My Journey with Pablo

What a week! I did not even see the days go by. It has been very busy lately, but I am loving every bit of it. Every time I get a chance to report on a Raptors game, I go to bed almost at 3 am. I have to do the interview editing, write my article and send everything to the Radio station for them to air the report the next day at the latest. By the time I finish everything I am so exhausted but it doesn’t feel like work. It is a true blessing to be in a position to do what you dreamed for your entire life. It is a true privilege. I have to do the best I can to keep deserving the trust they have put in me to deliver on the work I was given

Last week, I was at a big conference where the 300 of us where gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Richmond Hill (North part of Toronto). The objective of the conference was for us to learn, network and meet experts in different fields including grant application, media relations, community empowerment, etc. I met so many people I haven’t seen in years.

On Saturday morning (third day of the conference), I was running late and I had to rush out of home to get in there for breakfast (the best part of the conference was the food, quality and quantity wise, if you know what I mean).

I got there and the breakfast was still on the table. I got myself an egg sandwich, some fried potatoes and yogurt (this is what I call quality control). As I was hungry, I bite hard in the sandwich and the entire egg splashed on my suit jacket and shirt (the egg was not well done). It was quite embarrassing. I looked around; thank God no one saw the mess. I run to the bathroom to clean things up. Once I arrived there, what a face I saw in the mirror!! I realized I had left home without combing my hair. I looked like Bob Marley in his early days. Eggs all over my clothes, and now my hair was a mess. What a mess!

I managed the best I could to get back to the conference. I could not go home to comb my hair, so I say to myself it was the sexy side of me haha. Bob Marley was cool

The organization that put together the conference was running the election for Board Members and the President of the Board. There were a few candidates, among which a young 18 year old boy named Pablo who was running for President. His speech was stunning! The entire room was silent. We knew we were listening to the future Prime Minister of Canada. It was unbelievable.

At the end of the conference, I went to meet Pablo and we had a chat for a few minutes. He told me that he is able to do the things he does because he has a community around him helping him.

It was quite an interesting conversation that reminded me my morning mess (the eggs and the Bob Marley hair).

Do you know why I was running late to the conference? Because I was bringing my daughter to her Saturday teacher.

Like Pablo, there is nothing I can do without the help of my community. I have a few friends who pick up my daughter at school when I have to go to the Raptors game, I have a teacher who helps her with her homework on Saturdays, whenever I work very late, I have a number of families who take care of her, even some sleepovers whenever necessary. My brother is there to give a hand when I call up on him. Truly, I don’t know where I would be without my community. I am so thankful (Pablo was right).

The best part in this is that all these people help me gladly. Do you know why? Because I have invested thousands of hours helping them. I have given a lot to the community (gladly) that, whenever I need a hand, I know who to call. It is a win- win.

The best investment one can do is to invest in people. Do it gladly and people will help you gladly in return. I am glad they do.

Moral of the story? Do you want to have a return on your investment? Go to a conference and you will eat eggs

Always a pleasure

Patrick

The journeyman