Walking the

Hello again, faithful readers (and for those of you logging in hoping to see another webcomic adventure of "That QR Code Guy", you'll be pleased to hear that yes indeed, another installment is forthcoming in the next few days, so - keep checking back).

If you'll recall, waaay back when I first got started with Stalking the Job, I mentioned that when attempting a one-man guerrilla-marketing initiative, it's best to keep things on as even a keel as possible - smile, walk tall, be ready, willing & able to engage people constructively - and to avoid any and all hassles as regards private property. Simply put, this means that should the security guards on duty in a particular building come to have a chat with you about where you may or may not stand, walk or be seen it's always the best policy to cheerfully comply. After all, they're only doing their jobs; chances are there's someone situated higher up the chain putting the squeeze on them.

In order to avoid this situation cropping up too often, I've made a point of keeping my QR code campaign outdoors and at street-level to as great an extent as I can. My intent is to try connecting with interested parties - not to make a nuisance of myself. That being said, walking around the city in the blustering cold of February can be a truly punishing experience, and on occasion, it's been necessary to duck indoors to warm up and/or to locate (and make use of) toilet facilities. Trouble is, to do that requires either the purchase of a cup of coffee or a foray into Toronto's underground PATH system of interconnected shopping concourses and food courts, hidden away beneath the central banking towers of the downtown core.

On a day like today, however... a dark winter's day (the sort of day that can't make up its' mind whether to snow or rain so instead it manages both, with a gale-force wind thrown for good measure), it seemed appropriate to throw caution to the wind and bend my own rules a little. Yes, faithful readers - I walked the PATH.

It's bewildering down there, I don't mind telling you. Like a shopping mall, there are no clocks on the walls to let you know what time it is; the passageways twist and turn and with nothing of the streetscape visible from two or three stories below ground, it's easy to lose your bearings. More than once I found myself having to retrace my steps after finding my way to a dead-end service corridor.

It's also crowded! Now I know why King & Bay isn't nearly as much a sea of humanity at lunchtime as it might otherwise be. There must be (literally) tens of thousands of office workers in the downtown core who bypass the elements entirely by remaining inside the PATH system from the moment they exit the subway or GO train in the morning until it's time to head home. I must have been a mildly bewildering presence down there amongst these subterranean people, as I caught many heads turning (and at least a few people fishing in their pockets for their Blackberries).

Truth be told, I am somewhat uncomfortable in environments like shopping malls or movie theatres. It's not that I'm claustrophobic, or even agoraphobic - it's just that I have come to be somewhat wary of crowds, especially in emergency situations. You can't predict how a given agglomeration of human beings will react in the case of say, a fire. And if the exit points from a pedestrian maze aren't clearly marked, well...  let's just say that my slightly exaggerated sense of personal safety will always trump a willingness on my part to move happily along with the herd. There's only so much time I'm willing to spend inside before a keenly-felt need to return outside takes hold. Irrational? Perhaps... but as my grandmother always said, "better safe than sorry".

Returning to the surface world, my journeying once again took me west, through the Entertainment District and onwards to Bathurst Street. I some fun waving back to the people peering out their windows at TAXI, on Wellington - chatted with a few minions outside the CBC building on John Street - and was able to provide some snappy comebacks to more than a few cold and wet passersby. Somewhere along the line, however, a telltale moistness between the toes of my right foot told me my third pair of shoes this month might be on the threshold of failure. I'll have to keep an eye (or maybe a foot) on that! Also, the wind shear on certain streets was so great that it tore one of the adhesive velcro tabs on my sandwich board right off the underlying canvasboard (not to worry, I have plenty of spare velcro at  home and have already effected repairs). So, with the wind pulling crazily at the sandwich board, the prospect of returning partway home via the PATH had a definite appeal.

Don't mess with Metro Hall.

After re-entering the PATH via Metro Hall, however, I was accosted by a security guard, an earnest young man who demanded I remove my sandwich board as he felt that I was "soliciting" on private premises. I explained politely that I was not selling anything, had no interest in remaining on the premises, and asked courteously for him to direct me to the closest underground exit that would take me eastward. With that, he seemed more relieved than anything - though I've made a mental note not to return to that portion of the PATH in future. The rest of the trip back was uneventful, but I tried remaining cognizant of my surroundings with relation to the size of my footprint (the dimensions of the sandwich board can sometimes make for awkward situations, particularly in doorways and on escalators). By the time I found myself beneath First Canadian Place, I'd managed to once again get myself completely lost. With the experience at Metro Hall still fresh, I was loathe to find myself in the same situation and so, spying a group of security guards standing together on the edge of a cluster of shops, I decided to brazen it out a bit. Rather than shying away from them for fear of being asked to leave, I fairly bounded up to them (full of cheer and goodwill) and asked them how to get to the King Street subway station.

And you know? It worked like a charm! Not only were they helpful, they actually started whipping out their phones to give me a scan. I'm not entirely sure, but I think I might've inadvertently discovered how to side-step issues with building security guards - the key being to simply (and as always, politely) tap them for information. After all, a man asking for directions out is not a man looking to linger. And as good as their word, I was able to use their instructions to find my way to Yonge & King, where I exited to make my way home - footsore, sure - but not nearly quite so chilled to the bone as most days.

For Stalking the Job, this is John Currie (That QR Code Guy) signing off. As ever, faithful readers - I'll be seeing you.

Have you seen That QR Code Guy?

If you're one of the many who've snapped a photo of me while I've been out Stalking the Job, I'd love to hear from you! Send in your photos - I'll make a point of featuring them here. Here's one from earlier today:

Taken on Wellington Street February 29th 2012 @iamryanbooth

The 8 Qualities That Make a Great Employee Remarkable

Reposted from the original article at inc.com:

Eight Qualities of Remarkable Employees

Great employees are reliable, dependable, proactive, diligent, great leaders and great followers... they possess a wide range of easily-defined—but hard to find—qualities.

A few hit the next level. Some employees are remarkable, possessing qualities that may not appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless make a major impact on performance.

Here are eight qualities of remarkable employees:

1. They ignore job descriptions. The smaller the company, the more important it is that employees can think on their feet, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes, regardless of role or position, to get things done.

When a key customer's project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told there's a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it's not their job.

2. They’re eccentric... The best employees are often a little different: quirky, sometimes irreverent, even delighted to be unusual. They seem slightly odd, but in a really good way. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a plain-vanilla group into a team with flair and flavor.

People who aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.

3. But they know when to dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun... until it isn't. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit seamlessly into the team.

Remarkable employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough balance to strike, but a rare few can walk that fine line with ease.

4. They publicly praise... Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a peer feels awesome, especially when you look up to that person.

Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words is even greater.

5. And they privately complain. We all want employees to bring issues forward, but some problems are better handled in private. Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.

Remarkable employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue, knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.

6. They speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately.

An employee once asked me a question about potential layoffs. After the meeting I said to him, “Why did you ask about that? You already know what's going on.” He said, “I do, but a lot of other people don't, and they're afraid to ask. I thought it would help if they heard the answer from you.”

Remarkable employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.

7. They like to prove others wrong. Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree or the woman who was told she didn't have leadership potential often possess a burning desire to prove other people wrong.

Education, intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.

8. They’re always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (I mean that in a good way) and are constantly tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, adjusting a process, tweaking a workflow.

Great employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can't help it.

Stalking the Job presents: The Continuing Adventures of That QR Code Guy

You Gotta Look Sharp...!

Good afternoon, faithful readers. It is a dark and windswept Friday, with the temperature hovering around freezing, and a sky full of cold rain and sleet. What better type of day to stay indoors, while continuing to scheme my schemes for surmounting the job-market in Toronto? In fact I plan to use some of my time later today to work on the fourth installment of "The Adventures of That QR Code Guy", as I've been receiving a few inquiries about the upcoming comic.

Yesterday was a good day - warm, sunny in the morning and early afternoon - just the sort of weather that puts an extra bounce in my step. And bounce I did; bounced, skipped, whistled and moved my feet to the rhythms in my head. I say, "in my head" because I choose not to use use an .mp3 player while out and about on the streets of the city. Some have told me they couldn't imagine doing what I'm doing without their iPod, that they'd find themselves bored beyond belief, but I've found that it's absolutely critical to be fully aware of my environment at all times (and that includes being able to hear what's going on around me).

 

That QR Code Guy (as captured by @baldean ) walking north at the corner of King & Bay in Toronto.

In the downtown core, it pays to be mindful of the ebb and flow of oncoming traffic, of fast-moving electric carts and of the ever-present sidewalk-cyclists who'll unexpectedly approach from behind. There've also been a number occasions where, in passing, I've heard people quietly murmur to each other that they'd like to try scanning my QR code. Of course, I'm only too happy to oblige - except when crossing an intersection, that is.

Having taken on the persona of That QR Code Guy, I am to all intents and purposes, the sole ambassador of my personal brand. Yes, the whole point of my campaign is to use the QR code to prompt passersby into satisfying their curiousity... but, as the code represents me - my work - and my stated desire to contribute, in a meaningful fashion, to an organization that values creativity and initiative - it is solely my responsibility to engage the members of the public. Were I to choose to simply walk around with buds stuffed in my ears, I would in a sense be "dialing-in" my presence. No, the approach I've found works best is to be there, not just in body but in spirit.

To no small extent, this idea of "being there" also dictates both how I comport myself and how I present myself in public. As I've had occasion to say (to more than one person), were I to walk around slouching and slumping my shoulders while staring at the ground, I can't imagine any passersby bothering to find out just what it is that I'm up to. Instead I walk tall - chest out, shoulders erect and with my head held high  - always exuding an air of quiet self-assurance and approachability.

As Joe Jackson said many, many years ago, "you gotta look sharp". And it's true! On the coldest mornings this month (those days that I simply could not walk out of the house wearing just my suit-jacket and sandwich board) my reel saw fewer overall views on my YouTube channel, and I think it was due in part to not looking as polished in my winter jacket and scarf as I do in my suit. People certainly seem to be less inclined to satisfy their curiousity if your grooming and/or personal appearance is not as well-considered as it could be. And, comfy though they may be this also means leaving the running shoes at home. Proper black leather walking shoes convey something entirely different than a pair of Reeboks!

So, before heading out the door into the downtown core I always make sure I'm scrubbed, shaven, well-dressed, and in possession of as many necessities (business cards, breath gum, et cetera) as needed for an eight-hour day of walking and talking.

Now on a cold day like today I'd be severely disinclined to go bopping down the street to a James Brown rhythm, but yesterday I definitely had my inner groove on. And you know, it seems to have worked in my favour; the reel saw a decided uptick in views. But I think it also served me in another manner - see, there are those who (being too shy to ask or even to scan) have assumed I must be some sort of protestor. By letting myself relax and stepping into a swinging pattern of walking, I'm letting people know that whatever it is that I'm up to, it's probably nothing to do with politics, war, religion or the zombie apocalypse. By playing the clown (to a certain extent), I'm putting them at their ease. I'm telling them that it's alright to scan me, that I'm a nice guy - someone who isn't about to launch into a lecture, or pester them for donations.

One of the things I've learned is that scans do not necessarily equal views on my YouTube channel, at least not immediately. When checking through YouTube analytics, I'll see a number of views coming up via mobile devices during the overnight periods, when I'm all tucked in and snoring up a storm. I've come to the conclusion that people are tending (more often than not) to bookmark the video after scanning the QR code, so they can view it later on. And this is, of course entirely fine... though I'll admit I wish I could be on-hand to answer any questions they might have, either about the campaign or about my goals. One such exchange this week netted me an offer from a complete stranger to personally convey my CV and related materials to the appropriate parties at one of the larger banking corporations downtown. Just that experience alone underscored for me that this somewhat-radical approach of mine is not at all a novelty, but rather an innovation in this current job-market.

Is it the right approach for anyone else? Is Toronto about to explode with men in black fedoras wearing life-sized QR codes? Most likely not - but if it ever comes about, well... they'll have to look sharp.

For Stalking the Job, this is John Currie - and as always, I'll see you around.

What is Your Unique Value, and Can You Articulate It?

Reposted from the original article at forbes.com:

Mastering the Art of Authentic Confident Self-Promotion

 

People are too busy today to go out of their way to find you, recognize and reward you. The good news is, however, that you can create the visibility and credibility you need to move your career forward. You can control how others perceive you in the work environment. You can learn to communicate to others what value you bring to the table. In short, you can be visible, take credit for your accomplishments, showcase your skills, and build your reputation both inside and outside your company to strengthen your subject matter expertise.

1. Understand your value proposition.
 This is the foundation of authentic self-promotion and gives you the confidence you need to talk about yourself in a positive manner. Identify your strengths. How they have helped you in the past and how are these strengths helping you now in your current position?

What are your accomplishments? What do these say about you?

2. Communicate your value
Create your personal value proposition or value statement so that you can clearly articulate your value to others. Think strategically and identify your web of influence or power network inside and outside your organization in order to advance your career. Build and leverage these relationships and create a plan to communicate and be consistently visible to these contacts.

Self-promote in ways that management cares about by speaking the language of business outcomes when talking about your accomplishments.

3.  Demonstrate Your Value.
Once you understand your value, you can demonstrate your value to others to establish your credibility. Here are some suggestions:

• Volunteer and take on high profile projects at work or in your community. This gives you the opportunity to show your leadership and ability to work well with a team.
• Community involvement can be a great way to showcase your abilities and meet influential people at the same time.
• Sit on non-profit boards.
• Speak up in meetings and let your opinion be known.
• Take credit for your accomplishments.
• Use assertive communication.
• Write a blog that showcases your expertise.
• Teach a course at a local college or continuing education program.
• Submit articles to become a subject matter expert.
• Find opportunities to do radio/TV  interviews.

Guiltless self-promotion comes from a true understanding of who you are and what unique value you bring to your job, your community, and the world.

What is your unique value? Can you articulate it?

And the Award Goes to...

It occurred to me yesterday that I have a lot to be thankful for. Good friends, supportive family, and an awful lot of random passersby who... well, who certainly aren't hostile, anyway. So this morning on Stalking the Job, faithful readers, I'd like to take a bit of time to properly show my gratitude:

The award for "Most Understanding Wife" goes to - well, it goes to my wife Liz. She's there for me... has been from the start of this mad scheme... and she isn't afraid to administer the occasional swift kick to the backside when I need one. Thank you my dear. And I promise I'll find some way to incorporate you into an upcoming issue of my web-comic.

The award for "Best Partner-in-Crime" goes to my associate, Vince Vaitekunas. Vince was partially responsible for drawing me out of my shell last year, and was one of the first people to see the validity of this crazy idea. Not only that, he was largely responsible for constructing the sandwich board - and he's helped with shooting/editing video for the intro portion of my reel. Thanks, Vince.

The award for "Best Sister-in-Law" goes to my wife's sister, Joanne. She has helped me in any way she can, from printing up stacks of business cards to recommending a downtown print shop, and all she ever seems to ask in return is carafe after carafe of coffee on Saturday mornings. I make good coffee, apparently.

The award for "Most Accommodating Print-Shop Owner in Toronto" goes to Hamilton Choi of Printland Plus on Yonge Street. As it turns out, Hamilton is both the brother-in-law of the minister at the downtown church where my sister-in-law works, and the former employer of one of my oldest friends. It really is a smaller world than some might think.


The award for "Greatest Barber in Toronto" goes to Mike Maranich of Nu-Image Hair Design on Lower Sherbourne Street. Mike's been cutting my hair for years, but if any of you are familiar with the old UK comedy series "Red Dwarf", Mike is like the character of Lister's Confidence. You can't spend any time in Mike's orbit without being made to feel ten feet tall.

The award for "Most Supportive Friend I Frequently Encounter in Random Places" goes to my pal Tim, who I've run into on the streets of the city on no fewer than five occasions since setting forth on this quest for gainful employment. I'll always fondly remember Tim grabbing me by the shoulder in the heart of the Entertainment District and repeatedly yelling, "hire this man!" to anyone within earshot.

The award for "Best Former Apprentice Turned Twitter Re-Tweeter" goes to Dan O'Rourke, who after working with me for a few years, later went on to his own career in motion-graphics. Whenever I release a new installment of the "Adventures of That QR Code Guy" web-comic, Dan's there re-tweeting it to his followers. Thanks for being in my corner, Dan.

Congratulations, one and all. It's your faith in me that helps me to persevere... to not falter, to keep moving forward. You make the task I've set for myself seem less daunting... and I thank you for that.

But for now, the city awaits - and I shall conquer it! See you around...!

Stalking the Job presents: The Ongoing Adventures of That QR Code Guy

Get Up!

Good evening to you on this long holiday weekend, faithful readers. I am pleased to report to you that I've started work on the third installment of the web-comic "The Adventures of That QR Code Guy" and hope to have it ready to upload sometime tomorrow evening. Until then, for your listening pleasure - Stalking the Job proudly presents John Currie's "Walkin' Round Town Music" playlist from YouTube:



These are all the tunes I've found myself unselfconsciously humming, whistling or even walking in rhythm to over the last two weeks... so, enjoy and - I'll see you around!

In the words of the late James Brown, Godfather of Soul - "get up!"

Crashing the Party at Social Media Week Toronto

Yes faithful readers, once again Stalking the Job crashed an event at SMWTO. And although I tried doing so as inconspicuously as possible... the speaker, Lisa Horvat of Strategic Storytellers drew my presence to everyone's attention as I crept in to stand at the back of the room. Not that I could blame her; it's not every day that a man rather conspicuously wearing a giant QR code walks into a presentation. If I hadn't been wearing my trademark shades I might've betrayed a rather sheepish look in my eyes...

But, a great presentation from Lisa Horvat. As I listened to her speak, I realized that in my own way - perhaps even inadvertently - what I've been doing with this blog, with the QR code sandwich board, and with my funny lil' web-comic has been to tell a story. My story. And it's a story that continues to unfold. Each new day brings me a wealth of anecdotes to mine, allows me the opportunity to connect with people, to inform and to be informed. And of course, walking around downtown every day has improved the strength in my legs (and the sandwich board has done wonders for my posture). But this is a story with a difference. It's a story that I'm living, in realtime... and of course, I'm hoping it has a happy ending.

I say "hoping", but that's perhaps a little disingenuous. Instead of simply "hoping", what I'm really doing is seizing the bull by the horns with as much grit and determination as I can manage. And that's why I've been gate-crashing events at SMWTO this week - because sitting on my duff at home isn't going to raise my visibility. Endlessly jumping through hoops online to hopefully get a wink & a nod from prospective employers hasn't worked. So what has been working? Being there... being seen. Being on-hand to talk with people about just what the Hell I'm up to. Can this translate to gainful employment? Can I make my message of determination, initiative and the will to succeed penetrate through to a prospective employer? Well, I could say "I hope so" - but instead I'll choose to say, "I know I can".

Everybody takes photos of me when I'm not looking...

So here's to happy endings - and as ever folks, I'll see you around.

Stalking the Job presents: The Further Adventures of That QR Code Guy

I'll see you around...!

StJ Spotlight on: SMWTO, Part 2

Social Media Week Toronto: Social Media Overload: I’m Only One Person – What Can I Do?!?

Thursday, February 16
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Hosted by: George Brown School of Continuing Education

Location: George Brown College 
290 Adelaide Street East
Room 303 
Toronto

See you around...!

StJ Spotlight on: SMWTO

Social Media Week Toronto: Using Social Media to Attract Your Next Star Employee

Tuesday, February 14
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Hosted by: Creative Niche

Location: Creative Niche

110 Spadina Avenue, Suite 604 
Toronto , M5V 2K4


See you around.

Happy Monday

Hello again, faithful readers. Seems the more things change, the more they stay the same:

A man very much like me. And dig the "Stalking" reference! Wow!

And yours truly, out and about on the streets of Toronto.

Saturday Morning Fever

Good morning, faithful readers - well, I've been up since 6 AM waiting on a call from Newstalk 1010 Radio - if you'll recall from yesterday's Stalking the Job, I was due to be interviewed on The Morning Show with Larry Fedoruk, but... 6:45 came, went, and after tuning in via the internet, it would seem the producers had other ideas for the show this morning. Oh well. At least I've had an early start to my Saturday!

The snow outside tells me that today is not an ideal day for canvassing the Big Smoke, and to be honest I have some prior obligations to attend to, but have no fear Toronto - I'll see you around.

Update:

Seems my contact at the station had incorrectly transcribed my contact number... whoops! I'll let you know how this plays out, folks. Stay tuned - !

Update to the Update: well, it's now all systems go for a recorded interview (to be played on a subsequent broadcast of The Morning Show with Larry Fedoruk). I'll be speaking with Larry later this morning, so keep your ears peeled, folks. I'll update the blog once I've got the details.

...Aaaaand it looks like the interview will be part of tomorrow morning's broadcast. I'm going to see if I can have a copy made available to include here on Stalking the Job (for all of you who'll still be sawing logs on Sunday morning).

Radio, radio

Good evening, faithful readers...

Well, after a long, hard work week I hope you're all looking forward to a restful (if chilly) weekend here in Toronto. Post my return home from another day of thoughtfully wandering the streets of the city, I have some news to report for Stalking the Job: a little while ago, I was on the phone with Dan Jacobs of Newstalk 1010 Radio, and - tomorrow morning at 6:45AM, I will be appearing on The Morning Show with Larry Fedoruk!

Note to self: program the coffeemaker before going to bed tonight. Otherwise I'll feel like Bob looks:

Some have been asking me about the QR code harness I wear. Well, the front and rear panels are 18" x 24" canvas boards that I picked up from Curry's Art Store. The shoulder straps were harvested and re-purposed from a Roots backpack that was kicking around my sister-in-law's basement. The straps are held in place with bolts & washers drilled through some thin planks of pine, with all the edges sanded down so as not to snag my suit-jacket. The velcro strips holding the laminated QR codes, and the side-straps that keep the panels from blowing in the wind were all purchased at a dollar store. So all in all, it's quite inexpensively made; the material costs for the sandwich board having come in well below twenty dollars.

The QR code was freely generated online, and after having converted it from a .png file to an Adobe Illustrator file, I was then able to scale it up for print purposes. Of course, the larger dimensions (and the lamination) dictated that I would have to have the job printed professionally - and I'd like to thank Hamilton Choi of Printland for helping me out on short notice.

Well, that's all for now, folks. Other than tomorrow's interview I've got a fairly full plate for Saturday, but hey - I'll see you around!

Stalking the Job presents: The Adventures of That QR Code Guy

Third time lucky

Well, faithful readers, it appears that Stalking the Job has made a ripple in the Big Media pond: yes, after rousting myself out of bed and into my QR code harness for yet another day of roaming the streets of the city, I finally managed to get the attention of the folks inside the Star building.

As I watched the Star employees trickling in to No. 1 Yonge Street, I couldn't help but notice how grim they all seemed. Grim, and determined - certainly determined to make as little eye contact as possible. Not that I fault them for it; no doubt they see more than their fair share of oddballs and ideologues at Toronto's largest daily newspaper. But was I about to be deterred? Heck, no. I simply ratcheted up my winningest smile, and proceeded to terrify the Star employees by cheerfully greeting them as they walked by. To be honest, when Richard J. Brennan (their National Affairs Writer) came outside to see what was going on, I initially thought maybe I'd finally managed to tick somebody off to the extent they were about to tell me to sod off - but I couldn't've been more wrong. Of course, as I was out all day canvassing various parts of the city, I had no idea they'd even decided to run the story (not, at least until I'd heard from my sister-in-law, who'd seen it online during her lunch break).


I'd like to extend a special, warm Stalking the Job thanks to Richard Brennan for running my tale, as now the entire city knows of my one-man crusade... and who knows? Perhaps it might lead to something worthwhile.

And as always - I'll see you around.

Full moon shine like a big cue-ball

Yes indeed-y, it's early going this morning folks. Took a look outside and there was the moon, hanging fat and full right above the Bank of Montreal building. Passed out from sheer exhaustion roundabout 10 PM last night, so as a result I've now been fully awake for the last half hour. I've been creeping around the house, swilling coffee & trying to keep from waking my wife - but it's getting time to seize the day. I'm going to make another (early-morning) attempt on the Toronto Star, and from there I think I'll try my luck with Toronto's entertainment weekly, NOW magazine.

Beyond that, I think I'll just try free-forming it as I go along - although Yonge and Dundas square might be a likely location for pulling a standing gig. It seems to work well enough for the Jesus freaks and the black nationalists, so who am I to go against the flow?

See you around - !

At Liberty in Liberty Village

I just got back a while ago from clomping and tromping around in the city's west end. If you were at or around the vicinity of Liberty & Pardee, you might very well have seen me shivering away in the cold. I say 'cold' because if you weren't managing to stand in the direct sunlight, the constant breeze was enough to penetrate to the bone. It was with great relief  that my good friend Todd Ivey drove by and took some pity. Together we absconded to a nearby eatery where I warmed up with a bowl of hot poutine and a cup of coffee.

Earlier in the day I crossed paths with a "Professor of Marketing" who seemed quite taken with my one-man guerilla marketing scheme. No word back as yet from the fellow I spoke to yesterday from the CBC - and the Globe remains seemingly impenetrable. I did return to the Toronto Star, but as I noticed the Occupy  trailer was (still) parked outside the building I didn't linger overlong. I wish someone would move that frickin' thing already... as I wrote in a previous installment of Stalking the Job, it's hard enough getting people to scan a QR code without them making intuitive (if incorrect) leaps as to what you're most likely all about.

And while I am ostensibly supportive of the Occupy movement, what I'm all about is changing my status - from being (unhappily) unemployed to being someone's valued employee. I've got the skill, the experience, the passion and the initiative to make a change for the better...  whether for myself or for the fortunes of a prospective employer.

For now however, no amount of cold breezes or chilled bones will deter me. I remain undaunted by the elements.  That being said I  would not object to a few more unseasonably warm days.

For Stalking the Job this is John Currie (that QR code guy) signing off. And if you're keeping an eye out for me, well - I'll see you around.

Hello Toronto

Man, are my feet sore. And my voice is hoarse, too. Walking and talking all day long can really take it out of you. But - I think Stalking the Job is making some headway.

The first stop of the day was the Toronto Star building at the foot of Yonge Street. I took a somewhat circuitous route to get there, walking north to King and west to Yonge before turning south, but this allowed me to saunter past a number of design companies and George Brown College. There were a great many GBC students wandering about in the immediate area of the college, and several made inquiries about the QR code. On arriving at the Star building, I could see a small throng of people standing outside - I assumed they were employees, out for a mid-morning smoke break. And I was dead wrong.

Turns out they were organizers from Occupy Toronto! And though they felt they'd found a kindred spirit in me, I couldn't help but think that my own message would be lost somewhat while standing in their shadow. It seemed they were intent on entering the building (if I recall correctly, there was a member of the staff they were planning to speak with about their ongoing protest) but as I was there for a somewhat different purpose I decided not to hitch my kite and remained outdoors. I was able to talk with a few employees, including a Star photographer and a videographer who - much to their credit - stood, listened, and yes, scanned the QR code and gave the video a once-over. After wishing me well on my journeys, I then made my way back north along Yonge up to Front Street. Next stop, the CBC!

It was warm walking in the sunlight on the north side of Front Street. The south side of course is bathed in perpetual shadow this time of year, and the Metro Convention Centre can make for a really dead stretch of the city when it isn't playing host to a trade expo or conference. But off in the distance, looming (for me, anyway) like an urban media Mecca, stood the CBC. Mothercorp. Home of Hockey Night in Canada, of The Beachcombers, of David Suzuki, Front Page Challenge, Mr. Dressup and a hundred-and-one childhood memories. And as I approached this Holy of Holies, this semi-mythical TV kingdom, I could see... some other fat bastard standing out front, a home-made placard hanging from his shoulders. Wtf?

Closer now, I could see that he was a man on a misson - a man with a message. And his message apparently had something to do with "creeping jihadism" (he'd included this phrase twice, so I gathered this was the true substance of his statement). I made a mental note to steer well clear of this man; after all, I was on a mission too. And my mission doesn't have anything to do with the Middle East. Look, believe it or not, it's actually fairly difficult to get people to do something as innocuous as scan a QR code. I think it's largely to do with our deeply-ingrained Canadian social programming (look away, don't engage, and keep to yourself at all costs), but I try overcoming it - with friendly smiles and courteous nods of acknowledgement. And should some brave soul themselves break the ice and ask a question or two, I'll happily engage them while trying to ascertain their true level of interest. HOWEVER... throw a protestor into the mix  (or a panhandler, a well-intentioned charity worker, or even a canvasser) and all bets are well and truly OFF. See, if there's so much as an outside chance that you (well, me really, the guy with the QR code hanging off his chest) are somehow involved with/adjunct/related to the big hairy freakshow with the hand-lettered rant about Israel sprouting from shoulders, then people won't take a chance on interacting with you.

I decided to slowly circle the building a few times, discovering along the way that the adjacent park is a bit of a hangout for skateboarders. On my third orbit, the hairy nutter out front of the building commented somewhat rather snarkily that I "needed a bigger sign". Without skipping a beat (and without bothering to look back over my shoulder), I quipped that he "needed a haircut". Seriously folks - if you want to be taken seriously, you're never going to manage it while dressed like a bum and sporting stringy, greasy hair... never mind the screeching home-made placard, etched in indelible ink. But anyway, a CBC minion out for a smoke break eventually took some interest and after asking permission, peeled off a snap to upload to his Twitter account. And no, as of penning this latest entry on Stalking the Job I do not personally have a Twitter account, although I will be taking a much closer look at that particular social media tool in the next few days.

It was at or around this point that I began feeling keenly aware of the rather large coffee I'd had prior to leaving the house that morning. Luckily, I knew of a friendly delicatessen a few blocks north and west - Zupa's, one of my old lunchtime haunts. Thinking back on it, for the better part of twelve years (out of the last twenty) I've eaten my lunch at Zupa's. It's nothing much, really; it's just a hole-in-the-wall eatery that's incredibly tiny inside. But the food has always been excellent, and the lunchtime trade has always been most impressive indeed. The place has changed hands twice that I know of. I'll frequently bump into various members of the Zupa staff in the most unexpected places. So, after first taking a load off my bladder I proceeded to take a load off my feet... and settled in for a grilled cheese and fries.

Feeling re-energized, I hoofed it over to the corner of Queen & John, home of MuchMusic, CP24, and a half-dozen or so cable specialty channels. It was there that I was approached by an odd sort of fellow, a man who after inquiring as to the "nature of my struggle", spoke to me at length about all manner of things (although he did seem to keep circling back to Luciferianism). At one point he removed his sunglasses and continued talking, but it seemed as though he never once blinked his eyes...like he was trying to fix me with the old mesmer stare. To what end, I have no clue - but it felt as though perhaps he was trying to send me some sort of message via telepathy. If that were the case, I've no doubt he came away disappointed, as I'm not really wired for psychic discourse...

After taking leave of my Luciferian acquaintance I encountered a photographer further west on Queen, who rather apologetically inquired as to the efficacy of QR codes in general, as he'd had some sort of idea involving tourism, technology, and his homeland (the Azores). I chatted with him for a short while before continuing on to my next (and as it happened, my final) stop of the day - Canada's national daily newspaper, the Globe and Mail.

Interestingly, both the Toronto Star and the Globe are located somewhat off the beaten path. The Star building, situated on Queen's Quay, is effectively "cut off" from the rest of the city by the Gardiner Expressway and the eastern rail egress coming out from Union Station in the heart of downtown Toronto. The Globe, meanwhile, is located on a mostly-barren stretch of Front Street close to Bathurst. In either case, there is nothing of any great consequence - no areas of significant interest - to be found in the immediate environs (other than the newspapers themselves). There is, therefore, little chance of "doubling-up" and canvassing studios or other businesses in the area. Another drawback is that with so little else in the area, the prospect of interacting with passersby is dim, at best. Because there simply aren't any to interact with.

It was while I lingered outside the Globe (and wondering whether I was wasting my time there), that I was approached by a fellow named Dwight who, as it happened, was an employee of CBC. I mentioned that I'd been there earlier in the day and he asked whether anyone from CBC had spoken to me. After recounting an abridged version of events, he said that his duties involve him with several different programs (some on television, some radio) and  would I mind if he could have a business card and take my photo - ?

Sure thing. Happy to oblige. And who knows? Perhaps something will come from it...

By this time my feet were rapidly turning to clay. So with the sun then at my back, I made my way wearily home. Along the way I had a companion, a personable young fellow who seemed rather taken with my endeavour. We walked and talked, moving with the flow of commuters making their way to Union Station, until we parted ways. Pleasant enough guy; damned if I can remember his name. The rest of the walk home was relatively uneventful, save for an encounter just east of the St. Lawrence Market with a somewhat less-than sane man in a black dress. I say "less-than sane" not because he was wearing a dress - I say it because, after enduring a rather fantastically one-sided exposition that was largely concerned with "letting go", I could see clearly that he wasn't firing on all thrusters, so to speak.

By the time I made my way up the flight of stairs inside my home, I was exhausted. Walked out. Talked out. Sore. Hoarse. Ready for anything involving a hot bath and slippers. But all in all, I'd say today was a success. Things I'd do differently? Getting an earlier start. I'd had business to attend to with our housing co-op this morning so I couldn't realistically head out the door until after 10 AM, but tomorrow I'm going to try for a very early start. Also, picking up a new pair of shoes or perhaps a set of gel insoles. The board itself is mercifully light-weight, but eight hours of walking around Toronto is definitely proving to be a challenge. The optimist in me thinks I'll get accustomed to it, while the pessimist thinks I'll end up in a wheelchair. I think I'll choose to trust the voice of optimism on this one.

So... guess I'll see you around! Night, night.

All Systems Go

I've been messing about with the Blogger templates a little bit tonight - I guess I'm feeling anxious about tomorrow morning, what with it being the BIG DAY and all. My itinerary will take me due west, and will include stops at a number of local media outlets (and if time permits, select forays further north in and around the Entertainment District).

Checklist for tomorrow:

Shower
Shave
Sandwich board
Shades
Biz cards
Breath mints
A winning smile
The will to succeed

Alright, alright - time to go see if I can fall asleep.

Test-driving the Big Idea @ the St. Lawrence Market

Whew. It's been an altogether busy week, in preparation for going live with Stalking the Job. I've been walking all around downtown Toronto - acquiring the requisite hardware, talking with print shop owners, and working out the myriad technical details of my job search scheme with my (incredibly supportive) friends, family and colleagues. However this turns out, I want all of you to know just how thankful I am to have you in my corner.

And now? Well, let's just say I'm ready to begin revealing the Big Idea to the world. See, it's no longer enough for a Motion Graphics Producer such as myself to have an ace demo reel to shop to prospective employers... nor is it sufficient to rely upon a standout CV to sell your skills and experience. Now before going any further, let me state for the record that both are important tools that are entirely necessary to the task of finding gainful employment, it's just that - once you've dispatched them into the aether, you can't ever be certain that you're actually engaging (or even reaching) your intended audience.

Let's assume your material makes it through to the appropriate parties. It can still be a "hit-and-miss" proposition as to whether your work makes the impact you're striving for, especially if you've fallen into the trap of forever trying to second-guess your audience. Your best efforts might meet with the glazed eye of someone unhappily reviewing their twenty-third demo reel of the morning - they may be distracted, they may be disinterested, or they may simply have a set of expectations that you, toiling away for hours on end, cannot possibly divine.  Whatever the reason, your material in and of itself may simply not be sufficient to carry the day and earn you the opportunity. This is why I've chosen to chart new territory, to develop an innovative approach that not only can clearly demonstrate my skill and experience, but one that also shows prospective employers that I have the initiative, the self-confidence and the tenacity to see my strategy through, from fuzzy idea to the drawing-board to the world-at-large.

But rather than continuing to dance 'round the subject let's talk about it. Late last winter, I'd joked that if I didn't have any luck in my job search, I might try something along the lines of standing outside the entrance to Union Station during the morning and evening rush hours, clutching a tablet with my demo reel playing on a continuous loop. This got a few chuckles from some, but that idea lingered in the back of my mind as I continued to send out CVs and links to prospective employers for the remainder of the year. Of course, with only Employment Insurance as a revenue stream, I wasn't in a position to afford gadgets like an iPad or even a knock-off, but the idea kept coming back to me time and time again. I began asking myself, could I somehow manage to modify or develop this idea, without the use of a tablet? If I could, would such a gamble prove worthwhile?

One morning, while waiting at the corner of King & Sherbourne for a westbound streetcar, I happened to find myself staring absently at the window of a presentation centre for a new condo development. There, hanging in front of me, was an oversized QR code. Now, while I myself do not own a smartphone (getting one was just yet another one of those things on my 'to-do' list), I could see the possibilities suddenly opening up. I asked myself, could I generate a QR code for a YouTube video? As it happened, the answer was 'yes'. So, I now had a means by which I could direct people to a video online. But how best to go about directing people to it?

I considered having stickers printed up which I could then adhere to things like telephone poles or bus shelters, but I rejected that idea on the grounds that

a) it could reasonably be considered as vandalism, and
b) it's just too passive in terms of approach.

No, surely the way to see this through properly would be to take full ownership of it, to actually be there to press the flesh with interested passersby and engage them, personally. I considered then the old concept of the sandwich board. Equipped with a sandwich board, prominently featuring an oversized print of my QR code, I could become a walking billboard for my online video. The key appeared to me to be that I should be there, first-hand - ready, willing and able to discuss it at length should the need arise.

A QR code, on its' own, does not immediately trigger a need in people to scan it. Witness the QR code in the window of the presentation centre; it's a cool thing, sure. It's very up-to-date, and it's very tech-savvy. But it's not as though I was seeing people anxiously whip out their Blackberries to scan it and learn more. And why would that be the case?

Well, it's obvious to any and all that this QR code is specifically related to a condominium. It is a commercial QR code, linked to a high-end consumer item. Interested parties might indeed scan the presentation centre code, but most of people walking by aren't necessarily interested, and so continue on their way. I reasoned therefore that a "cryptic" QR code (one that, through omission of further information would leave its' purpose as an open-ended question) might actually generate greater interest from the public-at-large. Were I to include anything other than the QR code - my name, my profession... even the simple imperative, "scan here" - would be to either give too much away or to ask too much of the man (or woman) in the street.

My strategy therefore is to volunteer nothing (save the opportunity to learn more) while simultaneously asking nothing of those I encounter in my journeys. And earlier today, inside and outside of Toronto's historic St. Lawrence Market, I satisfied myself as to the efficacy of my strategy, and of the thinking that has gone into it.

After meeting up with Vince Vaitekunas (a colleague of mine who has been most supportive and helpful - even going so far as to actually help construct a lightweight but durable sandwich board) - I proceeded south along Jarvis St. to the Market. Everywhere along the way, people were stopping to stare as I ambled along. I could see people taking their phones from their jacket pockets. I could see drivers in their cars craning their necks in curiousity. Once at the Market, I was approached by a number of people all wondering what this was about. Some asked if I could help show them how to scan the code (you'll need an app), while others without smartphones tapped me on the shoulder to find out what they were missing. All in all, I felt it was quite a successful test-drive of my new strategy. With a bit of luck - and a lot of legwork - I'm hoping to put it to good use in my stated mission: Stalking the Job.

Make no mistake about it, though... as "mad schemes" go, this one is not for the timid or for the faint-of-heart. It will require me to be "on" at all times - on and ready to engage. And of course, it's a gamble; I could just as easily fall flat on my face as find gainful employment. In a sense it's a question of certainty versus the unknown. And if I wanted certainty, well... I suppose I would never have bothered trying in the first place. But that would make for a very dull blog indeed.

I'll see you around.