All Of The Above - Duncan's Blog

Creativity is a Speed Sport

Lawrence Hill, author of The Book of Negros, was interviewed by the Globe & Mail recently. The interview was edited by Courtney Shea. He said something about the act of writing as a career and it got me thinking that... Read more →

The Reluctant Chair

My coaching group, Strategic Coach, utilize a kind of personality test to identify the instincts that steer much of our life. The idea is to use this information to help structure my business model so that I only do what... Read more →

We Know The Why's... Let's Fix It!

This blog has never been a political rant, although it has taken a stand on one or two previous occasions when silence was simply not an option. I fear Canada is presently engaged in an issue that demands comment so... Read more →

Nixon Reign Ends, Part II

As a follow up to my last post, my pal Bob Harris sent me this and with his permission, here it is to read and enjoy. What a great story! Monday, August 11, 2014 - 1:30 PM Vancouver I was... Read more →

A Walk Around English Bay and Defunct Presidents

I returned recently from a short trip to Vancouver. While there, I enjoyed a couple of long discussions with my thoughtful friend, Bob Harris. Bob is an old music associate (from the management side) from over 30 years ago and... Read more →

How Hard Can It Be?

I had a hernia operation a few years ago. My family doctor told me to call the Shouldice Clinic in Thornhill. Apparently this clinic specializes and this is the only operation they perform there. They do hundreds if not thousands... Read more →

Dying..Dying..Dead!

I read the obits every day. They're the most meaningful part of the newspaper. I even read the obits in my hometown newspaper (Sault Ste. Marie) just in case I see the name of an old high school pal. It... Read more →

25 Years in Real Estate - 25 Lessons Learned

No, I'm not going to list my top 25 lessons here. Many would only apply to Realtors and I doubt many of my competitors read this. However, there are a few that would serve any sales person well, regardless of... Read more →

Plagiarism in Music & Newspapers

In 1970, my baby brother Jim wrote a letter to the now defunct Circus Magazine decrying the Led Zepplin song How Many More Times as being a blatant rip off of Howlin' Wolf's How Many More Years. Credit was not... Read more →

Bob Harris, a Mentor for Many

I've written here before about my old pal from Vancouver, Bob Harris. This man taught me the value of "production". He was a promoter of live music when I met him and I saw first hand how much attention he... Read more →

Being Opinionated is Exhausting

For the most part, I've taken the summer off from blogging. I'm in my sixth year of espousing opinions and thoughts on real estate, music, death and taxes and every other subject that tickles my fancy. I stopped because I... Read more →

Attention All Artists & Musicians: Fanado! Discuss!

Expand Your Fan Base: With the help of Canada's most famous author, there's a new on-line tool for artists and musicians to expand their fan base. Here's Margaret's letter to FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting president, Ian Morrison. This describes what... Read more →

Is Zoomerism the new Scientology?

When Moses Znaimer began redirecting his money making schemes to the baby boomers, I was intrigued and hopeful that he'd bring value to our lives. After all, I am a baby boomer and even though life is good, I was... Read more →

Lessons Learned from The Dying!

Australian palliative care nurse (and avid blogger) Bronnie Ware recently published a new book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. The idea of dying with regrets is repugnant to begin with. However, it's not too late for me and... Read more →

10,000 Hours and The Banjo

Apparently there was a banjo thingy on PBS the other night. I don't have cable TV so I wasn't able to enjoy it but I received at least four emails form people who do have cable and they were kind... Read more →

Great Saturday Night Outing in the Annex

North American Premiere of "The Lament" at the Moving Images Film Festival Saturday October 15, 5:30-7:30pm @ Annex Live 296 Brunswick Ave, "The Lament" An Independent Film by Emma Lu Romerein Produced by Sandstone Productions, Canada/Italy, 2011 The world premiere... Read more →

To Split An Infinitive Or To Boldly Split An Infinitive?

I'm not a particularly refined man. I have my rough edges. My shirt is often hanging over my belt (or at least part of it) and I don't always keep the hair in my ears trimmed. I figure it comes... Read more →

Keith Richard's Diet

I just finished one of the best autobiographies ever, Life by Keith Richards. Man, did I read this guy wrong. I watched Weird Al Yankovic's interview with him a few years ago and that's the image I had in my... Read more →

Arm Chair Economists Should Just Shut Up

There's a new book that most of us should read. It's called "Cocktail Party Economics" by Eveline Aomait. I don't think it's a particularly deep and provocative book i.e. it'll never be on a college curriculum but it does offer... Read more →

Which of These Tribes Do You Belong To?

Environics Research Group co-founder Michael Adams (seen here showing off his new hair transplant?) recently wrote a book, "Stayin' Alive; How Canadian Baby Boomers Will Work, Play, and Find Meaning in the Second Half of Their Adult Lives". He succinctly... Read more →