Happy New Year!

I hope 2014 brought everybody their share of great moments and memories. For me it was Lake Grundy camping, canoeing and rock diving with my life long friend Tom and our boys. Just the guys. We jumped from the highest peak for a thrilling plunge and rock climbed our way to the top again and again. William dove headlong from a much higher rock than I dared to which means I now have official ol' man status but also pride. Fyi: raccoons up north come in ferocious and talented gangs that can aptly dismantle a vehicle. Beware.

As excited as I am about Pocits with out of the gate activities on Jan. 6th, I'd rather share some anecdotes and my take away sentiments from last year. Sharing is what media is all about, social or business, but if you're like me, being public about personal things has always been like pulling teeth. My dad had silly nicknames for his family and mine was Honest. All my life he called me that as did most of his friends but as a kid it was hard to live up to that when it came to expressing myself. My aunt Madeline would never give me a cookie without first asking “would you like a cookie Joey?” She seemed to marvel how I stood there paralysed and just couldn't bring myself to say yes. Of course I'd like a cookie. You know I want it, why don't you just give it to me? But I'd only muster up a sheepish, "I don't know." while looking at the floor. That didn't fly with her. I owe her much and love that fact that she forced me to realize my fear early and face my painful shyness till I'd say "yes."

I'm a big boy now so I outright ask for cookies or a beer but in many ways I have not changed. I imply things to be deduced. Instead of saying "I want..." I lead with "Wouldn't it be great if..." followed with a collage of ideas, concepts, metaphors or scenarios. Even in parenting I use consensus and seldom bark out commands. As a salesman I favoured presenting a host of value propositions and benefits to the customer and rarely put myself out there with “It's a good deal, tell me I earned your business, I've been a heck of nice guy and I want you to buy from me. Sign here, here and here, please.” Succinct. I am an effective salesman but only slightly faster than a 3 toed sloth.

It's even harder for me to ask for help or accept it when it's offered. Years ago I designed and built a 700 sq/ft addition on my home without asking for help. One person offered and I said "don't sweat it I can handle it." Crazy. Well, thank god for Sara that the neighbours and others just showed up with tools in hand for which I was grateful; her more so. From the very beginning Pocits investors just showed up too. I never had to source them. And I learned to stretch things far; too far. They are going to earn a fortune, I should've reached out to more sooner. While the company has moved at glacial speed it is in fact that proverbial iceberg whose visible structure above the surface is but a fraction of the hulking mass beneath that will now be realized in 2015.

So where am I going with this; Leadership. Not everyone counting on me has the biblical patience of Job. My passive nature for the decisions I have committed them to played the leading role. It has been a year of extremes with successes and failures. The excitment of progress came at the high price of sacrifice for me, my family, and co-founder. It was a heavy load for all. For my part, it was most difficult of the 50 years I have faced to date; harsh realities, heartbreak, anger, isolation, doubt all wrapped in a thick layer of under funded self-loathing. My family was strained beyond the breaking point. Did I just share all that? How's that for honesty? Professionally, my performance and confidence felt the wear and tear and my home life, the cracks. My bad. Last year was about survival. Last year was about learning to be leader. It was a crash course.

As the creator of Pocits concept, when I planted that seed I didn't have a green thumb but like any farmer who plants his crop he is all in. So come hail, drought or otherwise, I can't afford to fail, refuse to fail, will not fail...the metaphor ain't over yet, the roots are deep. the foilage full, and will bear abundant fruit. You thought this was about icebergs...most important the marketplace is still open with high demand. I will have my harvest. There will be celebration!.

So its 2015, and being the creator is over. I am the head of finance, development & marketing now. As a such I have to be out in the open talking and meeting people, professionals & compaines. It not only important it is my job! New territory. OMG, I am blogging. It's been a year of progress and most importantly transformation for the company's leaders. I am thankful that I invested in Melanie in the first part as she has dutifully carried the show in the second. #Relentless is tattooed on my cerebral cortex.

2015 is Pocits year of realization. We are off to an excellent start our IT technical co-founder is working his first day on the job to lead his in-house team. That's right, I said in-house! Employees. Our guys. I am thrilled! Thank you Communitech. Secondly, we are commencing an incredible crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo now detailed on the our site. Biggest give away ever. The next step is to secure an office. Pocits will blossom to an international company providing 100's of jobs. Hmmm... I wonder which city we should have our head office in. For now my motto is Help Wanted.