Man of the Month

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Man of the Month – Ted Lau

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Hi all!

Here’s the next posting of my Man of the Month series on the brilliant Ted Lau.

These interviews highlight some really amazing men who are making a difference and using their creative edge to do what they do best. They have been chosen because I’m impressed by their contagious spirit, creative thinking, and the opportunities they bring to the world, plus how they reflect infinite possibilities back to the rest of us. If you haven’t already checked out last month’s posting on Pat LP Camozzi, scroll down to read all about him as well.

Be sure to also read all about the fabulous women featured on my Woman of the Week blog.

August’s Man of the Month is:

Ted Lau

Here’s a little bit about him:

After somehow completing a degree in Communications at Simon Fraser University, Ted roamed the streets of Vancouver trying to solicit business from people. He soon found out that in order to get business, you first need a company with services people want.

Enter Ballistic Arts Media Studios Inc. Along with his equally demented business partner Tak Kawana, Ballistic Arts was birthed in 2002. As a full-service creative agency, Ballistic Arts remedies all patients’ marketing ailments with the proper doses of graphic design, blend of website development, spoonful of video production, and a twist of photography services for good measure.

Like all ADHD-ridden entrepreneurs, Ted can’t sit still. So, instead of having him talk them to death at work, his colleagues have put him in community groups. He currently serves as Membership Chair for the Entrepreneurs Organization’s Accelerator program, and was the recent Marketing Chair for SHARE Family and Community Services Society’s Just Desserts Gala fundraiser for the past 5 years. In 2007-2009, he served as a board director for the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce and sat as Marketing Chair. And because he likes chairs so much, he sits in a wooden chair when he mentors graphic design for the Immigrant Services Society of BC, and in a soft cushiony one when he attended IABC Professional Development meetings in 2009. Oddly enough, Ted stands when he gives his weekly video & music lessons to at-risk youth in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. He even danced (kind of) as an Athlete Marshal at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games!

He’s married (yes, really), a father of a little baby girl (again, yes, really), a black belt martial artist (to protect himself from himself), and able to speak 4 languages (sometimes all at once, and none very well).

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What does it mean to you to be creative?
It means…Living Life!

What inspires your creativity?
I really only think in two places. When I’m in the shower and when I’m sleeping. It’s not like I go, “okay, I need to get creative, time to sleep!”, or “hmm, I want to be inspired, time to hop in the shower!” Ideas seem to find me, not the other way around. And I notice these are the two places where they typically come to me most. I try to explain it to friends as mental fishing. There are answers to everything floating just beyond our mental grasp somewhere out there and if we’re lucky, we can fish out a few gems from time to time. These ideas swim to the surface just as I’m on the cusp of waking or finishing up a long shower (and yes, I take the longest showers in my house). I also feel that there is a bigger conversation going on in the depths of my dreams and I somehow contribute to it when I’m asleep. I typically don’t take anything back from these conversations, but sometimes, just sometimes, I catch the answer to a problem that I’ve been struggling with just as I wake. BTW – I’m not crazy, really.

Ted & Teddy

What keeps you moving forward in making things happen?
My parents used to play these Chinese kids songs for us during car rides. They all had an underlying message in them. Kind of like all the kids cartoons in the 80s that had all this nonsensical fluff for kids and then gave an underlying message for kids not to do drugs or to be nice to pets. Anyways, one of the songs’ underlying message was to not let life pass you by. The chorus had something to the effect of “in a blink of an eye, you’ll be an old person, so make sure you don’t waste your life away”. I was a very literal kid and actually thought that if I blinked in a weird way, I would become old and my life would have passed me by without me doing anything with my life. Totally freaked me out. This might explain why I can come across as impatient to some people, because I want to get things done. On one hand, I live by the whole “life is short so don’t muck around” motto. On the flip-side, my Hapkido master is this funny, grumpy, spastic, and wise little old Korean man whose sole purpose in my life is to teach me patience. “ted-da (my name has two syllables when he pronounces it), life is long. Don’t rush through life. Enjoy and learn from it.”

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?
While this isn’t the wildest journey I could share with you, this is appropriate for the size of this article:

When I was younger, I had a lot of dreams where I died. They were always kind of scary experiences because there would be these long black pauses with nothingness after them, then I would wake up and feel kind of scared, kind of relieved, but mostly refreshed. I could never explain it. I dated a girl in high school who had hippie-ish leanings and bought me a dream book. I didn’t actually read it until years after we broke up. It said that dreams about death were about change in one’s life. I embrace most changes in my life, so I guess my subconscious was signaling changes in my life back to me.

What’s the boldest, most provocative statement you are willing to make?
Myself: At this moment in time, I truly love my life. I’m not saying it in a granola-y sort of way. I just believe that my life has guided me along and laid things out for me quite nicely. It’s not that I don’t have to work hard or make difficult decisions, but everything always seems to work out. I’m simply not smart enough to foresee all that is ahead of me, but that’s okay because something out there seems to take care of that. It’s kind of crazy, but it’s been quite awesome for me and has also been true for me.

My business: I have the best business partner and the best business for who I am. I love it. It gives me purpose and strength. Hell, more than anything else, it gives me something to do and keeps me out of trouble.

My industry: What can I say, it’s a lot of fun. (Sorry, not very provocative, but it’s true).

What’s next for you?
Haven’t finished what we’ve started yet. “Next” isn’t on the horizon yet.

And here’s a picture that inspires his creativity:

I’m a fire sign and this picture from the Nine Inch Nails’ Ghosts album, calms me down.

What an inspiring fisherman you are Ted, thanks!

Man of the Month – Lp Camozzi

Sunday, August 1st, 2010

Hi all!

Here’s the next posting of my Man of the Month series on the brilliant Pat Camozzi

These interviews highlight some really amazing men who are making a difference and using their creative edge to do what they do best. They have been chosen because I’m impressed by their contagious spirit, creative thinking, and the opportunities they bring to the world, plus how they reflect infinite possibilities back to the rest of us. If you haven’t already checked out last month’s posting on Neezar Joseph, scroll down to read all about him as well.

Be sure to read all about the fabulous women featured on my Woman do the Week blog.

July’s Man of the Month is:

Pat (Lp) Camozzi

Here’s a little bit about him:

Lp Camozzi, children’s singer/songwriter/author was born in the Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia in 1952. According to his Rossland cousin, he is a wandering spirit from the Kootenay tribe – though his Italian father, Dutch/Russian mother and six younger siblings would disagree. After getting a Marketing degree from the Ivey business school, working in Advertising since 1975, marrying a Quebecoise and siring three children (Avril, Marielle and Zach), Lp decided to move from the his ocean swimming home on BC’s Sunshine Coast to the separatist, French, east end of Montreal to become an English children’s entertainer – in 2001. Since that time, he has self-published two CD’s (Even Kids Get the Blues & Even Kids Go Country) and one picture book illustrated by his daughter Marielle (Pasta Pazoo. More Better Spaghetti).

Lp has performed on stage since 2003. His first paid performance occurred at the Oshawa Jazz & Blues fest – his family’s hometown from 1962-present. 2009 was celebrated with his first professional out-of-province tour in Manitoba – including a show at the William Glesby Theatre. Then 2010 exploded with run-of-festival performances at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. His success at these two events has inspired Lp to set a goal for the spring/summer of 2011 of being invited to appear at every major Canadian children’s festival. And hopefully a few in the USA. While still teaching Marketing and Advertising part time at Concordia University’s Continuing Education department during the winter months.

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What does it mean to you to be creative?

Freedom. Being fun and fearless. Staying humble with success. And understanding that it is a process. You can’t force it when it’s not happening but you have to do the grunt work necessary to allow it to bubble to the surface. Creativity is also a high risk/high return activity that depends as much on initiative, timing and contrarian principles as it does on pure talent. Absolute perfection isn’t necessary to begin with but commitment to the goal can result in perfection in the end. It is a gift from God. Only you can open your personal package. Against all odds, naysayers, safety seekers, jealous competitors, personal demons and just plain morons.

Above all, it is entrepreneurial.

What inspires your creativity?

Children, words and change. I don’t like routine, don’t play politics well and like to make people (especially kids) laugh. Children are the most honest people on the planet and that’s why I like performing for them – you know exactly where you stand. Increasingly positive support for my work on a number of fronts has encouraged me to reach higher. Or dig deeper.

The amazing Le Massif outside Quebec City overlooking the St Lawrence River.

 

What keeps you moving forward in making things happen?

Boredom with the status quo and a desire to stay youthful and energetic in my approach to life. Plus, a lot of kids today – particularly boys, could use some added motivation and positive role model reinforcement from Lp in their crazy, busy world.

Throw in lots of physical exercise (tennis, swimming and skiing), cool drinking water and Curious George tendencies on my part. Virtually everything I do results from my love of playing with words. I am a writer first and foremost. One who loves traveling and meeting new people.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?

I once took a camel tour across the Gobi desert with a group of novice Roman Catholic nuns on sabbatical from their convent in the south of France. It had been advertised as the Twisted Sister Tour and I thought I’d be traveling with some rock and rollers. In fact, those Sisters could rock.

And if you believe that, you’ll probably believe that I met my very patient and supportive wife Andrée while we were both on solo bicycle tours of the Maritimes in 1981. We literally collided in Tracadie, NB. And it’s been wild ever since.

What’s the boldest, most provocative statement you are willing to make about yourself, your business or the industry that you are in?

I am the “Neil Young For Kids.” With a little Hank Williams thrown in out of respect for the country blues genre. And Appalacia.

My “ Neil Young for kids” look in Vancouver 2010. I wore a different song title shirt each day.

 

What’s next for you?

After my recent success at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, meeting so many like-minded children’s entertainers, I am truly inspired to make this my full time career. Voice and guitar lessons are on tap for the summer of 2010. Next is finishing off two albums (one for kids tentatively titled “Even Kids Can Play” and one for adults tentatively titled “Dancing Confessions”) that I’ve been writing over the past three years.

Then after I win the lottery, I’ll record those two albums and print my now finished (after four years work) 2nd book called Spice Kaptia. That Dancin’ Guy. My daughter/partner Marielle illustrated this one too.

Then I’ll take a serious run at the children’s festival circuit for the summer
of 2011 as a singer/songwriter/author.

Oh…and if you know someone – I’m looking for a solid, creative agent who can take me anywhere in the whole wide world of children’s entertainment.

And here’s a special someone that inspires Pat’s creativity:

 

His granddaughter Kaiya, just over a year old and living in Victoria with her brave mom Avril Camozzi and strong dad David Nagel.

 

Be sure to check out Pat’s website: www.lpkids.ca

 

Thank you fun and fearless Pat, carry on sans routine!

Man of the Month – Neezar Joseph

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Hi all!

Here’s the next posting of my Man of the Month series on the talented Neezar Joseph.

These interviews highlight some really amazing men who are making a difference and using their creative edge to do what they do best. They have been chosen because I’m impressed by their contagious spirit, creative thinking, and the opportunities they bring to the world, plus how they reflect infinite possibilities back to the rest of us. If you haven’t already checked out last month’s posting on Paul Lambert, scroll down to read all about him as well.

Be sure to also read all about the fabulous women featured on my Woman of the Week blog.

June’s Man of the Month is:

Neezar Joseph

Here’s a little bit about him:

Neezar’s answering machine sings it all: “Stilt-walker, fire breather, opera singer, actor, dancer, puppeteer, mime you can call anytime!”.

Neezar showed much interest in the arts at an early age singing, dancing and acting in various school and church plays. He would later take this experience and apply it to a few different theatrical rock musical projects.After running its course he began setting his sights on the circus arts learning stilt-walking, fire performance and mime/character. He is also a working actor, stunt performer and trained opera singer. He has worked on such Film productions as Davinci’s Inquest, X-men 2 and more recently NBC’s Psych.

And here’s how he answered my 6 questions about creativity:

What does it mean to you to be creative?

Being creative is our artistic interpretation of life, and how we see the world. I tend to choose more fantasy based creations and exaggerate the everyday. Fire breathing to me is an explosion of expression, and stilt walking is a giant trying to co-exist in a small world. Essentially being creative is a life line into a side of ourselves that must be expressed.

What keeps you moving forward in making things happen?

Living in the now, not being hung up on the past or worrying about the future. My parents who grew up in Lebanon during the civil war had no choice but to live day by day because they never knew if tomorrow would ever come. Having their stories etched in memory, I will always take a moment to stop and think…if I’m unhappy today, how can I turn that around and live this day to its fullest.

What’s the wildest journey your venturesome spirit has taken you on?

Performing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece with the lovely and talented Dolly Hopkins and 6 others.I will never forget how this was my first trip overseas with a fantastic opportunity to perform Stilt-walking Daily and a Fire Show nightly. It felt as if the world was our audience, with only the finest performers and facilitators, this adventure was un-forgetable – not to mention the greek food was amazing…efharisto!

What’s the boldest, most provocative statement you are willing to make about yourself, your business or the industry that you are in?

What I love about my industry is that there are no limits to what you can create as an artist, Imagination is one thing that can never be measured. The mind is the most powerful device, and I’m constantly trying to out do myself and learn as much as I can in the process. It blows me away to what we can achieve, when we just simply try.

What’s next for you?

This year has been quite exciting up to now, I’ve filmed three commercials performed at the 2010 Vancouver Games and just finished filming stunts on the NBC show “Psych”. I’m involved in a few exciting musical projects that will come out in 2011.In addition, touring with “Duh HockeyGuys” (www.duhhockeyguys.com) which is a Stilt based comedy act that I’ve been part of with some super talented artists…its loads of fun playing hockey on Stilts, you Just gotta watch out for duh high stick! Also the Doggie walking business is getting quite busy for summer, and thats always a fun gig! (www.justlikehomedogs.com)

And what inspires Neezar’s creativity…his dog “Chloe Bear Running Cloud” a kindered spirit and old soul.

Cheers to the present and future free of limits Neezar!

Be sure to check out Neezar’s website: www.neezar.com