M.J. Mandoki's Blog, page 9
March 29, 2016
Canada Reads Competition 2016
The Canada Reads competition is little known outside Canada. It is a shame because it is one of the most valuable tools to both inspire writers to produce great works and to recognize their efforts.
Canada Reads competition began in 2002. It is produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). It is a televised competition of what is often referred to as “the battle of the books”. The format is simple. The books to be read for the battle is announced in advance in order for the public to have a chance to buy and read the books by the time the competition begins. Each panelist choose a book to defend around the table. In each program, a book is eliminated until one is left–the winning book.
The theme in 2016 was “Starting Over”. The five books defended were Minister Without Portfolio by Michael Winter, Bone and Bread by Saleema Nawaz and Birdie by Tracey Lindberg, The Hero’s Walk by Anita Rau Badami and The Illegal by Lawrence Hill. At the end, The Hero’s Walk earned the runner-up position and The Illegal won the competition. The Illegal is about a man who lives under a dictatorship and decides to go into hiding. This is Lawrence Hill’s second book to win first place. In 2009, his now famous book, The Book of Negroes was chosen as the best book to read in Canada.
This competition is not without controversy. From the writers’ point of view, the biggest issue is that a book can only be chosen to participate if it is published in a traditional manner. This means that Indie books are not welcome. The second problem with the competition is that the panelists are usually made up of celebrities, some of whom are not experts on the field. The television viewers often complain that the discussions are sometimes superficial.
Still, it is wonderful to have battle of the best books in Canada. It helps both readers and writers. In a world where less people read and more people are fascinated by cheap, meaningless reality shows, it is valuable to have a meaningful and inspiring program on national television.
March 21, 2016
The Effectiveness of Word of Mouth
My first book is selling really well!
As an independently published writer, it is up to the writer to find marketing strategies that work. When my first book, The Curse, came out, I read a lot about effective marketing techniques in order to capture my potential audience. I have to say that most writers push for online marketing. Of course, I jumped on board, as well. I created a website at first and linked it up with Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads and Facebook. In the electronic age, I found that these strategies were useful to a certain extent.
However, the electronic accounts are just part of the story. Now, that I work inside a shopping mall where elderly people get together for a coffee every day, I found that online marketing is a limited tool. A community bulletin board proved this point. I put up a poster with my business cards to take for the interested readers and I have suddenly had an explosion of interest in my books. The elderly readers wanted to know the story line. When they were intrigued, the first question they had was if I sold physical copies of my books. As soon as I said, “yes” to the question, they all ordered one. I learned a good lesson about traditional marketing strategies: they work.
Furthermore, I had a lot of praise for my books. Once these readers’ friends overhead their comments, they also wanted copies of the books. Hence, word-of-mouth marketing became my number one tool for success in the neighbourhood.
I have to say that I am thrilled that the traditional marketing model works so well! I started selling a great number of books! I am over the moon right now! This was my dream and my dream is becoming a reality!
The lesson is: Do not discount traditional method of spreading the word!
March 14, 2016
Moments of Joy In the Security Profession
It is rare for any security professional to write about a joyful event. Our work usually involves stories about break-ins, thefts, panhandlers, trespassers, investigations, interviews, report writings and/or emergency personnel on site. There are so many tales with fear, threat and negativity involved that people might get the impression that security professionals live in a dark, gloomy world most of the time. For this reason, I decided to present a joyful moment in a security professional’s life, this time, by focusing on a positive event in my life. This event does not involve any darkness or heroism. Rather, it involves being part of something joyful and wonderful.
On March 12, 2016, Cherryhill Mall in London, Ontario had a Winter Festival. The festival’s theme was Star Wars. There were several activities planned for both adults and children. Light sabres were created at the crafts tables. A scavenger hunt was undertaken by many participants to locate letters posted at the shop windows to spell out a mysterious word with a reward of a cupcake at the end of the hunt. Picture booth awaited the crowd for free picture-taking with their favourite characters. Comic bookshops owners set up tables to acquaint the youngsters with the latest heroes. All of this great event finally ended with a costume competition for all ages.
Costume Competition Winners in Adult Category
Of course, a security professional does not get to play. Properties had to be guarded, especially because the mall is also the centre for the elderly population in the city who like to come together for a coffee. The kids also had to be kept safe and away from dangerous electronic equipment. The lost souls had to be directed to the right places. And, the occasional panhandlers had to be discouraged from showing up in front of the entrance doors, by constant patrol of the mall property.
However, the atmosphere was very different from the usual dark, gloomy world of a security professional. I had the opportunity to see the smiling faces of children and playful adults. For example, I met the Mulheaon family whose youngest family members, Paityn, Ethan and Ewan were fully dressed up in their favourite star war characters. The kids were adorable and they were ready to throw themselves into these events with full force.
Paityn, Ethan and Ewan Mulhearon dressed in their costumes
I also met a fully dressed Darth Vader who had the proper equipment to sound like the original character underneath the mask. Some people thought that he was actually part of the hired entertainment and posed to take pictures with him.
Darth Vader
Yet, the event organizers did have an actual hired Boba Fett character with whom the mall manager, Bill MacGillivray, and I briefly posed for a photo.
Minto’s Cherryhill Mall Manager, Bill MacGillivray, and I, posing for a photo
Hence, this was an event where, even though I had to be vigilant at all times and work hard, I still get to smile while doing it!
This is a rare story that is usually not heard in the security world. There is no fear, threat, tense moments, negativity or heroism in this story. This is a story where a security professional’s work involved smiling and enjoying the presence of playful people of all ages. This is a story that shows that our work does include joyful days and wonderful people in the world. This is simply a rare story that was needed to be told.
March 10, 2016
Inequality Amongst Women: The Beautiful Versus The Average
On International Women’s Day, I heard a lot about the inequality between men and women. I understand that this may be the biggest issue for all women. However, I heard very little about the problem of inequality amongst women–until I listened to an unrelated story about Maria Sharapova, the famous tennis player.
On The Exchange, a Canadian business program that airs on the CBC every night, I heard brief news about Maria Sharapova having lost her endorsement deals with large companies because she failed a drug test. The news was not very interesting. What was interesting is the little known fact that she is the highest earner of all female tennis players. That news made me sit up and ask, “Why is she the highest earning female tennis player? She isn’t the best!” I checked her record on the internet right away. Apparently, she won five grand slam singles titles and she is the number 7 ranking player in the world. This record maybe impressive. However, the record is not as impressive as it should be if one compares it to Serena Williams’ record. Serena Williams has won 21 grand slam singles titles and she is the number 1 ranking tennis player in the world. So, why is Maria Sharapova the highest earning female tennis player? Why does she earn more than Serena Williams?
The answer lies in an ugly truth that is obvious but not always acknowledged. Maria Sharapova is white, blond, 188cm (6 ft 2in) tall and weighs 59 kg (130pounds). Serena Williams is black, brown haired, 175cm (5ft 9in) tall and weighs 70kg (154 pounds). Does everyone see the issue? Or, do I have to spell it out?
It is interesting that more and more large corporations are giving money to charities that help girls accept their own body image and beauty. At the same time, other, or maybe the same, large corporations offer advantages to those women who fit the stereotypical barbie image. Even the number 1 ranking tennis player cannot become the highest earner by her skills only. If she is not the stereotypical blond, she can only be second in earnings to the blond. The message is clear from some industries. Skills alone does not make a woman succeed; her looks still matters–a lot!
Hence, there is inequality even amongst women. The average woman does not only have to compete against men on the job market, but she also has to compete against the women who fit the stereotypical image of being good looking. This makes the average woman’s life much more challenging. Imagine that four candidates show up for a job interview. The first candidate is a forty year old man with a great education and ten years of experience. The second candidate is a forty year old man with a less impressive education record and five years of experience. However, his cousin works at the company and he knows people in the office. The third candidate is a twenty-five year old tall, attractive blond with an impressive education record and almost no experience. The fourth candidate is a forty year old average looking woman with an impressive degree and ten years of experience behind her. The question is: how much chance does the fourth candidate have? Probably, the average woman has the least chance of getting the job before the interview even starts!
This means that there is a lot more to do to make women more equal. Not only do they have to be valued as much as men are, they also have to be valued as much as their stereotypically beautiful counterparts are valued. I would have to say that humanity is a long way from making the average hard-working women equal.
March 5, 2016
New Workplace
This week, I started to work at a new site. I am still working for the same company, but I changed my permanent location. I would like to share my observations about starting to work at a new location.
It is alright to have doubts about moving on. Even if you no longer like the place you are working at, it is understandable to have doubts about letting the workplace go. If you work at a location for many years, you get used to the work, the people and the routine. It is comforting to have expectations about how your days will unfold. Once you let go of the workplace, this comfort is taken away, replaced by uncertainties. It is understandable that you may feel nervous about moving on.
It is alright to feel out of place at first. You don’t have a clear vision about the expectations at the new place. Since you do not have a routine yet, you may stumble around all day, trying to do your best. At the same time, you have a constant feeling about not producing as much as you normally used to. If you are a conscientious worker, you will feel like you are under producing and not quite part of the team yet.
It is alright to feel nervous about the new people around you. Firstly, you can’t possibly remember everyone’s name you are being introduced to. I had to ask for one of the manager’s name three times on the first day. It did feel a bit awkward. But, it is part of the process. Secondly, you may feel a little withdrawn at first, not being acquainted with others. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. People have specific personalities. Not knowing what these are, you may feel a little shy at first. After all, you don’t know how people may respond to your personality, style and philosophies about life. Hence, you need to forgive yourself for being nervous about the others around you at first.
It is alright to make sacrifices in order to work at a better place. I had to take a pay cut, but the place fit my schedule much better now that I am returning to finish my graduate degree. It felt a bit strange to go down in pay and not up. After all, I want to advance in every area of my life. However, thinking about school made it alright to make the sacrifice. So, learn to be at peace with the sacrifices you make and try to look at your long-term objective, instead.
It is alright to take the time to reorganize your schedule. It may take weeks to figure out the right time to have family get-togethers, to work out at the gym, to read or study and to do your chores at home. I was nervous about finding the time to finish my next novel and having the time to prepare for a future graduate competency exam. It was nerve-wrecking putting together a proper schedule. Finally, I just had to realize that I needed to give it time. Some planning is necessary, but, as long as you make an effort to have time for what is important in your life, things will eventually fall into their proper places. Hence, take the time to find the right schedule. Don’t panic and don’t rush it!
These are my observations so far. New workplace presents itself with new challenges. But, it is worth going for something new in order to advance in life and bring about a better and more peaceful existence.
February 27, 2016
Returning to School
I am returning to school. I have a difficult time saying this out loud sometimes. After all, I left school for good—or, so I thought. I walked away from a PhD program in the midst of bitter disappointment a few years ago. The reason for walking away is not important here. What is important is that I thought I was done. No more school for me. Yet, here I am, going back to complete a PhD program. Why? What makes one go back to school? And, when should a person go back to school?
I heard horror stories from returning students. As recently as yesterday, I saw a disappointed post from a woman on twitter who went to Phoenix University to better herself. As a returning student, she had high hopes for a better future. Instead of a better future, though, she ended up feeling that she was wasting time and money on her university education. Given the horror stories, should anyone return to school, once leaving it behind for good?
I feel that there is one good reason to go back to school. This reason is to complete a missing part of one’s life. A burning desire has to be there to be in school with the feeling that returning to school will help one’s dream come true. If it helps a dream to be materialized, returning to school is in order.
For example, I believed in the topic for my PhD dissertation. I wanted to complete my thesis on near-death experience. I felt passionate about it. Not being able to complete my thesis left me with a feeling of unfinished business. So, it made sense for me to become part of a PhD program where I would receive the appropriate help and support to work out my project. That is the reason I chose to apply to the Centre for the Study of Theory and Criticism at Western University. I found the program to be suitable and the professors excellent. I received my letter of acceptance a few days ago. Now, I am happy to be back in school. This is my dream coming true!
One more word of advice, speaking directly to those who are planning to go back to school: Choose the school you are returning to very carefully. Not all schools are equal! Choose the school you are applying to, based on your plans. If a school does not have a good reputation, the tools you need in order to gain a proper degree or, the support of the professors for your particular project, do not apply! Keep searching for the school that suits your particular needs! Take the time! After all, returning to school is a big step. Don’t waste your money, time or effort on a plan that has a good chance of failing you.
Good luck everyone! I will see you around with school books in hand this upcoming September at Western University!
February 20, 2016
Is Hard Work Ever Required?
People say success requires hard work. But, does it really? According to the dictionary definition, hard work is a “great deal of effort and endurance”. According to Jack Busch, hard work is what a person does after he or she puts in the ordinary effort required for daily life, such as going to work, doing the chores, paying the bills and taking care of loved ones. Ryan Sievers states that hard work is a mental effort; it is “about doing something that may not directly inspire you but that is necessary for you to achieve your goal”. All in all, the achievement of success seems to be equated with some very unpleasant, exhausting and arduous journey. Is this really the case?
I believe that this the wrong way of looking at success. Hard work leads to exhaustion, not to success. I believe that success actually requires easy work. How so? Success is the result of passion realized inside the person. The passionate person cannot wait to do what he or she is passionate about. For example, a passionate young athlete can hardly wait for his classes in school to be over so that he can go to the gym and start his training. Or, a scientist does not want to leave her laboratory at the end of the day because she is passionate about getting to the breakthrough point where she can find out how to cure a deadly disease. A passionate person never really works hard. He finds energy that he has already run out of a while ago and time she does not have in her life. A passionate person believes in him or herself. The passionate person wants to realize the dream that is already a reality inside. The passionate person simply manifests faith in that reality that lives in the mind and heart. This is not hard work.
Hard work is present when faith is missing and success looks very far out of reach. It looks like one has to endlessly toil to get there. The person drags himself through the process and wishes it would be over already. He does not enjoy the process. Long hours, too much effort and lots of sacrifices! It is so incredibly exhausting! Hence, it seems to him that success requires hard work.
Don’t work hard! Find your passion and it will be easy!
February 13, 2016
The Process of Change
Why is change difficult, but welcome anyway? What happens when someone changes? Is change worth the trouble?
The word “change” sparks both the emotion of fear and the emotion of excitement in most people. People fear change because change brings an unknown element to life. The trusted and tried fulfills expectations. The familiar, everyday of the known is comfortable for the mind. When change happens, this familiar, everyday cycle is broken. The expectations of what is known is no longer present. An unknown future lies ahead. This fear of the unknown raises is ugly head that the trembling heart understands all too well.
Of course, there is some excitement. The familiar, everyday of the well-known world that is the source of boredom is suspended. The mind is faced with new bombardment of stimuli. Attention is heightened. The person’s trembling heart is filled with the spark of hope for something better and more significant waiting in the unknown. Hence, change can bring both a heightened sense of terror and the heightened sense of hope in the heart.
Furthermore, change can also bring consequences along that might be difficult to bear. A changed person is unfamiliar to others around. Their expectations of seeing a person that they are familiar with is broken. Since the person no longer fulfills their expectations, they turn away. They walk away. It seems that change causes loss, a type of void, that might be difficult to bear–at first. However, with the passing of time, this void is filled by new people who are attracted to this changed person’s world. Life readjust itself. A better and happier future arrives.
Hence, it is worth making changes. Small or big, a person needs to take chances with life. With terror and hope in the heart and with the agony of a temporary void, the person needs to push ahead. After all, life is too short to be stuck on the same treadmill, endlessly cycling over to produce the same results.
So, go ahead and make a change today! It’s worth it!
February 2, 2016
The Politics of Terrible Boss: Free Speech and Social Media
Yesterday, I wrote a short blog on Linked In asking for advice. I asked if I should quit my job because I have a terrible boss. I was genuinely asking for advice from the professionals on my network.
Today, I received a phone call from the manager in the office. Apparently, I have used social media inappropriately. I am not entirely certain what is inappropriate about telling the world that you want to quit your job because you have a terrible boss. It is my personal feeling and opinion. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, a Canadian has the following fundamental guarantees when it comes to free speech:
Fundamental Freedoms
2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.
Hence, Section 2(b) of the Charter guarantees that you can express your thoughts and opinions and this freedom includes the use of media. I have an opinion, which I expressed when I asked for advice from the public. My expression was guaranteed by the Charter.
Of course, there is a more basic issue buried underneath all the excitement about my post. If you have to turn to the public for help in desperation and call your boss terrible, what does this say about the situation? Respect needs to be earned; it is not a free gift. If you have to call someone terrible, how much respect did he/she earn from you in the past three years?
I am called into a meeting with the office manager. I will go. I am tired and exhausted after three years. I will go, but I refuse to argue with them. If they try to give me a hard time, I will just quit on the spot. That’s how tired I am of the treatment I have received so far!
Naturally, I am a writer. This means that the more they push me, the more vocal I get. Sometimes, in this life, you have to take up a cause. You have to give voice to the voiceless. You have to expose the hidden ugliness of a workplace where your boss freely exclaims that, “Your argument is invalid because I am the boss and I said so”. Maybe, this is going to be my social cause in life. Maybe, I meant to do this. After all, security guards are often used and abused in life and they need a voice, too.
What is next? I am going to the meeting. I may or may not have a job after Thursday, whether I quit or will be fired, but I will keep writing. If I do not have a job after Thursday, I will write a blog about what happened on Monday when I clashed with my boss that prompted me to put out my original post. I will write it in a great detail to the best of my recollection. Then, I will probably write a book about the world of security guards. It is going to be a creative non-fiction about what is really going on at these workplaces. If I still have a job after Thursday, I will see what I can negotiate about my and my co-workers’ current situation.
So, I guess, the advice has arrived in some mysterious way. I will keep everyone posted. Thank you for reading my blog.
M. J. Mandoki, M. A.
January 30, 2016
Sources of Inspiration
Where does inspiration come from? No, I am not talking about the energy that takes to be inspired. I am talking about the idea, the concept, the thought or the vision for the inspiration. Where do people find inspiration?
Writers often believe that they come from everyday life. But, what does it mean for sources to be rooted in everyday life? It’s true that human beings have an average of 4000 thoughts per day; that, unless one is hermit, there are numerous conversations people take part in every twenty-four hours; and, that almost all souls manage to get out of the house on the daily basis. Everyday life may offer numerous sources of inspiration.
Yet, some people say that, despite all, they are uninspired. They do not see any sources that would give them inspiration for new ideas, new designs or new art works in their very dull everyday lives. Why not? Why don’t some people discover sources of inspiration, while others do? The solution may lie in the word “dullness” when it comes to everyday life. Some people’s lives are too dull, too repetitive and to straightforward to have new material to spark the imagination.
What is the solution? Obviously, people need to get away from the dullness of life. There are at least two ways of doing it. Firstly, it is possible to meet a variety of people. This realization came to me the other day when I went to listen to a presentation at the university before going to work. The professor’s talk was entitled “The Boundary of Nature”. The presented theory was a mixture of philosophy, science and psychology. It was interesting and deep. After the talk, I went to work where my coworkers were arranging a game of Dungeons and Dragons for the weekend. One of my coworkers loves to organize games of all kinds. He has organized mediaeval feasts, Mystery Room visit and, of course, board games before. At evening times, I read a book by a spiritually inspired author on her spiritual practices and alternative philosophy. The result was the realization that I am surrounded by so many wonderful people with a variety of interests. Listening to all of them gave me ideas for my next few books that I am working out in my mind.
Secondly, it is possible to have a variety of interests. People who only go to work to do repetitive tasks and go home to sleep may have little resources to get their imaginations going. However, this changes with an increase of interest in different things. People who have hobbies, go to shows, visit theaters, join clubs, read books and watch television have a lot more to work with.
Does it mean that everyone has to be an extrovert? No, it definitely does not mean that. Introverts can also have solitary hobbies, good books and a few good friends. The point is to be interested in looking around in the world. The reward is the ability to find new sources of inspiration, which allow people to work out problems, create new artworks and find unique solutions at their workplaces. Of course, this can help to gain a healthier life, new readership or a promotion.
