15Mar 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Feedback is fierce

The most successful organizations - by which I mean those whose employees are motivated, engaged, and carry a growth mindset - embrace a culture of feedback. People in these organizations look upon feedback as a gift and an opportunity, and share it from a place of care and desire to see each other grow. They know that, no matter how difficult the feedback is to give, it needs to be given because they are being - as I heard Lorne Rubis once put it - our “loving critic.” And they know that feedback is freeing because, once it’s out there, they can do something with it (as opposed to being blind to what they’re doing or saying that isn’t going over well with others). (more…)
Read More
08Mar 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

International Women’s Day 2019

Happy International Women’s Day to everyone! I’m asking all men to be visible and vocal allies of women year round, both at work and at home. Especially if you have children, be the example that your kids will carry into school, teams and clubs, and their future workplaces. Many men don’t know where to begin or are afraid to start down a conversation. I was there two years ago and it was through talking to an incredible group of men and women at work that I overcame my fear. I’m encouraging you to use today as the perfect opportunity to show up, listen with empathy, and summon your courage to have a vulnerable conversation. Some conversation starters: What’s hard about parenting and working? How can men be better allies to…
Read More
28Feb 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Finding purpose in the future of work

A friend and colleague, Tevi Legge, shared an HBR article on blind spots to be aware of when teams are being brought together to collaborate. I highly recommend you read it as it offers a terrific perspective on why things go wrong in practice even though the planning and processes look right on paper. After I read it, Tevi posed the question, “How might we help people find purpose in the future of work?” That’s a tough question because I believe purpose is very personal. But I’ll wager therein lies the answer: make it personal and unearth what really motivates a person (analytics, sales, support, teaching, creating, care for others, etc.) For me, the future of work is anchored in mindset. If I’m willing to learn, adapt, and evolve my…
Read More
23Feb 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Lift altering changes

In January of 2018 and January of 2019, I made two small but significant changes to how I approach working out. Last year’s change was to track all of my workouts in a small notebook, one page for each day. This year’s change was to train all muscle groups twice a week and to vary the exercises between the first and second time. Last year, I'd read James Clear’s post about how he tracked his workouts so he could see progress and check back to make sure he was always pushing himself. (more…)
Read More
18Feb 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Scotch Tasting – Whiskies Aged 15 Years

The theme for this scotch tasting was whiskies aged 15 years from across Scotland. Eleven of us - from first-timers to many-timers - sat down to see how these six distilleries expressed themselves. Our lineup was: Glen Moray 15 Glenfarclas 15 Glen Scotia 15 Dalmore 15 Distiller's Art Auchentoshan 15 Bowmore 15 Darkest It was a great evening of whisky, food, laughter, and camaraderie. (more…)
Read More
12Feb 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Tasting notes for Macaloney’s Twa Cask Islay: Caol Ila & Bunnahabhain

Distillery: Coal Ila and Bunnahabhain Cask Type: Ex-Bourbon, Red Wine Barriques Region: Islay Age: NAS ABV: 46% Nose: Peat and smoke, salty sea air hinting at medicinal iodine, sweet chocolate and dark fruit. Very subtle grass or hay. Palate: Oh wow. Smooth, a bit oily, strong woody notes and earthy peat. The medicinal iodine is there alongside almost a bitterness of dark chocolate. Cinnamon and cloves and dried fruit. Just love how it envelopes my tongue and brings so much flavour. Finish: There’s a flicker of spiciness early in the finish with sweet smoke curling its way throughout. The salty, earthy notes really hang on as the rest drifts away and the whisky leaves my whole mouth coated in layers of flavour. Overall: This whisky is out of control. The…
Read More
29Jan 2019 by Matt Edwards No Comments

Time to grow

My relationship with time is complicated (honestly, it can be a bit ridiculous). When I have to spend time doing something that doesn't create value or move things forward, I tend to look on that time as a waste. It drives me nuts. Up until the beginning of 2019, commuting to and from work fell into that waste category. Spending 30-35 minutes in traffic each day would get me stressed if I wasn't in the office by a certain time. Plus I'd dedicate way too much energy on things like the optimal lane to be in, the drivers I thought had suffered a head injury, and calculating how long before I'd be at my desk. It seems so silly now when I write that out. Let me now introduce a…
Read More