I can see clearly now - Spring is the colour of forsythia & magnolia

E191: On clear vision, Free for a coffee chat in London, Dublin or Portugal?

I was halfway through writing a post on five FoW FAQs¹. But I got derailed. By clear(er) vision.

A pair of young AAA hockey college guys stopped by and sold me on getting my windows cleaned. They were polite, not pushy, and efficient when I almost chased them from the door with my best “I’ve got no time for this now - I have to give a presentation at Etobicoke School of the Arts in an hour” glower. No worries, they responded, understandingly. They asked for my phone number and permission to walk the perimeter and text me a quote.

Two days later, they showed up bright and early, eager and efficient. They did their work on the outside. And all my plans to complete my FAQ post got sidelined as I got to work polishing my windows from the inside.

Oh, how my arm does ache! But I have been rewarded! Gone are the rain rivulets on the outside. Gone are the dusty edges on the inside. And the sun is flooding through.

I can distinguish between the yellow of the forsythia, that of the daffodils and make out the dandelions on the neighbour’s lawn.

I can see clearly now

I can see clearly now, the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shining day

— Johnny Nash

So, unsolicited pitch #1 is for “Sticks & Squeegees²”. If you are in the Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington area and were looking for cleaner windows after our long winter, consider contacting these enterprising young men. They don’t use ladders, having instead invested in a water-fed pole system so they can work their magic from the ground. I guess for a pair of guys who have to do lifts and sprints as part of summer training, this is a no-brainer!

What I particularly liked about them, beside their manners, was their attention to customer service. I had texts reminding me of the appointment, inviting me to remove the bug screens so they could wash those, walk around to make sure everything looked as good as it could be. They are headed for careers in finance and marketing, and I shared with them that this experience at running their own business (including hiring and firing) is the equivalent of a mini MBA.

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Getting the right light

Part two is a pitch for a Canadian online eyecare brand Kits.ca ³operated out of Kits Beach, Vancouver, B.C.

My kids urged me to trust them, which I did with some trepidation - with a prescription for progressives. They promised great customer service. I was wary. The glasses arrived, almost perfect. I could have made them work, but it would not be optimal. I found myself tipping my head back at my desktop. I reached out with my concerns and they immediately adjusted the range of the computer section and mailed them back to me.

And now I can watch Spring unfurl through the clear window at my standing desk, discern the lime green of the new leaves on my neighbour’s sugar maple, painted against the pink of the magnolia behind it, which is wallowing in the uncommonly warm sunshine.

"}…{` Do you agree with me?

What these two experiences have in common is an honest human connection. AI can and will take away many opportunities to develop simple skills - particularly at entry and internship level. Conversation, critical thinking, reading the relationship, project planning, anticipation and so many other EQ skills that we rely on to grease the wheels of service. AI may offer us productivity by outlining essays, offering recipes, and coding apps. But it is still working on these human skill sets.

But it is these human interactions that spurred me to recommend these two services to you today. The quick, deft, courteous and calming conversation with a knowledgeable Kits rep. And the career/college/how will AI change the world conversation with two curious young men.

That. And the fact that “I can see clearly now”.

I’ll be in London, Dublin and Portugal during June and July. If you are free for a meal, or a coffee/tea and a chat, send me a message. I’d love to catch up in person!

We have had an influx of members to Tribe Tilt recently. Welcome! Particularly if you were in my audience at Etobicoke School of the Arts. It is always engaging to share time with parents and students alike.

We are a wonderful group that believes we can make a difference to the people and places that are precious to us, and that we have fun, hope and agency in our lives. We believe the best ideas can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Please add your voice to our conversations.

Stay healthy. From there, all else becomes possible.

Until next week …

Karena

1. Do you have a question on the Future of Work you would like me to write about? Send it on. Vote for which one you want me to write about:

2. You can reach Cole and Emerson via their email sticksandsqueegees@gmail.com

3. If you would like CAD $25 off your first pair, you can send me your email address to share with them. Or head over direct. They also have a free first pair offer on simpler prescriptions. https://www.kits.ca/share-a-pair