It has been a year already.

A year ago today, my father-in-law Roy McGonnell passed away at the young age of 69.
69 is way to young to die.

Roy was quite a guy.

He was a husband, a brother, father of three, proud grandfather of 7, a multi sport Canada games level athlete, policeman turned postman, umpire, story teller, literally every ones friend, the caregiver of his disabled wife for over 12 years.

As we say in in Atlantic Canada "Roy was a real character".

Roy was a person who constantly told stories. As I think back, these stories were Roy's way of sharing his views on everything from sports, to politics, to family matters. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone.

Suffering from cancer for over a year, I never heard him complain once. Except for the night before he died he was watching harness racing on TV and expected to see 5 races not 4. He was pissed ;)

Some thoughts about Roy as we approached his anniversary;

1. Roy read the local paper every day from cover to cover. He especially read the sports section scores as statistics. I would hear him discussing the latest sports scores, players, issues with friends...he would catch people off guard when he even new who got what penalties for what in games across North America, but also the actual attendance of the game ie: "there was only 17,235 people at the game in San Jose on Tuesday night."

2. My youngest daughter always enjoyed getting an offer of a "freezy" when we visited Roy. It felt a little strange however to get the offer in February when it was -25C ;)

3. Roy often asked us all, if we felt we were "dressed up" even if we weren't really "If we were going to a beauty contest ?"

I and my three children have had the pleasure to know such a man.

They don't make many like Roy anymore.

Rest in peace Roy.

Dan MacDonald

Where is the bottom ?

November and December 2008 will go down as one of the most dramatic economic downturns in history. Yet depending on which type of business you are in and or where you are located, you may not have even felt it yet.

All indications are that virtually every business will be impacted in someway, some severely others less so.

It will be amazing to look back after the inevitable recovery to analyze the impact of the media on this economic downturn compared to others. If one was to read and view the news these days, which I for one find it hard not to, it is gloom and doom 24hrs a day.

The markets are directly impacted by our overall confidence. It is critical that we remain both optimistic and realistic.

I believe strongly that this is the time for us to maximize the efficiency of our businesses, to constructively challenge status quo thinking, to provide support for better methods, to ensure regular honest communications with customers, staff, suppliers and partners.

So where is the bottom ?
No one knows for sure, but by most accounts it will be in the next 6 to 12 months.

The best strategy is to be lean, mean, and fit to ride the inevitable recovery better and stronger than ever.

Dan MacDonald