06Jun 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Progress comes through failure

‪Success and progress in society come about through failure and regression. It’s hard and it’s scary. I’ve gotten angry and I’ve had my hope flicker. But then I’m reminded how much good we’re doing in the world because of the people I’m with everyday.‬ Parents, teachers, friends, and colleagues can have more impact in a person’s life than words written on a piece of paper.‬ Community and connection hold great and lasting power. It is how we overcome intolerance, inequity, and injustice.‬ Legislating power by the mean, intolerant people looking to divide us is temporary.‬ ‪Though it doesn’t feel that way when I see the treatment of young workers, the LGBTQ2+ community, the environment, education, and surely more groups who will be impacted‬. But we will overcome. We have a…
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29May 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Smart Humility

‪A guy I know at the gym, Mark, shared a great phrase today: “It was foolish pride that caused this, it’s going to take smart humility to fix it.”‬ ‪He was talking about injuries and workouts but I’d wager this applies to all of us at work and in life.
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23Apr 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Miltonduff 23 years

Distillery: Miltonduff (bottled by The Old Malt Cask) Cask Type: Refill Barrel Cask Number: HL15138 Region: Speyside Age: 23 years ABV: 50% Nose: Big blast of tropical fruit, honeycomb, underripe bananas. Palate: Notes that make me think of fruit flan that quickly give way to woody notes (especially oak) and spices. Finish: As it finishes, this whisky really turns up the volume on the richer wood notes which then turn bitter and a bit burnt. An oaky spice is what remains as it coats my tongue and fades away. Overall: An exquisitely layered whisky! (more…)
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21Apr 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Statement of facts

In the coming Canadian federal election, expect promises to fix “all the problems” but few details that stand up to scrutiny. I believe it’s reasonable to expect parties to demonstrate policy impacts using facts, math, and modelling. (more…)
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12Apr 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Your views and values show up everywhere

With increasing pace, I’ve seen more people use their voices online to stand up for what they believe is right and participate in fierce conversation and debate. I’ve also seen a shift in organizations' behaviour in response to the expectations of consumers that companies will interact online, speak up on issues, and make business decisions that are rooted in values that align with those of their customers. These trends have me thinking about the challenges individuals and organizations face in how they participate in the social and political climate of today. One particular challenge is around corporate social media policies that strive to find the right balance of influence over how employees engage online, and individuals who are asserting themselves when they feel those policies go too far. Seeing it…
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08Apr 2019 by Matt Edwards 2 Comments

Only one or two hours….

I have a bad habit of starting projects late in the evening (around 8:30 or 9) after my kids go to bed. I begin, truly believing it will only take one or two hours. Without fail, these typically take me well into the night and I suffer the next day because, let's face it, I make bad choices. Let's take this domain change as a very recent example. A month or so ago I got the idea to rebrand and change domains (wastedgenius.ca still works, it just points here). For the past few weeks I mulled over what the new name should be and how it would affect various aspects of my online presence. Should it include my name? Should it be specific about something like a hobby or viewpoint?…
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03Apr 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Forgotten laptop

‪I forgot my laptop at home today. I was a bit anxious when I discovered this. Undeterred, I went about my day with a notebook, pen, my iPhone, and video-connnected meeting rooms.‬ ‪It kept me out of my email and in my conversations. Maybe I should “forget” more often.‬
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