When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.

It feels like our city is falling down of late. We don't have a lot of evidence that local government decision making is poor. It's been said most of the fallout from the recent budget meeting won't be felt for a few years. Instead, it's more of an uneasy feeling that won't go away.

Stuff we don't know:

• How to run a city;
• How to be a great city councillor;
• How to stimulate an ailing economy.

What we do know:

• People with power will take advantage of citizen apathy;
• Not everyone has a voice and it's a damn shame to waste yours;
• When citizens organize to do something to make the place better, we need to take notice and support them;
• A strategic direction on the backs of the less fortunate, the disabled and those who can't represent themselves, is just plain wrong, no matter how you spin it.

If you're reading this, you have the privilege and the opportunity to do good. To get involved. To make a difference.

All that is necessary for things to get worse, is for good people that know this, to do nothing.

And that's just what they're counting on.

Not us. Not anymore. How 'bout you?

The more connected our projects become, the more value they produce.

They're simultaneously tough to spot and absolutely unmistakable.  They typically feel something like this:  

You can't stop thinking about it
It dominates your thoughts.  If you're doing research for another subject all you see is insight into your passion project.  Like-minded people begin to organize around you with supportive and developmental contributions because you're focus and passion is unintentionally infectious.

Money doesn't matter
You don't care if you're paid and often invest your own cash to keep things moving. You're not thinking about making a million, you're thinking about making it better. Inevitably, passion pays.

Nine to five becomes a distraction
Factory work and factory hours seem incongruent with efficiency and common sense.  After dinner becomes valuable production time as TV is outed in favour of creative activity.

You're happy
You don't need caffeine or theobromine or a boss to stay motivated.  Your mind and your passion are all that you require to keep going...and it feels good.

You don't need a degree, a crazy I.Q or years of experience. You don't even need permission. The barrier to entry is hearing yourself.

The world needs more passion projects.  There's a stockpile of problems to solve.  

So listen up and get started.

Watching Republican presidential primaries might suggest to an outside (or out of planet) observer that as human beings we'd never be able to work collaboratively to any kind of positive conclusion...mathematically though, the stage is set. 

In 2000, there were 360,985,492 Internet users globally.  Today there are more than two billion, marking a 480.4% increase over the last eleven years.  In terms of access and penetration, the arena in which online social capital has to exist seems limited only to the growth and interconnectedness of our planet as a whole.

There's no question that there's a lot we need to achieve together on this earth.  But how do we go about it?

One thing's for sure.  If we're moving toward a global consciousness (BTW Facebook alone now connects more than one twelfth of the planet) we need to start thinking (and contributing) based on being part of the hive as opposed to obsessing over conquering it.  

Consider how the NewMedia landscape is less and less about producing your widget and selling it, and more and more about achieving a constant state of connectedness.  Contributing to the conversation, not as the industry expert, but as one piece of the puzzle.  One node, amongst many, contributing to an unfinished dialogue. 

We think that's a paradigm shift worth contemplating. And it's all fueled by the 21st century digital landscape. 

All you have to do now is node up.

We would. We have. As recently as yesterday.

Before we had the parental lens, we couldn't have conceived of this.  And there's only certain clients you'd do it with for sure.

So why do it at all? And does it potentially hurt business?

We think not.

Our work-life bottom line is this:

We love our clients. We cherish those relationships and the rewarding projects and experiences that go with them.  But we value our family above all else.  Since there's no formal leave options in the entrepreneurial world, when we have a baby, she'll travel with us until she's old enough to revolutionize a space of her own...or go to daycare.  

It's not for every entrepreneneur and it's not for every client.

But we think that it speaks to our values and our authenticity as professionals and as people. And to the values of those we have the great fortune to work with.

PS - If you see our VP of Life Balance out with us, don't be surprised if she's sleeping. She's heard that pitch before.

This week, we're celebrating the recognition of good design...including our own sagecomm logo.

Our brandmark was recently chosen to be included in a province-wide publication juried by registered design professionals.

But we didn't design it.

That's right. We hired another awesome professional to translate our brand essence into a logo design.

Why? 

Because when you're emotionally connected to something, it's hard to see the forest for the trees.

Because collaboration between like-minds usually yields powerful stuff.

Because even when you have the subject matter expertise, it's okay to ask for help to get the best possible result. (Or, just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.)

We're proud of the collaboration and of the result, and to have had this result recognized by other professionals.

(Thanks Jas. We're proud to be a part of your bad ass collection.)

We've had the good fortune of being on many sides of some great brands - as employees, as organizational managers, as consultants.  One thing we know to be true:

Brands, and their bosses, get abused.

It's true.

Admit it, if marketing time-outs were acceptable, you'd be handing 'em out like cake at the office party.

Brands are misunderstood. Heard often: "Who cares what our logo looks like?!"

They're unappreciated. The old: "The brand doesn't affect our business at all."

And in their visual representation (logos), they're literally beat up. Stretched. Distorted. Placed over inappropriate pixellated graphics. And, oft lost in a world where 'everybody' can 'do design'.  Read: "Why can't I just stretch the gif and print off this poster I made??" 

If a brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room (and we think it is), what are people saying about what you just did to your brand?

Don't be a hater.  Or you're getting a timeout.

From occupy and interest rates, to photo of the year and pop star groove. No doubt about it - Canada influenced the world last year.

It’s tough to be proud of it all. The Vancouver riots. The continued missteps from RIM. But we jumped in with both feet and made a difference.  That's the 21st century linchpin...

Participation.

Today, there's never been a better time to shape your personal brand.  To invest time in your ability to give back. To earn attention from your peers, customers and competitors.  

Social capital is the petroleum of the digital age. (Can we get a hell yea for renewable resource).

Sometimes (like Canada) you can get overlooked, undervalued and stereotyped.  And you're in the best position to change all that.

So what will you do this year to earn the right to speak?  More importantly, to earn the priviledge of someone's attention?  Will you:

1. Stand up for what you believe in?
2. Make tough decisions?
3. Innovate on a social platform?

You might not change the world with your first blog post, photo, video or tweet.  But you'll have that much more influence than you did before you hit 'send'.

Write about what matters to you. Edge toward your passion and stay involved. Have an opinion.

You might be surprised at how much you enjoy the ride.

He pushed passed the mound of consumer goods, which shamefully, if re-directed, would have done some good in our community during the holiday season. (An issue we'll work toward as a family for next year and years to come, btw.)  

After realizing that the big man had already come and gone, his eyes began to well.  We tried to channel his focus toward the mound of toys that were eclipsing him in the background. He wouldn't have it.  He didn't want them.  Not then.  The material goods were second place.  He just wanted to hang with Nick.

Connection over consumption.

We understand this may not have been his exact motivation for the people over product choice in the moment.  After all, the brother is magic and as bad-ass as they come.

Sometimes, you get schooled by a subordinate. Someone that reports to you, has less experience, less education, less formal stuff from the industrial age. (Though we think this last one will matter less over time.)

The hardest part isn't to recognize the moment, realize you're wrong or swallow your pride 'cause you just got taught a valuable lesson by someone who thinks your pay grade could only be that high cause it's supplemented by your lotto cash-for-life win.

The hardest part is to do something about it.

Thanks Cooperman.  You're the bomb.

It's especially true this time of year.  Mainstream media publish defining moments and top ten lists of big news makers over the past twelve months.

We don't think it's the big names in news that make the biggest difference.

We think it's you, and your gorgeous participation.  And we need you now more than ever. 

• We need people that self renew and serial connect;
• We need people that tweak;
• We need people that aren't afraid to ship their thoughts;
• We need people that give back;
• We need people that can't be ignored;
• We need people that contribute and collaborate; (Thx Dana)
• We need people who share what they're passionate about with the world.

It's easy to hole up to wait for the tough times to pass, but change has never been more necessary. There's never been a better time to hack at the status quo. To revel in the new.  

If you're reading this you already get it.  So act on your obligation to recruit another.  Help them find a subtle opportunity to innovate.

You don't need the big idea, the perfect speech or to have built something for the ages to matter.  You just need to participate.  The world no longer has a viable alternative to your citizen participation.

That's why you're essential to progress.

Happy New Year.

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Bonus content: 12 hangover cures from famous heavy drinkers. 

Bottoms up.

During this holiday season, we'd like to thank those who have contributed in some way to our new connected consciousness. To: 

• Those that make a living in the same space, who are brave enough to foster an environment of collaboration over competition;
• Those that use their education and influence to connect and create, not climb;
• Those that fight for access to the Internet as a fundamental human right;
• Those that are brave enough to put themselves on the line and share, to strengthen a movement.

Because the best thing about the 21st century new media landscape is that success and progress is not just for ourselves anymore.

It's for everyone else.

Happy Holiday.