Day off. - Seriously

So after working 42 of 48 hours this weekend its monday. I decided that I would take it easy.

So after visiting the Starbucks and the bank, making a few calls to the studio I started to work on my GTD list for today. For those of you visiting this blog for the first time. I am a seriously busy person. Running one of Toronto's most successful wedding photo/video studio while also owning and managing Canada's largest Film conversion company, and a few other fun businesses (ObjectiveEye, MontrealHomeMovies, Excellence Photography - Boca, and Reelife Ent)

To keep myself organized I am a diciple of David Allen's book Getting Things Done - or GTD. I maintain 3 main lists.

Todays GTD - split with Today, Tomorrow and waiting
Main GTD - a list of all major decsions and developments
Future GTD - a list of dreams, goals and expectations

There are rules to follow - here are my top 3

1. Don;t BS myself - If there is no way I am going to get it done today - move it to tomorrow.
2. Cannot move a task more than 3 times
3. Start the day with the list.

Today my day off - I have 20 things. Yikes. The good news? I have done 4 of them and am on my way to the studio to handle 5 more before going downtown to handle 3 more.

8mm & Super 8 Film - We convert 8mm to DVD

Of all the things I work on, on of the most pleasurable is saving peoples memoires. In the past week we converted over 540 reel/tapes/cassettes and over 1500 slides. That's just in Toronto!

Converting old movies comes with a number of challenges. First and foremost Alex and I decided that TorontoHomeMovies.com, FloridaHomeMovies.com, MontrealHomeMovies.com and USHomeMovies.com would ALWAYS produce the highest quality available for the most reasonable price.

8mm, Super 8 or 16mm film is recorded directly into one of our custom designed computers.

Once your footage is completely uploaded one of our professional editors will manually go through your footage frame by frame where they would remove any splicing errors, black spots, and create individual reel markers to identify each reel.

Every frame of your footage is analyzed for sharpness, colour and clarity. Corrections are made if needed. If you plan to edit the footage and have asked for an uncompressed version of your footage on MiniDV, Digital8, DVCAM or to your Hard Drive we will output the footage accordingly.

To produce your DVD we manually adjust settings to optimize your DVD compression. Where our competition is using low quality standalone DVD recorders, every DVD is converted to AVI and QuickTime source files then to MPEG-2 video and Dolby® Digital audio, we manually adjust settings to optimize your DVD compression. Because we take the extra step of uploading all your footage directly into our computers, we can easily create custom authored DVDs. Authoring DVDs give you the additional flexibility to create detailed menus within your DVD project


Ultimately the greatest part of what we do is make sure our customers can keep the memories of great great grand parents a part of their lives.


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Owwwwwwwwwwie -

During the rainstorm in Toronto yesterday I pulled my knee running to my car. It really hurt. So much so that I had to decide - Do I go to the Doctor, Hospital or wait it out and see what happens.

With 3 huge weddings this weekend I couldn't afford to take a chance, but the idea of waiting 4 hours at the hospital did not appeal. In the end I called the sports doctor at my gym - The Pavillon.

Dr Green is amazing. He cured a recurring problem with my hamstring that caused me pain for over 10 years. Marianna has been a patient for a few months and her back problems are nearly gone.

Alex who has had lower back nerve problems for years went to 3 different doctors before I suggest Dr Green. Recently Alex told me that for the first time he actually believes he will be pain free one day.

Anyhow - I had to choose A) Free hospital 4 hour wait B) Pay for Dr Green and get immediate attention.

Turns out I pulled a tendon away from the knee. This caused me no to be able to lift using my quad muscles. In otherwords, ever step off with my right leg caused me major pain.

Yesterday when I called, Dr Green immediate told me to ice it down and this morning spend 30 minutes treating me. Pain is down from 95% to about 30%. But the best part is with the knee brace he gave me I have less than 10% pain.

Basically I can do almost everything as before except jump up and down.
It got me to thinking.

Why do we always do what is easy? I mean, if I went to the hospital then I would have been scene by an emergency ward doctor. Someone who has to have training in 300 different problems.

Why to people go to photographers that also shoot Bar mitzvah, corporate, christenings, baby photos, family photos, blah blah blah.

Why specialize?

Well that obvious. I would rather be great at one thing then mediocre in several. How many times have you been to a restuarant that has such a huge menu that you are not sure what to order. I mean how can they be great at so many things?

In-N-Out basically sells burgers, fries, and shakes. That’s it. That makes it easy for customers to choose and easy for In-N-Out to produce. This simplicity has tangible benefits for both sides. There are only THREE ‘value meals’.

I accidently visited an In-N-Out burger restaurant when I was in LA a few weeks ago ( dont tell DrB!!) The food was amazing. Of course, it had better, they only do a 3 combos!!

I love skype!!!

As most of you know I lead a very transient life. Marianna and I love to travel whenever possible. In August I will be in Toronto, Montreal, Miami, and likely New York.

The problem in the past was oit was difficult to always stay connected. First email was the key. Cause if it was really important I could be emailed and call someone back. Now I have a few cell phones depending on where I am I have unlimited use so no problem.

Well thanks to Alex and skype if you try to reach me at the office and I am on skype (or not but only if I am available) he can transfer your call to me where ever in the world I am. Cool huh?

We got Marianna this morning. She called the studio and Alex asked her to hold, transferred the call to me at home. I was editing and listening to iTunes when I get a message there is a call.

Now all of us at the studio are on skype so if I want to contact Tim I just click on the link and we are talking. If fact I'm going to call him right now!!

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The countdown to MontrealHomeMovies.com is on. We are currently looking for an outgoing fun Fench/English person to work the new office. Send resume to info@montrealhomemovies.com

Of all the cities I have visited Montreal has always had a special place in my heart. Mostly because I love good food and there are so many great restaurants, but also because it reminds me so much of Paris. Not just the french but the way everyone is so laid back. Its not uncommon to see people sitting on the terraces watching people for 2 hours just hanging out. Shopping is amazing and of course Old Montreal is so historic. I have so many memories of riding horse and carriages with the boys, eating Lobster and watching the street performers.

I saw this guy the last time I was there!!

Had a great night!!

I always take this weekend off to spend by birthday with Marianna and the boys. Last night was a special treat as we went out to Spring Rolls on Yonge. What a great place! Total of 8 couples we got the dinner and a movies special.

So we went to see Wanted (2nd time for me) wow. I love this movie! I think I like any movie that takes a regular guy and makes him into something cool.

Where do you sit in the movies? So I offered to go into the theatre early and get us good seats while they finished dessert - I am on a diet (lost 20.5 pounds so far waa hoo)

I sat about 5 rows from the front. Right in the middle. Everyone freaked it was too close. I thought I was being nice - I usually sit in the first row right in the middle.

So we sat about half way up and I kept getting distracted by the other people. Maybe I have an adult version of ADD?

• I hate sitting down
• I can"t stick to one book and usually read 3-4 at a time
• I usually have 10 or more tabs open on my computer at any given time

??????????

Its the secret again!!

So a few days ago I was walking around Yorkville waiting for Marianna (no comment), when I noticed a guy walking and reading. Since, I have been made fun of so many times for doing the same thing it caught my eye. Then I glanced at the title of the book.

Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers

by Jim Rogers (Author) Yes the same guy I posted a video interview yesterday that I saw on YouTube. Now here is how the secret played into this. Before going onto you tube I was watching the worst movie of all time "The Hottie and the Nottie" with Paris Hilton. Of course, I was editing photos at the same time, but sort of watching. Once the movie ended I like to watch interviews. I typed in the search box "investor" thinking I would watch some Warren Buffet, but who comes up but Jim Rogers. And the guy is so dead on. His opinion makes so much sense. Today I pick up a magazine and the first article is by James Rogers - same guy. Then I open a new book about George Soros and who does he refer to-- yep Rogers and Soros founded the Quantum Fund. wow.

Scary I paid 90$ for a tank of gas today

A few years ago I talked Marianna into downsizing our house. I was worried that since the cost of real estate had risen so quickly that we could potentially take a lost on our huge investment. In the end we did very well, but if we waited another 18-24 months we could have nearly doubled our profits.

Well I"m worried again. No I"m not selling my house, but the more I hear from people smarter than me that inflation is rising, the cost of oil, gas and food are getting out of control, the more worried I get.

Check out these incredible interview from Jim Rogers

James B. Rogers, Jr. (born October 19, 1942) is an American investor and financial commentator. He is co-founder, along with George Soros, of the Quantum Fund, and is a college professor, author, world traveler, economic commentator, and creator of the Rogers International Commodities Index (RICI).

Happy Canada Day!!

Found myself thinking of the things below throughout the day today.

-woo hoo lost another pound!!
- i really love the turkey starbucks sandwiches
-we need a married people parade
- screw it I'll have the fillet minion
- i really like peeing on ice cubes
- oh god not another purse
- thank you g-d for my family
- damn gas is expensive
- need to set goals for July
- cant wait to eat in Montreal in a few weeks
- looks like the hockey players are back at the gym, wonder if Draper will bring the cup
- did Anglina Jolie have the twins yet
-I have soooooo much work to do, maybe if I stay up all night for 14 days straight I will catch up

- feels like a sunday
- I love bang and olufsen TVs. I need one
- i am drinking like 4 litres a day of water