How To Not Get a Canadian (at least this one) Excited.

Years ago, when I had hair, I started a new phase of my career.

At the time, there was a computer aided drafting software that was making serious inroads into the market, and I resigned my ‘safe’ job and became their 68th worldwide dealer.

I had used this particular software extensively and had become quite adept at making it perform. I even created and sold custom add-ons for the software to make it even more productive.

Let’s just say I was pretty invested in the success of this product.

Imagine my excitement when I got my invitation to my first dealership conference. It was to be held in Sausalito, California. When you consider there were still snow banks in my driveway at home, this made it even more exotic to this kid.

Of the 80 or so dealers at the time, about 10 were from Canada, myself included. We could easily spot each other by the plaid shirts, toques and cup of Tim Horton’s coffee. (I’M KIDDING!!!! Just wanted to see if you were still paying attention.)

Anyways, to get back on point, the Canadians in the group soon got to know each other.

Then it was time for the opening keynote.

It started well enough.

Then the VP of Sales and Marketing came on stage.

After a weak attempt at a joke (because opening with a joke is what all the public speaking coaches tell you to do), he started in with the instructions “When I ask you how much we are going to increase sales this year, I want you to shout back ‘ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!’”

I thought he was kidding.

I was sadly mistaken.

He yelled “HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING TO INCREASE SALES???”

About 90% of the crowd responded “ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!!”

He yelled again. They responded again.

He yelled again. They responded again.

He yelled again. They responded again even louder.

I was getting increasingly uncomfortable, and begin to wonder if Charles Manson was the next speaker.

I got up out of my seat and worked my way to the back of the room in case I had to make a quick exit should they bring out vats of Kool-Aid.

I looked around me. Others appeared to be as uncomfortable as I was.

They just happened to be all the other Canadians in the midst.

The shouting mercifully stopped and we got back to the business of the conference, but the discomfort I felt during the shouting was imprinted forever.

Even more intriguing was that those who were similarly impacted seemed to be all the Canadians in the crowd.

In discussing this later it became apparent that we had not grown up with ‘pep rallies’ in our schools, where the speaker at the front could whip people into a frenzy.

Based on the reaction in the crowd, the majority of people there were very familiar with the format of the frenzied speaker.

For the record, Canadians can get excited. Get out to one of our hockey games, or try to comprehend the magic of a ‘Hip’ concert. We (and I know this is a generalization) we don’t get too whipped up when someone tells us to get excited.

We get excited when there’s something to be excited about.

We (at least I) don’t get excited just because someone tells me to be excited.

I definitely don’t jump on any old passing bandwagon, or the latest fad.

There has to be substance.

So… here’s the point of my pondering today.

I know that beBee has got me quite excited.

It’s revitalized my blogging muse. I’m flooded with ideas for blogs.

It’s introduced me to some tremendous people from all over the world.

But…

I’m starting to feel that uncomfortable feeling when I read certain posts that are exhorting me that I need to be excited about everything on beBee and share news about beBee to all my social networks.

It’s my observation that there are an increasing number of posts that imply this.

Call me a curmudgeon, but I don’t like to be told what to be excited about.

I share posts and brag about beBee because it is worth of doing so.

I share posts and brag about beBee without expectation of recognition (or even potential ambassadorship – even though I would be delighted to be chosen).

I keep posting on beBee because it’s a great online community to belong to.

You don’t have to whip me into an excited frenzy. Just keep working on keeping the quality of posts high, and the thoughtful engagement around ideas flowing.

Should beBee devolve into a platform that needs to create a faux fan club, then I will not linger around.

Pep rallies have their place for some people, but not me.

That’s why the ‘Affinity’ model of beBee is going to work.

If you are the kind of person who loves to be exhorted by a motivational speaker at the front of a large crowd, then may I say with all respect, go for it.

Create hives with others who share your excitement.

Just don’t ask me to be down in the front row.

If I’m there at all, I’ll be at the back of the room looking for an exit.

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Image: ‘Canadian Curmudgeon’ via https://twitter.com/a_halibut

About the Author:

I'm convinced that IT leadership needs to dramatically change how IT is delivered rather than being relegated to a costly overhead department.

In addition to transforming IT in my role as CIO, I look for every opportunity to talk about this... writing, speaking and now blogging on BeBee ( www.bebee.com/@kevin-pashuk ) , LinkedIn, ITWorld Canada, or at TurningTechInvisible.com.

I also shoot things... with my camera. Check out my photostream at www.flickr.com/photos/kwpashuk