fireman, the results would be right before my eyes. If you work for a charity, you may also feel that way. I would hazard a guess your personal trainer, local politician and child’s teacher, also feel the same.

On Tuesday I met a woman who should never question her contribution to society when she closes her weary eyes at night.

Her name is Pauline Broomhead. Continue reading “Philanthropy in the UK” →

MH3 Activation, Business, Events, Marketing, Opinion, Properties, Sponsors, Sponsorship, TrojanOne

12 Partnerships I Loved in 2011

We are pitching on a music program right now, perhaps against some of my loyal readers, and I was asked by my staff to provide a favourite music memory.

Mine was J. Giles Band-inspired. Yes, back in grade 10, some girl named Beth dumped my (then) skinny behind, for my best friend Bill. True story. I then proceeded to play the aforementioned “Love Stinks” on my SEARS brand stereo (yes, true story) about twenty times a day for nearly a month. My poor dad threatened to shut off the power if he heard that same beat one more time during his morning coffee.

Love doesn’t actually stink. But jealousy, in a grade 10 sort of way, certainly does.

Yesterday at the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada Breakfast Forum, I talked about some of my current jealousies. Specifically, sponsorship programs that I have seen recently, of which I had NO part in, but wish I did. Continue reading “12 Partnerships I Loved in 2011” →

MH3 Coaching, Football, Life Lessons, Living Life, Opinion, Sports

Sideline Act

I think we need a law to ban idiotic parents from attending their kids’ sporting events.

My rant today is partially due to me being a recent victim of a parent’s heckling. So maybe I should just grow a tougher skin.

The back-story is this. 2011 will go down in my calendar as the proud time period when both my sons started playing tackle football. It’s been a riot. The first day of workouts. The first day in equipment. Their first games. Their first tackles (which took a little longer).

The kids have had a chance to play in Ivor Wynne Stadium and at the Rogers Centre. The former is the home of a professional football team. The latter is the burial ground for Jimmy Hoffa, Jimmy Key (after he was unearthed form Exhibition Stadium in 1985) and Cleo Lemon.

They play in an organization called the North York Grizzlies. It’s run by a very dedicated group of volunteers and has an enthusiastic bunch of smart coaches. Our organization isn’t as big or massive as Niagara, Burlington or Hamilton, which possess massive house league feeder systems – but we are competitive.

As a parent, I have questions for the coaches and the odd ‘complaint’ about playing time. They might have interpreted it as more than odd, but overall I try to go out of my way to thank, praise, motivate, and interact with the coaches. No one is paying them to teach my prodigies this amazing sport, so I am very grateful for their hours of volunteerism.

However, what I have discovered is that I may be in the minority. Actually, scratch that – I know I am in the majority, but boy does this organization have a very vocal minority who aren’t as grateful as I am. Continue reading “Sideline Act” →

MH3 Business, Business Lessons, Life Lessons, Marketing, Opinion

The Real Mona Lisa: Why I Loved Steve Jobs

I’m reading a book about da Vinci that I picked up at a museum in Rome right now. Timely, because until Wednesday of this week I was convinced Leonardo had been reincarnated. His second life name was Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs was my undisputed business hero.

I loved Steve Jobs.

I love Apple. Continue reading “The Real Mona Lisa: Why I Loved Steve Jobs” →

MH3 Business, Marketing, Opinion

A-ONE SCAM

Somewhere, there are three sneaky people hiding in a room.

I don’t know where. Maybe in New Brunswick. Or perhaps in Tennessee. One of my friends believes they are in South Asia.

The location isn’t important — but their role in the world is. They are the barriers between you and whatever it is you need.

Maybe it’s booking a cable appointment. Or a flight, using your points. Perhaps your need is to get help with a website order. Or information on filling out a government form.

It could be anything.

But it’s far from anything. It’s a nightmare. Also known in business parlance as the call centre. Continue reading “A-ONE SCAM” →

MH3 Life Lessons, Living Life, Opinion

Remembrance Day

Most of you probably remember where you were on 9/11. So much so that I don’t even need to write the date out in a proper format.

The current and massive spate of remembrance articles, media, blogs, documentaries and news specials are probably rekindling your memories in case you have forgotten. But more than recalling where you were, I am sure a lot of your memories are about the mental stages you went through that day. Continue reading “Remembrance Day” →

MH3 Living Life, Travel, vacation

Viva Italia

I don’t have the exact date, but I am pretty sure the summer of 1976 was the last time that I had two weeks off. Ever since then, I have never gone anywhere close to two weeks without earning a paycheck.

I like working. Paperboy. Busboy. Waiter. Hotel porter. Potato peeler. Car wash cleaner (oxymoron?). School newspaper editor. Account executive at a promotions agency. Marketing manager for University of Guelph athletics. Bartender at a Muskoka resort. Assistant manager at the same Muskoka resort (resort now gone…was called Paignton House). Arboretum “slave”. Grill cook at McDonald’s. Sports publicist at CNE. Food & beverage controller at a Queen’s Quay restaurant (also now gone, Spinnakers). Maintenance man at Ontario Sailing Centre. Maintenance man at a fishing (Wenona) lodge.

But since that day some 35 years ago, I have never gone two weeks without punching in. That is until three Fridays ago, when I climbed aboard a Boeing 763, bound for Rome and the first two-week vacation in the income tax-return-era of my life. Continue reading “Viva Italia” →