Interview | Ashley Lam for Ark Magazine

I've started a fun side project with one of my long-time, main squeeze, best friends, Marie. She is the creator and leader over at Ark Magazine, and I'm incredibly excited to be a part of this alternative, online magazine. Follow the link to my September interview with Ashley. Stay tuned for many more interviews with women I find inspiring :)

Top 5 | Websites for Interviews

I think I've mentioned before how much I love interviews, especially with random, not-so-famous people. The more relatable the better, in my opinion! The internet has become an amazing place to find tete-a-tete convos on an array of topics and, for your reading pleasure, I've made a first pass at my top five sites to read interviews on. (Disclaimer: this list is ever-evolving and subject to change!)

Click on to read my list ranked from good to great!

A Unique Perspective on Customer Experience

I am always so ceaselessly curious about how others live their life. In no time at all I am hooked to the point of obsession on any and all interviews, whether the focus is on a celebrity, professional, politician, or just a random, ordinary person (of which I think more interviews should be focused on!). Learning how people organize, lead and experience their life is insightful.

Recently I read Fast Company’s feature on Ron Johnson, former CEO of JC Penney, and current CEO of the Startup ‘Enjoy’. I had never heard of Enjoy so, already, this interview had me intrigued. Coming from a professional career that saw its (arguably) biggest success at Apple, Johnson has modeled ‘Enjoy’ after the Genius Bar. I encourage you to read the full article if you’re curious about the premise of this startup.

I will say this, I applaud the way Enjoy values their employees. In a world where the share/freelance economy increasingly reigns, it’s refreshing to see a company that treats their employees like individual contractors, but pays them a salary, offers stock options and covers health benefits.

My favourite part of the article was not focused on Enjoy, but instead the personal ethos of Johnson when it comes to customer experience:

"Most love is not emotional love. It’s rooted in compassion or help. Look at the Genius Bar. You’re just helping people. And so that’s what my governor is: How do you create an environment where you feel this love? Because love is contagious."

Though Johnson’s interpretation comes from a biblical source, I would argue this perspective works really well in a completely secular way. Empathy is so key when engaging with customers of any kind. The age old adage of “treat others the way you would want to be treated” is powerful in retail and should not be overlooked in training, staffing and employment decisions. 

Magazine Mania

I spent part of my deliciously hot summer weekend this week in the sand of a beach on the beautiful Bruce Peninsula. In addition to starting my work week off feeling refreshed and sun-kissed, I am feeling waves of gratitude for all the innovative, alternative and critical publications that exist.

Magazines hold a dear place in my heart, which has been true since I was 14 and first spotted Nylon in my small hometown’s 7/11. It seemed so different from the Cosmopolitans I was used to seeing. While my love for Nylon has waned some, I do appreciate a really great collage as a result of my teenage readership.  

It’s only recently I’m recognizing how magazine obsessed I am. For more than a decade I’ve shelled out anywhere from $5 - $50 per month on a random assortment of mags, primarily used as inspiration and arts and craft material rather than anything educational. I was talked into subscribing to Toronto Life back in November and became both surprised and delighted when the latest issue appeared in my mailbox each month. Beyond the excitement of actually seeing mail addressed to me, it was refreshing to read pieces that were well written, relevant and meaty. In January, I took my relationship with magazines to another level and tried out Next Issue – which has swiftly become a steadfast source of entertainment, competing with Netflix for my leisure time.

Finally, my journey has led me to the diversity of non-mainstream, unconventional publications. I received a subscription to the Smith Journal as a birthday present from my beloved – and boy does he know me well! The well curated collection of articles in my first issue has been incredibly pleasing to the mind. Yesterday, in between beach Frisbee and ice cream, a good friend let me peruse her edition of n+one….and I COULD not / WOULD not put it down – even with the prospect of a fresh water swim dangling before me. 

Perhaps one of the best things about magazines is the low commitment, bite size pieces of inspiration, information, humour and perspective. The wide range of topics available makes a 5 minute reading break feel diverse and intriguing. I often find myself googling a novelist, or perusing the site of a new designer as a result of the magazine’s content. In my pursuit to constantly widen my understanding of the world, magazines have proven themselves useful allies.