"It's very hard to be competitive when you're selling yesterday's handsets on yesterday's network through a customer-service organization that's widely panned," said Carmi Levy, an independent technology and telecom analyst.
[Snip]
While the (failed privatization) deal's demise has devastated BCE's stock price, it has also let management refocus most of its attention on running the company once again.
"Once they shore themselves up ... I think they stand as good a chance as anyone else of overcoming the albatrosses that have been holding them back these last few years," Levy said.
Make no mistake: I believe what I said is fair and honest, and I'd say it again in a heartbeat. I just might have found a slightly friendlier way to say it.
The good news? I spent some alone-time with our daughter tonight. Her friend had invited her to a performance at her school - mind-blowingly professional, by the way - and we were privileged to be part of the experience despite the fact that I suspect we were the only non family members in the theatre.
There's something remarkably simple about spending an evening with your daughter. Makes the rest of life's silliness - and we have a bountiful harvest of it these days - seem irrelevant. Which they are.
Your turn: Simple pleasures. Please discuss.
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21 comments:
Maybe it needed to be said(for sure it needed to be said) and maybe it needed to be said that way this time...a little impact is required occasionally.
Simple pleasures..wrote a whole post about it in my blog if you want to take a peek. We're on the same theme today. I call it magic.
www.breezedaze.blogspot.com
Currently, my simple pleasure is being all alone in the quiet, reading in front of the fire while my lazy-ass dog stretches like an Olympic diver on the floor. V. endearing.
As an aside, don't we all wish that school performances are professional? It's taken 11 grades, but hubster and I finally went to a drama performance where we were completely enrapt and actually really enjoyed ourselves!
I've never known you to be anything but "fair and honest" Carmi. So if you put it bluntly, it probably needed to be put that way.
I couldn't confirm or deny the value of father-daughter quality time since I never had a daughter, but I do know that I've had some awesome father-son experiences over the years. Now that my human sons are grown though, I get just about as much joy out of my quality time with my four-legged son. And I don't even have to give him an allowance!
Truly, these days some of my most cathartic hours are those spent with the camera in the front seat and Tonka in the back out scouring the area for photo-worthy subjects. And Tonk? He adores it.
I have a little 5-month baby girl.
Even now, spending a bit of time with her is incredible. I say "bit" because it's hard during the week with my working hours - I'm off before she wakes and often home when she's asleep.
But sometimes I get home in time to give her a story. Last night I read her a story and she gripped my thumb with one hand, and was watching me and smiling at me the whole time.
It really was lovely, nothing and no-one touches me as much as that little baby right now.
Saturday mornings are often just me and her, giving my wife a break, and that precious few hours is becoming the highlight of my week. Small things. Big things really.
"There's something remarkably simple about spending an evening with your daughter. Makes the rest of life's silliness - and we have a bountiful harvest of it these days - seem irrelevant."
AMEN!
I've often wondered about BCE's management these days myself. I worked for Ma Bell back in the late seventies early 80's. A different time with a different focus. I think corporations spend too much time scorecarding their different business instead of looking at the bigger picture and what is right. At least it's my experience in the corporation I work for which is a global business. My Dilbert cartoon is often timely and bang on as to what happens in my workplace.
And ohhhh family time. As a empty nester I crave those times together. Glad you and your daughter had some time together. These things build life long memories.
That's why I like writing. Time to think and frame what you want to say. But those glitches in tone usually aren't noticed by anyone other than ourselves. Glad you had some quality time with your daughter. Netchick spun me over.
Strong words, Carmi, but needed, I believe.
And I love your statement..."Makes the rest of life's silliness - and we have a bountiful harvest of it these days - seem irrelevant." So completely true!
These days, I've got to remember those simple pleasures and give them precedence over other things which seem so huge.
it's hard to be diplomatic and heard sometimes, especially when feelings are strong.
one, even half hour, can set the world right again when in good company that has that synchronized fond energy.
the simple pleasures of being present while you drink a glass of water, appreciating that you can walk while you move across a room, they are good to rest a mind on by times.
You are so right... time with our loved ones is the best of all.
Coming home, getting comfy, snuggling a husband ... a cat .. or two ... its my way of letting go of a 'mood'
Hello Carmi, Netchick sent me! Great post. The simple pleasures are one of my regular indulgences in life and of course time with family is right up there.
so this company is now hiring someone to SHUT YOU UP? hehe
albatrosses, perfect.
you left out dinosaurs.... hehe
simple pleasures:
Toasted marshmallows from the wood stove.
Backrubs
Fine dining in
Walking under stars
kicking the dog
(oops - let my real self out there)
Sometimes a sugar coating makes a bitter pill easier to swallow and sometimes it just masks the real taste. Same with words.
Simple pleasures are wonderful. They are easily come by and are worth more than gold can buy.
Oops! Netchick sent me this time my friend. Have a good weekend!
"There's something remarkably simple about spending an evening with your daughter. Makes the rest of life's silliness - and we have a bountiful harvest of it these days - seem irrelevant. Which they are."
My Dad seems to be in his last days, and what I lament most is that we never could enjoy that simple contentment you describe so well in few words above.
You are a good dad, and your daughter a lucky, lucky girl.
Aloha, dear Carmi-
Thank you so very much, Cloudia. I come from a family where such closeness simply doesn't happen. Relationships, if they happen at all, are distant, cold, maintained for the sake of external appearance and not because anyone truly cares.
Thankfully my wife is the exact opposite of the world where I grew up. She's created a capital-h home where we talk - sometimes loudly - about what we're feeling and thinking. Every day of my life, I thank my lucky stars that I met her, because through her, we've been able to give our kids the kind of home that I didn't have.
I know some folks may see this as TMI, but I hope it helps put some of my own work into a more appropriate context. I cherish moments like those last night with my daughter because I was never able to get them as a child. I don't want her or her brothers to know what that's like.
Sometimes management needs a wake-up call. If they hadn't figured it out by now, perhaps bluntness was required?
A few simple pleasures: walks with my husband, morning snuggles with my 9yo, evening reading with the same child.
Carmi :
Another salvo in our ongoing Hatfield-McCoy feud/polite discourse on the future of media.
In the Sunday Toronto Star pg.A15 by Angelo Persichilli, there is an article that encapsulates both of our arguments.
It makes both points seperately and brings them to an agreeable conclusion, like the post-coital pillow talk between Mr. Spock and Martha Stewart.
I could explain it to you here, but like ordering Sushi in a Greek Restaurant, it would lose something in the translation.
Bradley B.
I was inspired by this post and put up one in mine about spending time with my son..
http://navy-blue-jeans.blogspot.com/2009/03/being-with-my-son.html
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