You have to spend money to make money

Lets imagine a giant corporation, not just Fortune 500, but Fortune 10.

A company that despite a bad economy, last year made about 12.9 Billion dollars in profit.

We'll call this company, "DeathStar Communications".

Lets imagine this year this imaginary corporation does the following:

• Cuts employee benefits
• Cuts employee at-risk pay
• Cuts employee commission
• Cuts jobs
• Cuts rebate incentives for customers
• Cuts ability to match competitor prices
• Cuts money allocated towards reinforcement of basic infrastructure
• Cuts advertising dollars
• Abolishes yearly "Christmas" bonuses completely
• Abolishes a best sellers yearly retreat

• Raises prices for consumers
• Raises quotas for sales people
• Denies pay raises to all management
• Fails to keep up with current competitive standards
• Creates rules which marginalize certain vendors
• Threatens employees with termination if new increased goals are not obtained

Now lets imagine that company has the brass to ask it's employees how they feel about working there. A survey where they insist that the customers and employees are valuable to them.

In this imaginary situation, would you feel that the actions of this imaginary company reflect a company that is looking to be successful? A company that is looking for happy employees? A company that is going to be successful long term? They say you have to spend money to make money; does this look like the type of company that is going to attract talent that will promote growth and build customer loyalty?

I sure am glad this is only imaginary. One might start to feel a bit jaded if this were to actually take place where they work.

Canada, Canada, Canada, Canada

Fact - I was born in Canada.

Whether I announce it or not, people usually find out this fact about me pretty quickly. Maybe it's the fact that I say "out" with the proper vowel sound instead of bending it to an "a" sound like many Americans.

Maybe it's because I readily announce that during cheesy introduction games. "Okay kids, tell us your name, your grade, and something interesting about you!

Maybe it's because my friends love to point it out at every given opportunity, sing the God-awful "Blame Canada" song from Southpark, and use it as the butt end of every joke as the never ending theme of my life.

Regardless, it's a part of who I am. I am not ashamed, I am quite proud to be a Canuck.

I do want to get a couple things off my chest. I am actually AMERICAN too. Yes, fully fledged, Social Security card carrying, red blooded American. I get the luxury of both. (I still have my Canada Tax ID card).

The circumstances surrounding my birth allowed for a permanent dual citizenship status. I wont bore you with the details, suffice it to say, when my feet touch American soil, I'm an American. In Canada, I am Canadian. Only at the border am I both.

With my citizenship comes some annoying stereotypes which I want to address.

First, not all Canadians are mounties, lumberjacks, hockey players, or moose hunters. Do I have those in my family? Yes. I am any of those things... yes... crap.

Well, we don't have beady eyes or flapping heads.

My Interview with Seth Killian!!!

http://www.digitalchumps.com/e3-2009-coverage/130-e3-2009-overview/3165-interview-with-capcoms-seth-killian-hd.html

You needs to check this out. Yes, I pluralized "need", but that was for emphasis and urban flair!