Charity

Man Of The Week – Jonny Imerman

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Our MOTW Jonny Imerman opens up about overcoming cancer and will speak at ManTalks Chicago November 7th, 2016 on ‘Mentorship’.
At 26 years old in 2001, Jonny Imerman was diagnosed with testicular cancer.  After doctors surgically removed one of his testicles, he did five months of chemotherapy and became cancer-free.  But almost a year later, four tumors popped up again near his spine.  After another surgery, an 11-inch incision, and three months of recovery, Jonny was back in remission.During his cancer fight, he realized what needed to change in the cancer world.  Despite loving support from family and friends, he was unable to find a cancer survivor like him.  Jonny wondered: “What if every cancer fighter could talk to a cancer survivor, who not only had beaten the same type of cancer, but who also was around the same age and gender as the fighter?”  The cancer survivor would be an angel ⎯ walking, living proof that the fighter could win too.  That amazing connection would provide inspiration, knowledge, and hope.  This is why he created Imerman Angels, a non-profit organization, which carefully matches a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel). Today, Imerman Angels now has more than 6,000 cancer survivors and more than 1,500 caregivers in its network, and has been featured by dozens of news organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Harpo Radio’s “Oprah and Friends” with Dr. Oz, CNN, TEDx, The Huffington Post, Men’s Health and National Public Radio (NPR) to name just a few!Jonny will be speaking at the very first ManTalks Chicago event centred around ‘Mentorship’ on November 7th, 2016. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Age: 41 years old
What do you do? (Work)
I work for Imerman Angels, a FREE 1:1 peer mentoring program for families fighting cancer– we introduce them to a survivor (or family member) who’s shared the SAME EXPERIENCE and has had a positive outcome– to inspire, motive, and give knowledge, strength, and hope! ImermanAngels.org

Why do you do it?
I was diagnosed with testicular cancer at 26– did chemo, surgeries for about 2 years of my 20s– so we got together with a group of survivors that has grown now to about 8,000 volunteer survivors/caregivers– to GIVE BACK, and mentor, 1 on 1, those in the same fight today!  GRATITUDE– is WHY we do what we do! We’re all blessed to be alive and well!!
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
See above

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
3 defining moments of my life are getting cancer, creating Imerman Angels with a group of survivors who all care, and moving to Chicago in 2005 to get a fresh start on life after cancer.  Clearly, cancer has a lot of POSITIVES in my life!!
What is your life purpose?
I believe Imerman Angels is my life purpose, to help CONNECT and BUILD BRIDGES in the cancer world– but also helping other great causes and sharing what we’ve learned with other social entrepreneurs– to make the world a better place in a lot of ways!!  GRATEFUL to have so many social entrepreneurs friends who do great things in a lot of difference arenas! 

How did you tap into it?
It’s easy to tap into great causes when you CARE.Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
Howard Tullman is one of my mentors, CEO of 1871 in Chicago.  Howard is an idea generating machine, helps so many causes, serves on the IA board, and takes SO much time to help SO many great causes– he’s a powerhouse of a human and has inspired me and helped IA in so many ways!!
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
My daily habits are wearing an IA tshirt everyday, eating oatmeal every morning, working out everyday, and surrounding myself with GOOD people and idea people everyday
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I know my work/life balance is off when my VOICE goes away.. I talk all day long, and eventually my body tells me to slow down when i lose my voice lol!
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
Opening our cancer experiences make us vulnerable– it’s the FIRST step in letting others in to help them– and essential in education and saving lives!

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
The best advice I feel i I can offer is LIVE YOUR PASSION– throw your life into it! Find a WAY to live your life filled with your individual passion– and hopefully it makes the world a better place as well! It’s the BEST life I feel!!
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)

I’m single at the moment, and so not much good advice for anyone here haha!
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
I support hundreds of causes and non-profit friends– just a few of these causes are PAWS, Anti-Cruelty Society, ONEGOAL, LaunchU, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, Above & Beyond Center to fight addiction, and anyone with a great cause making the world a better place!
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
If my life had a theme song, it would be “I’ll Take you There” — that’s how we ALL feel on our team in our ability to help and INSPIRE those with cancer!
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

In 3 years I see myself staying busy and helping Imerman Angels grow to helping thousands to tens of thousands of people across the world!
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Confession– I haven’t read a book since 26 years old! I can’t read books. I know– crazy.  I just can’t get myself to sit and read– i’m always on the move, and people are my currency, so I own it and stick to what my senses tell me is the best life– without books haha.
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Grayson Miller

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Grayson Miller provides coaching, strong leadership and is a mentor to his team at StyleDemocracy. At StyleDemocracy, Grayson takes on the role of Vice President, digital director and content creator, spearheading the company’s development with their blog, social media outlets and marketing strategies for clients and followers. He focuses on the development of his team and allowing each individual to express creativity, vision and passion so that they excel in the work environment and feel fulfilled in doing so. A sacrificial leader, Grayson leads by example and ensures he has given his team enough support, love and encouragement to kick-start their entrepreneurial spirit and hopefully launch their dreams. Check out our newest Man Of The Week, Grayson Miller!

Age: 29

What do you do?
I am the Vice President – Digital for StyleDemocracy. I oversee and develop all of StyleDemocracy’s digital initiatives. In addition to that, I work closely with brands, helping them tell their stories to digital audiences.

Why do you do it?
I do it because retail, fashion, and digital marketing are all great passions of mine. I love telling stories and I find that the world of content creation and digital marketing is always evolving, which forces you to continually grow, learn, and challenge yourself.

How do you make a difference in the world?
Tough question. StyleDemocracy provides access to off-price clothing for our members and shoppers. For some, the savings on clothing actually makes a discernible difference in their lives. On a personal level, I have work experience in the mental health arena. Due to my knowledge, I have been able to guide people in the right direction in seeking help and support for mental health issues.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– Getting cut from my high school hockey team – I thought that I was guaranteed to make the team. I made it before so I coasted. It taught me that you always have to work for the stuff that you want, and that nothing in life is guaranteed. There is always someone behind you who will gladly take your place, so if you don’t continue to work and improve, you’ll often fall behind.
– Meeting my current partner – She’s the best. Always supportive and always pushes me to achieve my goals.
– Working for StyleDemocracy – I started out as an intern and today I am the Vice-President. My life would be drastically different if I took a different direction.

What is your life purpose?
I have much respect for people who are able to answer this question. I haven’t figured it out yet.

How did you tap into it?
I try to be the best that I can be every day. It’s hard and challenging for me. Being better is what motivates me.

Role-Model?
My father. Hard working, well dressed, never gives up. I try to live my life like that.

Do you have any daily habits?
I want to work on forming better daily habits. I try to take at least 30 minutes for myself every day. I might go for a run, sit by myself, read a book. It really doesn’t matter what it is, I just try to be one with myself for at least 30 minutes a day to block out the noise of everyday life.

When do you know your work balance is off?
When I’m not creative or I don’t feel like working. The not wanting to work part is the biggest sign to me that I’m tired. If I feel that way, I know that something is wrong.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
I’ve had some close friends and family that have dealt with serious mental health issues. These issues challenge you to become more accepting and understanding. It has been a hard road for me in dealing with people that I love who suffer from mental illness. It can take every ounce of your strength to not feel like a victim and realize that mental health issues don’t discriminate and can affect people from all walks of life. It made me vulnerable because I always want to help people that I love, and sometimes you can’t do it on your own. Not having the answers is one of my most vulnerable feelings. You have to look inward to have the strength to deal with it.

What did you learn from it?
I learned to be more understanding and to be patient with people. It has helped me learn that people all have their own issues and in business and life, and you have to know how to be accommodating and compassionate.

How do you be the best partner?
I communicate about everything – probably in excess, but I find that even in long-term relationships, ambiguity can arise unless communication is constant.  I also always let her know that I have her back no matter what. I’m always one call away and while I may not always understand, I will always listen and give her 100% of my focus when she needs it.

Do you support any charities?
I have supported CAMH in the past. As you probably already know from reading this article, I have friends and family that deal with mental health issues. I support CAMH because I feel that Mental Health support and awareness needs to improve in our city.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Kanye West – Can’t Tell Me Nothing

Where do you see yourself in three years?
The President of StyleDemocracy – Digital

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
While it has improved a lot and there are many fantastic black business leaders, I would like to continue to instill the knowledge that race and ethnicity should not limit your ambitions and that with hard work, anyone can achieve parts of their dreams.

What one book would you recommend for any man?
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

 

Man Of The Week – Mike Rosenfeld

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Our newest Man Of The Week is a man that wears many hats. From a life and peak performance coach, to motivational speaker, mentor, strategist and founder of TRUE Performance, Mike Rosenfeld works with high-performance athletes, artists and corporations to provide them with effective tools and essential strategies to achieve success. Mike, often referred to as ‘Coach Mike’, regularly facilitates workshops and seminars for professional teams, collegiate sports program and youth organizations where he leverages his unique ability to connect with audiences of cultures and backgrounds to motivate people.

As a troubled youth, Coach Mike engaged in self-defeating behaviors before making some tough, life-changing choices and decisions that resulted in an incredible personal transformation. As a result of these early experiences, in December 1999, Mike founded Youth Expressions (YE), a not-for-profit charitable organization with a mission to inspire at-risk youth through hip-hop, spoken word, dance, and sports to develop into self-assured, self-disciplined, focused, productive, and skilled adults. Currently, Coach Mike dedicates his pro bono time to mentoring graduates of the Youth Expression Program as well as students of the Cliff and Eda Viner Community and Scholars Foundation.

On Monday, August 29 at 7pm, ManTalks Miami will host their first event where Mike, and two other powerful speakers, will share their journey  on ‘Overcoming Adversity’. Click here for more information and to buy tickets to attend the very first ManTalks Miami!!

Age: 41

What do you do? (Work)
I am a speaker, coach, consultant and strategist to high-performance professional, Olympic and collegiate athletes, artists and corporations. I provide my clients with tools and strategies to achieve the results that matter most to them.
I use a 360/whole person approach that is backed by best practices in neuroscience, Co-Active Coaching, NAAM Yoga Therapy, Breath-Work Therapy, Applied Positive Psychology, The Science of Flow States, and Theories of Adult and Organizational Development.

Why do you do it?
It’s all about impact– the impact my work has on me (passion, purpose, constant growth) and the impact I get to have on others: radical shifts, breakthroughs and achievements.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
I strive to help people step out of the world of limitations and into the world of possibilities–possibilities they getto authentically create for themselves, family, team and community!

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– Overcoming disease, unhealthy associations, addiction, and self destruction.
– Getting Married
– Becoming a Daddy

What is your life purpose?
To learn and grow into being the healthiest, happiest and most powerful person I can be…. and sharing THAT with the world.

How did you tap into it?
We don’t tell ourselves what our truth is, our truth tells us–we either get brave and ask the questions and listen or we don’t.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
My wife Chana, My parents, Stephen Herbits, YE members (young adults who I have worked with for over 15 years through my charity).

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
Morning prayer/meditation/intention, breath-work, curiosity: scanning myself with my F.O.S.D (full of shit detector) to see where I am holding myself back, playing small or lying to myself,  and evening reflection/prayer.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
When I feel discomfort, resentment, blame, shame, or judgement.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
When I admitted to the kids in my charity that I was struggling with addiction.

What did you learn from it?
I realized that we are not here to pretend to be masters. We are here to learn and grow and that is mastery. My kids helped me learn that lesson. This lesson was huge for me, I needed to go through it. “There was something that I needed to see in order for me to be who I need to be”.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Self-Mastery starts with letting go of who you think you are so you can discover your T.R.U.E Power (The Real U Expressed).

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
The best way to connect is by expressing my needs and honoring my wife’s. Can’t do that without asking what they are, and listening.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
1.The Eda & Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation, Inc. I believe in their mission: Educating and inspiring compassionate young leaders to develop strong character with a vision for success.
2.Youth Expressions: I founded the charity in 2000 and believe it offers the most comprehensive, powerful curriculum and programming for helping at-risk youth overcome their challenges and develop the tools needed for success.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Maaaan, that’s so hard to say. I have so many that I either danced to or help me through….
Bill Conti – Going The Distance (Rocky)
Earth, Wind & Fire – Fantasy
DMX- The Conversation

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
I have many goals for 3 years from today. What’s consistent about all of them is I am happy, healthy, strong and thriving in whatever I am choosing at the time.

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I want everyone to know that happiness, confidence, clarity, community and success are every person’s birthright; and I want to leave behind the tools of how to make it happen.
My message is “Love the challenge, its happening for you, not to you”.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Bruce Lee, The Warrior Within

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Vlad Rascanu

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Our newest Man Of The Week is Vlad Rascanu, the owner of 80 Proof Digital, a Toronto-based marketing agency that focuses on search engine optimization. Without trying to get too technical, Vlad helps small to larger sized businesses become discoverable on Google’s search results. Unknown to him that he would find his purpose in some of his earliest work experiences, Vlad quickly learned that the work he does for his clients and partners can change their livelihood. From being three months away from losing their business and foreclosing on their home, Vlad’s clients have seen their businesses become profitable and gain new business all from Google’s search engine. Vlad is a man who believes giving back to the community is an essential part of entrepreneurship, his efforts to help not-for-profits and charities have resulted in them receiving over $1 million in advertising grants from Google. A man driven by ambition and the desire to inspire future generations, read on to learn how the sacrifices Vlad made to launch his business have resulted in small businesses being given a platform to share their message and raise funds for important causes.

Age – 28 

What do you do? (Work)
I’m the owner of 80 Proof Digital, a digital marketing agency based out of Downtown Toronto. We focus on SEO and Paid Search. Even though our main target market is enterprise-level clients, we also work with small to mid-sized businesses, and provide pro-bono services to not-for-profit organizations and charities.

Why do you do it?
Behind every business are families whose lives depend on its success. I want their companies to thrive because if they thrive than my own company will thrive in return.
At 80 Proof Digital, we pride ourselves with being a boutique but highly skilled agency. We work hard daily to ensure the success of our clients.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
I helped nonprofit organizations raise over 1 Million dollars in advertising dollars from Google Grants. This money helped these organizations make a positive difference in the world. In addition, the services we provide help all my clients grow their businesses which in return allows them and us to create jobs.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– When I first started working in the industry, one of my first clients was a client in the home improvement industry. He only had enough money to pay me for 3 months of SEO work and if I couldn’t help him he would have had to close down his company and he would have lost his home. Within 3 months he started seeing a profit on his investment and within 6 months he was dominating Google’s results pages and generating a lot of leads. This was when I realized the positive difference that I can make in other people’s lives with SEO.
– When I started my agency, 80 Proof Digital. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done; going from a six figure income with zero stress at work and absolutely loving my job to making no income and hating every second of what I was doing under a tremendous amount of stress. The lessons learned along the way have been unquantifiable and I know that in the end it’ll all be worth it. Making this step has gotten me closer to my goal of truly being free from the rat race.
– Meeting my fiancé and soon to-be wife. It’s a great feeling when you finally meet your person. Your best friend. Someone who completely gets you and is there for you every step of the way. Entrepreneurship is a very lonely world where very few understand you so having her support along with my family’s support made all the difference in the world.

What is your life purpose?
I want to leave a legacy behind for my future generations.

How did you tap into it?
Growing up, my brother and I did not have much. Our parents left everything back in Romania in order to give us a better future. Highly educated but with no Canadian experience, both of them had to work dreadful jobs just to put food on the table. I want to repay them for the sacrifices they’ve made and to make sure that my future generations will also be taken care off.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
My older brother, Alex Rascanu. From a young age he always looked after me and showed me the way. I followed his footsteps and his work ethic and always strived to be the best at what I did.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
I wouldn’t say so. Every day is completely different. The only habit/routine I have is using my project management software to keep organized with my daily to-dos.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I think anyone can tell when that happens, but sometimes it is just not an option. In order to achieve something in life, you have to make sacrifices. For me, my work/life balance has been off for over a year now, ever since I started my company. But most entrepreneurs will tell you that in the first year work/life balance doesn’t really exist. I’ve accepted it for now.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
There was a point in my early 20s, when I got scammed into making a bad investment decision and I lost a significant amount of money. I had to move back with my parents and face the embarrassment for not recognizing all the red flags at the beginning and not listening to others. It took me a long time to recover from that.

What did you learn from it?
It was definitely a great lesson. I am glad I learned it earlier in life. I lost all my savings and went in debt trying to make a quick buck, but now I know that there are no quick routes to success. Every day is a grind. Every day is hustle.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Develop a good work ethic and become the master of one thing that everyone will know you for.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
Good communication and listening skills are everything. Relationships can be hard work, but so worth it. My fiancé and I always grow stronger together during challenging times, because we have excellent communication and we want to make it work. Sometimes I just stay quiet and listen. Sometimes she does. It’s a give and take.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
It is an important component of my company, 80 Proof Digital. I wish I could help every charity, but so far we’ve helped 10 charities land over $1 million in advertising grants from Google. For me it was never important which charities we help, but the fact that we do. Many small non-profits and charities do not have the budget to afford online advertising.  That’s where we come in. Every year we take on organizations based on “first come, first serve” basis and help them get the funds they need to run their PPC campaigns. The Google Grant Program gives charities and not-for-profit organizations up to $10,000 a month in spending in Adwords.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Different songs are more or less appropriate/needed for different stages of our lives; there’s no single song that I can think of that can define my life.

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Happy.

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
Legacy is more than just materialistic wealth. I hope to teach future generations to be self-sufficient. Money comes and goes, but your ability to get back up after being knocked down will always be with you.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Definitely “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill.

f you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Zeeshan Hayat

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Our newest Man Of The Week is someone who’s faced his fair share of hardships growing up, from seeing his mother pass away right before his eyes at the age of six, to moving from Pakistan to Canada at the age of nine, Zeeshan Hayat never let his determination to succeed in life dampen. Zeeshan has never known any other career than entrepreneurship, and from the young age of 22 he took the bold step to launch his first company without any prior work experience or funding. A man that doesn’t shy away form the tough decisions in life, Zeeshan’s perseverance and determination, along with support from an incredible wife Karina, have helped grow his business into a multimillion dollar organization that medically serves millions across North America. Today, Zeeshan is the CEO of Prizm Health, which he co-founded with his wife Karina. A man driven by passion, Zeeshan’s desire to leave a legacy that inspires future generation is well-balanced with quality family time and exercise. As many serial entrepreneurs, his desire to give back to the community is ever-present, since 2007 the initiatives he has led with Prizm Health, they have successfully donated over 40,000 meals and supplies to those in need in Vancouver and the Downtown East Side.

Age – 36

What do you do? (Work)
I am the CEO and Co-founder of Prizm Health. My drive and vision has taken the company from a small college venture to a multimillion dollar business that serves some of the largest mail order durable medical equipment and pharmacies across US and Canada.
Prizm Health started as a lead generation firm, called Prizm Media that connects consumers suffering from chronic conditions with healthcare companies at their point of need. While building Prizm with my co-founder and wife Karina Hayat, we looked for a solution to further help people with pre-diabetes and diabetes which led us to develop our E-Health Ecosystem. Now we are transforming people’s health outcome and ultimately their quality of life through personalized interventions.
Before becoming a serial entrepreneur, I competed at a national level for Taekwondo. Learning Taekwondo gave me the discipline, ethics, and integrity needed to lead Prizm Health.
I also blog for the Huffington Post where I share my expertise in how technology is changing the healthcare industry and what the future will bring.

Why do you do it?
Because I love it. If I didn’t love my job and what I do than I would look to build a company that reflected my passion.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
For Business– I help make a difference in the health industry. At Prizm, we are making a change in people’s lives by connecting people with healthcare providers they desperately need to achieve their optimal health. Through our app Kudolife, we are personalizing people’s health.
Health, nutrition, and fitness should not be categorized. There is no one size fits all when it comes to people’s health. Our bodies are all different and through Kudolife, we hope to give people the personalization they need to reach their health and fitness goals. Kudolife uses machine learning and AI to give users personalized meal plans that will help optimize their health for the long term.
Personal side– For me I enjoy giving back to the community. I do this by giving back to the people closest to us and who need help- the Vancouver downtown eastside. It is important to give back to those in need and doing what is necessary to help them get back on their feet. Wether it is by giving them food, basic toiletries or by having a conversation.
Family- Giving back to my family by being present and not always being away or distracted by technology is vital. When you are around family or friends, it is important always to be present, or else life could just pass you by.
Self- Taking the time out of my day to go on a bike ride is important. By taking care of my physical, I can continue to stay fresh and be motivated to lead Prizm Health.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– When I saw my mother pass away infront of my eyes at the age of 6
– Moving to Canada at the age of 9 with my grandparents from Pakistan
– Starting my own family and company

What is your life purpose?
There have always been three main things I focus on. Number one and the most important one is to to provide a good life for my family. The second is to build a legacy that provides a service to help improve and individualize health. The third one is to continue to support the community around me and to help people who are in need.

How did you tap into it?
For me, it was about prioritizing and understanding what is important for me personally. My family felt the most important since I have no siblings. I receive that satisfaction of what I missed in my childhood by seeing my children grow.
I have never had any other career in my life besides being an entrepreneur, and I want to see it grow where we make a real difference in a person’s life. Building your own company and seeing it take off is the real legacy of an entrepreneur. When I first started Prizm 15 years ago, I would have never foreseen where I would be today. Now looking forward and seeing us become a global leader might be hard to imagine but I know if can become a reality. Being able to grow Prizm Health into the success it is today is proof that we can achieve the future.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
It would be prophet, Muhammad. As a Muslim, we are supposed to look up to him and care for the people around us. In that sense, I would say he is my role model.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
Staying on schedule and being organized is my daily habit. Also, no matter how busy I am I make sure that I spend time with my children every single day. As a family, we all get together to have breakfast with each other every morning. Another important daily habit that I try to be consistent with is stretching every morning. I struggle with this, but after a morning stretch, I noticed that I started to become more flexible and felt more energized and ready for the day ahead.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
I like to exercise at least 4-5 times a week. If I don’t workout, I begin to feel frustrated and over worked.  Taking the time to exercise helps me relax and gives me time to feel fresh again. As for family, if I had to choose between a bike ride or to spend time with kids. My kids are always the first choice. It is all about prioritizing and understand what will make you happier.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
Going all in and taking the leap to start my own business at 22 years old with no experience or funding.

What did you learn from it?
The biggest lesson learned is that you can do anything if you put all of your energy and minds into it. My motivation was that I saw others starting successful businesses. I thought “If they can do it then we can too.” We had to give it our 100% and learn how to make the best possible decisions in the process.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Never Give up. Once you set your mind to something do whatever you can to get there.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
Having a good understanding of each other and being supportive is one way.
My co-founder/wife and I share a family together and for us, it is important to know how to support each other when things don’t go as planned.  When we come across a problem, we can apply our entrepreneurial skills to find the solutions. We never just talk about the problem we both actively work hard together to seek its solution.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
In addition to pledging 2.5% of Prizm Media’s after-tax profits to charity, I also spearhead several initiatives and donate to causes close to my heart. The charitable campaign “100 Meals a Week” is a weekly initiative led by myself and Karina that supports the less fortunate on “Skid Row” in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside. We have motivated friends, family, and the Prizm Health team to provide over 40,000 meals and necessities since 2007.
More recently, my wife and I are sponsoring a Syrian refugee family. We are currently preparing to help the family assimilate to life in Canada.
Other activities we are a part of include partnering up with Homeless on Hastings organization to help give out meals to homeless youth. We have also recently started going to local high schools to teach courses on entrepreneurship and help students develop their leadership skills.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be
I don’t think I could think of just one.

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Professionally I see myself as a market leader in healthcare digital and marketing and innovation.

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I would want to be looked at as someone who was helpful to its community, as well as someone who worked hard to grow wiser. I would want my children to look at me as a role model.
For my company, I want to grow it into a huge cooperation that is driven towards making a difference in people’s health. In the end, I want to be looked upon as a leader in the MHealth field.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
The autobiography of Steve Jobs. I look at him as a leader. As a business man, I look up to him as a role model, but I do not look up to him for his personal life. He couldn’t support his family, but I admire his ability to give it all to his company.

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Daniel Tal

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This week’s Man Of The Week is Daniel Tal for his inspiring perspective on the importance of both, businesses and individuals, to give back to society and those less fortunate. From a young age, Daniel witnessed his Mother give back through the smallest of actions, quickly realizing how simple it is to raise money and donate to causes without disrupting his daily life. He soon discovered that doing good in the world was his true purpose and as a result he now runs two non-profits and has supported causes from arts, culture, LGBT, to the environment and many more! Today, Daniel Co-Founded DUDEBOX and is a Director of Operations at Manifesto, a fixture in Toronto’s arts and culture scene where he hopes to inspire the next generation to be better than him and show them how giving back is actually better for business.

Age: 30 years old. It’s official.

What do you do? (Work)
I try to do as much as I can. In my personal life I’m a board member and active organizer of the non-profit I co-founded called DUDEBOX. My professional life is equally rewarding; I’m the Director of Operations and Development for Manifesto, a fixture in Toronto’s arts and culture scene.

Why do you do it?
Because it’s fun, inspiring and it’s my ethical responsibility.

How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
By setting an example to a shifting society. We’re proving that not only can you build a successful business model that is hype, sustainable and profitable, but you can factor in a charitable element in a way that enhances the entire process and brand. We’ve donated over $120,000 to various local and international causes, but more importantly we’ve shown other entrepreneurs that not only is it easy to give generously, it’s actually better for business.

What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– I remember shopping at the grocery store with my Mom, and at checkout the cashier asked “Would you like to add a dollar for United Way?” and my Mom was like “Sure”. To me that was a pivotal moment; I realized how simple it is to raise and donate money without really disrupting regular life.
– After our first official DUDEBOX party/fundraiser, I sat down with my friends for lunch to chat. I was super nervous because I was going to tell this group of poor guys that I thought we should keep donating all of our profits to charity. But before I got a chance to share my thoughts, one of the other guys said it first and everyone else was like “Totally, I was thinking the same thing”. That’s when I decided to get a stupid DUDEBOX tattoo. I shouldn’t have told you that part.
– At one of our parties we were raising money for a local cancer support network, one of their former clients (a cancer survivor) pulled me aside, told me her story and hugged me with tears in her eyes. She thanked me for the work we did, and I thanked her for fighting and being a beautiful person. It was epic as shit.

What is your life purpose?
Do good and do it well.

How did you tap into it?
It’s a part of everyone; we’re all good people. I’ve just been privileged enough to have the time and resources to realize a shared calling to help others.

Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
I look up to the people making moves around me despite the barriers they’re facing; they inspire me to be grateful for my blessings and use them to help others. Over the years mentorship has come to me from many different people, but right now I’m “between mentors”…don’t judge me.

Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
I try to start as many conversations as possible every day, whether it’s a text, an email, a call or a meeting. Maybe it’s just “how’s your shoulder?” to a friend or “let’s raise a million dollars” to a collaborator. Regardless, my daily habits consist of a morning coffee and opening as many doors as possible. That and kissing my dog way too much.

When do you know your work/life balance is off?
At all times because it’s always off. I’m trying to discover where the line between work and life exists, and to be honest a part of me thinks I’m in a good place because I can’t see it. If work tasks and life’s passions intersect often, maybe I’m lucky? Still figuring that out.

Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
I broke both my wrists and tore a bunch of muscles on an elementary school ski trip. That was painful physically, but my pride hurt a lot more when I had to rely on my parents to bathe me and help me with the…cleaning after a visit to the little boys room.

What did you learn from it?
My parents love me unconditionally and are unbelievably supportive to the point of grossness
There are always ways to wipe, even with two immobile arms. They may chafe, they may scrape, but they’re better than yelling “I’m finished!” at the age of 13.

If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Stay inspired, always be kind and never stop working.

How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
I aim to choose my girlfriend every day, on a real level. I try to choose her because of who she is: her strengths, her hopes and her challenges. I also buy her flowers a lot and play with her hair 67% of my downtime. She’d argue 34% though.

Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
That’s my jam. I run two non-profits and have personally and professionally supported countless charities/causes over the years. They’re chosen organically and have crossed the spectrum of need including arts, culture, poverty, environmental, medical, LGBTQ, community, mental health, international crisis and more.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
There would be a couple, but for this stage of life it’d have to be Bunji’s “We Ready For De Road”. *Airhorn*

Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
I’ve got a master plan in the works, so in three years from now I see myself even more immersed in the non-profit or “for purpose” field, focusing on creating systemic changes to the way we help each other. All of this while a parallel business runs itself and pays my rent (that’s the master plan part).

What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
Be better than me and be better at it than me.

What One book would you recommend for any Man?
The same book my Dad passed along to me as a kid: Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. It’s as beautiful conceptually as it is visually and lyrically.

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Jason Sarai

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He left the comfort of the corporate world of finance to pursue his passions of fashion and fitness. Little did Jason know that what started as a passion project would quickly unfold into a more rewarding and fulfilling life choice. Today, Jason is involved in all facets of fashion and fitness, from creating his own bespoke suit line, to being a VP of Catalyst Kinetics Group. A man of values, Jason felt a responsibility to give back to the community around him, so he co-founded his own not-for-profit 1KARMA, through this and other efforts, Jason has been involved in numerous fundraising efforts, totalling over millions of dollars, to support local organizations like BC Children’s Hospital, Covenant House Vancouver and the Vancouver Art Gallery. Jason is a true example of what being a successful man looks like when one gracefully balances pursuing your purpose with giving back to those less fortunate. Please welcome our newest Man Of The Week, Jason Sarai!
Age: 35 on Dec. 29th. No point holding onto 34 anymore ☺
What do you do? (Work)
I left the corporate world of finance to pursue my passions in fashion and fitness in 2013.
I’m a Bespoke Stylist and CEO of Style by Sarai – a multidisciplinary fashion, design, image and style consulting business.  I started a bespoke suit line, called Jason Sarai, using fabrics from Italy and England from world renown mills. The suits are tailored and customized here in Vancouver, Canada.
I’m also VP of Catalyst Kinetics Group in Burnaby with my role focusing on fitness, active rehabilitation and business development.
Finally, I’m the co-founder of a not-for-profit business 1KARMA, with my business partner Riaz Meghji.
Why do you do it?
I’ve been passionate about fitness and fashion my whole life. Through my careers, I now have the ability to help people become more confident, increase their self-esteem, and put their best foot forward by assisting them to achieve their health and style goals. I work almost twice the amount of hours as I did while I was in finance, yet it doesn’t feel like work.
How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
Several years ago, I was advised to think globally and act locally in terms of giving back to the community. My good friend Riaz Meghji and I started 1KARMA, a not-for-profit business, to raise awareness and funds towards local charitable causes and organizations.
Being fortunate to be blessed with health and opportunity, I believe greatly in donating my time, through mentorship and services. With my businesses, I’m thankful to be able to provide services to events that support various causes and organizations.
Since 2013, I have also had the opportunity to showcase well-rounded individuals that give back to their community, through my editorial series Men of Vancouver and Women of Vancouver for Vancity Buzz. The professionals I feature are hardworking, give back to their community, and are confident with who they are and the legacy that they are creating. I believe that sharing their success stories help create awareness about individuals making a positive impact towards society. They are an inspiration.
What are 3 defining moments in your life?
– Tearing my ACL playing for the second time when playing NCAA men’s soccer in Pittsburgh causing a change in focus from pursuing professional soccer to education
– Changing careers from corporate finance to starting businesses in Fashion and Fitness
– Marriage
What is your life purpose?
My life’s purpose is to pursue my passions, play to my strengths, and have a meaningful impact through my work and to give back/pay it forward to those in need in the community, both locally and globally.
How did you tap into it?
I want to make people feel strong and confident through helping them reach their goals and leading by example. Whether that is through work or my relationships with family, friends and colleagues.
Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
I’m fortunate to have multiple mentors of various ages that I seek business and life counsel from.  I’ve always believed in surrounding myself with people that are smarter or better at a set activity, task or skill. Whether it was during my sporting career to my life in business.
Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
Healthy breakfast
Working out
Listening to music
Praying
Social media
Reading
When do you know your work/life balance is off?
My balance is constantly changing. I’ve let go of trying to find an ideal balance as I feel that life will shift focus naturally depending on how I prioritize what is happening in my life at that set time, from a relationship, health/fitness and career standpoint.  Therefore my work/life balance is at a constant flux and I don’t see that changing for some time.
Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
A vulnerable moment for me was leaving a corporate career as an investment advisor to pursing my passions in fashion and fitness, starting from scratch.
What did you learn from it?
Through following my passion, I was able to feel more connected with my work and new careers.  With Style by Sarai, I had to follow my instinct and pave a new pathway as there were only a few similar businesses to replicate globally. My passion and commitment allows me to keep pushing forward, which has created new opportunities. I believe vulnerability has the ability to create opportunity.
If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
Don’t set any limitations. Think and dream BIG.
How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
– You constantly have to work at your relationship.  Communication is key.
– Date nights and small getaway trips to connect, reflect and detach from the weekly grind
– Build trust, honesty and vulnerability
– Have fun
– Make her smile
Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
I’ve always been a believer in supporting organizations, societies and charities whether it is through volunteering, mentoring or financially.
When I turned 30 years old I realized that I was spreading myself thin through various causes without being truly connected to any.  I couldn’t comfortably state how my funds donated were being distributed.
Being in finance as an investment advisor at the time, it made sense to do my due diligence and understand exactly what my money and time were being donated towards.  It was at this point that I reached out to my good friend Riaz Meghji, host of Breakfast Television, about the idea of starting a not-for-profit business as we both were attending and supporting several events through work and our own personal network.
We started 1KARMA in 2012 with the goal to raise funds and awareness towards different organizations and causes every year.  We have worked with and supported Covenant House Vancouver, Camp Goodtimes with Canadian Cancer Society, and DUDES Club in DTES. We have raised approximately $50,000 thanks to our donators and corporate sponsors.
In September, I was invited to be a Co-Chair of the Nordstrom Opening Gala. More than 2,000 people attended a sold-out gala and fashion show and the event raised $420K benefitting BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre Foundation, Covenant House Vancouver and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
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This past November, Riaz and I represented 1KARMA and joined 53 local executives and professionals of Vancouver to raise awareness and funds for homeless youth and Covenant House. This was our 4th year of sleeping out in an alley in downtown Vancouver to experience a small glimpse of the reality that homeless youth face on a daily basis. I’m proud to be part of a collective effort that surpassed the fundraising goal of $450K by raising $670K to this deserving cause and great organization.

Annual Executive Sleep Out supporting homeless youth and raising funds and awareness for Covenant House Vancouver
Annual Executive Sleep Out supporting homeless youth and raising funds and awareness for Covenant House Vancouver

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
I have two:
One Man Can Change the World – Big Sean ft Kanye and John Legend
Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
Running a global lifestyle consulting company that focuses on image consulting, clothing, fitness and health.
What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
I want to share my message globally about taking care of your health through fitness and nutrition and putting your best foot forward through style and fashion. Through this, I want people to become their own style icon.
What One book would you recommend for any Man?
Four Agreements: A practical guide to personal freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
 
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]
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Man Of The Week – Andrew Horn

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A life of service and gratitude is one of the most fulfilling pleasures one can experience, believes Andrew Horn. This belief coupled with numerous other accomplishments that make Andrew Horn our Man Of The Week! From making compassionate decisions in his personal relationships to founding his first NGO, ‘Dream for Kids DC’, Andrew is a man of many talents and passions, all of which are tied to giving back to society and making the world a better place for future generations. Today, Andrew lives his life to serve as an example to inspire others to share their appreciation and gratitude, to lead to more meaningful and enriching relationships.

  1. Age: 29
  2. What you do you do? (Work)
    Social Entrepreneur, current the Founder/CEO of Tribute.co
  3. Why do you do it?
    We get to help people share their gratitude and appreciation with the people they care about.
  4. How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
    In business, I try to make a difference in the world by building organizations that have a sustainable impact on improving the lives of other. In my personal relationships, I try to lead with compassion and give people a platform to be truly seen, heard and supported the way they’d like to be.
  5. What are 3 defining moments in your life?
    1. Realizing the difference between pleasure and happiness
    2. Starting my first NGO Dreams For Kids DC with no idea what I was doing.
    3. Meeting my soul mate and marrying her three days later at Burning Man
  6. What is your life purpose?
    To live an integrous lifestyle, to be a servant to the people and causes I believe in, and to magnify love and gratitude in the world.
  7. How did you tap into it?
    I realized that helping others is the most effective way to find fulfillment and have grounded my actions and career choices in service ever since.
  8. Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
    I am fortunate to have a community of friends called the Boom-Spiral and they are my collective role models. I learn and grow from our relationships constantly and am beyond grateful to have found/built such a strong community.
  9. Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
    1. Don’t check phone immediately after waking up
    2. Put all of my team’s tasks into asana to start the day
    3. Try and be better than I was yesterday
  10. When do you know your work/life balance is off?
    I know my work-life balance is off when my energy doing the things I enjoy starts to lag lower than I’d like it to.
  11. Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
    My girlfriend Miki is the first real woman I have ever been with. She called for a man than I had to offer early on in our relationship.
    One of the arenas where I was lacking was sexual presence and technique.
    It soon became evident that one of the reasons I lacked this presence was because of an unhealthy porn habit.
    After almost a year and a half, I was finally able to subdue my porn habit and grounded myself in a constantly evolving, exciting sex life with my partner Miki.
  12. What did you learn from it?
    1. It is important to define the relationships that you want with pornography.
    2. Sexual polarity is essential if you want to maintain an element of desire in your relationship
    3. Great relationships take work, but you just need to believe in what you are building or working towards as an individual and union.
  13. If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
    I would ask him to define why he wants what he wants, to help him articulate goals and understand his deepest desires.
    In understanding our internal drivers, we are most capable of obtaining happiness in the present, while engaged in a pursuit of something grander.
  14. How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
    1. Celebrate your partner’s victories with reckless abandon. This is the easiest way to make them feel supported.
    2. When you have something nice to say, share it. Telling the people we love why we love them is one of the easiest ways to establish deep connectivity.
    3. Realize that helping others is one of the easiest ways to add depth to any relationship. Find joy in serving those you care about.
  15. Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
    I am on the board of the two non-profits that I previously founded. www.dreamsforkidsdc.org and www.abilitylist.org.
  16. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
    All I want for Christmas is you by Mariah Carey. That song is hilarious and awesome literally whenever you play it.
  17. Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
    Married to the woman of my dreams with a kid and one on the way. Living between NYC and Costa Rica. Surfing at least 50 days of the year.
    Running a successful company with 50 employees and building the “hallmark of the digital age.”
  18. What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
    I want to leave the world with a newfound understanding and appreciation for the power of gratitude and service.
    If my life can serve as an example that inspires others to help each other and share their gratitude more openly, I think I will be able to magnify great relationships around the globe and that is a lasting impact that I would be very proud of.
  19. What One book would you recommend for any Man?
    The Way of the Superior Man by David Deida – This book has been shared around by all of the great mean in my life. It provides young men with a framework to aid in the articulation of personal purpose, and provides some essential truths about what it takes to exist in a desire filled romantic relationship.

 
If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

Man Of The Week – Chris Brandt

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Here at Man Of The Week, we strive to find the most awesome and inspiring men around who better the lives of the communities around North America. This week’s spotlight is no different! Chris Brandt believes it is every single person’s responsibility to positively impact the world around, and uses his life’s work at ‘Music Heals’ to teach others how music can promote and maintain mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. In the years to come, Chris aims to grow Music Heals to a charity that contributes $1million/year to local music programs.

  1. Age: 43
  2. What do you do? (Work)
    Executive Director, Music Heals. Also, professor of Music Business at BCIT, and yoga teacher at YYoga and Contact Partner Yoga.
  3. Why do you do it?
    #MusicMakesMe 
    [youtube video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeJzcEPZURw]
  4. How do you make a difference in the world? (Work, business, life, family, self)
    I teach, in all aspects of my day. When the student exceeds the teacher, the teacher becomes immortal.
  5. What are 3 defining moments in your life?
    1. The last day of every job I have ever worked.
    2. Starting a record label
    3. Crossing Tibet in a jeep
  6. What is your life purpose?
    To teach
  7. How did you tap into it?
    I have always known, although sometimes I have had poignant reminders.
  8. Who is your Role-Model or Mentor?
    Dalai Lama
  9. Do you have any daily habits? If so, what are they?
    Leave the office for coffee. Never make coffee at work. While it costs more, leaving your desk and going for a walk can completely reset your day.
  10. When do you know your work/life balance is off?
    My body knows. Hopefully I am listening before it has to yell.
  11. Vulnerability is a challenge for most men – share a vulnerable moment from your life with us.
    Being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
  12. What did you learn from it?
    That I signed up for it. This was my PhD course.
  13. If you are or were going to be a mentor for another man, what is one piece of advice you would give him?
    Do what you say you are going to do.
  14. How do you be the best partner (Boyfriend/Husband- past or present)
    Listen
  15. Do you support any Charities or Not-for-profits? (Which one(s) and why?)
    Music Heals, all day every day.
  16. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
    “Life’s What You Make It” by Talk Talk
  17. Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
    Married with 1 kid (and maybe another on the way), traveling with my family and work, and Music Heals being a $1million/year charity.
  18. What legacy do you want to leave for future generations?
    It is not your opportunity, but your responsibility, to do big things that have a positive imact on the world.
  19. What One book would you recommend for any Man?
    The Alchemist

If you know a Man that is making a positive impact on the world, we would love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected]

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