Bloom 2.0

For some reason, my new laptop’s keyboard (read: the new employer’s keyboard) always feels greasy. I wash my hands and wipe them off constantly but it never gets better. I’m gonna wipe the keyboard again with a colleague’s baby wipes. Perhaps it’s HPs fault. Perhaps its the air in the new office. It’s bothersome because I’m on it all day. But, I know I can’t let it get to me. If I do, the terrorists win.

Just thought I’d share the minutiae that is my new day-to-day routine. Back to work.

Big thanks to Alexis for calling with tickets (and VIP pre-and-post-party passes) to last night’s Billy Talent show at the Molson Amphitheatre. What a concert. My buddy Jon, Alexis’ husband, plays bass in BT and he absolutely killed. Review can be read here. And while the show was amazing, another highlight came after the concert when Ill Scarlett played an acoustic set for the after party. Here are some pics from flickr (cuz I forgot my camera. Stupid me.). Now, if only I could get Surrender out of my head…

In mere hours, the Summer of Rich ™ will be over.

“THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SUMMER OF RICH!!!!”

As The Summer of Rich winds down, here’s where I’ll be wasting my time.

As I gear up for my new career, hyperconnectivity is the word of the day.

Dear Mr. Chase,

Regarding tonight’s finale of The Sopranos: Bite me.

Cordially,

Richard Bloom.

Click the thumbnail image below to see what happens when somebody from a real blog links to your B.S. little blog. (Stats from Statcounter.com).

As a companion to and preview of my column tomorrow in The Globe and Mail, I have just accepted a position with Nortel. I will be one of six participants in the company’s inaugural marketing graduate leadership program, starting in July. It’s a two-year rotation through four different marketing departments, then a full-time placement in one of those departments.

It’s the perfect job for me. Sure, I had other opportunities but this one stood out from the pack. While I was certain I wanted to stay in pure-play media, no Canadian media concern offers this type of continued-learning-and- leadership-training program. With Nortel, which makes the gear that all media companies will eventually be using to distribute the bulk of their content, I will get hands-on marketing experience with an organization at a very interesting time in its life cycle. If anything, it will make me a stronger candidate for any organization should I decide to venture back into the media sector. Of that, I am certain.

Herewith, 10 reasons I chose Nortel:

1. The leadership (from Zafirovski all the way down) is stellar. The new CEO has assembled an amazing team of people who have turned around companies in the past and know this space better than anyone else.
2. The Street thinks the worst is behind Nortel. Check this out.
3. Turnarounds are very exciting. And, as I heard throughout my MBA, the learning involved in a turnaround is invaluable.
4. I will get paid to grow. There will be mandatory continuing-ed courses, formal mentoring and, perhaps, travel to Nortel’s myriad operations around the world.
5. Good pay — on par with my friends who are in similar programs at the big banks.
6. I gelled with the hiring manager and various other executives immediately. Those same executives are passionate about making Nortel a winner again.
7. Current stock price on the TSX:~$27. 12-month target (from Scotia Capital): $37. 24-month target: $42.
8. Rotational programs are the best way to find out what I’m good at, what I like and where I will fit best. What’s more, each rotation is in marketing — one of my MBA specializations.
9. It’s the joining together of two former Brampton-based behemoths (The Globe people will get that).
10. It feels right.

I just spent two days volunteering at Mesh — a conference, now in its second year, on Web 2.0 and all things Internet. I was roped into helping by my buddy Mathew, who is one of the founders and organizers. Just like version 1.0 of Mesh, this one didn’t disappoint. From engaging discussions to networking events, Mesh was gold.

One of the highlights, IMHO, was the video below that won the Mesh video contest. Other highlights: Mathew’s discussion with Michael Arrington of Techcrunch; Mark’s conversation with Jim Buckmaster of Craigslist; and Stuart’s session with Richard Edelman of Edelman PR agency– all of which are certain to help me standout from the crowd when I begin the next phase of my career in a few weeks (expect an announcement HERE on that soon as negotiations are currently in their final stages).

Enjoy the video!

Our wedding party. Nov. 1, 2003.

This is, by far, my favourite weekend of the year. For the past 6 years, the first Sunday in May is a time to honour the memory of my little brother David, who passed away in 2001 of a cancerous brain tumour. Each year, we raise more than $100,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. This year, should be no exception. In fact, we’re poised to hit our goal of $125,000!! My friends, colleagues, family — and their friends and family — have been so supportive over the years. We couldn’t have done all this without you. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

If you want to learn more about the event, click here: www.springsprint.com

If you want to make a secure online donation to this amazing cause, please click here: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/StartUp.aspx?SID=1413895

And if you’re around Brampton on Sunday, please come by. You won’t be disappointed!

Wow. I blame Vince “wince” Carter for all this….

Ahhh, Canadiana. Makes me wonder whether the MBA was the right decision. Maybe instead…

The survey below is for a consulting course I am doing. If you know of anyone who is considering doing an MBA, could you pass this along to them? Thanks!

Considering doing an MBA?

Fill out this quick survey for an Israeli-and-Canadian consulting group, and you could win an iPod Nano!

Survey can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/334rkb

For the record, I do not know these people. Just found this stupid stuff on GooTube.

That Devils-Islanders ending was some of the most exciting hockey I’ve seen in a long time. Best 5 minutes of hockey ever. Well, except the very end. Sigh. Leafs will be champs in ‘08. You heard it here first.

Props to Bloom 2.0 reader and facebook fanatic Colin A. for finding this gem on Freshome.com. Furniture to feed my ego.

The Sopranos and Entourage, back to back. Oh baby. I’m going to be planted on my couch Sunday night. Bada Bing!

My predictions for the ultimate finale of the Sopranos (at the end of this run): AJ joins “the family” and makes his first kill; Tony finally gets arrested by the Feds; Meadow calls of the wedding; Christopher leaves the family and gets killed OR Carmela gets accidentally shot and killed.

My predictions for Entourage: Ari spends the whole season begging E for a sit-down with Vince (and comedic gold ensues!); E gets engaged; Drama gets a big role; Turtle is Turtle; Vince is Vince.

Thank god it’s over. One more course to go…

(L to R) Landy, Adriana, Anna, Elitsa, Chris, Vassilis, Adrian, Me.